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SYLLABUS


ART 153 Creative Problem Solving


Fall 2008
Professor Anna Campbell
Meeting Time & Classroom Mondays 2:00pm - 4:50pm Calder Art Center [CAC] 703
Wednesdays 2:00 PM - 4:50 PM Calder Art Center [CAC] 1718
Prerequisites Freshman art major or instructor permission
Final Exam Monday, December 8th, 2 - 3:50pm
Office Hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2pm;
by appointment Mondays and Wednesdays 5-6pm
Office 1112 Calder Art Center [CAC]
Email campbean@gvsu.edu
preferred method of contact outside of class
Phone 616.331.3495 or ext.: 13495
Website http://look.gvsu.edu:8000/shehulk

Important Dates

Classes Begin Monday, August 25th
Labor Day Recess Sunday, August 31st - Tuesday, September 2nd
Pay for Chicago Trip Tuesday, October 21st, 4pm
Chicago Trip Tuesday, October 28th
Last day to withdraw Friday, October 24th at 5:00pm
Thanksgiving Wednesday, November 26th - Sunday, November 30th
Reworked assignments due Monday, December 1st
Classes End Saturday, December 6th
Commencement Saturday, December 6th
Exams Monday, December 8th - Saturday, December 13th
Semester Ends Saturday, December 13th
Grades to students Thursday, December 18th


Course Objectives

CPS is creative problem solving. In this studio we will focus on understanding and making meaning in images and objects in a contemporary context. This will require investigating the contemporary practice of art and design, study in how images and objects work, and the development of basic studio processes and experimentation. The contemporary focus of the course requires that we learn and use digital media forms in combination with traditional media.

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 Tuesday, October 28th. 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, October 21st 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. Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago 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

A letter from the department that explains the necessity of the trip to faculty in other departments will be available in the art office, 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/

The Grand Rapids Art Museum hosts artist lectures every Friday night. The schedule for all GRAM events can be accessed at www.gramonline.org

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: 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: 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 designed to 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 thoughtful and honest evaluations of class work. You must be present for all critiques, and your work should be set up and ready before class time.

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.


Wiki

The primary studio source is the online collaborative web site, or wiki at http://look.gvsu.edu:8000/shehulk 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.
Using the appropriate pixels per inch for your output is essential. This is controlled by paying attention to image size - how many pixels your image has. This includes acquiring the optimum image size and handling the image so this size/quality is maintained. This is where scanner and digital camera settings come in. It also requires an understanding of resolutions appropriate for various outputs. 72 pixels/inch for output to monitors (internet), 200 pixels/inch for output to laser printing, 300 plus for professional printing.

Keeping all primary and resource documents organized: This involves understanding when a digital project is a stand-alone document and when alternately it is using other files as resources. It also involves keeping an organized and appropriate structure to your digital files as you store and move them from media to media. Digital files that use external sources include: html or web files, desk-top publishing programs such as Freehand, Quark, and Indesign, and image organizing/presenting programs like iView.

Supplies, Material, Media


If you have a digital camera to use for the class - minimum 3 megapixels - you do not need the compact flash card or reader.

Various found, collected, and purchased project-specific materials and supplies.
Various art supplies as needed that may overlap other course materials.
You may also want to use a portfolio or packet to keep your things together

Plan for approximately an additional $100 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.

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”

Grading

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 a 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 by Monday, December 1st.
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 is any student in this class who has special needs because of learning, physical, or other disability, please contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) at 616.331.2490 and inform me of any accommodations you may need.

Source

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



Weight of Assignments


Image Word 1/9
Snack Label 1/9
Relic 1/9
Instruction 1/9
Installation 1/9
Book 1/9
Curatorial 1/9
In-class participation, dialog, TAYP 1/9
Wiki participation, writings 1/9
Total 1

Grading Scale


A 92-100%
A- 90-91%
B+ 88-89%
B 82-87%
B- 80-81%
C+ 78-79%
C 72-77%
C- 70-71%
D+ 68-69%
D 60-67%
F 0-59%