What is a more valuable piece of matter? String, cotton-balls and rubber bands may be what should be affixed to your unique prosthetic to complete a given task…
This course will cover information and techniques related to body casting, wire rope rigging, fabrication, and other building processes.The students will be asked to keep a journal which will be the most important document for this class. This is a project based performance course where the student will be given problems set to define and complete. The found solutions will be evaluated on how thoroughly they analyze the task. Each student will be encouraged to reach deep into the prompts of each project to find personal connections to support an active inquiry. Their work practice will search for clear definitions through experimentation. Their intent and efforts will consistently be represented through prototyping, drawing and showing works in progress. Part of the class practice will be designed around space visits both on campus and off, in building or out in nature. Honing our sensory associations from class to class will allow for fruitful class discussions breaking down the metrics at which we evaluate each other’s work.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Break down material properties to support personality trait foundations; understanding movement and installation.
2. Learn how to work and participate within group projects.
3. Learn about the history of sculptural practices up to the contemporary moment, in its diversity of cultural perspectives and identities.
4. Become familiar with the process of transferring drawing and narrative prompts into three dimensional form.
5. Break down material properties as personality traits for understanding movement and installation.
6. Grasp complex material collaboration relationships through reverse engineering to apply to the understanding of modern day products' success.
Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Prerequisites:
This is a 4000 level class that requires students to have taken at least two studio courses in Visual Arts and one of these studio classes should be in Sculpture. Students should submit an email to John Umphlett (jumphlett@bennington.edu) that includes a paragraph that describes why they would like to be enrolled into this class and how they feel it will be advantageous to their education and artists practice here at Bennington. This email’s subject line should read “I am a Material “ The email should also include a few images of prior related work to help support their written interests.
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 2
M 1:40PM - 5:20PM (1st seven weeks)
Maximum Enrollment: 12
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years
Categories: 4000 , All courses , First Seven Week , Fully In-Person , Sculpture , Two Credit , Visual Arts (VA)
Tags: atmosphere , design , embodiment , experimentation , improvisation , performance , technique