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SYLLABUS


ART 39X Space Studio Syllabus

Fall 2008
Professor Anna Campbell
Meeting Time & Classroom Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00pm - 8:50pm Calder Art Center [CAC] 1718

Prerequisites Prerequisites: Art and Design Majors: completion of Foundations and permission of instructor. Non-Art and Design Majors: Junior Standing and permission of instructor.
Final Exam
Office Hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2pm; by appointment Mondays and Wednesdays 5-6pm
Office 1112 Calder Art Center [CAC]
Phone 616.331.3495 or ext.: 13495
Email campbean@gvsu.edu
Website http://look.gvsu.edu:8000/

Important Dates
Classes Begin
Labor Day Recess
Pay for Chicago Trip
Chicago Trip
Last day to withdraw
Thanksgiving
Reworked assignments due Friday, November 30th
Classes End
Commencement
Examinations
Semester Ends
Grades to students


Description Space studio addresses the creation of site-specific works based in the primary form and experience of space typically referred to as 'Installations'. It includes studio considerations of space, site, installation, public art, presentational practices and the related theoretical discourse within a studio context.
The course addresses the understanding and creation of artwork typically called “installation." Installations take a space as a given context within which a particular experiential encounter is organized. By working both in and out of traditional presentation contexts the studio engages a consideration of how art is “instituted." While the course addresses space as a primary element in visual art, it approaches this material as related to other studio media and considerations. In particular are considerations in sculpture and interactivity.


Course Objectives
0. 1. Analyze new and established sites for use in cultural presentations: materially, experientially, spatially, historically, socially, and politically.
0. 2. Construct presentations of culture that are deliberate and appropriate to existing and created contexts and conditions in works involving space. This includes analyzing, planning/imagining, implementing, and evaluating.
0. 3. Demonstrate an ability to plan and implement various types of documentation of works involving space. This includes how the documentation is presented.
0. 4. Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively in the production, presentation, and evaluation of cultural forms involving space.
0. 5. Demonstrate proficiency in the use verbal, written, and visual means to engage in effective and critical discourse about works involving space. This includes visual, conceptual, historical, and theoretical considerations.

Course Topics
The coursework in this class is based roughly around six different themes. Each theme is designed to introduce you to the scope of contemporary practices, and will be addressed through lectures, readings, assignments, demos, and critiques. These themes are:

space, site, installation, public art, presentational practices
Texts
(Texts are supplemental to studio work and topical to particular studio projects. They will be drawn from current periodicals.)

Structure
The primary studio source is the online collaborative web site, or wiki at http://look.gvsu.edu:8000/pony7 Studio participants are expected to use and check the web regularly (at least every other day) for announcements and new information. Clicking on the "changes" button will take you to a page that lists recent activity on the whole site. Critical announcements will be posted on the CPS blog on the home page of the web. Also regularly check the calendar page.
The focus of the studio is on preparing participants for future practice as visual artists as well as gaining awareness and engagement as citizens. We want to aspire to the best in professional practice, but work in the full context of the larger world of culture, commerce, politics, and civic dialogue. We will engage the range of visual culture that includes fine art, design, and our daily visual experience.

Community of Practice
With the purpose of maximizing applicable learning these following practices are valued:
Information and knowledge is readily distributed and shared.
Substantive social interaction is valued because learning is fundamentally social.
Knowledge is integrated in the activity of the group.
Learning is an act of membership in a community of practice.
"Knowing" and "learning" require engaging in practice.
Learning requires empowerment and responsibility.

Our intelligence is not just based on how "smart" we are, but reflects the richness of the learning communities we have organized for ourselves.
J. Cleveland and P.Stark


Required Travel
A bus trip to Chicago is scheduled for . The cost is $30.
Pick up a payment slip from the office. Payment is made to the cashier in Student Services. You must then deliver your receipt to the box on the counter in the Art Office. Deadline to have your receipt in the box in the office: Tuesday, September 27th at 4pm. We book busses based on the number of receipts in the box at the deadline.
A handout with itineraries and maps will be passed out the morning of the trip. The Art Institute of Chicago is no longer free on Tuesdays. Admission is $12 adults, $7 students with ID. The MCA is now free on Tuesdays. Millennium Park & the Chicago Cultural Center are also good venues, and always free of charge. There may also be an opportunity to see some contemporary West loop galleries.

Schedule:
7:40 am load busses at Calder Art Center
10:00 am (Chicago time) drop-off Art Institute of Chicago
6:00 pm (Chicago time) pick-up Museum of Contemporary Art
10:45 pm (approximately) arrive at Calder Art Center
You will receive a letter from the department that explains the necessity of the trip to faculty in other departments, in the instance that you have to miss other classes to attend this field trip.

Recommended Lectures
Lectures sponsored by the Art & Design Department can be found here: http://look.gvsu.edu/public/

There are also many other lectures sponsored by the university. Among those are the lectures presented by the Office of Multicultural Affairs; their itinerary can be accessed at www.gvsu.edu/oma/

Kendall College of Art and Design in downtown Grand Rapids also offers a series of lectures in conjunction with their gallery exhibits. The lecture schedule can be found here: http://www.kcad.edu/gallery/guest-lecturers

The Department of Art & Art History at Michigan State University [Lansing, Michigan] has a very impressive Visiting Artist Lecture Series. For artists and dates, see: http://www.art.msu.edu/?page_id=54

Feel free to alert the class to any lectures/ exhibits/ or important local events that may be relevant.

Attendance
The nature of studio working and learning is experiential and active, so punctual attendance is essential and expected. You may miss two class periods without affecting your grade. If you are late to, or leave early from class by 10 minutes or more this will count as 1/3 absence. Your final grade will drop a grade level per additional absence. The department mandates that any absence exceeding 5 results in an automatic failure. Religious holidays are excused absences, but you must contact me in advance of missing a class for any reason.

Please keep in mind that the allowable absences are meant for personal/family illness, travel prior to holidays, etc; do not use them carelessly, as this frequently causes problems for students later in the semester. If you do miss a class, please confirm any assignments/discussion content with me.

Critiques
Critiques are meant to help you evaluate your investigations into contemporary art. Our critiques will focus on the quality of physical execution in your work, as well as the formal and conceptual concerns addressed by the assignments, and your interpretations. Successful critiques depend on your thoughtful and honest evaluations of your and your classmates work. You must be present for all critiques, and your work should be set up and ready before class time.

Sketchbook
You will need to keep a sketchbook for this class. It should serve as a tool for you to work out ideas, take notes on demos, plan for projects, and record your process and progress over the course of the semester. You will need it for every class; this sketchbook should not be used for any other courses. Dimensions should be conducive to portability; approximately between 6” x 8” and 9” x 12”

Participation Participation requires that you are physically and mentally alert and active in class. You need to have a position, response or opinion about the ideas and work presented in class.

Be prepared to work during class; do not come to class with the intent of leaving to purchase or collect materials.

Late homework will not be graded; late projects will be lowered one full grade for each class period the work is late.

You must be on time for class with your work finished to receive credit for it; this applies to all coursework. Projects not finished before critique will not be discussed. Contact me as soon as possible if you need an extension based on documented illness or extreme family trauma.

Technology A significant part of the course is an introduction to digital media, or the use of computing technologies in the production of visual art.

Supplies, Material, Media

You may also want to use a portfolio or packet to keep your things together

Plan for approximately an additional $70 for supplies you will need to purchase later. It is often difficult to hold back funds for projects late in the semester, but it can be very important to have some resources for the appropriate materials for projects.

Evaluation Students are evaluated in 3 areas. Standard pedagogy in studio art varies in how these areas are weighted. Some faculty put much more emphasis on the studio production. Others prefer distributing evaluation criteria to reflect the range of criteria. These reflect the range of standard weighting of such criteria
0. 1. Studio production
This includes interim and finished studio products or productions: Exhibitions and public presentations of studio products, individual or collaboratively produced studio products. Studio products include: installations, public art, project proposals, and documentation or re-presentations of projects. 33%-70%
0. 2. Studio Discourse: Writing, Reading, and Discussion, Critique
The operation of the studio and learning involve the effective communication of ideas, participation in studio work, and the understanding of historical and theoretical texts. This can include the content of discussion participation, written responses to texts, written and verbal statements on studio work and ideas, and written and verbal critique. 10%-40%
0. 3. Studio Performance/Contribution to the Group:
Studio work and learning is a highly social and dynamic activity that requires active participation by its members. This can be assessed by attendance as well as observed contributions to the studio organization, production, and progress. 10%-40%

Grades are the result of a combination of your efforts in projects and studio performance/participation. You will get a performance report at midterm and then again at the end of the studio.

You have the option to redo studio work if you are not happy with the grade. Improvements in concept, design and craft will raise your grade; simply redoing the piece without making tangible improvements will not raise your grade. Reworked assignments should be turned in to me by Friday, November 30th.

A Individual responsibility for learning - reserved for exceptional exploration, in-depth research, original problem-solving, highly competent execution, and contributing a leading presence to the classroom. This includes:
Attendance- on time ready to work; Work in class - engage the work at hand, be ready with materials and discipline for class work, maintain appropriate studio organization; Work outside of class - work hard out of class to learn and practice what we are studying in class, do out of class work; Contribution - input and impact on group dynamic, practice, and learning; Willingness/Readiness to progress - be ready with materials and discipline for class work, go with the direction of the class, follow the detail of projects and exercises, move on from old comfortable ways of doing things.

B Demonstration of an understanding of course content -above average work effort, well-considered problem solving, good craftsmanship, enthusiastic participation. This includes:
Good creative process and practice; Management and application of ideas;
Skill and understanding in use of computers

C Average work. Parameters of assignments are fulfilled satisfactorily. Participation is regular.

D Understanding of concepts not evidenced through effort, work may be incomplete or hastily constructed, unwillingness to participate regularly

F Insignificant attempt made

Ability Statement If there are any students in this class who have special needs because of a learning, physical, or other disability, please contact the Disability Support Services [DSS] at 616.331.2490 and let me know.

Source This syllabus has been constructed with the assistance of Paul Wittenbraker, Renee Zettle-Sterling, Norwood Viviano, and Jim Visser.



ART AND SAFETY
Almost all materials and tools used in art have safety concerns.
For tools the safety concern is more obvious and to that end you will need training and authorization to use them. For others the concern is less obvious and may involve the chemicals contained or the vapors/dust given off when they are worked. GVSU is committed to providing the safest environment possible for you to work and learn.
Training will be provided during this studio class to help you identify and deal with the potential hazards you might encounter. There are, however, some basic things you must know and follow. It is your body and your responsibility.
Form available from 3-D Tech. in the Sculpture studio

‘RIGHT TO KNOW’ (MSDS)
Chemicals and materials that you are supplied with or that you are required to use in this studio class are supplied with MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). The MSDS identify contents, hazards and disposal instructions. Some are specific to a manufacturer; others are generic for a product. Copies are kept on file in specific locations and you may view them or ask to have a copy (or you can go to www.gvsu.edu/labsafety). The location of the MSDS file and the person responsible is posted.

You are required to sign a sheet that indicates that you have read and understood the above.