Calle Renier, Dorsoduro 3655 – 30125 Venezia tel. 041.296 0599

CAF AR 419

INSTRUCTOR: Davide Penso [email protected] CLASS: every Tuesday from 3.00 pm to 7.00 pm (56 hours) SITE: Isle

COURSE DESCRIPTION The CFA AR 419 Glassblowing is a course that takes place on the Murano Isle, and it is an introduction to the real professional way to approach the torch and how to melt . During this course students learn about tools used for creating glass . Each student learns how to create his/her own and right out of his/her first jewelry, through the assistance and monitoring of the instructor. Each student is assigned a workstation equipped with its own workspace and torch. Each workspace has all the tools she/he needs, including: steel spindles or needles, safety , pan pot of graphite, flat pliers to shape the glass, vermiculite to cool beads, etc. In addition, many glass rods of many different colors. The number of students per class is limited to 8. This allows the instructor a personalized evaluation, constant feedback and instructions. During the course, students will learn about tools for beads design and creation, most of glass fusion techniques, from the project to the professional production of the beads, designing jewelry, and strategy of sales.

On the 3rd of December, students will visit the Glass Museum in Murano. In addition, the optional visit to the furnace where students can see Giancarlo Signoretto’s glass , on the 3rd or on the 10th of December.

REQUIREMENTS For this course no requirements are asked.

ASSIGNEMENTS and FINAL EXAM Students will do some different exercises and assignments with different progressive levels of difficulty, in order to become familiar with the work-tools and the material.

The final exam will consist of the presentation of a final project, that students will discuss with the instructor and that they will develop in autonomy. The project might be the realization of an installation, a jewel, a lamp or anything else they are able to present to the instructor.

GRADING CRITERIA

Participation and Attendance: 20% Skills and Ability: 15% Two dimensional draft on : 15% Final project: 50%

Attendance

Boston University students are expected to attend each and every class session, tutorial, and field trips required for the class. Students should note that attendance will be taken into account by faculty when determining final grades. Students absent from class for medical reasons need to provide a local doctor’s note.

Plagiarism

Simply stated, plagiarism is taking another’s work and presenting it as you own. Definitions of plagiarism frequently include terms such as ‘theft’ or ‘steal’. Plagiarism is, in fact, intellectual theft. It is one of the most serious forms of academic misconduct. Plagiarism committed by a student will certainly result in course failure and may result in suspension or dismissal. For more details please see Boston University’s Code of Student Responsibilities: http://www.bu.edu/lifebook/universitypolicies/policies-code.html

Religious Holidays

Boston University’s Office of the University Registrar states:

‘The University, in scheduling classes on religious holidays and observances, intends that students observing those traditions be given ample opportunity to make up work. Faculty members who wish to observe religious holidays will arrange for another faculty member to meet their classes or for cancelled classes to be rescheduled.’ See Chapter 151C of the General Laws, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

SYLLABUS (Fall 2013)

10/09 – History and theory of “a lume” glass technique (lampwork); set up and workstation safety; how to manage the main tools.

17/09 – Easy decoration techniques; handmade bead shapes: round shape, cylinder, cone, bicone, olive, cube; decoration: how to apply dots and stringers.

24/09- Preparation of the “vetta” and “vetta latticino”; modelling the filigree and zanfirico beads.

27/09 – Program field trip to Padova.

01/10- The decoration distortion effect; the beads.

08/10- Employ of aventurine; encasing beads.

15/10 – All regarding the silver and gold application.

18 and 19/10 – 2 days program filed trip to .

22/10 – Introduction to design and project of glass jewelry, estimation of the costs and strategy of sales.

29/10- Blown beads: each student is expected to do different graduated exercises in order to become familiar with tools and materials; crystal round blown bead.

05/11- How to blow glass beads: round shape, olive, cube; modelling and encasing blown beads.

12/11- Decoration with dots and stringers; employing golden and silver leaf.

15/11 – Program field trip to Vicenza.

19/11- Making a “murrina” cane working only at the torch.

26/11- Making a mosaic bead using the “” cane; modelling a “rosetta” bead using the “millefiori” cane. During this part of the course, the instructor will show techniques as the roll-up and of beads grinding using the grinding machine.

28/11- Thanksgiving dinner with all students of the program.

03/12- Materials: students are expected to find the materials that will be employed in the final project; work on the pearls that will be employed for the final project - Visit to the Glass Museum 10/12- Assembling and presentation of the final project.

11/12 – Open Studio event and end of program reception.