Advanced Sculpture

The purpose of Advanced Sculpture is to establish a structure within which sculpture majors may begin to develop theirown 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.

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 ofthe 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 aclearer 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 applyingto 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.

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. We may also decide to 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.

You must write a resume (due by end of September)
You must write an artist statement (due by end of October)
You must produce a CD-Rom of your work (Due on Monday before Thanksgiving)
You must give a visual presentation on your work. (At the beginning 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%)

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- check out Vik's website for more examples of work. please email me with your preferred email, to anthonycastronovo(at)gmail(dot)com 10pts

Aug 28• Statements of Intent (200 words), Questionnaire due. Student presentations on personal work. Work Day if time remains.

Aug 31• First Proposals due, include drawings, writings, material samples, etc/...Read

Sep 18• First Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Sep 23• Proposals due; Assignment for next Wed: read first 5 chapters of Learning Web Design- take notes, do exercises from chapters, read thoroughly.

Oct 23• Review Web Sites, must have expanded beyond the first page at this point, at least three different pages; critique sites, brainstorm

Nov 6• Third Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Discussion

Nov 25• Fourth Critique•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

ART 4710 Advanced Sculpture

Anthony Castronovo, Professor
The University of Florida
Fall Semester 2009

Meeting Times: M W 8:30-11:30 AM & F 8:30-2:45
Classroom: FAC B-008
e-mail: castronovo@ufl.edu
Office Hours: by appointment

COURSE SYLLABUS

EXPECTATIONS: Students must accomplish the following tasks in order to successfully complete Advanced Sculpture:

PROJECT EVALUATIONS

GRADING FORMAT

Official Breakdown:

POLICIES

SCHEDULE:

ART 4710 Advanced Sculpture

Anthony Castronovo, Professor The University of Florida Fall Semester 2009 Meeting Times: M W 8:30-11:30 AM & F 8:30-2:45 Classroom: FAC B-008 e-mail: castronovo@ufl.edu Office Hours: by appointment

COURSE SYLLABUS

EXPECTATIONS: Students must accomplish the following tasks in order to successfully complete Advanced Sculpture:

PROJECT EVALUATIONS

GRADING FORMAT

Official Breakdown:

POLICIES

SCHEDULE:

Anthony Castronovo, Professor
The University of Florida
Fall Semester 2009

Meeting Times: M W 8:30-11:30 AM & F 8:30-2:45
Classroom: FAC B-008
e-mail: castronovo@ufl.edu
Office Hours: by appointment