Course Syllabus
Course: ART 2650
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Visual Art
Title: Ceramic Sculpture
Semester Approved: Fall 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2024
End Semester: Summer 2025
Catalog Description: A beginning course designed to introduce students to the basic processes involved in creating ceramic sculpture. The course introduces a variety of clay techniques, such as pinch forming, coil building, and slab construction, as well as basic wheel throwing processes. A lab fee is required. (formerly ceramics 1)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 3
Justification: This course is a standard introduction to ceramic skills and is similar to courses taught at other colleges or universities in the USHE system. It fills an elective for all art majors and is required for ceramic and sculpture majors.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Material Proficiency: An improved understanding of the technical processes and materials involved in creating ceramic sculpture will ultimately lead to a more capable and informed artist. Students will demonstrate a proficiency in materials and techniques through the production a number of sculptural ceramic works utilizing various processes.
Conceptual Principles: This knowledge will enhance their formal and conceptual sensibilities. As students develop more refined sensibilities they will be better prepared to effectively communicate complex conceptual ideas by being fluent in the visual language. Students will be instructed in the formal and conceptual approaches to ceramic sculpture, through: lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
Historical Context: The understanding of historical context will be manifested in class discussions and oral critiques at the completion of each project. Students who understand the factors affecting contemporary design will be able to find their place as an active contributor to visual culture, and will be better prepared to thrive in the competitive art market. Students will demonstrate fluency in historical content and context by articulating how approaches to ceramics have changed throughout history, and what influences both historical and contemporary are driving the ceramic artists of today.
Critical Analysis: This imperative aspect of the problem-solving process pushes students to improve at each level. Students who are capable of articulating complex ideas, and receiving critical feedback are better able to contribute to a rich and productive artistic dialogue preparing them to work as professional artists in the future. Students will demonstrate critical analyses of works of art by participating in oral group critiques and providing feedback on formal and conceptual issues associated with the design and production of ceramic works of art.
Content:
This course will include lecture, critical discussion, material demonstrations, independent and collaborative studio practice, critiques, and how each relates to the following topics:
· the design process and its application to the creation of ceramic objects;
· three-dimensional problem solving;
· materials and construction techniques;
· proper use and safety of a variety of tools used to construct three dimensional objects.
· Individual and group critiques, designed to promote constructive analysis of each student's own work, the work of their peers, and historical works of art;
· Professional standards and craftsmanship required in the industry.
Key Performance Indicators:
Each student will be evaluated on:
A comprehensive portfolio of original 3-dimensional works including evidence of research, design sketches, and maquettes. 80 to 90%
Attendance, critiques, class participation. 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
TBD
Supplemental readings and research to be determined by the instructor
Supplies to be determined by the instructor
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will include lectures, class discussion, oral and written critiques, demonstrations.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 16
Optimum Class Size: 12
