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2 Fort Road • South Portland, Maine 04106 • 741-5500 Midcoast Campus • 29 Sewall Street • Brunswick, Maine 04011 • 729-0273 Title: Introduction to Visual Art Thursday 3:00–5:45 Catalog Number: ARTH 105 Instructor: Michael Branca Total Contact Hours: 48 Contact Info: [email protected] Credit Hours: 3 Office hours by appointment Introduction to Visual Art Syllabus: Spring 2017 Course Description: The class serves as an introduction to the world of visual art. Through the use of a unique thematic approach we will explore topical threads that cross cultural and historical boundaries, leading from cave drawings to the present. Each class will feature a different inspirational theme—memory, structure, play, etc.—which will be explored through presentations, readings, writings, field trips, and studio projects in a variety of different media. Course Objectives Recognize and articulate an understanding of the concepts of visual art in academic and studio settings. Employ comprehension and vocabulary of visual art concepts to engage in critical discussions. Develop skills and experience working in a variety of art media. Produce a portfolio of studio art work and a collection of critical writings. Present and display finished artwork in a professional manner. Course Requirements Spend at least three hours per week working on homework. Complete studio projects for critique deadlines. Complete required readings and demonstrate comprehension in class discussion. Complete a weekly journal of writing about art; participate in discussion about writings. Actively participate in studio work, discussions and critique. Deliver a research presentation/project. “A lot of the art I happen to like ...involve(s) a suddenness that I associate with the effort to be aware, to be awake.” —Laurie Anderson, Time and Beauty COURSE OUTLINE Date Week# Topic Project Due Things to Bring Journal Due 1/19 1. INTRODUCTION - - - 1/26 2. LOOK WHAT I FOUND Recipe for art - #1 2/2 3. FIELD TRIP #1 Meet in our classroom first Found object sculpture Small sketchbook and pencil Bowdoin College Museum of Art Readymade (with title) 9400 College Station, Brunswick www.bowdoin.edu/art-museum 2/9 4. DRAWING Self portrait (if you say so) Pictures/supplies for grid portrait #2 2/16 5. TRANSFORMING SPACE Start grid portrait - #3 2/23 6. FIELD TRIP #2 Meeting place TBA Complete grid portrait Small sketchbook and pencil - 3/2 7. EARTHWORKS Collaboration proposal - #4 3/9 8. PLAY Earthwork - - 3/16 SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS 3/23 9. STREET ART / STORIES Collaboration prep - #5 3/30 10. COLLABORATIVE GROUP PROJECT Sequential narrative Tools/supplies for group project - 4/6 11. COLLABORATIVE GROUP PROJECT Vexillological design Tools/supplies for group project - 4/13 12. FIELD TRIP #3 Meeting place TBA Collaboration prep/TBA Small sketchbook and pencil - 4/20 13. COLLABORATIVE GROUP PROJECT TBA Tools/supplies for group project #6 4/27 14. FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS I Final presentation - #7 5/4 15. FINAL PROJECT PRESENTATIONS II Final presentation - - 5/11 16. FINAL CRITIQUE Final project - - ART PROJECTS To receive full credit, all work must be completed by the start of class the day it is due. Late work may be turned in for reduced credit. You may also fix-up or redo any assignment at a later time for increased credit. Individual assignments will be assessed as follows: 33.3% Project follows the parameters of the assignment in form and spirit and is completed on time. 33.3% Project demonstrates a working understanding of the specific concepts and learning objectives of the assignment. 33.3% Student challenged his/herself to get the most out of the assignment and executed it to the best of his/her ability. A Recipe for Art. Create a collage, drawing, painting or digital image following the rules you are given in class. Your work should be approximately 18x24” and the entire surface should be utilized (no blank space!). You may use any materials you can think of, including traditional art supplies, photographs, magazines, cloth, natural items, found objects, etc. It may be on paper, cardboard, wood, or any other material at your disposal. It does not have to be flat. You will be given a description of certain images you must include, beyond that you are free to be as creative as possible. Found Object Sculpture. Create a found object sculpture using common things found around the house, workplace, or outdoors. Remember form and function – your piece will be most successful if the materials you choose relate to your subject matter. Readymade. Find and present an “unassisted readymade” from the world around you, in the spirit of Marcel Duchamp. Once you (the artist) select the item and remove it from its original context, it becomes a work of art. Give it a new title to help complete the transformation. Self Portrait (If You Say So). Create a conceptual self portrait which tells us something about you without focusing on what you look like. Use any materials (traditional or nontraditional). Grid Portrait. Using the grid technique (as explained in class), draw an 18x24” portrait in the spirit of Chuck Close. Bring to class your big pad of paper and one or more photos of your face, a friend’s face, or a famous person’s face printed in black & white on printer paper. Try to find or create an image that has dramatic light and shadow. Make your printout at least 5x7” and be sure the resolution is good enough to draw from. Collaboration Proposal. Prepare visual materials and a verbal explanation of your idea to present to the class. Visuals may include drawings, 3-D models and/or digital materials (such as a Powerpoint presentation). You will be given five minutes to present your idea. Earthwork. Create and document an Earthwork in the spirit of Andy Goldsworthy. Photographs should be printed on high-quality photo paper. Sequential Narrative. Create a series of photographs, drawings, paintings, collages, digital images, or 3-dimensional constructions which tell a story using no text. Photos should be printed on high-quality photo paper. Presentation is key. Particular attention should be placed on how the images are arranged and presented to best convey your idea. Vexillological Design. Design (or redesign) a flag for the community (real or fictional) of your choice. Follow the rules of effective design as described by Roman Mars in his TedTalk, “Why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you’ve never noticed” at ted.com. If there is an existing flag for your community, please show it with your design. Contribution to Collaboration. The collaborative project comprises a significant amount of our semester. As we work towards our goal, you are expected to find ways to contribute. This may include working on part of the project at home, meeting with classmates outside of class, purchasing, scavenging or arranging for the donation of materials, and/or other tasks. Please document your involvement in order to receive credit for the work that you do. Final Project and Presentation: Your Final Project and Presentation shall include the following: 1. PRESENTATION: A presentation of between ten and fifteen minutes on an approved art topic of your choice. Your presentation must consist of equal parts factual information and your own opinions on your topic. Presentations are required to have a visual component (such as a Powerpoint presentation) including 15 projected images of works of art. Topics may include a comparison of two or more artists; an art movement; a group of artists who work(ed) together or who inspired each other; art created during a particular historical period; art from a specific region; a philosophy or theory of art; art that deals with a specific topic of your interest. Projects must focus on more than one artist. 2. ARTWORK: An original work of art of your own design and creation inspired by your research. It should not be a direct copy of another artist’s work. Your project may be done in the style of another artist’s work, may be an homage to an artist or art movement, may reinterpret a particular work of art in a different medium from the original. This might include a sculptural reimagining of a painting, etc. Your work does not need to be done in the same materials as your subject, and in fact may be more interesting if it uses a wildly different medium. 3. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Properly formatted in a standard format (MLA, APA or Chicago) and including at least three sources (not Wikipedia). Please do not just submit a list of websites. Grading Breakdown (subject to change): 50% Artwork Artwork relates and contributes to theme of project 10% Idea is carried though and sufficiently ambitious for the assignment 30% Originality of concept 10% 40% Presentation Depth of research 25% Organized presentation (including 15 images of appropriate resolution) 15% 10% Other Timely selection of subject and other deadlines 5% Bibliography (organized, properly formatted, turned in on time) 5% JOURNAL ASSIGNMENTS Each journal paper should be approximately 500 words in length. Writings may be printed on paper or submitted via email. If emailing, please put your response in the body of the message, not as an attachment. Essays are worth 2 final grade points. Late writings will be penalized 20 points. 1. Read the following article and give your response to Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain.” Consider its power and importance both as a physical object and as an idea. How does context affect how we respond to an object? Why do you think this work had such an effect on the art that has come since? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3671180/Duchamps-Fountain-The-practical-joke-that-launched-an-artistic- revolution.html (If you go to telegraph.co.uk and type “DUCHAMP’S FOUNTAIN” in the search bar, the article should come up.) 2.