Sculpture I: Hybrid Project. Due Feb 6th.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

You will change two or three objects of your choice into something new by creatively dismantling and recombining the pieces. You must reuse ALL of the material in your existing objects, and combine them into a single unified work. This is not a collage (objects attached to a flat surface. You will go beyond what Rauschenberg did with his combines (see images below). We want you to physically join the parts of these objects together and create a new 3-D object.

Important concept:  UNITY = a sense of order or completeness. 


A + B + C = D. You are creating something new.

A + B+ C = ABC. You are not simply combining things.

Transformation is the goal. Please create something completely new (D not, ABC)

  Process

1. Pick three objects. Take good clean photos of each one against a white background. Post to your instagram account (#NWSA-hybrid). 

2. Write two page response in Sketchbook: Please Research, and response, to the question, "What is a hybrid?" and "How does the idea of hybrid work in context to: culture and identity?

3. Two pages of sketches of the direction you want to go with your sculpture (also in sketchbook).
4. Completely dissassemble your original objects into unrecognizable parts. 

5. Collect any other supplies you would like to use while altering your object, such as glue, tape, sewing supplies, etc.

Note: Your response should be in your sketchbook and should include written elements and visual/material elements. This should take at least two pages in your sketchbook. Please don't waste the page by writing overly large, or by pasting things in the middle of an otherwise blank page.

Note on objects: Carefully choose three objects approximately 12" each that you feel comfortable changing. They should have enough visual and material interest to give you options. 

Think about your research on the concept of Hybrid: How can you address this is your piece? Please have ideas written in your sketchbook. 


NO ELECTRONICS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM INSTRUCTOR.

Project Due- Febuary 6th.

Projects is due at beginning of class for critique. All projects must be ready for presentation at start of class. 

INSPIRATION

Look at the following artworks by these artists for inspiration.:

Robert Rauschenberg, modernist painter (images below)

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Jean Tinguely (images below)

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Agathe Snow (images below)

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Sara Sze (images below)

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Click to see more of Yeesookyung's hybrid sculptures

Yeesookyung's ceramic hybrid sculptures made
with traditional Korean pottery shards. 

Example of Korean Joseon Ceramics

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Hybrid Sculptures by Satish Tang (images below)

Hybrid sculptures of ancient chinese ceramics, western pop icons, manga aesthetics and kitsch. TANG was born in Dublin, Ireland of Trinidadian parents, but currently lives & works in British Columbia, Canada.

Click here to go to the Tang's website

How do objects communicate meaning? How does meaning change when they are re-contextualized and merged into a single form? 

No electronics. If you want to know why, watch this video.

Materials and Methods: Required Research- Path of Inquiry. Due Tuesday before 9am.

ART3711C- Materials and Methods Only

Introduction

For this assignment you will establish a path of inquiry that you will follow through the whole semester. Your Path of Inquiry will begin by choosing three materials to study, determining how to research and learn about each of them, researching artists (historical and contemporary) who have worked with these materials, and developing a way to respond to your findings through your sculptural work (experimentation and art-making). You will be following the steps below. I will send a google form to help you organize your responses.

PLEASE NOTE: ALL ANSWERS MUST BE SEND THROUGH THE GOOGLE FORM

Steps

1. Choose three specific materials to study. 
Note: At least two of the materials must be new to you- meaning that you have not previously worked with them to make art. Examples of materials can be as direct as "wood" or as fluid as "things that float". 

2. Find sources to research and study of each material. 
List at least three specific sources per material to begin your research. Your research must extend beyond internet searches to include books and or articles/journals, and consider the following aspects of each material:

• Historical (where it comes from)
• Practical/technical (how to manipulate/use it)
• Cultural (our relationship to it) 

3. Research Methods of using the materials. 

• Artist List- Choose at least 6 specific artists who's practice includes an investigation of the materials you have decided to focus on. You will research their approach towards these materials in their own art practice. At least two artitst for each material. The artists can overlap across material lists, but you have to end up with six artists total. At least two of them need to be living, working artists. 
• Technical List- List two places you can research to find more ways of working with your materials. These can be businesses, manufacturers, craftspeople, etc. 

4. Establish your goals- technical and communicative

In a few sentences, establish a real and attainable goal for this semester with regards to the materials you have selected and what you hope to do with them. 

One paragraph for your technical goals.

One paragraph for your communicative goals.

For Class, Feb 6th

Material Studies- 3 materials and 15 examples of how to manipulate them. 

Please bring in samples of the three materials you will be investigating this semester along with at least five different ways to manipulate each one. 

Try to make little sculptural studies or technical experiments. 

Material Culture- how the material communicates

Write a bullet-point/list of the different ways your materials communicate in culture. On list for each. Be as thorough as possible and base it on your research. 

Sketches of three distinct ideas-

Bring in three detailed and developed sketches for options for three different forms you would like to make this semester.  

Critiques

All work you produce through the rest of the semester will come from this investigation- research and studio exploration.

Class Schedue- Week Two

Great job today with our skill building exercise. Aryal, please reach out to your friends to get caught up to speed. Hope you feel better soon. 

Here are the important deadlines for this week:

Due for next class, Jan 23rd-

1. Triangle and Square.

Pull out exposed nails, putty/fill holes and sand everything smooth.

2. Box/Finger joint cube.

Cut your finger joints, dry fit the whole thing together before you glue it up. If it's too tight a fit, you will not be able to put it together once the glue goes on. If its too loose, the glue will not hold. The joints should fit snugly. 

I recommend glueing this up with a friend. It's hard to do alone when you're first starting. Don't forget to put the plexi top and bottom in before gluing the sides! No glue is needed on the plexi. 

Once glued, putty any holes and sand everything smooth.  

Important: this has to be completed by Sunday so the wood glue is dry for class on Tue. We will cut the lids in class on Tue. 

3. Revised Technical Drawing for Base Box Project.

Be sure to send me your revised technical drawings via email asap. Include details on all joinery like I demonstrated in class today on the white paper. Once I sign off on your design, you can begin construction. 

Note: This is an art assignment, so please consider the idea/concept behind the work. Go back to the project description on the blog. 

Next Class is a Work Day

January 23rd will be a work day with individual attention for each student. Please come with all supplies and materials to work on your Base Box. 

Base Box project due date will be postponed till January 30th. 

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Materials & Methods Students-choose three materials you want to work with for the rest of the semester. I will include a question in the next Google Form for you to list your material choices. 

Project 1: Base Box

Project Description

For this project you will be designing and constructing a box for an object you already own. The goal of this project is the consider the relationship between object and container and how proximity can direct meaning. 

In addition, you will learn some basic skills in design (planning and drafting), wood joinry and measuring. Your box must creatively function as both a container and a pedestal for the object you choose. 

Next Class. Due Jan. 16th. 

1. Choose a found object to make a wooden box/pedestal for. The object should fit in your hand, and not be too difficult to transport. Pick an interesting object and think about how the box/pedestal can affect the meaning of the object. When closed, the box you design has to completely conceal your object and hold it in securely in place. As a pedestal, it must creatively present your object to the viewer. 

Bring your object to class along with a detailed technical drawing of your box/pedestal including all of its measurements in each dimension (length, width, height). The required reading will cover the drafting process (how to make a technical drawing). Your drawing will need to show details of how your Base Box will be constructed. It will show the types of joinery, measurements, etc. Below is a list of other materials you will need to bring to class on Tue:

• Wood - minimum ½" thick. This can be plywood or dimensional lumber. You will want to estimate how much wood you need so you have enough to make a box that fully encloses your found object. 
• Saftey Goggles- I have these for you to borrow, but recommend getting your own. 
• Studio shoes- no flip flops, sandles, heels, or flats. 
• Sharp pencil for layout. 
• Stainless Steel Ruler.
• Your Object.
• Technical Drawing including the following views: Front, Top, Left Side and Section. 

Required Research. Due Jan 16th. 

I will email a pdf that covers some basics with shop safety, drafting and joinery. You will need to read pages 1 - 47 before class on Tue. 

In-Class we will continue to do demonstrations on joinery using the following tools. Each of you will run a few operations through each tool. You will need to be comfortable with these to complete this project:

• Miter Saw/Chop Saw
• Band Saw
• Disc Sander
• Drill Press

Use the internet to research wood joinry techniques before coming to class. Be sure to cover the following joints: rabbet, dado, dovetail, box joint, miter, lap, butt. Some good resources are wood magazine, woodcraft, popular woodworking, fine woodworking, etc. I'm including a slideshow here. 

Rubric
You will be evaluated on the quality and completion of the following:
40% Technical drawings
40% Craftsmanship/Construction
20% Creativity/Concept


Jan. 23rd- Workday with individual attention. 

Due. Jan. 30th. 

Finished Box/Pedestal ready for critique.

Course Schedule

Course Schedule

Jan 8th

Everyone: Introduction to Course. Shop Demonstration. First Assignments. 

Jan 16th

Everyone: Individual Reviews of Skill Builders. Work Day.

Jan 22nd

Everyone: Skill Builders and Finger-Joint Box Due. Technical Drawings for Base Box Due. Work Day.

Jan 30th

Everyone: All three Skill Builder Exercises and your Base Box Project Due. Critique at start of class.

Materials & Methods: Path of Inquiry Form Due.

Discussion: Attaching things- similar and dissimilar. Presentation of Hybrid Project.

Feb 6th

Sculpture I: Hybrid Sculpture Critique.

Materials & Methods: 15 Unique experiments/studies Due. Work Day.

Discussion: Armatures and structures. Presentation of Linear Sculpture Project.

Feb 13th

Sculpture I:  Linear Sculpture Work Day.

Materials & Methods: Critique of Piece #1- first material choice.

Discussion: Open Questions and Answers. 

Feb 20th

Sculpture I: Linear Sculpture Critique.

Materials & Methods: 15 Unique experiments/studies Due. Work Day.

Discussion: Surfaces, Skins and planar elements. Present Skin Sculpture Project.

Feb 27th

Sculpture I: Skin Sculpture Work Day.

Materials & Methods: Presenting your Material Research. Have presentation on thumb drive saved as pdf.

March 6th 

Sculpture I: Skin Sculpture Critique.

Materials & Methods: Critique of Piece #2- second material choice.


Discussion: Art on the move and in the city. Portable Project Presentation.

Note: This is the last gradable assignment before midterms are due.

March 13th

Sculpture I- Portable Project Work Day.

Materials & Methods: 15 Unique experiments/studies Due. Work Day.

March 20th

Sculpture I: Portable Project Critique.

Materials & Methods: Work Day.

Discussion: The best things in life are free- like art materials. Free Project Presentation.

March 27th

Sculpture I: Free Project Critique.

Materials & Methods: Critique of Piece #3- third material choice.

April 3rd

Sculpture I: Artist Research Projects Due. Have presentation on thumb drive saved as pdf.

Materials & Methods: Order from Chaos Workshop. 

Discussion: Eating your leftovers, or getting the most out of your studio exploration. Presentation of Open Project.

 

April 10th

Sculpture I: Open Project Critique.


Materials & Methods: Order from Chaos Critique.

April 17th

Everyone: Documentation Workshop
Basic photo/video documentation techniques, pdf creation, formatting and optimization. Checklist for Jury Preparation.

April 24th

Studio Clean Up and The Last Brunch (Last day of class) 
Pancake Potluck and Studio Clean out. 

By the end of the week, all work and materials must be removed for summer shut down. 

[Jury Week April 27th - May 4th]

May 1st

Everyone: Final PDF Portfolio Due

You are required to present a final portfolio containing all finished projects as well as documentation of studio exploration and skill development. It will also include a written summary of skills learned this semester (technical and communicative). 

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Notes on Reviews and Critiques

There are two types of evaluative reviews with separate goals: 

15 Experiments/Studies

The propose of these deadlines/reviews are to encourage a large amount of experimentation and exploration of the materials and methods you have selected to focus on this semester. Both quality and quantity of experimentation will be stressed. The goal is to try as many things as you can to become familiar with the materials you have chosen. You will be evaluated on the quantity of experiments/tests/exercises, their thoughtfulness and their breadth. In short, do lots of helpful things that are different from each other. I will use a basic 15/12/10 assessment for quantity of explorations finished. They must all be of adequate quality to count for credit. 

Rubric
A = 15 unique tests/experiments
B = 12 
C = 10
D = less than 10. 


Critiques

The purpose of these deadlines/reviews are to encourage focused efforts towards resolved work. This happens by taking the methods and approaches to the materials you are exploring and intentionally building forms that communicate ideas, both directly and indirectly. The goal here is communicative. You will be evaluated on craftsmanship, conceptual rigor, ambition and presentation. 


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Notes on Required Research Project

 

Materials & Methods

Material Research: 
A 10 - 15 minute multi-media presentation posted to class blog. Presented to class. 
A presentation of one of your select materials through the approach of material culture studies. Material culture studies is an interdisciplinary field telling of relationships between people and their things: the making, history, preservation, and interpretation of objects. Do this for one of the materials you selected to explore at the start of the semester. 

Posted to class blog and presented to class. 


Sculpture I 

Artist Research: 
A 10 - 15 minute multi-media presentation posted to class blog. Presented to class.

Tracing back through the development of an actively working artist who is currently represented by a top global commercial gallery. 

Choose an actively exhibiting living artist by searching the rosters of top producing commercial galleries that show the work of living artists. Find a gallery through the participating galleries list on Art Basel. Your research will be directed at the development of this particular artist's practice with regards to their commercial success. Pay close attention to relationships- collectors, galleries, museums, arts institutions, family/circle of friends, etc. 

Draw a mind map/diagram connecting the artist's professional relationships. 

Introduce Artist's process and output. Give info on latest shows/sales. 

Posted to class blog and presented to class.

Note:  If any changes are made to this schedule, all students will be notified in advance. 

Welcome- Spring 2018!

Welcome!

This is a stacked course: 
ART2701C: Sculpture I 
ART3711C: Materials & Methods

Syllabus and Blog

Today, you will receive an email from me with the syllabi. Please be sure to follow/subscribe to this blog. Assignments will be found here and you are responsible for all information posted. You will need to check this blog on a daily basis. I will also use email as a primary contact point.

Proper Clothing

Please come properly dressed and wear thick shoes with toes covered.  Sandles/flip-flops/flats/heals and loose clothing are all prohibited in the studio for safety reasons. 

Come prepared to work on Tue., Jan 16th.

First Assignment

Be sure to send me your preferred email address; I will be posting your first assignment via email.