ART 208 Introduction to Sculpture

Fall 2007 / MW 1:20-3:50 / Instructor: Lisa Scheer

Course Description

This course is an introduction to making sculpture. Working with the human form as a starting point, students will be asked to first focus on the elements of line and plane to create a constructed sculpture in wood and or metal. A second project will focus on the human form as volume. Students will make sculptures utilizing armature construction and or carving techniques. Class activities will include design generation activities such as drawing and model making, looking at related art works in slide lectures, material and construction demonstrations, studio work time, and critiques.

All course materials including this syllabus, class schedule, slide lectures and assignments can be found on our blackboard site or my course materials web site at http://www.smcm.edu/users/lnscheer/main.html

Requirements and Course Evaluations

Projects

There will be three sculpture projects assigned. Within each project students will complete various technical practices and design development activities (models, drawings collages). I will evaluate and give a grade for each project. All assignments must be completed on time. Any work turned in late will be lowered one letter grade.

Assessment Writings

There will be four self- assessment assignments. These are not just an aside, they are a crucial part of the art-making endeavor and thus are given significant weight when it comes to grading.. Assessment assignments are linked from the class schedule.

Attendance and Class Participation

Above and beyond all other requirements I believe that class attendance and participation is the most basic condition for any studio art class. Two absences will be allowed. Each additional absence will lower your final grade by 1/3rd of a letter. You must stay in class for the full session to be counted as present. Being an active participant in class discussions is very important and will be part of your overall evaluation.

You will be required to attend at least four art department events (artist lectures, field trips, and gallery talks). Because these are events that take place outside of class time, you can choose which events you will attend (an events calendar will be available). If work, family, or sports commitments keep you from being able to attend you must come and talk to me. You are required to write and hand in a short summary for each of the four events to be turned in by the end of the semester.

Grading

You will receive one grade for each project (30% each) and 10% for participation/ art event attendance.

You will receive a number of grades per each project with some of the following objectives:

1. Process: In my mind a productive working process includes; constructive and energetic work habits, a high degree of creative exploration in the design of a work (experimentation, flexibility, discovery), and an effort to understand and finesse the physical materials you are working with.

2. Sculptures: Criteria include the degree to which you engage the creative problem being addressed (the goals of the sculpture), the expressive quality of the work, the effectiveness of the materials in the work's expression, quality of craft.

3. Self-Assessment: Our goals is to not only be able to effectively judge and improve one’s work but also to be reflective about our habits in the studio to understand what helps and hinders our creative process.

See assignment list for a full breakdown of grade percentages per assignments.

A= excellent work: exceeds all standards and goals set by assignment (I mean exceeds)

B= Good work: successfully meets all standards and goals set by assignment

C= Satisfactory work: exhibits a basic understanding of all standards and goals set by assignment but does not necessarily manifest those goals in the work produced.

D= Poor work: lacks initiative to explore the assignment, does not meet a majority of standards and goals set by assignment

F= failing work: fails to engage the terms of the assignment or leaves work incomplete by the established deadline.

Materials and Supplies

The art department makes available for your use certain expendable tools and materials. Each student is required to purchase a material voucher costing $55 from the campus store to help pay for these general studio supplies. Besides the materials provided by the art department, you will probably need to purchase additional materials depending on your sculpture designs so be prepared to spend another $40 dollars on these additional materials.

Shop Use

You may use the sculpture studio any time during regular building hours excluding other class meeting times. Table tops must always be cleared after use and work store in designated areas. You must clean up after yourself. Any work or materials left out will be collected and then disposed. You can have access to power tools and other restricted facilities during shop monitor hours (T/TH 7-10pm and Sunday 1-4 pm unless otherwise posted). The shop supervisor is Pete Karis and he will assist you using power tools. You will not be able to use power tools yourself unless you have been trained and Ok’ed by me.