Course Overview

Title 

Contemporary Art Practices

Teacher

Mr. Pelham

Contact 

zpelham@innovationcharter.org

Extra Help

Tuesday afternoons from 3:10 – 4:30

Essential Questions

1. What is art?
2. What do contemporary artist do?
3. How do you make contemporary art?

Description 

In this course students will learn about and practice the concepts and processes of contemporary artists and issues. Students will create projects which grapple with issues including: art history, morality, philosophy, politics, and personal expression. For each assignment students will learn about the work of contemporary artists, research for their project, and critique. All project materials are open-ended.

2. Course Assessment

Projects

There are three projects assigned throughout the semester. Each project consists of a proposal, statement, project completion, and installation.

     
       Essays

For each project an essay is assigned which deals with the concepts and themes of the project. Each essay is a minimum of 500 words and is due on the project due date.

 Participation

Students will be assessed on their participation in class discussions and activities.

 Effort

Students will be assessed on the effort they put in to work, not on talent.

Creative thinking and expression is an increasingly important aspect of contemporary society, a tradition of all world cultures, and an innate human instinct. Having an understanding of basic technical principles; exposure to a diversity of  artists, styles, and movements from art history and contemporary art; and the freedom to create expressive pieces of art are all integral to empowering students with both the skills and creative vocabulary to be successful creative  thinkers, audiences, and artists.

 4. Art Department Policies

Late Policy

If a student is not able to turn in a major assignment on time, he or she must make arrangements with the teacher within 24 hours of the due date. At the discretion of individual teachers, students may be provided extra time to receive partial credit on major assignments. Make-up assignments must be submitted within 7 calendar days (1 week) from the original due date. Assignments submitted before the 7 day window will receive a lower grade in the Work Habits strand (5 points lost for every day late) but fully assessed in all other strands. Assignments turned in after the 7 day window will be graded as a zero in all strands. Late homework must be turned in by the next class.

 
Academic Integrity

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. If students are caught cheating or intentionally passing off another’s work as their own they will receive a failing grade for the assignment, must re-do the assignment for no credit, and risk a failing grade for the semester.

All students must be present and punctual to all classes with a good attitude, put effort into all assignments, and show respect for all students and class materials. 

 5. Art Department Strands 

 Execution

How well students use techniques for materials and processes in assignments.

Comprehension

How well students comprehend content they are exposed to through assignments.

Exploration

How well students explore content through personal expression in assignments. 

Work Habit

How well students use time to execute, comprehend, and explore all class assignments.

6. Course Honors Options

Choose at least one option and complete all aspects of the assignment for honors credit. You may receive further honors credit by completing more than one project option.

 Options

 Description

 
Portfolio

1. Observational and realistic pencil drawing of at least one bicycle

2. Observational and realistic charcoal drawing of a still life

3. Observational and realistic colored pencil drawing of the school

4. Observational and realistic pastel portrait

5. Observational and realistic ink drawing of full figure

6. A series of five mixed media pieces which make up a series 

 Proposal 

Submit proposal for a project which includes a series of three pieces. Proposal must be approved by teacher.

Reviews

1. Visit Museum of Fine Arts and write a 500 word essay on your experience, concentrating on the meaning of one exhibit you saw, describing specific pieces and reviewing the work by providing an account of your subjective opinion of the pieces in the show. You must provide both a ticket stub and photographic proof of your visit to the museum.

2. Write a second 500 word essay on your experience, concentrating on the meaning of a second exhibit you saw, describing specific pieces and reviewing the work by providing an account of your subjective opinion of the pieces in the show. You must provide both a ticket stub and photographic proof of your visit to the museum.

3. Choose a piece of art from anytime in art history that you love and write a 500 word review which includes a description of the work, relevant contextual information about the artist or time period, and analytical explanation of why you love the piece. Provide image of piece with paper.

4. Choose a piece of art from anytime in art history that you hate and write a 500 word review which includes a description of the work, relevant contextual information about the artist or time period, and analytical explanation of why you hate the piece. Provide image of piece with paper.