Class 14 - Homework - February 28

Assignment 1— Process and Action: Verbs as Creative Raw Materials

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Due: At the beginning of class Thursday, March 7th, 1:00pm sharp
Format: Fill out three worksheets and affix into the pages of your logbook (use the metaphor worksheet) and recorded in the index.

Use Metaphor worksheets. Think of processes or actions that relate to your idea and direction and use each as a source for coming up with three different sheets of interesting process or action possibilities to use in your work.

Notice of Future Assignment

Modular Form Project

Summary

The modular form project has three main components. Each component should represent a part of the argument, comment, or question you are presenting to your audience. When thoughtfully and patiently developed and composed this combination of elements will combine into more than the sum of the parts.

1. Many identical ready-made objects (which you will use as the basic material for sculpting the next part).

2. A 3 dimensional form or representational object (sculpted, formed, or skinned out of the objects above in item 1).

3. A context or setting for the large object (item 2) made of small ready-mades (item 1).

In the first phase of this project you will only actually make using the first two items above, but think ahead to what might be suitable for item 3, which you will integrate in the second phase of the project.

Overview

The modular form project is a platform for developing an appreciation for the role that material choice plays in constructing artistic content. Furthermore, it explores creating a whole image out of a large number of identical parts. Lastly, it investigates creating content within a whole image through choice of ready-made objects and their arrangement so that visually, the parts are transformed or even partially lost through repetition.

• For now, investigate possible object choices for this project. Later you will find or purchase the objects that potentially reference some important aspect of your current thematic direction. Remember, the objects you use must be identical, not variations of one or more similar 3D forms. Further, you cannot make these objects; they must be pre-made or manufactured all alike. (Two exceptions: First, a set of identical forms of varying color, like colored thumb tacks, second, a set of a groups of similar objects, like a bag of 100 army men that feature soldiers in five different poses).

• Think of possible forms that could act as armatures or substrates and also of adhesives to aid with your construction, as you will need structure to give the object you make strength and shape. Hot melt glue, rubber cement, and super glue have often been useful to students doing this project.

• Eventually you will also consider environment as context and will be allowed to compose the 3D form you make within or in front of real or fabricated environments or backgrounds. The final work will be 2D.

• Some terms to research: multiple, repetition, pattern, skin, structure, armature, aggregate, module, individual, collective, form

Assignment 2 - Modular Form Project Artist Research
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Due: Thursday, March 7th 
Format: Completed in the Idea Logbook and indexed

Artists Who Work with Modular Form
Research the following artists and their usage of ready made objects:
• Tara Donovan
• Jean Shin
• Willie Cole
• Chakia Booker
• Allan McCollum
• Brian Jungen

The evidence you collect for inclusion into your logbook should be visual examples of work paired with your written analysis for each of the names above. In the Modular Form Project, we are asking you to make a form using at least 20 unaltered, exact in every detail objects. Which of these artists does what we are asking for best?

Assignment 3 - Modular Form Experiments

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Due: Thursday, March 7th

Format: three 2D sketches (photographs or drawings) done in the logbook and indexed correctly.

This assignment is meant to help you design your project by asking you to develop a set of options for thematic direction, material choice, and overall 3D form. From these options you can make informed decisions, rather than being limited by your first idea.

Instructions

1. Develop two or more potential topic directions to explore with this project.

2. Then, identify 3 or more different ready-made objects that you believe refer to important aspects of each of your potential topic directions. The materials that you choose as potentially useful references should also be items that you could easily find or buy in exact multiples (cost should not always be your guiding parameter).

3. Think of at least two overall forms (or objects) that also relate to your direction. For each overall form identify what kind of supporting structures (skeletons or armatures) would aid in the construction of said large objects.

Here is one example:

Topic: Integrity

Direction: Integrity is fragile

Ready-made object: plastic Easter eggs

Configurations of objects into a form: eggs combined to form a hammer

2 possible armature structures for each form configuration: an actual hammer to glue the eggs to or a wire armature I construct to attach the eggs to.

After choosing 3 potential ready made objects, make a developmental sketch for each that demonstrates what the objects will form. If you would prefer to buy some of these objects and use Rapid Idea Sketching skills instead of drawing, that will be acceptable as long as there are at least three experiments.

summary:

• identify topic

• identify at least two topic directions

• identify and use at least 3 ready made objects that refer to your topic and direction

• identify at least 2 possible forms that the above objects could construct

• identify at least 2 possible support structures for each of the above forms

• 3 sketch minimum showing different attempts with different ready-made objects

These all need to be in sketch form. Make a list or summary at the top corner of

each sketch or photo like the egg example above to be clear.

Assignment 4: Modular Form Experiment Process Notes

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Due: Tuesday, March 19th 

Format: Completed in the Idea Logbook and indexed

Written analysis:

Write a description of the object(s) and experiments you construct. In the description(s), include:

• How the materials relate to your topic

• How the overall form relates to your topic

• At least two discoveries about the objects, overall form(s), content, or what you have learned during your experiments for this project.

This may be a list instead of a paragraph

Assignment 5 - Modular Form Object

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Due: Tuesday, March 19th 

Format: As a 3D form, completely in the round. Brought in at the beginning of class 1:00pm sharp.

This final piece must be 'in the round'. In other words, you should be able to look at the work from all sides. Be sure to use at least 20 ready-made objects for this part of the project. All readymade objects must be 3D forms.

Assignment 6 - Statement of Intent (and Context Possibilities)

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Due: Tuesday, March 19th 

Format: as a typed and printed document, with the correct heading, brought to class and presentable by 1:00pm sharp.

First, as plainly as possible, describe the topic and direction of your modular form project (in no more than three sentences). Second, list the ready made that you used to build the overall form and describe how it relates to your topic and direction. Next, list the overall object that the readymades form and describe how this 3d object relates to your topic and direction. Finally, list at least 3 possible contexts (environments, settings, backdrops, etc.) this object could be placed in, and describe how each context could impact and reinforce the content of the overall work.

As you complete this exercise consider that the elements in your serial form project (ready-made, overall 3D form, and context) should flow together into a whole creative visual argument.