art 12: Introduction to Spatial Practices. Spring 2006: Graham Budgett; Joe Reihsen http://www.arts.ucsb.edu/faculty/budgett/classes/art12/ Email us your details [full-name, perm#, email, major] Graham Budgett: budgett@arts.ucsb.edu STRUCTURE: MINI ASSIGNMENT [week 1]: EXCERCISE 1 [woodshop] EXCERCISE 2 [moldmaking/casting] EXCERCISE 3 [metalshop] INTRO: SCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 3D-works can populate many different spaces; we may examine formal and abstract spatial relationships, negative & positive space, anthropometrics & psycho-physical space, functional form, public space, etc., as well as work that lends itself to references and associations with life-experience and communally-shared ideas and memory. The artwork is seen here not as a discrete object that relates only to other art and to the gallery, but to a rich visual culture [some would say a language of signs], a context, and to a concern with the human condition. From this standpoint, you will need to gauge how much information, both literal or more abstract, you wish to provide for your audience to interact with. RESEARCH: Dada, Surrealism & Fluxus are historical groups [beginning early to mid last century, and some would say ongoing] that concentrated on expanding traditional notions of art, often by simultaneously referencing the absurd and the everyday. In the 1960’s and 70’s [in the USA at least] Pop Art & Minimalism reacted against the moribund Gallery/Museum/Academy dominance of Abstract Expressionist painting typified by the work of artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, and championed by critic Clement Greenberg. By embracing a reductive tendency toward ‘making art’ they constricted ‘gesture’ and problematized ‘transcendence’ in the art object. During that period the West saw cultural change that are reflected in its art forms: the Happening; Environmental Art; Conceptual Art; etc. In the 1980’s, Postmodernism and an art practice influenced by its theories of authorship/spectatorship flourished. Since the 90’s many artists have embraced collaborative, interactive, interdisciplinary, and technologically influenced works. These are very general trends that should not restrict your work or research, just inform it. PROJECTS: You will be assigned several projects during the quarter, one of them is a group project. They are designed to give you a starting point, but not constrict your own interpretation within the guidelines. At the end of each project, we will have a group critique in which you will be expected to comment on each other's work. In addition, you are asked to keep a log of your library research time. MATERIALS: Some basic supplies will be provided by the department. A small portion of your lab fee also contributes to general tools and equipment. Always have drawing and note-taking supplies on hand in the lockers provided, Each project will have more specific requirements for materials. CLOTHING: You are required to wear closed shoes at all times in the sculpture areas and shops. You also need to bring or wear long sleeves and long trousers for metal and woodwork. Dust masks are required for all work with particles – woodshop and plasterwork. No resin usage is allowed in our area. ASSESMENT: 25% attendance, preparedness to work, research, and participation in class discussion and critique, the rest evenly divided between assignments and excercises. |