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.