ARTS 115: Sculpture: Poetry with Objects
Prof. Amy Podmore

Sculpture employs the body and has the power to communicate via the physical world in powerful ways. ARTS 115 will offer instruction in how form and meaning can be created through the use of objects. Similar to poetry, where a particular word carries a specific history, meaning, and power, objects also contain complex associations. Through the process of alteration, transformation, and manipulation, sculpture reveals the narrative power of form and materials. This course will provide a historical framework for how sculpture- particularly contemporary works- have expressed ideas, while also providing instruction on techniques and methods used to build, dismantle, rearrange, combine and create art with objects as the inspiration. The ultimate goal will be to develop your individual voice and imagination, become familiar with processes and techniques, and to become fluent in generating meaning that is important to you. We will be integrating the study of a variety of artists whose work utilizes objects in their sculpture such as the work of: Jean Shin, Marcel Broodthaers, Dario Robletto, Doris Salcedo, Robert Gober, among others. This class is designed to be hybrid, with a combination of in-person and remote components. Approximately two thirds of the term will consist of weekly meetings between myself and a pair of students, however, periodically throughout the term, we will meet with the entire class for PowerPoint presentations, demonstrations, visiting artist talks and group critiques.