Form & Content: Studio Practices

Mr. Barry

sbarry@innovationcharter.org

Extra Help:

Departmental Philosophy

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 periods 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.

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.

Behavior

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.

Strands

Students are evaluated based on departmental strands which designed to make departmental values clear to students. All assignments are in some way related to departmental 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.

Subjects & Assessment

Projects

Students will be assessed on projects that they created based on prompts.

Critique

Students will be assessed on their participation in critiques of projects

Artist Interview

Students will be assessed on an interview that they conduct with a working artist, and a presentation given about that interview.

Sketchbook

Students will be assessed on sketchbook assignments including: proposals, statements, Art21 reflections, and Visiting Artist notes.

Participation

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

Effort

Students will be assessed on the effort they put into their work, not on talent.

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.

1. Proposal

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

2. 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. 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.

3. 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.

Honors Option 1: Series

This option consists of making a series of at least three pieces of art. Work may be in any medium or material including, but not limited to, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, video, ceramics, and digital. Projects may not be completed in groups. A series is works which are in some way related, either by form or content, and in some way exhibit a progression or development. Though it may be narrative, it does not need to be narrative in order to be a series. The intention of this option is to push you to create a series of thoughtful works of art, not just to make random unconsidered pieces. You must first submit a proposal with your ideas for your project. Once your proposal is approved you may begin. You must conclude your project by writing a statement in which you explain and reflect upon the meaning of your project.

You must meet with your teacher after school a minimum of three times throughout the semester to discuss the development of your series and to show the teacher your progress.

Proposal

A proposal is a document which artist’s write in which they outline a piece of art they would like to make. The proposal should be typed, edited, and printed, and handed in for the teacher’s approval. You should make time to meet with the teacher after school during the teacher’s extra help time to discuss your proposal and get the teacher’s approval. Use the questions provided below to write your proposal. Your answer to each question should be a minimum of one paragraph.

What is it?

Explain in detail what exactly you would like to make. What materials would you use? How big would each piece be? What would it be an image of or what shape would the object be?

What is the intention?

Explain what the meaning of your projects is. What do you want people to understand when they look at it? What is your intention for the meaning of your pieces?

Is it worth doing?

Why is your project worth doing? What larger theme or idea about life does your project relate to? Why should it exist?

Artist Statement

Artist statements must be typed, edited, and printed to be handed in. You should show at least one draft of your statement to your teacher before submitting a final copy. Statements should describe what your project is and what it means.

What is it?

Explain in detail what exactly you would like to make. What materials would you use? How big would each piece be? What would it be an image of or what shape would the object be?

What is the intention?

Explain what the meaning of your projects is. What do you want people to understand when they look at it? What is your intention for the meaning of your pieces?

Honors Option 2: Reviews

This option consists of writing three reviews. Each review should be a minimum of 500 words. Reviews should be typed, thoroughly edited, and printed before handing in. A review should express the opinion of the writer, describe the series or individual work, and should express some point-of-view which indicates what the reviewer believes to be good or bad about art in general. These are not summaries or reports. They are reviews which will require both objective observation and subjective opinion. You should expect to write and edit several drafts, and to bring drafts to your teacher for their feedback. Your final draft must include at least one photograph. Use the attached handouts to help write your reviews.

You must meet with your teacher after school a minimum of three times throughout the semester to discuss the development of your series and to show the teacher your progress.

Reviews

Museum

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.

Love

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.

Hate

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.

                                                            Studio Practice                 

The contemporary artist’s studio is not limited to traditional materials or spaces. This course is an opportunity for students to learn about different practices within traditional and non-traditional studio spaces while beginning to explore form and content of their own. This course is designed to transition students from Modern and Postmodern studies to more open-ended projects in which students are not attempting to mimic the style of a past art historical movement or method. The course includes five projects, each two weeks in length, in which students may choose from any style of working, and from a larger variety of materials and mediums.

Projects

Love/Hate

Create a piece of art about love or hate or both, using any of the following 2D mediums or materials: drawing, painting, or collage.

Realism/Idealism

Create a piece of art about realism or idealism or both, using any of the following 3D mediums or materials: cardboard, wood,

Nature/Nurture

Create a piece of art about nature or nurture or both, using any of the following 2D materials: photography, video, or digital.

Sincerity/Irony

Create a piece of art about sincerity or irony or both, using any of the following 3D materials: wire, found objects

Project Assessment

Strand

Application to Assignment

Points

Execution

Use of materials to complete project

25 points possible

Comprehension

Shows understanding of project through statement

20 points possible

Exploration

Project is expressive and experimental

35 points possible

Work Habit

Use of class time to complete project

20 points possible

Total: 100 points possible