Big Mac - Clay computer Mk1 (circa 1992)

How to construct the clay slabs needed for the construction of a clay computer using hands, feet and a plaster batt. This primative method was employed because the course leader was happy to provide motorised wheels for the throwers but thought that a rolling machine was probably too *hi-fi* for the hand builders. This jumping-up-and-down-on-the-clay hack was used as workround until the college up the road lent is a slab roller. I just rediscovered the images on an old drive and thought I should share because I'm not seeing too many ceramic projects on here.

Step 1 First mix and wedge up a sufficient quantity of clay.

To make a 'mac classic' type ceramic object did require some planning. The body of the *mac* was made first of all as a cube. This required 6 large slabs. Then the face of the mac was constructed and added to the front of the *mac*. This was constructed out of 2 larger slabs, 2 long thin side strips and 2 shorter thin side slabs.
In an attempt to reduce the finished weight of the piece a panel was removed from the front face of the cube to be shaped as the screen portion this was in turn removed to become the dome, which was shaped into a sat behind the front facia of the *mac*.

This dome was partly added as an echo of the design of the "mac classic colour" and partly to add strength to the construction of the piece as it was to become large and heavy.