Today's Class- I opened today with a few dozen slides of 20th century art, work that emphasized planes- relatively flat surfaces and their movements. I also had a few slides of art that took on motorized vehicles (trains and automobiles) as subject, as an introduction to today's exercise. The rest of the class period was spent working on the exercise, using foam core and bristol board to build a simple model of a car of the student's choosing, and then an abstract sculpture using identical copies of all the same parts.
How to make this up- Choose any car you like based solely on its appearance. Can be any make, model, or age. Using photos of the car from multiple angles, reproduce the car's basic shape, with an emphasis on the exterior surfaces. As you make each piece for your car, make a second identical piece and set it aside. Once you've completed the car, use the second set of pieces to build an abstract sculpture of your choosing, any form that doesn't look like a car. Above is an example from today's class. More detailed instructions, and additional student examples, can be found here.
This is a portfolio exercise and must be completed by the end of the semester to receive full credit, but I suggest finishing it soon. After spring break the projects will be bigger.
Homework- The two foam core relief panels begun two weeks ago are due at the beginning of class on March 4, 2014.
Reminder- deadline to withdraw from classes is March 4, 2014. Students still on the roster after that will remain in the class and get the grade they earn. Students who stop coming to class at that point, and thus stop turning in work, will fail.
For next class 3/4/14- We will open with a group critique of the foam core relief projects, which I will grade and return. Then we will be doing another portfolio exercise involving complex shapes. Bring 3 or more cardboard pulp coffee tray/holders, scissors and/or x-acto knife, and glue. If you would prefer to use hot glue, we have guns, but you'll need to get some hot glue sticks.
