Syllabus

ART 030 Section 201 Introduction to Sculpture

Instructor:  Dana Harper, dlh334@psu.edu
Schedule #: 781747
Time: MTWRF 12:45pm-3:35pm
Location: 103 Visual Arts Building (VAB)
Credits: 3.0
Texts: No required texts
Office hours:  MTWRF 3:35pm-5:00pm


If these office hours do not work for you, I am also available by appointment.  If you would like to meet after class during regular office hours, please let me know beforehand so that I have the appropriate materials and references prepared for you.


Course Description:
Along with analyzing and experimenting with three-dimensional design elements, students will be given a brief history in contemporary sculpture.  Students will have the opportunity to gain appreciation of sculptural form through hands-on projects, lectures, readings and critiques.  Elements of design, line, shape, size, texture, color and value as well as the principles of design, balance, proportion, rhythm, emphasis and unity will be discussed within the context of sculpture.  Through artistic exploration, students will understand the importance of concept, context and material.  Symbolism through material and form will be expected.

Course Format:
The course will consist of 6 hands-on projects and one short artist paper, projects will be given more or less time depending on the difficulty and process required.  The more time given, the more points the project is worth.  Projects are designed to explore the elements and principles of design while also encouraging the students to think critically of concept, context and material.  

After each project is introduced, the following day you are expected to have a sketches and ideas to share with the class.  It is expected that every student give feedback as well as the instructor.  You will be given as much class time as possible to work and I will also be available for individual meetings with students and demos throughout the process.  This will help me evaluate how much progress you are making throughout the week.  

Critiques:  
Critiques are an essential part of this class.  It is a time where we can get together and learn how others are seeing our work.  It is a unique opportunity to understand how effectively we are communicating. Each critique is worth ten points, if you do not show up for critique, you will lose these points as well as valuable insights into your work. 

Attendance/late work Policy:

You are allowed to miss three days of class, after this your grade will drop.  For each consecutive day missed your grade will drop again.  For example, if you had an A, you would receive an A- after missing four classes, if you miss one more class, your grade will drop to a B+.  I am not concerned whether these are excused or unexcused absences.  Two tardies are equivalent to one absence.  Unless otherwise discussed, each day an assignment is late, 10% will be deducted from your project grade.

GRADING:

Projects:
PAPER --------------------------------------------100 Points
STRUCTURE------------------------------------120 Points
INSIDE OUT -------------------------------------100 points
MULTIPLES --------------------------------------80 points
ASSEMBLAGE ----------------------------------80 points
FINAL ----------------------------------------------160 points

                           TOTAL                            640 Points

CRITIQUE------------------------------------------60 points
PARTICIPATION ---------------------------------50 points
ONE PAGE PAPER -----------------------------50 points

                          TOTAL                             110 points

For each project, I will be grading you based on this outline.

EFFORT/TIME SPENT----------------------------------------------------------------50 points
Did you come ready and prepared to talk about your ideas in class?
Did you take advantage of the work time given?
Did you work outside of class time?
Did you put forth extra effort to finish the project well?
                               
FULFILLS ASSIGNMENT------------------------------------------------------------10 points
Does the sculpture meet the requirements designated in the prompt?                 

TECHNIQUE/CRAFTSMANSHIP--------------------------------------------------15 points
Did you apply techniques that we talked about in class OR did you develop your own process?
Does it looked finished/purposeful/well put together?
Did you care about the details?

PRESENTATION-----------------------------------------------------------------------10 points
Did you consider how the work would be experienced by the viewer?
  -height, placement in the gallery, how it is positioned
                               
SCULPTURAL PRESENCE---------------------------------------------------------15 points
Is the work three dimensional?
Do we have to walk around the piece to experience it?
                        

       


PROJECT OUTLINES

PAPER (100 points) materials: paper product of your choice, hot glue, tape
Sculpture must be free standing; minimum dimensions are 12”x12”x12”.    You may use poster board, computer paper, cardstock, cardboard or foam core.  For our first project the goal is simply to understand how three dimensions work in space.   I would like you to focus on abstract forms and shapes, don’t worry about the sculpture resembling anything literal.

STRUCTURE/BUILD (120 points) materials: chicken wire, newspaper, burlap, masking tape
We will be reviewing different ways to build and construct form.  Working with plaster we will need to create a support system in the interior of the sculpture.  We will discuss building with wire, wood and chicken wire.  The exterior or shell will be made of plaster.  This will be an additive process, you can decorate or ornament your work with paint, fur, rhinestones or any other material you feel is relevant to your work.  

INSIDE OUT (100 points) materials: a vessel that can be filled with plaster
For this project we will be using plaster again, but instead of an outside shell, we will be using plaster to fill another form.  This form can be as simple as a cardboard box or more complex like pantyhose.  This will be a subtractive process.  You will start with an original form and then shape it through sanding and carving into the plaster.

MULTIPLES (80 points) materials: 100+ any object of your choice
For this project you are required to use over 100 of the same object to assemble your sculpture.  These 100+ objects must be the main component of the work.  After looking  at the artists from the power point, try to pinpoint which objects you are most interested in and why.  Think about different ways these objects can connect together, what types of patterns you may be able to create.  Also, think about the meaning of the objects that you have chosen and how this may be used to inform you about the form that these objects will take.

ASSEMBLAGE/SELF-PORTRAIT (80 points) materials: objects of your choice, hot glue
Every object has a purpose or meaning.  When we decide to use objects to make art, we are really referencing their meaning.  When viewers look at the work, the objects act as puzzle pieces to create a bigger idea.  Choose objects that have some sort of value or meaning to you. Think about how you would describe yourself and what objects may give this information to the viewer.

FINAL PROJECT (160 points) materials: your choice
For this project reflect on the materials and techniques that we used throughout this short semester. You can either start a whole new project, or revisit another piece.  If you choose to revisit a previous piece, I still expect the same amount of work.

ONE PAGE PAPER (50 points)
Please pick one artist that makes predominately sculpture, that you have seen in a power point given in class or on your own.  In this paper, please answer the following questions:
-what materials does the artist like to use?
-What are the main concepts/ideas behind the work?
-Why did you chose the artist, what makes them unique to you and your interests?

WEEK 1

6.27       Introductions

Introduce PAPER project

Demonstrations

sketch/make models

HW: come to class ready with ideas to share about the first project, as well as ideas you have for what types of paper products will work for this assignment.

6.28       Discuss ideas with the class

Demonstrations based on projects, these will most likely be optional

work day

6.29       Individual meetings

work day

WEEK 2

7.2         Introduce BUILD project

work day

HW: PAPER project is due tomorrow!!  Be prepared to talk about your work.

7.3          PAPER PROJECT DUE TODAY

Critique and discussion

demos on BUILD

sketch/make models

HW: come to class ready with ideas to share about the first project, as well as ideas you have for the interior structure of this assignment.

7.4         HAPPY JULY 4TH!

7.5         Discuss ideas with the class

demos based on projects

Emma Adair comes to talk and demo

work day

7.6         Individual meetings

work day

WEEK 3

7.9         work day

7.10       work day

7.11       work day

Introduce INSIDE OUT project

HW: BUILD project is due tomorrow, start thinking about objects you would like to fill, you will be asked to bring them to class on Friday.

7.12       BUILD PROJECT IS DUE TODAY

Critique and discussion

More talk about INSIDE OUT

HW:  come to class ready with ideas to share about the first project, as well as 3 objects that you would like to fill with plaster. Wear appropriate clothes.

7.13       Discuss ideas about INSIDE OUT

demos

Fill objects

WEEK 4

7.16       work day

demos based on individual projects

7.17       Introduce MULTIPLES project

work day

individual meetings

HW: bring materials on wednesday or thursday

7.18       work day

HW: INSIDE OUT is due tomorrow.  If you haven't already, bring materials for multiples project tomorrow. hot gun glue sticks!

7.19       INSIDE OUT due today

Critique and discussion

demos

sketch and make models

HW: Bring ideas to share about MULTIPLES.

7.20      Discuss ideas about MULTIPLES project

work day

WEEK 5

7.23       work day

individual meetings

7.24       work day

individual meetings

7.25       work day

individual meetings

HW: MULTIPLES project is due tomorrow!

7.26       MULTIPLES PROJECT DUE TODAY

Critique and discussion

introduce ASSEMBLAGE

HW: bring objects to play with.  have ideas about arrangement and relationships.

7.27      work day



WEEK 6

7.30       work day

7.31       FINAL announced

work day

HW: ASSEMBLAGE project due tomorrow! Bring idea about FINAL

8.1         ASSEMBLAGE PROJECT DUE TODAY

Sketch and discuss ideas for FINAL

HW: bring materials to class

8.2         work day

8.3         work day

individual meetings

WEEK 7

8.6         Work day

individual meetings

8.7         work day

individual meetings

HW: FINAL due tomorrow

8.8         FINAL DUE

critique and discuss

Safety Information (required)

Students in the School of Visual Arts may find themselves working in the shop or
in their studios or classrooms using a variety of power and hand held equipment,
which may cause injury. Students should use the shop only after having received
an orientation in the use of such equipment and when supervised by faculty or
shop personnel. Should any injuries occur, in the shop, studios, or classrooms in
the School of Visual Arts please report them to Jerry Bierly, Shop Supervisor,
Room 108-A Visual Arts Building, Phone: 814-865-3962, email: jib7@psu.edu.


Academic Integrity Statement (required)

University Policies and Rules Guidelines states that academic integrity is the
pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic
integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at The Pennsylvania
State University, and all members of the University community are expected

to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the
University's Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal
integrity, respect other students' dignity, rights and property, and help create
and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their
efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate
acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty
violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and
compromise the worth of work completed by others.

Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to acts such as cheating on
exams or assignments; plagiarizing the words or ideas of another; fabricating
information or citations; facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others;
claiming authorship of work done by another person; submitting work completed
in previous classes; and/or submitting the same work to multiple classes in which
a student is enrolled simultaneously.


Note to Students With Disabilities (required)

It is Penn State’s policy not to discriminate in educational programs against
qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability-related
need for modifications in this course, please make an appointment with me and
contact the Office for Disability Services, 116 Boucke Building. I should be
notified during the first week of classes. For further information, consult the
Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules
(1997).