ART 4710 Advanced Sculpture
Anthony Castronovo, Professor
The University of Florida
Spring Semester 2009
Meeting Times: M W 8:30-11:30 PM & F 8:30-2:45
Classroom: FAC B-008
e-mail: castronovo@ufl.edu
Office Hours: by appointment
COURSE SYLLABUS
The purpose of Advanced Sculpture is to establish a structure within which sculpture majors may begin to develop their own individualized program of studio research that will ultimately lead them to the creation of a body of work that has breadth and depth. This structure will help students to define goals, find research methods that are tailored to individual needs, and deepen each student’s understanding of their own work and the work of other artists. The course will also emphasize professional practices in order to prepare students for a personal studio practice after graduation, for the pursuit of graduate studies, or for the pursuit of professional opportunities for artists.
Required Text: Reflex: A Vik Muniz Primer, 2005, Aperture Foundation, NY.
EXPECTATIONS: Students must accomplish the following tasks in order to successfully complete Advanced Sculpture:
1. Statement of Intent and Artist Statement
Advanced Sculpture students must set forth in writing a direction for their research and studio practice for the Spring Semester by writing a statement articulating your artistic concerns and specifically delineating what you hope to accomplish this semester. Include in this statement some of the following:
- Threads you see connecting your past works
- Directions you would like to pursue in your work this semester and in the longer term
“Specific” projects and “vague” ideas
- Art historical and contemporary art interests
- Connections between you, your work, your peers, and the society you live in
- Philosophical and social issues of concern to you personally and in your work
- Issues of knowledge and experience and how these factors might play a role in your work
- Issues of identity, biography and personal narrative
- Any other issues you wish to address
The Questionnaire I am giving you may help you to identify some of the above.
On the second day of class, each student will present their previous work, including visuals, their concepts and concerns to the class and each presentation will be followed by a discussion. presentation/discussion will help you to identify your concerns and write a clearer statement.
The statement of intent will lead to the writing of an artist statement that you will need to complete before the middle of the semester or earlier if you are graduating this semester. The Artist Statement will have numerous uses, such as applying to graduate school, proposing exhibitions, or for your Senior Project.
2. Research
Create your own reading list and set a reading goal. Whose work would you like to know more about? Whose writings do you find particularly provocative? What ideas stimulate your thinking about sculpture? Where do you get your ideas? On the basis of your research and interests, you will be required to propose a topic and reading for discussion by the class and you will lead the class in a discussion relating to the topic. We begin the semester reading Reflex: A Vik Muniz Primer. Please order the book today if you have not already done so.
3. Methodology
Keep an extensive notebook of your ideas for sculpture in particular and reflections in general. This is not just a sketchbook, but rather a place where you can store all of your research, i.e. an archive. For inspiration look at the notebooks of Frida Kahlo, Marcel Duchamp, Leonardo Da Vinci, Robert Smithson. Your notebooks should be a dynamic reflection of your thought process and the evolution of your ideas.
4. Practice
Make a lot of sculpture: I expect the completion of five (5) sculptures based on your own goals. You may also join the Metals class when we do Lost Wax Bronze Casting. This bronze casting may count as one of the 5 sculptures or as part of one of the 5 sculptures.
- One sculpture will be due for critique every three weeks.
- One reading/discussion/lecture/slide/video presentation/field trip will be due every week.
- When we are not in critique or discussion, you must use the scheduled class time as active studio practice.
5. Professional Practices
Periodically during the semester, I will present lectures on maintaining an art practice and moving toward professionalism after you leave the BFA program. Some of these issues will encompass the following: Financing; finding and organizing a studio; photographing your work; shipping and installing an exhibition; writing a resume; writing an exhibition proposal; art colonies for artists; grants and fellowships for artists; getting your work reviewed; MFA programs: when should you go to graduate school? Are there alternatives to graduate school? And other topics reflecting your concerns.
In relation to professional practices you must accomplish the following:
- You must write a resume (due by end of January)
- You must write an artist statement (due before Spring Break)
- You must produce a CD-Rom of your work (Due on Monday after Spring Break)
- You must give a visual presentation on your work. (Due toward the end of the semester.)
- You must submit your work for consideration for an exhibition outside of UF/Gainesville.
PROJECT EVALUATIONS
Your work will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria of requirements and expectations:
- Completion of five sculptures/works of art.
- Completion of required readings, writings, discussions.
- Completion of a professional practices portfolio including artist statement, 20 digital images, and a resume. Slide presentation on your work.
- Attendance at all assigned field trips and lectures.
- Conceptual rigor and material inventiveness in your work
- Technical competence or appropriate craftsmanship in your work
- Physical investment: the sweat factor
- Contribution to critique and to the class as a whole.
GRADING FORMAT
- EXCELLENT: A+ A Goes beyond all the requirements and expectations
- VERY GOOD: B+ B Meets all the requirements and expectations
- GOOD C+ C Meets most of the requirements and expectations
- POOR: D+ D Meets very few of the reqs. and expectations
- FAIL E F Meets virtually none of the requirements
Official Breakdown:
- A = 4.0 (100%)
- A- = 3.67 (92%)
- B+ = 3.33 (83%)
- B = 3.0 (75%)
- B- = 2.67 (67%)
- C+ = 2.33 (58%)
- C = 2.0 (50%)
- C- = 1.67 (42%)
- D+ = 1.33 (33%)
- D = 1.0 (25%)
- D- = 0.67 (16%)
- E = 0.0 (0%)
FINAL SEMESTER EVALUATIONS will be averaged as follows:
- Project #1 15%
- Project #2 15%
- Project #3 15%
- Project #4 15%
- Project #5 15%
- Reading responses and discussions 10%
- Critique/participation 10%
- Exercises,sketches,proposals 5%
- Attendance Grade: SEE DETAILED ATTENDANCE POLICY ABOVE.
CRITICAL DATES are provided with each project description. All projects are due on the due
dates given in the project descriptions. Final critique will be held on the last day of class of
the Fall semester.
POLICIES
All students must understand the University's policies concerning
Hazardous Waste. All students must read the Hazardous Waste Management Guide, and are required to be aware of the hazards of any materials they use in the studio space and how to dispose of them properly. For more informaion please visit UF's department of Environmental Health Services.
The Department of Art and its faculty assume no responsibility for any materials or projects left
in the classrooms. It is each student’s responsibility to remove all materials and projects from
the classrooms after the course has concluded. If the student needs to make individual arrangements
with the instructor to keep any materials after the class has ended, it is the student’s responsibility
to make these arrangements, with the instructor’s approval. Student grades may be withheld for failure
to do so. Any artwork, supplies, or other materials left in the classroom after the semester has
concluded, without prior specific arrangements with the responsible faculty, will be disposed of.
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office.
The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this
documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation.
Turn off your cell phones upon entering the classroom. Absolutely no cell phone use in the classroom
or sculpture shops. Please retreat to the hallways or outside for emergency calls. Student acknowledges
the cell phone termination policy and accepts destruction by smashing of their cell phone in instances
of repeat offenses.
University of Florida honesty policy regarding cheating and use of copyrighted materials applies.
See student handbook.
SCHEDULE:
Aug 24• Introduction to the course, look over the syllabus, talk about expectations......Vik Muniz reading
Aug 26• Discuss Vik Muniz, watch documentary on his work
Aug 28• Student presentations on personal work. Work Day.
Aug 31• First Proposals due, include drawings, writings, material samples, etc/...Read
Sep 2• Active Work in Studio
Sep 4• Active Work in Studio
Sep 7• No Class, Labor day Holiday
Sep 9• Seminar Discussion with Mark Dion (reading) from 3-6 PM in FAC B-1
Sep 11• Discussion of chapter eight of Reflex:...
Sep 14• Work Day
Sep 16• Work Day
Sep 18• First Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sep 21• Fast, Cheap and Out of Control...
Sep 23• Discussion of chapters eight through eleven of Reflex:.. Extra research: Benjamin, Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Sep 24• Work Day
Sep 28•Discussion of chapters twelve & thirteen of Reflex:...
Sep 30•
Discussion of chapter fourteen of Reflex:...
Oct 2• Discussion
Oct 5•
Work Day
Oct 7• Discussion of chapters fifteen, sixteen, and afterword of Reflex:.. Begin CINEMA 4D Tutorials
Oct 9• Second Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Oct 12•
Work Day
Oct 14• Proposals Due
Oct 16• Work Day
Oct 19• CINEMA 4D, go over first chapter project together, studio day for remainder.
Oct 21• Discussion
Oct 23• Discussion of statements, Readings exchanged & copied, studio day for the remainder
Oct 26• No Class Spring Break
Oct 28• No Class Spring Break
Oct 30• No Class Spring Break
Nov 2•
Work Day
Nov 4• Discuss 5 Readings
Nov 6• Third Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Discussion
Nov 9•
Proposals Due
Nov 11•
Discussion
Nov 13• Discussion
Nov 16• Discussion
Nov 18• Discussion
Nov 20•
Work Day
Nov 23•
Work Day
Nov 25• Fourth Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Nov 27• NO CLASS -THANKSGIVING
Nov 30• Proposals Due
Dec 2• Discussion
Dec 4• Discussion
Dec 7• Discussion
Dec 9• Discussion
Dec 11• Work Day
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