Syllabus

Seminar Objective: To provide students with basic tools/skills to create 3-D/Sculpture works of art for Transformation Projects.  To do this, the seminar will involve looking at contemporary 3-D/Sculpture works of art and using them as a starting point for student projects.  Students will be expected to complete three 3-D/Sculpture projects.  The project parameters will primarily be drawn from the works of Marcel Duchamp, Robert Rauschenberg, and Joseph Cornell. 

Grading Criteria:  Effort is the most important thing I will be looking for.  How much time one has spent thinking and working on the projects will be apparent.  To ensure that you know what is expected, each project will have specific guidelines that should be followed.  Each project should also be accompanied by a one-page (no longer), concise statement of intent and description of the thinking that went into the creation of the works.  I am not looking for masterpieces.  I only expect the student to think about what it takes to make a work of art and to put some time into it.  I also expect students to participate in class discussions.

Note:  For the 3-D/Sculpture projects, students will be expected to seek out and find several discarded objects that can be RECONTEXTUALIZED in an interesting way.  So, when searching for objects at junkyards, alleys, garage sales, etc., when working on the first project, also choose other objects that could be used for the two later projects.

Tentative Class Schedule:

4/11:  Introduction.  Slide Show.  First project assignment: "Found Art."  Next session, bring in a construction of discarded objects from junk-yard, alley, dumpster, etc., with a one-page statement of intent/creative process describing why you were drawn to the objects and how you have RECONTEXTUALIZED the objects. Remember to "tag" your project with your name and number.           

4/16:  Turn in project.  Talk about student works: what makes a successful work of art?  Discuss next project: Rauschenberg "Combines."  Next class, you will be expected to have begun this project. 

4/18:  Bring in "Combine" projects-in-process.  Class discussion.   

4/23:  Turn in project.  Cornell "Cabinet" project assignment.  This project will offer you a chance to try out a transformation of an artwork.  This artwork will not be one of the six offered for your final project.  

4/25:  Bring in "Cabinet" projects-in-process.  Class discussion. 

4/30:  Turn in project.  Talk about them and discuss what tools/skill you can take from the class to create a successful transformation on your own.

This will be my grading strategy for the three projects:  

 Project 1: Duchamp "Found Art"

Possible Points: 30

Guidelines (pay attention in class for specific details):

             Objects must be something discarded and found outside of the house (i.e. junkyard, alley, garage sale -- something interesting): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be transformed in some way (i.e. painted, glued or tied together, and mounted): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be recontextualized in some way (this may be explained in your statement of intent): worth 10 points.

(Click Here) Project 2: Rauschenberg "Combines"

Possible Points: 35

Guidelines (pay attention in class for specific details):

             Objects must be something discarded and found outside of the house (i.e. junkyard, alley, garage sale -- something interesting): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be transformed in some way (i.e. painted, glued or tied together, and mounted on board, with use of images): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be recontextualized in some way (this may be explained in your statement of intent): worth 10 points.

            Bring in project-in-process on 4/18: worth 5 points.

Project 3: Cornell "Cabinet" -- Transformation

Possible points: 35

Guidelines (pay attention in class for specific details):

             Objects must be something discarded and found outside of the house (i.e.junkyard, alley, garage sale -- something interesting): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be transformed in some way (i.e. painted, glued or tied together, and mounted in cabinet, with use of images): worth 10 points.

            Objects must be recontextualized in some way (this may be explained in your statement of intent): worth 5 points.

            Poem must be transformed in some way (this may be explained in your statement of intent): worth 5 points.

            Bring in project-in-process on 4/25: worth 5 points.

All three projects will add up to 100 possible points.  Whatever points you get on the projects will add up to be your grade.