Project 14: Sound Suit. Due May 20th

2015 Crandon Beach

Project Description

Get to know sculptor Nick Cave from Chicago, and his Soundsuit series.  For this project, make a wearable sculpture that covers your whole body. Look at the artist Nick Cave's Soundsuits for inspiration, but make the idea your own. Try to incorporate sound into your project. We will have a parade for the critique, so make sure you can see. 

For this project you may use all of the skills and materials you learned about this far: cardboard, sewing, natural materials, found objects, and assemblage.

This is a big project. It will count for 3 full grades:
May 13- Homework/preparation
May 20- Sculpture and Choreography critique 

May 27- Video made at Crandon Park

Schedule

Homework May 13th: Look at lots of pictures, videos, and articles about Nick Cave's Soundsuits. Get to know them really well. Make sketches for your wearable sculpture, and bring materials that you want to work with to class. You should bring A LOT of materials to class.

May 13: Sound Suit Studio Day. Homework Due

Homework grade will be given for:

1. Two pages of detailed sketches/ideas, including sample color scheme and texture/sound/material choices.
2. Materials to work in class. 
3. Basic Structure (armature) of suit has been begun and brought to class. 

Homework Rubric

A = all of the above done fully and well underway with structure of suit
B = all of the above done, and structure of suit begun
C = missing one of the above components of homework assignment
D = missing two of the above components of homework assignment
F  = Unprepared


May 20: Sound Suit Critique

Sound Suit and choreography due at beginning of class. Presented in class for critique.

Critique Rubric

A = excellent craftsmanship, highly creative, interesting sounds created by suit, complete transformation (and coverage) of body from head to toe. Highly thoughtful and interesting movement/choreography. 

B = good craftsmanship (nothing falls off/breaks), good creativity, interesting sounds created by suit, good transformation (and coverage) of body from head to toe. Intentional and interesting movement/choreography. 

C = Project suffers from ANY of the following: craft issues (some things fall off/break), not very creative in choice of materials or their manipulation, sound element not considered, not enough transformation of body, suit does not cover entire body. Movement/choreography not well thought out or intentional. 

D = Project suffers from more than one of the issues mentioned in the C category. 

F = Did not do.

May 27: Sound Suit Video/Performances at Crandon Park for Beach Field Trip.

You will bring your sound suit to the beach field trip to do a performance and create a video. The video must include the following:

1. Title frame including the names of performers, title of piece and date.
2. 1 - 3 minutes duration. 
3. Intentional beginning (how will you come into the frame?)
4. Intentional choreography (what will happen in the video?)
5. Intentional ending (how will the video end?)
6. Uploaded to Vimeo, Youtube, Tumblr or your personal artist website.

Video Rubric

A = Excellent craftsmanship, highly creative, and well edited video. Excellent image quality and framing. Included all above video requirements. Highly thoughtful and interesting movement/choreography. Uploaded to internet.

B =  Good craftsmanship, creative, and well edited video. Good image quality and framing. Included all above video requirements. Thoughtful and interesting movement/choreography. Uploaded to internet.

C = Project suffers from ANY of the following: craft issues (editing, does not include all video requirements), framing issues (horizon not straight, camera moves around in unintentional way, distracting elements in video, sound element not showcased. Movement/choreography not well thought out or intentional. 

D = Project suffers from more than one of the issues mentioned in the C category. 

F = Did not do.

Research

Other References

These can be good to look at for aesthetic inspiration, materials that produce sound, and also movement/choreography. These come from a wide variety of sources including: performance art, dance, theatre,and indiginous/tribal cultures   

Note: Some of these are decorated dresses/outfits. Your project should not look like a dress, or outfit. It should transform the form (outline) of your body. 

Student Examples 

Here are some examples of wearable sculptures from the previous three years. These will give you ideas, but should not be copied. Originality is a large component of creativity. Note: Many of these do not cover the whole body, or fully transform the form (shape/outline/profile) of the artists' bodies. Your soundsuit needs to completely transform your profile/form. 

Below is a video of the sound suits from the class of 2016. Note that they did not have the same requirements as you. Yours will be much more comprehensive and your choreography will be intentional. 

Project 13: Rube Goldberg Device (chain reactions). Due April 22nd

Project Description

A Rube Goldberg illustration

You will be making a kinetic sculpture out of a series of 5 chain reactions. The purpose of the sculpture will be to "automate" a simple task in an absurd way. You will look at the illustrations done by the artist Rube Goldberg for inspiration. 

Rube Goldberg was an American cartoonist best known for his illustrations depicting machines he designed to complete simple tasks in overly complicated and humorous ways. His cartoons have inspired millions of projects.

Understanding Your Creative Problem

Please keep in mind that this is an art project, not a science experiment, and each step should demonstrate a thoughtful and playful use of materials. Think of the way it looks- it's aesthetics. No fire, or other dangerous materials.

Your assignment will end up being a kinetic sculpture and should completes a simple task in at least 4 overly complicated steps. 

Note: For this project, a step means that energy has to completely transfer from one elements to another. A ball rolling down a ramp is a step once the ball hits a hammer and the kinetic energy is transferred to the hammer. The task and materials you use are up to you. 

Evaluation

You will be evaluated on the following criteria: functionality (does it work), inventiveness, creative use of materials, planning (drawing), and preparedness.

Due

April 22nd- A demonstration of your working project. The classroom will be open during lunch for you to set up your chain-reactions. 

Examples

This chain reaction sculpture/video is called The Way Things Go and was made by Swiss artists Fischli and Weiss.

Here's another chain reaction video

Here are some chain reaction ideas from a youtube

For more visual research, CHECK OUT THIS LINK!!!!

Project 12: Natural World (searching the process of Andy Goldsworthy). Due March 18- as a printed photo

Objective

For this project you will research the process of Andy Goldsworthy and create an artwork made with materials you collect from nature. The goal is to learn to slow down and observe the natural world, and to respond to it. You will use Andy Goldsworthy as a model for this exercise. 

Your project will be presented in class as a single printed photograph. The photo must be printed at least 8x10 and mounted on matt board with a 2 inch border all around. 

Please get matt board from Ms. Samimy's room on Mon/Tue (5208). 

Process

Step one- Research Andy Goldsworthy

Start here, and be sure to look at lots of examples of his work. Also be sure to read about his process. He has done many interviews. Watch some. 

Look at how Goldworthy works- his process. Choose one of the processes he uses- we have listed them below, and included the basic elements/principles of design that Goldsworthy is utilizing.:

Straight stacks- (Repetition, rhythm, balance, symmetry. Strong foundation/static)

Asymmetrical stacks- (Repetition, rhythm, asymmetry. Equalized tension/extends beyond base)

Lines- curved or straight (Repetition, change in line weight/direction/color. contrast)

Voids- (symmetry, balance, strong center, contrast through color/value/material)

Spirals- linear or volumetric (like the cornucopia). Contrast in color, texture, hue, saturation.

Network/Web- linear forms pinned together to create a weblike construction. 

Gradient- change from one color (hue/value/saturation) to another. 

Step two- Observation

For this exercise, you will consciously begin to think about the world around you, and how you live/exist in it. Look at everything. Your feet when you walk, the trees outside your window. the glass the separates you from those trees. Touch the glass. touch the trees. pay attention. Deep, close, and constant attention. Try to stay in this mindset all week.

Step three- Respond

Working exclusively with materials you find in the natural world. Be choosy, and intentional in your choices. 

Experiment with ways of using your materials. How will you attach them? How can they be manipulated? How can they be transformed? What happens when you have a lot of the same object (multiples)?

Try weaving, braiding, sewing, balancing, tying, bending or whatever technique you come up with to make an object out of the separate materials. Try different techniques of arranging or joining your objects together to make one unified form.

Step four- Documentation

Before you begin working on the project be sure you have thought about how you will document it. Remember, the photo will need to be printed at least 8x10. 

Here are some things to think about as far as documentation goes:
1. Do you have a camera that can shoot a photo large enough to print 8x10? If not, borrow one. 

2. Lighting. What time of day will be best to shoot. Sun behind the piece, in front of the piece, directly overhead? 

3. Cropping. Be sure to leave enough space around all sides of the piece when you take the photo. You can always crop some out, but you can never get what you didn't photograph. 

4. Watch this!! It may help ;) Note: the flash idea may not be good for this project.

5. Resolution. Set your phone or camera up to take the largest photo it can. Look here for help. Look up your particular phone/camera for specifics. 

6. Ask Mr. Hanson for help editing your photo. There are also free on-line photo editors. Also, walgreens will let you edit when you upload the photo (look here).

7. Printing. You can use Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Kinkos, etc. Do NOT print it on your home inkjet printer. 

8. Mounting. Do this with Ms. Samimy. Tell her to help you because she's nice ;)


IMPORTANT NOTES:

• The size of the sculpture must be at a minimum of 3 feet long in at least one dimension.
• Absolutely no glue, wire, string, tape, zip ties, etc. Use only natural materials that you collect.
• In the creation of your art object, continue to think about your observations. Your sculpture will be your visual response to your observations. Please have a title. Note: you must have a title. 

Schedule

March 18th- Final Critique of single 8x10 (or larger) matted photo. 

Project 11: Alter Ego Helmet (show me your trash and I will tell you who you are). Due March 11th.

Project Description

Chris Scarborough, drawing of a mask

“Show me your trash, and I will tell you who you are.” 

Your challenge is to create a mask/Helmet that describes an aspect of your personality that we as a class would normally not know. Like trash, which we cover in land fills, think of a characteristic/trait that is normally covered or hidden. The mask you create should reveal something new about you. 

You may only use materials intended for your trash can, or recycling bin. In other words, save the things you would normally discard... these will become your materials. 

 Requirements 

• The mask/helmet must obscure most, if not all of your face. It must also cover the back of your head. 

• NO ZORO or ANONYMOUS MASKS or pre-fabricated masks!

• Make sure that you can see out of the mask, and allow for sufficient breathing

• Your mask/sculpture should be 75% made of trash from your home. 

• You must have volume. Some element of the mask should extend at least 12 inches from your head.

• This is not a party decoration. This is sculpture... think volume.

• Remember be prepared,  you will be wearing your mask during critique, so make sure it stays on your head/face. 

• The mask/helmet must stay on without your hands holding it. 

Evaluation

You will be graded on your effort as well as your creativity, thoughtfulness, technique, and skill in making the mask.

Due Date 

Project due March 11th at beginning of class. We will shoot photos during critique. There are no in-class work days, you will complete this project at home. 

Process

1. Gather Materials for Friday, March 4th

Begin by sourcing materials that you would normally throw away. Be sure to clean them. As you take an inventory of your garbage/recycling, think about how the materials can communicate just  by themselves. 

The primary materials you will use are discarded items from your home, things like: milk cartons, packaging, containers, broken household items, old clothes, etc. You do not need to buy anything. 

Please clean and prepare your materials so they are not harmful to you, or cause a potential pest problem. Remember you will be wearing this sculpture on your head during critique.

Do not use any materials that will rot, ie. vegetables, or animal by-products. If you do choose to use food-stuff, make sure it is stable, and will not attract pests. An example of something that could be used if clean and stable would be well-washed egg shells.  

2. Make Sketches and play

Start making sketches, and trying out different building techniques. Experiment with different ways to create form and volume. 

3. Choose an idea to communicate

When you are thinking of ways to communicate your idea, try to find ways that will manifest your concept without illustrating it; don't be too literal. 

Try to stay away from easy recognizable pop culture memes, and do your best to make your “mask” not look like anything you've seen before. It will be helpful to think of this more as a wearable sculpture for your head. This is not a halloween mask. 

Note: We will be works hoping your ideas in class on March 4th.  

4. Construction

Approach the project in a way that makes sense to you, and use building-techniques you've learned from previous projects. Do your best to create volume with the materials you have selected.

All the same design concepts apply to these materials as they would with things you buy in an art store.

Use form, line, color, and context to communicate. The materials you use, and the way you put them together should be enough to communicate your concept. They should show us something new about who you are. 

5. Wearable

Finally, make it comfortable, and make sure it fits... you will wear the mask during critique. You will also be wearing this mask outdoors. 

Background information

A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance or entertainment. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes. They are usually worn on the face, although they may also be positioned for effect elsewhere on the wearer's body, so in parts of Australia giant totem masks cover the body, whilst Inuit women use finger masks during storytelling and dancing.[1]   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mask

Helmets are thought of as protective gear. You can incorporate this into your idea if you choose. Helmets are different than masks in that they typically cover the back of the head. 

Further Research

Please research masks/helmets from other cultures and time periods: Asian, African, American,  Latin American, European, Pacific Islander, Australian Aboriginal, etc, etc.

What did they look like? What materials and building techniques did they use? Why did they make them? How were they used?

 Here are a few links to some contemporary artists using trash or masks/helmets in their work. Please feel free to share any other information or videos with all of us.  Use the comment section of the blog. 

Artists References 

Living Artists of Japan: The Face Behind the Mask - Noh Mask Maker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdFFwxw9mN8

Cindy Sherman: Mannequins & Masks | Art21 "Exclusive"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHVsXPoVbiE

Masks | "Exclusive" | Art21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB5ykyAAhtk

Paul McCarthy: "Piccadilly Circus" | Art21 "Exclusive"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76YkbsSiZk4

Mary Mattingly Owns Up | "New York Close Up" | Art21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gujH5oYmHcY

Brian Jungen 

Shin Murayama

Shin Murayama

Shin Murayama

Student Examples

Here are some student examples from the class of 2017 

 Note our project is somewhat different- you will be using only your trash, and must cover the entire head. 

Research

http://breadandpuppet.org

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkl92oV1kMc

https://www.google.com/#q=cardboard+masks&tbm=isch

30 Minute workshop 

Here are the images from our 30 minute workshop in class.