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Manufactured Landscapes
To create a sculptural work of art is to bring an object into
the world that would not otherwise exist. The aim of thisassignment
is to recognize the artists dual role as both a producer of
commodities and a consumer of materialsand resources. Where do the
materials and objects we use come from, how are they made, and what
is theenvironmental impact of their production and consumption? How
is an everyday object directly related to the earthand its
landscape?
We will begin this assignment with a 3-D modeling and rapid
prototyping workshop with Carlo Sammarco. We will useRhino and the
schools CNC machine to create reliefs of topographic structures
derived from both Digital ElevationMaps and/or high contrast JPG
images. The goal of the workshop is to demonstrate how this
technology can beused to digitally visualize and manipulate and
then physically realize three-dimensional forms. You will need to
bring a
jump drive to class with you every day in order to save data
formulated within Rhino that will later determine yourprojects
physical manifestation.
After completing the three-week workshop, you will be introduced
to basic woodworking and welding techniques. Youwill be able to
decide whether your final project incorporates wood, steel or both
media into a sculptural object orinstallation. Lumber, plywood, and
1/4 round stock or 2 flat stock steel will be provided in limited
quantities.Critiques will be held on Thursday, March 4th and
Friday, March 5th.
Introduction to SculptureART255-01 M+T 1:20-4:10 Binns Merrill
SB01
Instructor: Alicia Eggert, [email protected]: Jonas Lindberg,
[email protected]
Class Blog:introtosculpture2010.blogspot.com
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Time/Dedication/Research 20%
First, you must choose an everyday, manmade object thatinterests
you in form or subject matter. Study your objectand answer the
following questions: What materials is itmade of? Where was it
manufactured? How are itsmaterials made or harvested? What natural
resources areused in its production, and where are they found?
Next, choose a geographical location in the United Statesthat
relates to an answer to one of the questions above. Forexample, if
your object is made of wood, research an areawhere trees are logged
or milled; or if your object is made
of plastic, research the location of a factory associated
withplastic production. You can even research a location
whereenergy may have been produced for the manufacturingprocess
(for instance, areas around coal mines or powerplants).
A high-quality and high-contrast JPG image of your object,along
with a Google satellite image of your location, must bebrought to
class on a jump drive on the first day of theworkshop: Friday,
January, 22nd. A blog post containingthese images, along with a
one-paragraph description ofeach image and a one-paragraph summary
of theirrelationship, must be posted on the class blog by
Thursday,January 28th.
In addition, you will be asked to conduct further researchand
create small models of your form throughout theworkshop. Deadlines
for this research will be announced asthe assignment
progresses.
Craftsmanship 30%
The craft of your final object or installation will be a
veryimportant part of this project. You must show that you
havepracticed the basic welding or woodworking techniquestaught in
class to a sufficient degree before attempting toconstruct the
final product. Welds must be clean, woodjoints should be tight and
free of excess glue, and cutsurfaces should be sanded smooth unless
a rough surface isimportant to your concept.
Concept 20%
Conceptual reasoning is always an important part of thecreative
process. Your ideas, whether they are based on aformal
investigation or political opinion, should be driven bythe research
you conduct about the relationship betweenyour object and location.
You will be asked to explain why youmade certain decisions, so be
prepared to justify them.However, this first assignment places
slightly moreemphasis on becoming proficient in one or both
mediums(but not necessarily an expert!).
Presentation 20%Final projects must be installed in the
Sculpture Gallery, CellSpace or Sculpture Box on the day prior to
critique(Wednesday, March 3rd). You must decide if your final
objector installation will be designed to rest on the floor, hang
onthe wall or be mounted to the ceiling. White pedestals arenot
allowed for this assignment. You must consider which ofthe three
spaces would be most appropriate for your projectbased on its
specific features.
All work must be adequately lit with the track lightingavailable
or with clamp lights. Typed (not hand written!) titlecards should
be hung on an adjacent wall, referring to theworks title and
materials.
Documentation 10%
You will be required to post documentation of your researchon
the class blog at several stages throughout thisassignment. One to
three images of your final project, alongwith a title, dimensions
and material list, must be postedafter the final critique. Your
final documentation should belabeled both with your name and also
ManufacturedLandscapes, so it can be easily accessed.
"What we need to question is bricks, concrete, glass, our table
manners, our
utensils, our tools, the way we spend our time, our rhythms. To
question that which
seems to have ceased forever to astonish us. We live, true, we
breathe, true; we
walk, we go downstairs, we sit at a table in order to eat, we
lie down on a bed on
order to sleep. How? Where? When? Why?- Georges Perec
