Class Syllabus

ART 121 02 - Spring, 2009 

Meets: Mon/Wed 6:00-8:50 PM 

Location: Binns-Merrill SB03 

Instructors: Alicia Eggert and Jenna Efrein 

Email: AE1@alfred.edu and jhefrein@gmail.com 

Course Description 

This course will focus on idea development, using both traditional and nontraditional three-dimensional materials. It will emphasize conceptual reasoning and consideration of material choice, craft, form, space, site, presentation, and context. It will provide a forum for the discussion and exploration of sculptural practices, and the possibilities made available by such an expansive field.   

Goals and Objectives 

- Develop and encourage individual creative interests and conceptual skills 

- Discuss and explore the definition of “sculpture” and the many forms it takes in contemporary art practices 

- Discuss an artwork’s content and context, how materials can contain meaning, and the ways in which sculpture interacts with space 

- Gain an understanding of conceptual art, time-based art, and installation art 

- Acquire skills in a wide range of techniques and materials, including found-object manipulation, wood construction, mold-making and casting, and metal fabrication 

- Work towards safe studio and shop practices   

Attendance 

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Success in a studio art class is dependent upon your participation in the studio activities and interaction with other students. Skill and knowledge is acquired as much by doing and participating as it is by reading and responding. This cannot occur if you are not in class. Therefore, two unexcused absences will result in the lowering of a full letter grade at the end of the semester. Three absences will result in the lowering of two full letter grades. Four unexcused absences will result in the failure of the course. If you are more than 10 minutes late to arrive or 10 minutes early to depart, you are considered tardy. If you are tardy for class two times, you will be assigned an absence (four times late makes 2 absences, etc.). If you arrive 30 minutes late to class or depart 30 minutes before class ends, you will receive an absence.   

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed and what you need to prepare for the next class. In addition to contacting one of the instructors, you should also contact one of your classmates to find out about any assignments not indicated on the course outline. Emergency absences may be discussed with your instructors.     

Critiques 

As extended projects are completed, we will discuss all the work as a group. Despite the title, critique sessions are not intended to be forums for demeaning criticism. They are to assist you in your creative development by providing focused opportunities for you to verbalize your reasoning and intentions, and for fellow classmates and instructors to share opinions and assistance. Critiques in a studio class take the place of exams and quizzes in a lecture course. Attendance is critical and required. Not only are no make ups allowed, they are not possible.  A successful critique is a participatory experience, not a solo enterprise.   

Class Blog 

The class blog will be managed by the instructors, and is where written descriptions of class assignments will be posted for your reference. We will also post other useful information about artists and art work related to the topics addressed in this class, which can be a source of inspiration and a springboard for your own research and brainstorming processes. It will also provide a forum for students to ask questions and express concerns about specific assignments or the overall class objectives. Please visit the blog regularly at sculptureclass.blogspot.com and make use of your ability to add comments.   

Personal Blogs or Sketchbooks 

You will be expected to conduct your own research during the planning phase of each assignment. Your research and thoughts should be documented in the form of a personal blog or sketchbook, which can include journal entries, sketches, inspirational and in-process images, and, in the case of a blog, videos and links to other blogs or websites. You can easily make your own blog for free at blogger.com, and sketchbooks can be purchased from the bookstore. It is up to you to decide which format would work best for you personally, but some form of documentation of your conceptual process is required. Your blog or sketchbook will be reviewed by the instructors throughout the semester in order for us to better understand your creative intentions, and thus will play an important role in the evaluation and grading of your projects. It will account for 10% of your overall class grade.   

Project Documentation 

Documentation is a very important aspect of art making and will be a crucial component to this class. Most often, a viewer will not be able to travel to see an artist’s work in person in a gallery or museum, but will instead see an image of it in a book or on the Internet. A work of art can also be time-based, which means that it is impermanent in nature. Because of this, it is important for work to be well documented, in order for it to exist beyond the limits of a specific place and time.   

You will be required to document each assignment in a digital format that is appropriate for your project. Different types of documentation options will be reviewed in class, such as written text, images or video. You will need to email your documentation to your instructors by the next class following the critique. Your documentation will be posted on the class blog, and will account for 10% of your grade for each assignment. 

Class Exhibition in the Turner Student Gallery 

We will be arranging for the class to have an exhibition in the Turner Student Gallery (next to the Moka Joka in Harder Hall) about 3/4 of the way through the semester. This will be an opportunity for you to display your favorite or most successful assignment, and for the class to work together on curating, installing, and lighting a cohesive exhibition. It will also be a chance to celebrate your accomplishments with friends outside of class at the opening reception. Exact dates are TBD, but we are hoping for the weekend of April 3rd – 5th.   

Grading and Evaluation 

Grades will be based on completed projects, class participation (enthusiasm), and involvement in class critiques. Lack of respect for studio rules and cleanliness will adversely affect your grade.   

Personal Blog or Sketchbook   10% 

Mini Projects (5 total)   30% 

Deconstruction/Reconstruction Sculpture   15% 

Wearable Wood Sculpture   15% 

Object Augmentation Sculpture   15% 

Metal Sculpture   15%

Total   100%    

Class Participation and Attendence   +/- 5-10%   

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Information   

If you are a student with a documented disability and you need accommodations, please make an appointment with the Director of Student Affairs.   

Proposed Weekly Outline (subject to change)   

Week One: 

Jan 21 

Inro to syllabus 

Intro to Blog and Personal Blog or Sketchbook 

Getting to know you 

Mini Project: Learningtoloveyoumore.com (1-3 assignments)   

Week Two: 

Jan 26th 

Look at Mini Project: Learning to Love you More Assignments 

Intro to Found Object Project: Deconstruction/Reconstruction 

Jan 28th 

In-Process Critiques (bring objects to class)       

Week Three: 

Feb 2nd 

Work Day 

Feb 4th 

Critique of Deconstruction/Reconstruction Project 

Intro to Mini Project- DT   

Week Four: 

Feb 9th 

Look at Mini Project: DT 

Intro to Wearable Wood Project (performance optional) 

Wood Orientation with Eric 

Feb 11th 

Look at Drawings in small groups 

Work Day   

Week Five: 

Feb 16th and 18th 

Work Days in Wood Shop   

Week Six: 

Feb 23rd 

Fashion Show- Nevins? 

Feb 25th 

Display of Wood Project - Written Crits 

Intro to Mini Project: Glass Casting   

Week Seven: Mid Term 

March 2nd 

Mold Making For Glass Casting 

Load Kiln 

March 4th 

Get Pieces from Kiln 

Cold Work 

Intro to Mini Project: Time-Based Project   

Spring Break March 9th and 11th   

Week Eight: 

March 16th 

Look at Mini Time-Based Project 

Intro Mold Making/Object Augmentation Project 

Pick 2 Objects to Cast next class 

March 18th 

Make 2-part mold (plaster) 

Casting Demo - paper/wax/sugar/salt/candy 

Week Nine: 

March 23rd 

Work Day- Sign up for Individual Meetings 

March 25th 

Discussion about Lighting and Presentation 

In-Process Critiques   

Week Ten: 

March 30th 

Work Day 

April 1st 

Crit of Mold Project 

Discuss Turner Show   

*** Turner Show April 3rd- 5th ***   

Week Eleven: 

April 6th 

Intro to Mini Project: Site-Specific Installation  

Find Location 

April 8th 

Install 

Look at Installations as a group   

Week Twelve: 

April  13th 

Intro to Welding or Foundry Project 

April 15th 

Work Day   

Week Thirteen: 

April 20th and 22nd 

Work Days   

Week Fourteen: 

April 27th 

Work Day 

April 29th 

Final Critique   

Week Fifteen: 

May 4th 

Individual Meetings (Sign up)