STUDYABROAD

PROGRAMCOLLEGE

OFART

KWAMENKRUMAH

UNIVERSITYOF

SCIENCEAND

TECHNOLOGYKUMASIGHANA

SUMMER 2005

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

ART&

DESIGNSUMMERSTUDIO

INGHANA

Study Abroad in one of Africa’s greatest cultural centers. Ghana, once part of the region known as the Gold Coast of Africa, is rich in history and indigenous traditions.

The Art and Design Studio provides an intellectually challenging academic experience that focuses on traditional and contemporary African art and design. Students will study in the College of Art at the University of Science and Technology located in the center of Kumasi, Ghana’s most industrious city. In such an environment, the possibilities for learning are unique and offer a vital context for encounters with the rich Ghanaian culture.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM The Studio will be taught by a distinguished group of faculty from the College of Art at the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, and The College of Design, NC State University. The program’s location is essential. Students are able to combine intensive studio work and travel throughout Ghana to conduct on-site field studies. Each site serves as an extension of the classroom, providing opportunities to observe and participate in creating traditional African artifacts.

Students may enroll in the Art and Design Studio for a maximum of six credit hours. Graduate level credit may be available subject to the prior approval of the student’s department. The studio provides an empirical experience with the focus on the investigation of motifs, symbols and markings found in traditional and contemporary Ghana. As we travel and explore Ghana, students are required to collect data by means of drawing, painting, photography, collecting artifacts, and oral and written documentation. The collected data will provide the foundation for the design of a series of motifs and patterns to be illustrated in multiple colors.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS University Students who have completed three (3) semesters and are in good academic standing are eligible. Graduate students and faculty as well as elementary and secondary school teachers are encouraged to apply.

Applications must be returned to the NC State University Study Abroad Office by February 4, 2005. A non-refundable deposit of $150 must accompany the application. The remaining balance ($2,845) is due by April 1. After April 1, 2005, no payment can be refunded. Apply early!

FACILITIESThe Art and Design Studio Program is based in the College of Art, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. Housing will primarily be in the city of Kumasi with the exception of the time spent on excursions to field study sites within the region. Accommodations will be provided by private guest houses (motels); two students per room. Breakfast and dinner will be included. Guest houses are located in the downtown section of Kumasi, in close proximity to shops, taxi stations and a variety of open markets.

NC STATE UNIVERSITY

THE ART AND DESIGN STUDIO PROGRAM

Ghana, West Africa

May 17– June 16, 2005

COSTCost of the program is $2,995. This includes tuition, lodging, excursions, international insurance, breakfast and dinner. Students are required to purchase their own airfare.

FINANCIAL AID Competitive scholarships in the amount of $500 and $1,000 are available from the NCSU Study Abroad Office for NC State students only. The deadline for applications is February 11, 2005. Non- NC State students may apply for financial aid from the Financial Aid Office at their home institution.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The Study Abroad OfficeBox 7344NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7344telephone: 919.515.2087email: study_abroad@ncsu.edu

Professor Charles JoynerDepartment of Art and DesignBox 7701NC State University Raleigh, NC 27695-7701telephone: 919.515.2078email: cjoyner@ncsu.edu

http://www2.ncsu.edu/intl_programs/ghana/

Illustration by 2003 participant, David Baldwin.

DEPARTMENT OF ART + DESIGN

Last name First Name E-Mail Address Phone Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 City State Postalcode

Barnes Whitney wcbarnes@ncsu.edu 512-4409 NCSU 409 North Hall Box 21174 Raleigh NC 27695

Boone Kofi kofi_boone@ncsu.edu 515-8349 NCSU Box 7701 College of Design Raleigh NC 27695

Bradford Elizabeth eabradf2@ncsu.edu 656-3393 2621 Ivory Run Way Apartment 101 Raleigh NC 27603

Clinton Stephanie smclinto@ncsu.edu 847-2531 510 Bert Road Raleigh NC 27606

Cooper Jessica jscooper82@hotmail.com 910-286-0752 4323 Hunters Club Drive Raleigh NC 27606

Cox Chandra cdcox@unity.ncsu.edu 515-2095 NCSU Box 7701 College of Design Raleigh NC 27609

Donnelly Andrea acdonnel@ncsu.edu 810-5141 959 St. Mary's St. Raleigh NC 27605

Eason Jenna JMEason@ncsu.edu 721-4021 1016 Dycus Road Sanford NC 27330

Everette Samantha saeveret@ncsu.edu 824-4083 NCSU 310 North Hall Raleigh NC 27607

Gantt Amber angantt@ncsu.edu 828-429-5691 NCSU Lee Hall Box 15795 Raleigh NC 27607

Joyner Charles cjoyner@ncsu.edu 515-2078 NCSU Box 7701 College of Design Cary NC 27511

Kiser Amy avkiser@ncsu.edu 621-3594 1637 Sutton Drive Raleigh NC 27605

Kline Carol carolkline@bellsouth 881-7995 5612 Hamstead Crossing Raleigh NC 27612

Lee Anthony ajlee@unity.ncsu.edu 512-8988 Box 21202 North Hall Raleigh NC 27607

Mize Charity clmize@ncsu.edu 919-349-0537 2717 Western Blvd. Raleigh NC 27606

Morrision Erin ekmorris@ncsu.edu 919-815-5734 2919 Wade Avenue Raleigh NC 27607

Solomon Carolyn cusolomon@earthlink.net 919-781-6930 5016 Hermitage Drive Raleigh NC 27612

Powell Candace cepowell@unity.ncsu.edu 252-903-2599 1921 Melrose Valley Cr. Raleigh NC 27603

Stoudenmire Shelly sdstoude@ncsu.edu 910-574-2018 3200 Compatible Way Apartment 307 Raleigh NC 27603

Taylor Brandon bttaylor@ncsu.edu 919-512-7022 2750 Wolfvillage Way Building C Apartment 201H Raleigh NC 27607

Williams Douglas dawillia@ncat.edu 443-253-1629 NCA&T State University 1700 N. Elm Street Apartment P2 Greensboro NC 27408

Total # of Students 21

College of Design

Department of Art + Design Art + Design Study Abroad Program

Summer 2005

Student/Faculty Roster

GHANA ART AND DESIGN STUDY ABROAD STUDIO PROGRAM ITINERARYMAY 17-JUNE 16, 2005

DAY 1 Tue, May 17 Depart Raleigh-Durham, Northwest Airlines #1687 (4:21 PM), en route to Detroit Metro; DepartDetroit Metro, Northwest Airlines #48 (9:30 PM), en route to Amsterdam Schipol

DAY 2 Wed, May 18 Arrive Amsterdam Schipol (9:00 AM) Depart KLM #8589 (2:20 PM) en route to Accra, arriveAccra (7:00 PM). Transfer to Hotel, Welcoming reception, orientation and dinner. Overnight in Accra

DAY 3 Thu, May 19 Accra City tour. Visit Alliance Gallery, Paa Joe’s Coffin, National Museum, DESIGN STUDIOSESSION 1. Overnight in Accra.

DAY 4 Fri, May 20 Depart Accra en route to Ho, Bead workshop at Cedi’s Bead Village, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION2. Overnight in Ho.

DAY 5 Sat, May 21 Bead workshop at Cedi’s Bead Village, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 3.Overnight in Ho.

DAY 6 Sun, May 22 Visit Akosombo, Cruise the Volta Lake, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 4,Overnight in Ho

DAY 7 Mon, May 23 Tour Ewe Kente village, Kpando pottery village, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 5,Overnight in Ho

DAY 8 Tue, May 24 Depart Ho en route to Kumasi, lunch in Mpraeso, Overnight in Kumasi.

DAY 9 Wed, May 25 FULL DAY OF ACADEMIC PROGRAM IN THE COLLEGE OF ART, KNUST, DESIGN STUDIOSESSION 6, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 10 Thu, May 26 COLLEGE OF ART ACADEMIC PROGRAM, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, KNUST,DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 7, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 11 Fri, May 27 FULL DAY TOUR CRAFT VILLAGES, Ntonso, Kente & Wood, Traditional Asante Architecture,DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 8, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 12 Sat, May 28 Kumasi City and Market Tour, National Cultural Center, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 9, Overnightin Kumasi

DAY 13 Sun, May 29 FREE DAY FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 14 Mon, May 30 COLLEGE OF ART ACADEMIC PROGRAM, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, KNUST,DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 10, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 15 Tue, May 31 Tour craft villages, Metal working, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 11, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 16 Wed, June 1 COLLEGE OF ART ACADEMIC PROGRAM, LECTURES AND DEMONSTRATIONS, KNUST,DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 12, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 17 Thu, June 2 COLLEGE OF ART ACADEMIC PROGRAM, FINAL REVIEW, KNUST, Overnight in Kumasi

DAY 18 Fri, June 3 Depart Kumasi en route to Tamale (Capital of the Northern Region), DESIGN STUDIO SESSION13, Overnight in Tamale

DAY 19 Sat, June 4 Depart Tamale en route to Bolgatanga (Upper East Region Capital), DESIGN STUDIO SESSION14, Overnight Bolgatanga

DAY 20 Sun, June 5 FULL DAY TOUR, Markets and Craft villages, traditional painted dwellings, DESIGN STUDIOSESSION 15, Overnight Bolgatanga

DAY 21 Mon, June 6 Depart Bolgantanga for Mole National Park, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 16, Overnight in thepark.

DAY 22 Tue, June 7 Tour Mole National Park, Larahanga Mosque, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 17,Overnight in the park

DAY 23 Wed, June 8 Depart Mole National Park en route to Kumasi, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 18, Overnight inKumasi.

DAY 24 Thu, June 9 Depart Kumasi en route to Cape Coast, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 19, Overnight in Elmina

DAY 25 Fri, June 10 FULL DAY ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND TOUR, SKETCH PROBLEM, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 20,Overnight in Elmina

DAY 26 Sat, June 11 Kakum Rain Forest, Elmina Castle, DESIGN STUDIO SESSION 21, Overnight in Elmina

DAY 27 Sun, June 12 FINAL REVIEW of Cape Coast Sketch Problem, Overnight in Elmina

DAY 28 Mon, June 13 Depart Cape Coast en route to Accra, enjoy an afternoon of individual and group activities,Overnight in Accra

DAY 29 Tues, June 14 Last full day in Accra, FREE DAY FOR INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITIES, Tour Art Market,Farewell Dinner, Overnight in Accra

DAY 30 Wed, June 15 Final day, Airport Check-in, Depart Ghana, KLM #8590 (9:25 PM), en route to AmsterdamSchipol,

DAY 31 Thu, June 16 Depart Amsterdam Northwest #39 (8:05 AM) en route to Detroit-Metro, Depart Detroit Metro,Northwest Airlines # 1690 (1:35 PM), en route to Raleigh-Durham, Arrive Raleigh Durham (3:13 PM)

Location Hotel Arrival Date Number of OvernightsACCRA Coconut Grove R. May 18 2HO Chances May 20 4KUMASI Georgia May 24 10TAMALE June 3 1BOLGATANGA June 4 2MOLE June 6 2KUMASI Georgia June 8 1ELMINA Coconut Grove June 9 4ACCRA Coconut Grove R. June 13 2

TOTAL Hotel Overnights 28

Art + Design Studio Program / Ghana, West Africa

Emergency and Evacuation Plan :

This Emergency and Evacuation Plan will be implemented in the event of a natural or man-madedisaster or political unrest that creates an unsafe environment in the host country. The chain ofcommand for implementation of this plan will be Program Director, Co-director, and Instructor.

The College of Design at NC State University has operated at this site since 1997. The followingsafety procedures will be in place:

• A complete list of contacts will be provided to the Study Abroad Office prior to departure.The program director will be available 24 hours via cell phone while in Ghana.

• The travel agency in Ghana, Motherland Homecoming Tours & Exchange, will provide safeand reliable transportation. Accommodations will be in reputable hotels (3 Stars and aboveratings)

• Prior arrangements have been made with the Bonson Clinic, Kumasi, Nyaho Clinic, and theHospital at the University of Ghana, Legon to accommodate participants if any illnessesshould arise.

• All participants will register their travel with the U.S. Embassy at the following web siteprior to departure: https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp

• A list of program participants will be forwarded to the U.S. Embassy upon arrival.

• At such time that an emergency arise, students are instructed to meet the group at thehost hotel in the current city. The project director will immediately contact the U.S.Embassy for further instructions.

Evacuation from the country is only available through the main airport (Kotoko) in the capital city ofAccra. Access to this airport can be made via local hotels throughout the country.

ART + DESIGN STUDIO 2005 / GHANA, WEST AFRICA

An Opportunity for a Multicultural and Diverse Educational Experience

One important objective of the Art + Design Studio in Ghana is to enable you and our hosts tounderstand each other better through shared daily living experiences. New insights willundoubtedly be shared with others after the program is over. The following suggestions are offeredto facilitate your interaction with our hosts as well as with others in our group.

As you begin planning for our trip, develop an attitude of openness and acceptance toward thedifferences, either subtle or overt, which you will certainly encounter. Increased understanding willdevelop through observing and describing these differences rather than judging or criticizing them.

Keep your sense of humor. There are inevitable misunderstandings and difficulties resulting frominternational travel, group experiences, and cultural differences. Many cross-cultural experts feelthat a sense of humor is among the most effective tools in overcoming cultural problems.

Remember that the Art + Design Studio is a group program, therefore, please place the needs ofthe group above your own. Get to know others in our group and work to develop a sense of groupidentity. Punctuality, of course, is a must for all group activities. However, Ghanaians may havedrastically different attitudes toward punctuality. In general, Ghanaians do not understand theAmerican “sense of urgency”. Move, but move in a more relaxed pace and be adaptable andflexible if changes are made.

As a matter of common courtesy, ask permission from anyone you wish to photograph. There aresome restricted areas in Ghana were photographs are not allowed. In most cases, I will tell youwhen it is appropriate to take photographs. This is especially important when we are visiting aChief in his Court.

Plan to take along small gifts as an expression of appreciation for new friends you may meet. I takelotion and soap from my hotel stays, postcards and decals from NC State University and NorthCarolina, key chains, pen flash lights, music CD’s and tapes, and magazines. However, it is a knownfact that the perfect gift for a Chief is a bottle of schnapps. We will purchase the schnapps inGhana as needed.

Although we are staying in some excellent hotels, it is well to keep in mind that Ghana is still inthe developmental stages where tourism is concerned. Therefore, you are urged to appreciateGhana for its own unique charms and please do not be tempted to compare it with other areas thatyou have visited.

A very important event in our program will be our visit to Cape Coast and Elmina. There, we willtour the notorious slave dungeons where millions of captured African passed through on their wayto be enslaved in the Americas. The history of America and that of our ancestors (both yours andmine) are so deeply rooted in these places, we would be remiss to not include this event in ourprogram.

Obi dan bi.(One person depends on another)

1

Department of Art and DesignCollege of Design NC State University

ADN 490 ART AND DESIGN INTERNATIONAL STUDIOInstructors: Kofi Boone, Chandra Cox, Charles JoynerOffice # 7, Park Shops, Telephone; 515-2078

COURSE JUSTIFICATIONThe Art and Design International Program abroad is a deliberate effort to allow design students anopportunity for intensive and sustained studio and research work in a culture other than their own.If design students see themselves as culturally diverse problem solvers, then they must haveexperienced living and working in more than one culture in order to function productively in theirchosen professions. By assembling students together in a program dedicated to learning about adifferent culture, students are offered a more challenging education, which also fosters greatermutual understanding among each other.

The Art and Design Program conducted a successful summer studio in Ghana, West Africa in 1997.This inaugural program was an important first step in augmenting our efforts to provide diverseeducation programs and to establish other linkage arrangements with Ghanaian universities. Thestudio attracted students from five North Carolina universities: Elizabeth City State University,North Carolina A & T State University, North Carolina Central University, Saint Augustine College,and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. One of the most important and enriching aspectsof the program was the unsurpassed opportunity for students to visit and study in one of thegreatest cultural centers in Africa. Future Art and Design International Studios will provide similaropportunities for collaborations between US students and Ghanaian students.

COURSE OBJECTIVESThe Art and Design International Studio is created to accomplish the following objectives:

To allow students an opportunity for intensive and sustained studio and research work in a varietyof Art and Design courses in an African culture

To expand the context of cross-cultural and multidisciplinary relationships between the Art andDesign Program and programs abroad

To create for Art and Design students awareness, understanding and appreciation for Africancultures and to assist them in recognizing the life-long value of living in and exploring a cultureother than their own

To allow Art and Design students to investigate a variety of traditional and contemporary art formsthrough both studio and field study site visits

SYLLABUS (Ghana, West Africa)The Art and Design International Program will offer a selection of studio courses taught by thefaculty of the host college. Students will spend two-thirds of their time working in a studioenvironment. One-third of the time will be spent accompanying the instructor to selected fieldstudy sties to observe and participate in creating art with various media and techniques. Each site

2

will serve as an extension of the studio, providing opportunities to work with artists and craftsmenwho’s work is part of the history and indigenous traditions.

Each field study assist students in integrating the theories encountered in the studio with therealities of creating traditional crafts. Visits to sites such as Pankronu Pottery Village near Kumasi,where pottery is still constructed by hand using traditional methods and the simplest of tools, allowfor a more intense study of these processes. In the village of Ntonso, skilled craftsmen, using dyesmade from tree bark, produced adinkra cloth with hand-carved stamps of calabash. During a visitto Bonwire, the most famous of the Kente villages, students will work with craftsmen to weaveKente cloth on hand-built looms. To reinforce their own knowledge, skills, and techniques,students documented processes through photographs, video, drawings, and writing.

Week 1. Arrive in Ghana and travel to host institution, KNUST. Orientation to the program by hostadministration and faculty. Tours of studios and supporting facilities. Introduction to studioprojects. Begin work. Visit field study sites. Document processes and techniques through analyticmethods of representation, photographs, interviews, drawings, and writings.

• Demonstration and workshop on traditional bead making in Ghana

Week 2. Visit field study sites. Document processes and techniques through analytic methods ofrepresentation, photographs, drawings, and writings. Continue work on studio projects. First studioreview and pin-up.

• Lectures, College of Art faculty, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology

Week 3. Continue work on studio projects. Visit field study sites. Document processes andtechniques through analytic methods of representation, photographs, drawings, and writings.Second studio review. Travel to major cities in the Northern Region.

• Visit studios and view works of contemporary artists and craftsmen practicing in WestAfrica

Week 4. Continue work on studio projects. Visit field study sites. Document processes andtechniques through analytic methods of representation, photographs, drawings and writings. Thirdstudio review. Visit Cape Coast and Elmina. Walking Tour of Cape Coast.

• Sketch problem in response to the Cape Coast TourWeek 5. Stateside: Depart host country for USA. Final phase of design and production of artwork.

Week 6. Prepare for final presentations and exhibition of studio projects. Document work fromstudio. Final exhibition of all student work exhibited in the College of Design during the fallsemester.

Sketchbook / JournalA designer must learn to see the world with the eye of the artist. This means being a vigilantobserver of the world, always open to creative inspiration, and it means capturing those fleeting,inspired moments. Learning to record creative thought as it occurs can provide an endless streamof design inspiration. To cultivate the necessary skills, students will be required to initiate andcontinuously develop a journal of inspirational materials. Those materials can be anything thatstimulates your creativity and imagination. Each journal will be as individual as the designer will.Entries may be studies of a single design element, or related to many elements and principles.Build your inspiration pages using drawings, photographs, digital images, magazine pages, papers,

3

fabrics, trims, natural objects, manmade objects, or anything else that inspires you. In developingyour journal, these guidelines should be followed: Keep pages organized and as neat asreasonable. Make your entries studies, not just an element taped to a page. Try to capture why itinspires, how it inspires, and what it inspires. Strive for aesthetically pleasing presentations. Youwant to pick up your journal and love working in it and looking through it. The journal will besubmitted for review 4 times during the course. It will be graded during two of those submissions,once at midterm and again at the end of the semester. The journal will count for 25% of your finalgrade.

TEXTSThere are no required texts, however references may vary based on the content of the studio. Allrelevant tests will be made available to the students before and during the studio.

EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIESA good quality 35mm camera and an ample supply of film for documentation are required. Eachstudent will be required to keep a bound sketchbook/journal, which is also graded, at the end ofthe course. See attached project statement for a list of additional requirements and supplies

METHODS OF EVALUATIONBecause of the time constraints of the program, assigned projects will be short in duration andstudents are expected to meet specified due dates. Regular hours of the studio will be 9 a.m. to 5p.m. daily with a two-hour break. Field studies will generally require a full day and are scheduledthroughout the week and on weekends. Studio projects will be reviewed weekly and students arerequired to attend and participate in all critiques. Projects are evaluated in one or more of thefollowing ways, with varying degrees of emphasis: group and individual critiques, end of coursecritiques and reviews, and/or portfolio reviews and group exhibitions. Grades are based on acareful evaluation of all studio projects and supporting materials. Criteria for evaluation vary withthe project undertaken but usually include generation of alternative solutions, conceptdevelopment, thoroughness, completeness, craft, concept appropriateness and originality andprofessionalism. Therefore, it is important to keep excellent documentation of all processes.Projects not available for reviews will be considered late. Late projects will receive a grade of oneletter lower than deserved for each day it is late. The quality of the grade is determined by apositive progression over theduration of the course.

Definition of letter grades and grade points: the following information is provided to describe themeans by which both mid-semester and final grades will be determined.

The grading system follows University policy and incorporates the use of plus and minus.A =excellent B =good C =satisfactory D =marginal F =failure

Please note:• Late work will be lowered one grade level and will be evaluated at the convenience of theinstructor.

• A grade of IN (incomplete) will be given for documented medical reasons only.

4

ATTENDANCE POLICYAttendance is mandatory and not negotiable. The visual lab structure is largely determined by thenecessity for a continuing dialogue between the students and the professor, therefore attendanceis required and each student is expected to be in the lab for the full duration of the class. Noallowance is made for unexcused absences.Excused absences are defined by the University at:http://www.ncsu.edu/provost academic regulations/attend/reg.htm/

• Requests for anticipated excused absences must be submitted, with appropriatedocumentation, as soon as you are aware of them and before the absence.

• Requests for excused emergency absences must be made and appropriatelycertified as soon as possible and no later than one week after the return to classes. As a courtesy,a phone call or e-mail explaining your absence would be greatly appreciated.

• Requests to make up missed assignments or exams (reviews) are to be initiated bythe student within one week of the absence.

PLEASE NOTE• More than 3 absences (excused or unexcused) will lower your overall

grade of the semester.• More than 6 absences (excused or unexcused) will prevent you from

meeting the course requirements and result in failure of the class.

HEALTH AND SAFETYAs part of your educational experience at the College of Design, you will be expected to participatein classes, field trips, and workshops in locations both on and off the campus. You will be expectedto fulfill your class assignments using equipment, tools and machinery. It is expected that you willuse proper care and caution and will assume responsibility for you health and safety.

HONOR CODEAll students who enroll at NC State are required to adhere to the guidelines for academic integrityas outlined in the NCSU Code of Student Conduct. For more information contact the Office ofStudent Conduct at 515-2963 or access the Code at the following World Wide Web site:http://www2ncsu.edu/ncsu/studaffairs/policies/

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIESStudents with disabilities that may affect participation in this class should notify the instructor sothat any necessary adjustments can be made. You may also contact the NCSU Disability Servicesfor Student Center regarding campus services at room 2000 Harris Hall or on the World Wide Website at: http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/stud affairs/counseling center/bss/

Department of Art and DesignCollege of Design

Art and Design Summer Studio in Ghana 2005This design studio will provide an empirical studio experience with the focus upon, the investigation ofmotif, symbols and markings found in traditional and contemporary Ghana. As we are exposed to and learnabout the history of art, culture and artifact making in Ghana, efforts will be made to maximize thisopportunity with direct collection of data through a series of field studies. All of this data will be recorded inyour sketchbook. A variety of techniques can be used to collect data. For example, drawings, rubbings,photographs, interviews, direct observation, ideation sketches and collecting artifacts can assist you ingenerating ideas.

The projects for this studio will be assigned and developed in several phases. Each phase will includelecture components that introduce relevant design criterion and historical context, both are expected to beincorporated into the designs. The final portfolio will include all of these elements and is to be completedindependently, stateside. After our return a final critique will occur and the final grade determined.

Each student is to design a portfolio consisting of 20 plates of African motifs.• 10 plates will be direct translations of the observed motifs.• 10 additional plates will be alternative/modified transformations of the observed motifs.

Sketchbook:Students are required to keep a sketchbook with them at all times, recording observed motifs as you movefrom place to place. The locations and sources of motifs are very important so it is important to documentthis information and include it with each study.

Color:Record in this sketchbook samples of local colors combinations.The local color combinations will include 3 or more hues.Coloration of the plates will be determined or influenced by the local color samples collected

Structure:The modified translations will include the following design elements:• Evident figure /ground relationship• Visible and invisible grid structures• Formal and informal arrangements

The final version of the portfolio will be due October 3, 2005

Design Studio Equipment & Supply List9”x12” Bound journal/SketchbookPrimacolor pencil set (12 +)Set of gouache colorsAssortment of small paint brushesAssortment of black markers (varied line weights)Plastic storage boxPencilsX-acto knife (#1), blades (#11)35 mm Camera or Digital CameraFilm, batteries, image storage diskGlue stick

A WALK THROUGH CAPE COAST—SKETCH ASSIGNMENT

“Here’s the whole environment. And it’s apalette.” -Joyner

Cape Coast is one of the most diverse cities in Ghana. It is situated on rolling hills and valleys that descendsouth to the Gulf of Guinea. Emerging from Oguaa (Fante for “Market”) Cape Coast began as a collection offishing villages sharing Oguaa. Cape Coast is an English translation of the Portuguese “Cabo Costa” withrefers to the large stone outcrop upon which Cape Coast Castle was built. Beginning with the Portuguese,European colonists came and developed trading posts in the 1400’s. The British intensified development andexpanded the town during the height of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. An estimated 5 million enslavedAfricans were moved through Cape Coast Castle and nearby Elmina Castle.

Cape Coast was the first capital of the Gold Coast colony, and the site of complex conflicts and cooperationbetween the Fante, Ashanti, and various European groups. The city is unique in that many of these differentrythyms are visible and legible; pre-colonial, colonial, post-colonial freedom movement, and contemporaryglobal influences are all apparent and legible in the landscape.

These references in the landscape can be understood as patterns, and patterns help us navigate throughareas. We refer to and can reveal different patterns at various scales. We notice different things on anintimate human scale than we do from a distance. As designers and artists, we can identify and use thesepatterns as guides and inspiration.

ASSIGNMENTThe goal of this sketch problem is to use your investigations from the Ghana trip to help discover patternsalong a walk through Cape Coast. Refer to the attached walking route and select a minimum of four pointsalong the route to sketch in perspective, each sketch should fill a sheet in your sketchbook. You are toinvestigate the route, document patterns observed and experienced along the route, and develop a series ofsketches that analyze the patterns. Three points are required: the market, a street, and the view from the topof Fort William. The fourth is of your choice. After developing your sketches, you will develop analysisdiagrams describing patterns in the following categories:

Color and light —what color palettes and combinations are visible and identifiable an the route? Do certainareas have different uses of color and palette? How do light and shadow create patterns?Materials and textures —are there material palettes that give reference to different parts of the walk? Canyou associate different materials with different places? Do their combinations change based on area? Canyou find examples of the same material used together in different ways?Movement and activity —are there patterns in the physical environment shaped by daily activities along theroute? Where do people gather? Where do people walk? Where is there no activity? Are there activities thatare based on time of day?Scale —are there different patterns experienced within an environment than there are viewing the sameenvironment from above/without? how do buildings, streets, and plazas alter your perception of patterns?

FINAL REVIEW: SUNDAY JUNE 12, 2005

ART + DESIGN STUDIO 2005 / MORE TRAVEL TIPS FOR GHANA

You will never feel like a stranger in Ghana. Amazingly, once you are in the country, you will feel at home.Visitors are always greeted with a warm “Akwaaba” which goes beyond a simple “welcome” to “come andjoin us.” Ghanaian warmth and hospitality will make your stay, no matter what its duration, a memorableand delightful experience.

Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required for travel in Ghana. On the aircraft beforelanding at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the flight attendant will give everyone an arrival card. Onthis form, fill out your passport and entry information and have it with your passport and health(immunization) card when you arrive in the immigration area at the airport.

Customs Regulations: Personal effects are allowed, provided they are for personal use. There is norestriction on the amount of foreign currency you may bring into the country; however, the amount must bestated on the currency declaration form. Be sure to keep your currency declaration form and any exchangereceipts for your departure. You are not required to declare amounts under $1,000.

Travelers Checks and Credit Cards: You will not be able to cash any personal checks drawn on anybank while in Ghana. Therefore, it is recommended that you carry traveler’s checks and/or cash. Pleasenote that traveler’s checks are subject to a lower rate of exchange than cash transactions. A lower rate ofexchange will also apply for small denominations of U.S. bills ($1’s, $5’s, and $10’s). You will have noproblem exchanging Cedis back into U.S. currency.

The most widely accepted credit cards are Visa, MasterCard and Diners Club. You will be able to useMasterCard or Visa (and American Express where it is accepted) to get cash advances. My advice is tobring cash and perhaps a few traveler’s checks for backup.

Tipping: Tips are not included in the price of your tour. Therefore, remember to tip your driver,guide, representative, and the hotel staff for the services they have rendered. If you go out to eat at a localrestaurant, a gratuity of 10-15% is customary.

Bargaining: Bargaining in Ghana is conducted in the manner of a sport, with its own rules andrewards. It combines the ability to maneuver the power of persuasion, the exercise of psychology, andpatience. Bargaining is limited to certain stores and certain areas. For instance, prices are not negotiable indepartment stores or government stores. You should ask your tour guide if you have questions aboutwhether prices are fixed.

Photographs: Tourists are not allowed to photograph military installations and zones, bridges, andestablishments connected with public works, such as dams, power stations, and radio and televisionstations. Do not take photographs at or near the airport.

In some areas, people may not wish to have their photographs taken for religious reasons. In order to avoidoffending someone, it is best to ask before you take a photograph of someone. Generally, I will let youknow when it would be inappropriate to take photographs.

Film is available in photographic shops and in shops in major hotels; however, the film will be VERYexpensive in Ghana. For that reason, you should BRING MORE FILM THAN YOU THINK YOU WILL NEED.Film should not be scanned at the airport security stations. Take the film out of the plastic container andplace it in a Ziploc bag. When you get to the airport security station, hand the Ziploc bag containing the filmto the security screener.

Clothing: The climate in Ghana is warm and tropical year-round. March temperatures will averagearound 28 centigrade. Be sure to pack light, washable cotton clothing and casual wear including a long

sleeve shirt or blouse for cool nights. Do not forget your sunglasses, a hat and comfortable walking shoes.There are no restrictions on what men and women may wear. In Ghanaian culture, however, women donot wear revealing clothes. Slacks and shorts for women and men are permissible.

Ghanaian hotels do not always provide washcloths. I suggest that you bring a washcloth and a Ziploc bag tokeep it in when it’s wet. Because most of the hotels we will use have pools and we will also visit coastalareas, you might wish to bring a bathing suit. A pint-size water bottle is a must for use when we travel toless-metropolitan areas. Other items, which I routinely take to Ghana, include toilet paper, facial tissue orwet wipes. Paper, if found, in public facilities does not always meet standards we have becomeaccustomed to.

Shopping: Almost no one visits Ghana without acquiring one or more custom-made garments.Besides, you will be required to wear Ghanaian attire at our farewell dinner. There is an abundance ofmarkets throughout the country and shopping is an experience not to be missed. The following items maybe of particular interest

Gold Weights - These are reproductions of the famous Ashanti weights that were originallymade of copper, bronze and brass and were cast from wax models enclosed in clay molds. Theweights are human and animal forms and each form tells its own story, which is rooted in thecountry’s history and culture.

OWare Boards – One of the oldest games in Ghana, the Oware game board is made of wood inwhich two parallel sets of six holes have been carved. The playing pieces are usually seeds fromthe Mulucca Bean or Nicker Nut tree. It can take hours to play the game. According to traditionallore, a game of oware between a man and woman lasted so long that they decided to get marriedso they would have enough time to finish the game. The game derived its name from the Akanword which literally means, “he marries!”

Masks – Masks are available in the Art Market from many regions of West Africa. Many of themasks are reproductions but make great wall hangings for your home or office.

Fabrics – Kente, Adinkra, Mud Cloth, Batik and Tie-Dye are but a few of the fabrics that areproduced in Ghana. The fabrics are easy to pack for a trip home.