Jim Park, Associate Professor Office hours: by appointment
Phone: 477-4638 Office: KH 224 Email: parkji@mnstate.edu
Course Statement
This class, 3-Dimensional design, is structured to facilitate information concerning the spatial organization of line, plane, volume, mass, space and form. Course work is driven by a basic force in the making of art, the content of who we are, our personal identity, and our identity as a group. Your learning will focus on verbal, mental, emotional and physical strategies in making art in the 3rd dimension - space. It will provide a brief historical and contemporary visual vocabulary through slide and video presentations, field trips and art events, discussions and handouts. This class will assist you in the technical and conceptual development of ideas as they pertain to individual assignments and to your individual growth.
Text: Launching The Imagination, 3rd ed, Mary Stewart, McGraw-Hill
Learning Outcomes
· Gain strong understanding of organizing 3-Dimensional Form in space
·
Develop
basic problem solving skills to complete and fully understand the concept of
each problem
·
Learn
that craftsmanship and cleanliness are a very important part of your developed
skills
·
Discuss
your artwork in terms of the fundamental vocabulary associated with objects
that exist in 3-dimensional space
·
Apply
your working knowledge gained from this class to verbally and materially express
ideas, concepts, metaphors, experiences, etc. in future endeavors
·
Work
very hard and understand that mistakes are not failures, but are part of
the learning process and will only benefit you in the future
Attendance
Attendance is absolutely necessary to pass this course. If you come to class late or unprepared to work and or participate, or in the case of critiques fail to share your completed assignment with the class, you will lose 10 points. Missed critiques cannot be made up unless a written medical or other compelling excuse is submitted to my satisfaction. Any student missing four classes will automatically have their final grade lowered one letter grade! For every three absences after missing four, your grade goes down another letter grade. For example, four absences and your highest possible grade would be a B, seven absences and your highest possible grade will be a C, and so forth. So be on time, as most presentations, demonstrations, and class critiques/discussions will take place within the first hour of class.
SO - COME - TO - CLASS!!!
I expect that all of you will contribute mentally, visually, verbally and physically to this class. Mentally:
you should think about what you want to get out of this class and how it may
benefit you as a student/artist. Analyze and edit your ideas by always thinking
of ways to make your designs stronger. Visually: it will be necessary
for you to observe and understand the formal and aesthetic organization of not
only your own work, but the work of your peers as it exists in 3-dimensional
space. Verbally: it is important to have a working vocabulary so you may
talk intelligently about each project that will be created in this class. Physically: this is a “hands on”
class and your physical ability to execute and complete your projects is vital.
The grade you earn in this class reflect not only your finished projects,
sketchbooks, participation, etc., but also your willingness to learn and work
hard no matter your initial abilities.
During each project, you will be working in teams of 2, 3
or 4. You will construct and
critique your own art piece, but during the design process, everyone in your
group will participate and help each other brainstorm – design – evaluate your
ideas through to completion.
Sketchbook / Artist Research
All students will be required to keep a sketchbook. This will include your project ideas,
notes, thumbnail sketches and processes and artist research. The Artist Research will require you to
read about and study a 3-Dimensional artists’ work (not 2-D work) that
either helps you visually with our projects or is of interest to you. Every assignment requires you to
research an artist, which are graded and correspond with the current
assignment. Document this research by; (1) Write the artists name, (2)
where you found this information (sources). (3) Do a colored sketch(s)
of their work (a simple sketch). (4) Write your feelings and thoughts
about this artist and why you choice him/her. (5) Describe/analyze the Principles and Elements of 3-Dimensional Design
found within the image and what you see in their work as it applies to our
current assignment and past assignments and knowledge. I expect a full page of
writing and take into consideration more substantial writing and sketching.
Grammar and punctuation are not too important at this time – streams of ideas
and thoughts are and will be a reservoir for your benefit, but do watch your
spelling (please proofread) and write with clarity. (I may have you type your research if I can’t read
it).
One Artist Research assignment required of
all students is to follow the above
criteria and write about a 3-Dimensional artist and artwork from a current
exhibition off of our campus that you attend during this semester.
Minneapolis Field Trip
On Thursday, April 23rd, we
will be going to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Minneapolis Institute of
Arts, and the Walker Art Center.
This visit could be an excellent time for you to do one of your artist
sketchbook assignments. This is required attendance and 10% of your
grade.
Course Assignments
Warm Up /
Exercises (paper)
Project
#1 - Line: (wire,
wooden dowels, string)
Project
#2 - Volume: (tracing
paper, wire or wooden dowels, Elmers glue)
Project
#3 - Plane: (recycled
paper-board, hot glue)
Project #4 - Mass: (plastiline,
Plaster of Paris)
Project
#5 - Form: (materials
to be determined)
The factors that
determine a project grade are as follows:
Concept
- Clarity
of following the assignment
Craftsmanship
- Technical
ability at handling the medium
Originality
/ Creativity - Doing
more than the minimum with the assignment
Oral
Presentation - Confidently
using 3-D vocabulary during class critiques
Artist
Research - Writing
/ analysis of an artwork
Participation
- Involvement
during group critique
Submitted
on time - If
work is late, your highest grade will be a C
______________________________________________________________________
Other factors that determine
your final grade are as follows
Field
Trip – April 23rd required
/ 10% of your grade
Mid
term Quiz TBA
Final
Quiz - TBA 50
points,
______________________________________________________________________
90% -100% = A Exceptional
skills, dedication and understanding of concept and technique
80% - 89% = B Demonstrates above average expectations
for this level, very good skills, dedication,
and understanding of concept and technique
70% - 79% = C Meets expectations for this level, basic
understanding of concept and technique
60% - 69% = D Understanding of concepts and/or skill
in techniques is marginal, or falls below
expectation for this level. Requires serious attention and commitment
below 60% = F Shows no effort or desire to learn,
excessive absences
Materials and supplies
Sketchbook, 24” metal ruler, X-acto
knife, Utility knife & extra blades, Elmers glue / hot glue gun and glue
sticks, Drafting tape, Duct tape or clear packaging tape, Sticks/wooden dowels,
Tracing paper, Plastiline, 8 lbs. Plaster of Paris, Cardboard box (roughly
8”square), Bass/Balsa wood, Sandpaper, Plaster Rasps, Rubber mallet, Wood
chisel, Needle-nose pliers, Wire, (16 gauge) Safety glasses, Magazines,
recycled paper board, and any other tools or materials as needs arise.
Miscellaneous Information
This is a community environment; Please treat our
tables with respect; always
place newspaper or cardboard on your table when working with messy material,
and clean up after yourself when you are finished each
day!!! This includes the floor
under your table and the sinks after you use them.
Any work left at school when this semester is over, becomes
the property of MSUM
There are exceptions to all of the above projects and this
syllabus may be amended at any time. If you have
any questions, concerns, or problems, please talk with me; I want you to succeed
and enjoy this course.
If you find yourself not being
challenged enough, please feel free to discuss this with me.
“Students
with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are
encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at
477-2652 CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are
implemented in a timely fashion.”