Project 5: Platonic Solids and the Natural World. Final Project Due Nov 20th

Project Description

You will be making a sculpture based in the platonic solids as a way to examine the relationship between nature and geometry. This project has three main parts: 
1. Build a set of the platonic solids (craftsmanship is key here)
2. Use collage to change the surface/further develop the forms. How will the introduction of color, texture, image and text, transform the objects?
3. Carefully choose elements found in nature to build a relationship between the geometric solids you have made and the natural materials. Examples of materials include tree branches, palm fronds, coconuts, rocks, vines, etc). Examples of ways to approach relationship include: tension, semiotic, complimentary, contrasting, camouflage, parasite/host, opposition, etc. 

Through this project you will continue to develop your craft skills (cutting, measuring, ways of attaching). 
Conceptual skills through the building of a narrative exemplified by the relationship you set up between the elements of your sculpture. (How does material and form communicate?)
Found object and assemblage (one of the four basic means of creating sculpture)

Project Schedule

November 6th

1. Introduction to project

2. Workshop building Platonic Solids using provided nets. 

Homework- Complete a total of fifteen (15) platonic solids using the nets provided in class. You must have three (3) of each kind. 15 objects total. 

You will be given matt board in class. With this material you will build the five platonic solids. For homework, you will complete a set of fifteen total solids. Three of each kind:

3 total tetrahedrons
3 total Octahedrons
3 total Cubes (Hexahedrons)
3 total Icosahedrons
3 total Dodecahedrons
-----------------------------
15 total platonic solids

November 13th

1. Homework due: 100 points total. 

A. Your 15 platonic solids along with your collage materials, and the natural materials you will need to work on your sculpture. (up to 75 points)

B. Sketches and notes that show a clear direction of how you will move forward with your project. (up to 15 points)

C. Title and what it means. Why you selected it. (up to 10 points)

Class time

You will have time to construct your sculpture in class. Please bring any tools and materials (glues, strings, branches, magazine clippings, etc) you will need to assemble your project.

November 20th- Critique

Projects must be ready to show at beginning of class. Please come prepared to set up the room for critique. 

Rubric

You will be assessed on how well you meet the following goals: 

Craftsmanship

Creativity

Time-management (homework finished by due date, and sculpture ready for critique)

Elements of Desigh (particularly volume, transformation and unity). 

Narrative. (Developing a relationship between different elements in a work of art. Creating narrative through form). 

Note: 

You will be aloud to use any gluing techniques that you have acquired from previous assignments, hot glue might be the best solution. Tape is not recommended, your modular/geometric objects will be covered with collage and attached to the natural materials you have purposefully selected.      

Relationship to Ms. Samimy's class

You will have class time in Ms. Samimy's class to work on the collage aspect of your project. 

When choosing collage materials, pay close attention to texture, color and image/text. 
Your  approach toward the color will come from what you are learning about color relationships in your 2D foundations course. You will be working with muted colors and will choose from the following color schemes:

     - Split or Double complimentary

     - Analogous colors

     - Monochromatic colors

     - Triad

Cursory info from wikipedia, also check the NWSA 2-D blog. 

Color Theory RYB (red, yellow, and blue) is a historical set of subtractive primary colors. It is primarily used in art and art education, particularly painting.[23] It predates modern scientific color theory.

In the visual arts, color theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination. There are also definitions (or categories) of colors based on the color wheel: primary color, secondary color and tertiary color. Although color theory principles first appeared in the writings of Leone Battista Alberti (c.1435) and the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci (c.1490), a tradition of "colory theory" began in the 18th century, initially within a partisan controversy around Isaac Newton's theory of color (Opticks, 1704) and the nature of so-called primary colors. From there it developed as an independent artistic tradition with only superficial reference to colorimetry and vision science.

Fun Links

Icosahedron with compass and straight edge video

Pdf worksheet to construct platonic solids with synthetic geometry from Canton.org