Project 7: Miniature Circus. Final Critique December 18th

Project Description

Together the class will make a miniature working circus. Students will work in pairs to make miniature circus acts. Each act will be 30 seconds long. 

You will perform your act on critique day. You may use any materials that you think are appropriate for your idea. We will set up on a table in front of the black wall, so scale your pieces accordingly (2' x 2' x 2'). Describe your act in the comments section, and make sure not to do something someone has already signed up for.

Stills of Alexander Calder's Circus

Soundtrack for your Act

Your act will use the following song for the background music:

Entry of the Gladiators

Project Schedule

12/04-

 For homework (due 12/11) Immediately contact your partner to begin brainstorming ideas. For our next class (12/11) please bring sketches, materials, and your circus act 50% complete. This is what 50% looks like:

1. Stage set is well under way. You have a banner, platform, and backdrop started and you have the materials with you to finish in class. You can use anything to make these. Cardboard with paint and collage could be a good start. 

2. Lighting is thought about. What will you use? Your cellphones? Flashlights? stationary or moving? need a spotlight (could you cut something to fit over your phone)?

3. Performers are partially made (what will you need to finish them?) 

4. Animation- How will you move your performers? How will you construct them? They can be puppets, or dolls, or marionettes- How will you control them? wire? string? magnets? hand puppet? 

5. Props- started and materials with you to finish them.

6. Music and Narrative- How will you use the music? What is going to happen??? THIS IS THE MAIN THING :)

12/11-

Come to class prepared to work, with all sketches & materials for your projects

12/18-

Final critique for this project will be an actual performance.

Pairs

Gaby A & Caitlyn V

Kaitlyn C & Isabella C

Sergi E & Alex G

Luciano H & Natasha M

Victoria P & Sophia R

Noah R & Michael S

Alessandra B & Amy A

Cassandra B & Lauren B

Mayee S & Demi C

Enya F & Phoenix M

Galt M & Tamara P

Diego R & Carolina R

Rachel R & Nicola S

Enmanuel C (ringmaster- you will have the job of coordinating all the acts and performing the role of ringmaster for the actual performance day. You will need to make a character for yourself complete with costume. We will talk about this together. Email us)

Research

Many artists have been inspired by the circus. For this project you will research 
Alexander Calder- please look up Calder's circus on youtube. 

Project 6: Abundance and Nourishment- deconstructing the cornucopia. Due Dec 4th

Project Description

For this project, you will be making a sculpture based in the idea and form of a cornucopia and filling it with objects. The objects that fill the cornucopia can be made or found, but transformation is important.

Both the cornucopia and it's contents must communicate the ideas of abundance and nourishment. The sculpture you are making will be based in the historical shape of the cornucopia- a horn-shaped container. 

The cornucopia has a long history in Western Art and culture. The word originates from Latin - cornu copiae. It is also know as a horn of plenty. Today we often associate the cornucopia with the US holiday, Thanksgiving. This is because of its reference to abundance and nourishment. 

For this project, you will go back to the roots of the cornucopia as a symbol, not of Thanksgiving, but of abundance and nourishment. 

What does abundance mean to you? What could it look like? What form may it take?
what does nourishment mean to you? What could it look like? what form may it take?

IMPORTANT: You may not use any objects or images typically associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. Absolutely no turkeys, pumpkins, pilgrim clothes, or Native American imagery. 

Now, what do you have left? This is your starting point. 

Process and Limitations

For this project, you will use all the techniques you have learned so far this year.: cardboard, hybrid, packaging, soap carving, color relationships, platonic solids, colleague, and narrative.

Your sculpture must be a minimum of 2 feet in length (front to back). Remember, both the opening and the interior space have to be large enough to hold your objects.  It should be substantial enough to communicate the two key concepts: abundance and nourishment. 

Be resourceful and take advantage of all the free materials around us. There is a saying: "One person's trash is another's treasure".

Rubric

You will be assessed on the following:

• Creativity/Concept- Communicating key concepts: abundance and nourishment.
• Craftsmanship- Command of Materials, looks intentional, nothing falling apart.
• Elements of Design- Composition, line, balance, texture, contrast/similarity, color, etc
• Volume- Activating the space. Remember, this is sculpture class. Move beyond 2-D.
• Time-management- Is the project finished, and well resolved.  

Due Date

Critique is December 4th