Summer 2005 3D Design 1203C Biscayne  Bay Campus T, TH 14:00-16:45 Instructor:  Pip Brant
Rethink project
Pond Phenomena
3D projects from the past

Course Description:  This course explores numerous technical and conceptual approaches to three-dimensional design.  The  five  1/2 hours of weekly class  contact time will be devoted to slide lectures, demonstrations, work time and critique and discussions about reading assignments.  An average of four additional hours will be needed for homework assignments.  The student is expected to visit 5 art exhibitions.

Course Objectives:

  • To develop and refine both technical and conceptual skills.
  • To gain a working knowledge of a variety of traditional and non-traditional materials
  • To discover ways to communicate ideas in physical form. Understand the transformational aspects in art making.
  • To be able to write and speak critically about your own work and the work of others.
  • To broaden your knowledge and /or perception of art and the process of making art.
  • Evaluation:
  • Attendance,  active and informed class participation in critiques and  on time completion of assignments.
  • Quality of  planned and completed projects.  Presentation, risk taking, conceptual development, physically compelling composition.
  • Prepared for class discussions, reading and  other related research is checked in working design books and statements of intent.
  • If you do not attend the final critique--automatic F  will be awarded.
  • Evaluation will be based on the student's attainment of the objectives stated above, and on the fulfillment of responsibilities of student as stated
    above, through demonstration and practical application. Again attendance is mandatory.
    A- Outstanding work and effort in and outside of class
    B-Very Good work and effort, clearly above the minimum requirements
    C- Good... average work, meeting all requirements
    D- Below average and contributing less than the required effort
    F- Not enough work to justify credit for the course missed  midterm and final critique.

    Academic Misconduct: Cheating is the unauthorized use of books, notes, aids or assistance from any other person with respect ot
    examinations, course assignments, field service reports, class recitations or possession of examination papers or course materials
    whether originally authorized or not. Plagiarism consisting of deliberate use and appropriation of the source and the passing off of
    such work as the student's own. Any student found guilty of violating academic integrity shall be subjected to procedures and penalties
    set forth by university policy.

    Attendance: Attendance is required.  A substantial amount of work is done in class. You must complete every assignment and prepared for an interactive discussion on the due date.  Your performance and contribution to the class dynamics will suffer each time you miss a session.  If you miss more than two weeks of class for any reason you should expect a grade of C- or below.  If you miss the demonstrations or slide lectures due to tardiness, you can consider yourself absent.  Arrive 5 minutes early to class NOT 15 minutes late.

    Incompletes are granted only  on  extreme emergency  basis.  Death of a parent or spouse, or severe illness.  If other relatives are sick or daycare is going badly and you cannot attend class--seek a withdrawal status.  DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OF CLASS TO WORK OUT YOUR REASONS FOR NOT ATTENDING CLASS.  IF YOUR HAS BEEN SUFFERING ALL ALONG, THIS IS A MAJOR FACTOR IN JUSTIFYING AN INCOMPLETE.  GOOD WORK  AND ATTENDANCE UP UNTIL THE "EVENT" WILL BE IN YOUR FAVOR.

    Class Rules:

  • Come to class with appropriate materials.
  • Clean up before and after using the room. Others must use your space.
  • Store work in flat files in main room or take home.
  • Make sure equipment is returned to its appropriate place.

  • Text
    Launching the Imagination, Three Dimensional Design,  Mary Stewart
    Library

    Assignments

  • Design Work Book
  • Visit and Review 5 art museum exhibits
  • Attend class and take notes on demonstrations and lectures
  • Active participation in class discussions
  • Show understanding of project with quality outcome and handed in on due date.
  • visit the Margolis and Rubell Collections
  • Reading Schedule/ will discuss questions at end of chapter.
    Week 1:  Chapter 4
    Week 2: Chapter 5
    Week 3: Chapter 6
    Week 4:  Chapter 7
    Week 5:  Chapter 8
    Week 6:  Chapter 9
    Quizes may be held at the end of each chapter.

    Projects
    All Projects must be diagrammed out two dimensionally on paper.  This will accompany the project.
    1. Lines and Surfaces: due 1/13
    2.  Relief Surfaces: Texture, light and rhythm: due 1/22
    3. Book Transformed/ Book making Spring Joint: due 2/3
    4.  Mass due  2/10
    5.  Cut Fold/Make 4 cubes out of different materials.  Must be 4 x4x4 inches:  due 2/19 Paper cube pattern
    6.  Interpret any ordinary 3 dimensional object by making it out of 4 different materials.  Take care of using only one kind of material for each object.  For now avoid ornamentation:  due 3/2
    7.  Create a piece of  conceptual clothing from nontraditional materials/midterm for design work book due 3/16
    8. Abstracted Object Fragmented/working drawings :  due 3/30 (May be preempted by group project)
    Problem:  Build a fragment of a common object out of Bristol board and other easily manipulated material.   Even though your result is an accurate replica of an object fragment, the object should not be recognizable.  Make working drawings of your fragment from various viewpoints and present them along with your product.
    Objectives:  The primary objective of this problem is to use your design skills to disguise an object and mislead the viewer.  Through selection and change in scale and materials, your object should be translated into pure form without a conceptual reference.  In this project, you will also work on your skills to build a detailed object and practice ways of organizing work when solving complex problems.  This is a problem that will test your organizational skills as well as compositional sense.  Look at pages 9-1 and 9-4 and review chapter 8.
    9.  Box Installation  due 4/15 along with final project.
     Problem:  Build a small scale installation inside a box that will communicate space and depth and an aesthetic experience that incorporates the "Principles of Three Dimensional Design. " (Chapter 8)

    By looking through the peep hole view lens, the viewer must get the feeling of an alternative world.  The  use of toys, models, fabric etc. is encouraged. (motors and sound are optional ) The environment created inside the box must have a feeling of relationships between the objects placed inside.  This is very close to "doll house" construction.

    The box can remain square or altered in shape to force the perspective. It should be at least 18" in one direction.  The interior of he box must be lit with a  light source that makes optimal viewing and the peep hole lens must be in the side that takes the most advantage of the viewpoint.  The box must be sealed from the outside.  Only the peep hole allows the viewer access to the miniature installation.  Further reading would include Susan Stewart's , "On Longing "  and chapter 9 in your text.  ( Boundaries more specifically.)
     
    10.  Design Work Book/  (This will  include all of your planning designs.)  Group Installation/Performance:  4/15 or Both Box installation and musical instrument project will be due at this date.

    Fluxus Musical Instrument and score:
     Part 1: Draw up a schematic plan for a musical instrument of your own invention. Site a statement from another source. This will not be your own words, but words quoted from a source of literature.  See  FLuxus websites.

    2.  Make Instrument:  This instrument can be made of found objects and materials or completely constructed from raw materials.
    Options:
    It can be a percussion, string,  wind or electronic.
    Can start with a musical instrument, but make a device that plays it differently.

    3. Invent a musical score or notation that can be played by anyone on your instrument.   Invent a system, chart, alternative notation to communicate a song on your instrument.  This score can be considered a drawing.  "Liberate yourself from taste, habit and ego."  John Cage.  (Hint:  pay close attention to nature.)

    4. Performance: Individual performances and group.

    You will give your instrument and music to another student and they will play your composition on your instrument. In group performance, the class will write a score together and perform in ACII Atrium.  (Former home of Rethink Project.)  

    Evaluation Rubric:
    Originality of Design (site( read a from a source that describes your instrument best.)  see websites ...
    Quality of Sound
    Transformative Properties ( Does the instrument change the way the viewer thinks of the materials.)
    Formal Qualities:  Balance, Rhythm, Boundaries, Scale...etc.
    Schematic Drawing and 3D application.
    Musical Score/ level of inventiveness
    Group Participation

    " What is the purpose of writing Music?...the answer must take the form of a paradox:  a purposeful purposelessness or a purposeless play.  This play, however, is an affirmation of life--not an attempt to bring order out of chaos nor to suggest improvements in nature, but simply a way of waking up the very life we're living.... "John Cage.
    "1. To provide performing ensembles and/or performing equipment for dramatic, musical, literary, cinematographic, and other artistic works which require either performing ensembles or performing equipment...."Dick Higgins

    Websites:
    http://www.fluxus.org/museum/buttons.htm
    http://www.panix.com/~fluxus/
    http://www.panix.com/~fluxus/GreySpace.html

    Basic Supplies
    Always bring sketchbook,
    writing tool; pencil and pen
    24" ruler,
    x-Acto knife,
    utility knife and
    scissors
    small cutting mat
    white glue
    Glue Stick UHU-white paste type
    masking tape
    paintbrush -acrylic
    bristol board 4 sheets
    found materials-plant/construction/cloth
    plaster of paris-small container 5lb.
    balloon or condom
    box
    peep hole door lens
    portable lights.
    needle nose pliers
    18 gauge wire
    (any other materials that will contribute to the success of your project)
    cloth and coats and clarks thread to match