Assignment #13

Project Description: Performance Suit

Refer back to sculptor Nick Cave from Chicago, and his Soundsuit series, whom we looked at before.
For this project, make a wearable sculpture that covers your whole body.
Look at the following artists for inspiration: Nick Cave, Rebecca Horn, William Pope,
Robert Rauschenberg, Matthew Barney, Marina Abramovic, Björk, Alessandra Torres. 
But make the idea your own! You can incorporate the Alter Ego Mask as part of your suit if you want to.
Try to incorporate sound into your project. We will have a parade for the critique,
so make sure you can see out of the suit.

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.

Homework:

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.
Due on 4/20.

This is a big project. It will count for 3 full grades with option for extra credit:

4/13- Project and homework assigned

4/20- Sculpture and Choreography critique- in progress (HOMEWORK DUE)

4/27- Critique: Parade at Crandon Park

(Performance and choreography video is an extra credit grade)***

Artist Inspiration: Nick Cave, Rebecca Horn, etc (see above)

Article on 7 Artists who Designed Costumes

 

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 indigenous/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.

Schedule:

Frday, April 20th : Homework Due

SoundSuit Critique in progress

Sound Suit sketches, armature and materials due at beginning of class. In-class workday.

Homework grade will be given for:

-Two pages of detailed sketches/ideas, including sample color scheme and texture/sound/material choices. Research on example artists.

-Materials to work in class.

-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

Friday, April 27: CRITIQUE
SoundSuit Video/Performances at Crandon Park for Beach Field Trip.

You will bring your soundsuit to the beach field trip.

You have the option to do a performance and create a video for extra credit.

Sound suit 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.

The extra credit video must include the following:

Title frame including the names of performers, title of piece and date.

1 - 3 minutes duration.

Intentional beginning (how will you come into the frame?)

Intentional choreography (what will happen in the video?)

Intentional ending (how will the video end?)

Uploaded to Vimeo, Youtube, Tumblr or your personal artist website.

Past Student Works: