• ARTS 037 Sculpture

Assignment Calendar PDF

 

SCULPTURE ARTS 037   ASSIGNMENT CALENDAR

Monday January 13            Class Overview

• Syllabus
• Website
• Resources
• Safety
• Art Walk/Discussion: Sculptural Idea, Aesthetics, Social and Political Context
• Sculptural Space
  • Favorite spot/space
• Materials
  • Intrinsic qualities vs. Assigned qualities
    • Gold/copper example
  • Affects
    • Joining, Feeling, Value, Durability, Strength, Longevity/Permanence
  • Juxtaposition/Combination
• Collect Objects/Parts for Wednesday

 

Wednesday January 15            ASSIGNMENT 1: Additive Process: ASSEMPLAGE Nevelson Box

This assignment is an exercise in evaluating form and space by arranging found objects within a prescribed space. By neutralizing the influence/effect of the individual object’s color and material by painting the assemblage with one color we are forced to look at only the relationship between the forms themselves and the effects of light, shadow and depth. An additional result is also apparent in the effect/ feeling that the chosen single color can communicate.

Artists

Pablo Picasso

Louise Nevelson

• Gestalt
• Repetition
  • Units
• Demonstration
• Process

Demonstration: Box Construction

Construct Boxes

Assemble

 

Monday January 20            Assemble

 

Wednesday January 22            Glue/Attach/Assemble

 

Monday January 27            Paint/Finish—Black

Introduce Carving

 

Wednesday January 29            Group Assemble Boxes, Arrange Space

CRITIQUE: Nevelson Box

• Individual Nevelson Box
  • Creativity
  • Dynamic Space
• Group Assemblage
  • Arrangement of Space
  • Theme or Symbolism
  • Gestalt

 

Monday, February 3            ASSIGNMENT 2: Subtractive Process: Distilling Form

This assignment is an exercise in distilling and capturing the essence of an organic object. The project will begin by choosing a wood fragment and sketching a design of what you hope to achieve by carving. You will also draw on the wood itself marking roughly where material will be cut away/subtracted. Then using a combination of hand tools; chisels and knives, material will be carved away to reveal new form. You must have at least one hole in the final form. Once removed, material may not be later added. However, you may choose to create multiple pieces which may create a grouping. In the final step, you will be continuing the subtractive/reductive method to carve fine details as is applicable to your design. After carving, you will further develop the content of your sculpture texturally by sanding and smoothing the exterior.

Artists

Barbara Hepworth

Henry Moore

Constitin Brancusi

Demonstration: Carving

Choose Wood

Sketching

 

Wednesday February 5            Carving

 

Monday February 10            Carving

 

Wednesday February 12            Finishing

 

Monday February 17            Presidents Day

 

Wednesday February 19            CRITIQUE ASSIGNMENT 3: Subtractive Process: Distilling Form

 

Monday February 24            ASSIGNMENT 4: Clay Modeling

This assignment will allow you to add and subtract, as well as model the material in the process of creating new form. We will be individually creating the head/bust of a mythological, science fiction or fantasy character. You have the choice of using pictures of a character that some other artist has already created or sketching your own images to use as references to sculpt from. The process will begin be creating an armature (sculptural skeleton) using paper, wire and blocks of wood. You will then add plastilene clay to this armature to model the form. A major concept of this assignment is the understanding that a “good ” sculptural form has no front or back. In other words, it should be dynamic and interesting from all angles. This understanding can be difficult when the subject of the sculpture has a face. You will need to pay equal attention to all sides/angles of the head, not just the face.

Artists

Auguste Rodin

Henri Matisse

David Meng

 

Armature

• Apply clay

 

Wednesday February 26            Model Head

 

Monday March 2            Model Head

 

Wednesday March 4            Model Head

           

Monday March 9–Friday March 13           SPRING BREAK

 

Monday March 16            Refine Model

 

Wednesday March 18            CRITIQUE : Clay Modeling

 

Monday March 23            ASSIGNMENT 4: Casting

This assignment Focuses on the specific technique of casting. We will be using the clay head that you created in the previous assignment to make a waste mold from and in turn cast a plaster version. To do this successfully, you will need to carefully prepare the original clay sculpture by applying metal shims which divide the head into three parts. These will be registered to one another by creating “keys” that are necessary to realign the mold parts when reassembled for casting.

Apply Shims

 

Wednesday March 25            Mix and Pour Plaster First Section

 

Monday March 30            Mix and Pour Plaster Second and Third Sections

 

Wednesday April 1            Break Mold

Refine/finish Casting

 

Monday April 6            Refine/finish Casting

Base

 

Wednesday April 8            CRITIQUE: Plaster Head Cast

 

Monday April 13            FINAL ASSIGNMENT: 4: Body Tape-Casting: Kinetic Extensions

Your final assignment is an exploration of human form, and its relationship to site specific locations. With a partner, explore and interpret the theme of super hero by making a tape casting of one or more parts of your body using the techniques demonstrated in class. (Using Scotch Brand Packing Tape, Saran Brand Plastic Wrap, and scissors). You and your partner will then integrate/install these body tape-casts at various locations around campus. Begin by wrapping your body or the portion of your body that you wish to tape-cast in Saran Brand Plastic Wrap (I am requesting name brand packing tape and plastic wrap because it is much more durable and will not tear as easily, which will save you time when making your body tape-casts). If your body tape-casts tear while removing them, simply re-attach the torn edges and tape them closed. Next, wrap the packing tape around your plastic-wrapped body part. Be very careful not to wrap too tightly which will constrict your blood circulation.Use your scissors to carefully cut the finished wrap/cast off. Do not cut in a straight line, a spiral or curving cut is best. (DO NOT use an exacto knife or any sharp objects to remove your body tape-cast. ONLY use standard household scissors in order to refrain from injury). Once your body tape-casts are complete, install them to creatively illustrate the narrative theme of a super hero in action. You can be as creative as possible when installing your work. The option of adding a minimal number of found objects in addition to your cast can be incorporated in your installation/thematic environment if they greatly assist in more fully conveying the content of your concept. When choosing which action you would like to use, and the space where you would like to install your sculpture, ask yourself questions such as: “Which parts of my physical body are integral to carrying out this action?”, “How does the space that I choose influence the effect of this action and content of the work?”, “What is the effect/reaction I am going for?” “ Does it convey a theme, emotional state, or mood from your own life experience?”

 

Installation

Please be sure to sketch/prepare how your installation will look beforehand. Consider how the environment will affect the subject matter of your final installation. Examine the spaces that you are interested in and actively record your plans while in each of the spaces you are considering to better project and imagine how each might convey your vision. Before beginning setup for your installation, please meet with me to discuss how you plan to integrate your concept into the space, project how long it will realistically take to complete, and to get approval for the use of that space. When preparing your installations, ask yourselves questions such as: “Which processes/materials resonate with me the most?”, “Which combinations of materials/processes best convey the theme/mood that I am envisioning?”, “Is my environment going to be based on a full and detailed experience, or just a brief/abstract memory?”, and “Which Surrealist, Modernist, Post-Modernist, and/or Installation Art artists capture an emotional content in their work that I find inspiring?”.

Some Relevant Artists and Art Movements

George Segal

Viktor Hulik

1. Seward Johnson

Pop-Art

Installation Art

Post-Modernism

Choose Partners

Choose Super Hero

Explore Possible Action Poses

Test wraps

 

Wednesday April 15            Body Casts

 

Monday April 20            Body Casts

Cut and Re-assemble

 

Wednesday April 22            Cut and Re-assemble

Finalize

 

Monday April 27            LAST CLASS MEETING

Critique Individual Castings

Plan and Explore Installation Options

 

Wed. April 30– Wed. May 6            FINALS WEEK

                                                            Installation       and Photograph

 

Wednesday May 6            FINAL PRESENTATION

CRITIQUE: Body Tape-Casting Installations