Advanced Art - Ceramics/3-D

SUMMARY

Each of the quarter themes offer a conceptual focus within which students of different media maintain a conversation about their goals and challenges. More specific project ideas will develop out of classroom discussion and personal investigation within each theme. Moreover, project ideas develop out of exploration of materials. Development of students' art and ideas are anchored in study of art history and contemporary artists.

Using the concept of representation in art, students explore works that create the illusion of reality but implies more than what is visually there thus making a statement. Teaching emphasizes how to create 'realistic' works of art and using chosen media with expertise.

Central inquiry questions:

• Why is building skill in ‘representing’ important?

• What is the relationship between craftsmanship and impact of resulting work?

• When we ‘represent in art,’ what function does that serve in the culture?

• What are a variety of ways artists have made powerful representations?

ASSIGNMENTS:

All students will have 3 weeks to prepare a variety of works to address the concepts and questions taught with regard to making representational art. They will have to investigate various process and materials in order to make a mini-portfolio on this theme. The types of works and quantity will be arrived at through class discussion of the central issues in representational art-making.

CERAMICS - WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 'REPRESENT' IN CERAMICS? For this unit, you will decide between two paths: making consistent sets of functional pottery, or making a sculpture that aims to be realistic and representational. For distance learning... if clay becomes unavailable, you may make anything, from any material, that would be 3-D.

Artists/Movements/Topics studied: Robert Arneson, Greek Pottery (narrative), Brett Kern

Possible Project Types: Trompe l’oeil object, Production Series, Sculpture portrait

Artist using technique and inquiry to share what is beautiful, interesting, surprising in their own observations of the world. Often, an emphasis on perspective and space is employed.

Studies/Sketchbook - Draw ideas for pottery in the studio. (What will you make when you get access again??)