Class Syllabus

Introduction to Sculpture, Fall 2009
ART 255 01 and 02, Binns Merrill SB01  

Instructor: Alicia Eggert, eggert@alfred.edu

Course Description   

This course will focus on individual artistic development, using both traditional and nontraditional three-dimensional materials. It will emphasize careful consideration of material choice, craft, form, space, site, presentation, and context. It will provide a forum for the discussion and exploration of contemporary sculptural practices, and the possibilities made available by such an expansive field.   

Goals and Objectives   

- Develop and encourage individual creative interests 

- Acquire fundamental skills in a wide range of techniques and materials, including wood construction, metal fabrication, mold-making and casting, basic electronics and kinetics 

- Discuss an artwork’s content and context, how materials can contain meaning, and the ways in which sculpture interacts with a space or site 

- Work towards safe studio and shop practices   

Attendance   

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class period. Success in a studio art class is dependent upon your participation in the studio activities and interaction with other students. This cannot occur if you are not in class. Therefore, this attendance policy will be strictly enforced.   

You are allowed two unexcused absences. The third unexcused absence will result in the lowering of a full letter grade at the end of the semester. Four absences will result in the lowering of two full letter grades. Five unexcused absences will result in the failure of the course.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed and what you need to prepare for the next class. In addition to contacting one of the instructors, you should also contact one of your classmates to find out about any assignments not indicated on the course outline.
 

Workshops   

Workshops will be offered to the class by demand on Sundays at 5pm. They are intended to enable you the opportunity to focus on your own individual interests in a particular medium, and to learn specific processes that cannot be taught during limited class time. Attending two workshops will afford you one additional excused absence.   

Critiques   

As extended projects are completed, we will discuss all the work as a group. Despite the title, critique sessions are not intended to be forums for demeaning criticism. They are to assist you in your creative development by providing focused opportunities for you to verbalize your reasoning and intentions, and for fellow classmates and instructors to share opinions and assistance. Critiques in a studio class take the place of exams and quizzes in a lecture course. Attendance is critical and required. Not only are no make ups allowed, they are not possible.  

Project Documentation and Class Blog   

Documentation is a very important aspect of art making and will be a crucial component to this class. Most often, a viewer will not be able to travel to see an artist’s work in person in a gallery or museum, but will instead see an image of it in a book or on the Internet. Because of this, it is important for work to be well documented, in order for it to exist beyond the limits of a specific place and time.   

You will be required to photograph each of your major assignments and post 1-3 digital images on the class blog: www.introtosculpture.blogspot.com. Each post should be titled with the title of your work, and should contain information regarding the work’s materials and dimensions. Your posts should be labeled with your name in order to make your work easily accessible (a demo of how to do this will be given after completion of the first assignment).   

This documentation will be viewed during your individual critiques at midterms and at the end of the semester, and will affect your final grade. If you do not own or have access to a digital camera, or have trouble editing or uploading your images, it is your responsibility to ask for assistance.   

Sketchbooks   

You will be expected to conduct your own research during the planning phase of each assignment. Your research and process should be documented in the form of a personal sketchbook, which can include notes and journal entries, sketches, and images you find inspirational or of your work in process. Your sketchbook will be reviewed by the instructors throughout the semester in order for us to better understand your creative intentions, and thus will play an important role in the evaluation and grading of your projects.    

Grading and Evaluation   

Grades will be based on completed projects, class participation (enthusiasm), project documentation, and involvement in class critiques. Lack of respect for studio rules and cleanliness will adversely affect your grade.   

ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Information   

If you are a student with a documented disability and you need accommodations, please make an appointment with the Director of Student Affairs.