You could imagine exactly how the plate of fluffy pancakes smothered in syrup with a pat of butter and blueberries on top would taste and smell—if they were actual food and not a clay sculpture. 

Each year, Mary DeBlois challenges her eighth grade art elective students to create a large-scale ceramic project. This year, the project was a fun twist on the Netflix show “Is It Cake?” and instead, a group of F-M judges were asked, “Is It Clay?”  

“We keep trying to scale it up,” DeBlois said of the annual project. “This really allowed students to focus on creativity and problem solving.” 

To kick off this year’s project, students watched an episode of “Is It Cake?”,  a show in which contestants create cakes that replicate common objects in an effort to trick judges. Students then split up into 12 teams, some working solo and others in groups, to determine the type of clay handbuilding technique they wanted to use. 

Once they committed to a process, they began planning and building their sculptures, which included holiday cookies, strawberry shortcake, a cornucopia and a cheeseburger. To further create the illusion of an edible masterpiece, students were allowed to use such items as boxes, boards and plates in their display for the judges.  

The winning pancake with blueberries sculpture was crafted by Madilyn Hooper and Malia McLean, and judges selected it based on clay construction, color application and presentation.

DeBlois said the project allowed students to explore learning on an individualized level, taking concepts they were already familiar with and bringing them to the next level.

“They had a big opportunity to take their project in any direction they wanted,” she said. “It really focused on individualized learning, and that’s what makes art so welcoming.”

Seven F-M staff members served as judges, observing the sculptures from afar and then up close before selecting the winner based on how convincingly the ceramic pieces resembled real food when viewed from several feet away, taking into account overall size and proportions, texture and details such as color, finish and display. They then examined each up close, studying textures and craftsmanship details, such as unintended cracks or breaks in the clay.

Both of the competition winners said they enjoyed the project. 

“I liked how we got to work in groups and how we got to choose what food we got to do,” Maddie said.

Malia said she enjoyed working with the clay.  

“It was really fun, and the voting was fun,” she said.