For Upper School Fine Arts Teacher Ms. Julia Cardone, ceramics is more than art. It is a rhythm, a connection between mind and body, and a way to create balance through movement. What first drew her in as a teenager was not just the finished product, but the process itself. The rotation of clay on the wheel, the act of working with her hands, and the connection when she finds that rhythm. Clay gives her space to breathe, to think, and to find calm in the repetition of turning a piece of soft earth into form.
Ms. Cardone’s earliest artistic interest actually began with glass blowing. At 15 years-old, she found opportunities to learn the art, captivated by the strength of the glass. She later attended Syracuse University, initially pursuing pre-law, but the absence of three-dimensional media made her realize how much she missed working with sculptural art. Determined to return to that world, she transferred to the visual arts program at Syracuse and fell into ceramics. Glass blowing was not available, but clay provided the same satisfaction of transformation.
“The wheel is my artistic home,” Ms. Cardone reflects. The ability to draw three-dimensionally with clay, to be able to observe its transformation as it spins beneath her hands, gives her both creativity and peace. In these moments, she expresses that she can lose herself in the process while also gaining a deeper understanding of form. After 20 years at Flint Hill, Ms. Cardone has shaped not only clay, but also the lives of countless students who have taken her classes. Her journey towards teaching began back at Syracuse, when she realized she did not just want to practice ceramics, but she wanted to share it, too. Inspired by her mentor, ceramic artist David MacDonald, she discovered how powerful it can be to guide others and pass along both knowledge and passion. MacDonald’s discipline, curiosity, and humanity continue to influence her life, reminding her that being an artist is also about constantly learning and growing.
From the very beginning of her teaching career, Ms. Cardone knew she wanted to work with students at a high level. Flint Hill’s facilities and depth of curriculum have allowed her to design a program that is similar to college-level ceramics, giving high school students the chance to explore this art in a serious way. It means so much to her to be able to share high-quality art education with younger individuals. For Ms. Cardone, teaching ceramics is also about empowerment. She encourages students to use clay as a voice to express their ideas. The rewards of teaching, she explains, come from mentoring, inspiring, and watching her students grow, not just as artists but as people. Students learn that experimentation with ceramics is key, mistakes are part of the process, and failure can lead to unexpected discoveries.
Ms. Cardone herself continues to not only draw inspiration from both artists and nature, but also from the pottery and ceramics community. She loves the camaraderie in the ceramics studio and the energy of everyone pushing each other creatively. She often listens to podcasts and explores new artists, constantly staying curious about ceramics. For Ms. Cardone, the studio is a place of reflection, peace, connection, and transformation, where it is always possible.
As Ms. Cardone celebrates 20 years at Flint Hill, her passion for clay remains as strong as ever. Whether she is centering a lump of clay on the wheel or guiding a student through their first slab mug, she embodies the same rhythm that first inspired her as a teenager. In that rhythm, she continues to give students not only the tools of ceramics but also the opportunity to grow, create, and discover something new within themselves.
