Briana Vandivier, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

My Space

Balsa wood, masking tape, balloon, sand

8" x 3.5" x 2.5"

“The bubble is our skin. But the skin is also alive, breathing and excreting, shielding us from harmful rays and microbial attack, metabolizing vitamin D, insulating us from heat and cold, repairing itself when necessary, regulating blood flow, acting as a frame for our sense of touch, aiding us in sexual attraction, defining our individuality, holding all the thick red jams and jellies inside us where they belong.”  

- A Natural History of the Senses, Diane Ackerman, p. 67

Statement:

Daily life moves so fast. It is easy to forget to pay attention to mental and physical well being. My piece demonstrates the outside world that our skin protects us from. The balloon represents my own bubble. The balloon contains sand from a beach near my home. 

Kaylen Johnson, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

Shift

Photograph Series

"Shifting your attention to something else will distract 

you from pain; pain requires our full attention." 

-Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of The Senses

Statement:

Touch can sometimes allow us to ease pain. Different bad habits can help pain seem bearable. In order to create a photo, my friend Vic was smoking a cigar in a dreary bathroom alone. I wanted the mood to feel like this was her escape. Cigars and cigarettes can calm you or give you a buzz, which could maybe allow a person to shift their attention from something going on in their life or maybe some sort of pain. Her attention is elsewhere, she is hoping to mask her pain.

Miriam Reynolds, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

Hair Bow

Collaged Digital Photos

Approximately 6" x 2.5" x 1"

"Hair deeply affects people, can transfigure or repulse them. Symbolic of life, hair bolts from our head. Like the earth, it can be harvested, but it will rise again."- A Natural History of The Senses, Diane Ackerman

Artist Statement:

Diane Ackerman emphasizes the concept of hair as it relates to touch. Our hair plays a special role in our identity. For this reason, I took several photographs of my friend's hair in different lighting and on different days. The texture and color contribute to the overall sensory impression. 

In-Process Photo:

Jenna Davenport, Student Work. Response to Touch Chapter, A Natural History of the Senses.

The Feeling Bubble

Digital Photo Collage

"Our skin is a kind of space suit in which we maneuver through the atmosphere of harsh gases, cosmic rays, radiation from the sun, and obstacles of all sorts." 

- A Natural History of The Senses by Diane Ackerman

Statement: 

After reading the above excerpt from A Natural History of the Senses, I began to think about how incredible the body is. Not only does skin protect us and hold together our internal organs, but it also heals itself and adjusts to any natural changes we go through. With my work, I wanted to comment on the incredible abilities that everyone’s skin has. In order to accomplish this, I photographed the scars of a group of my friends and melded them all together in Photoshop. The skin is a fantastic organ and I wanted to show that with this piece.

Line Depping, Artist

linedepping.dk

Chris Weaver, Artist

chrisweaver.co.nz

Portia Munson, Artist

Note:

This artist can be used for inspiration for Fluxus Box assignment. While there is no "box", the concept of repeating a color can offer inspiration for the Fluxus Box assignment. 

Pink Project: Table (1994/2016) by Portia Munson. Photograph by Linda Nylind. Courtesy of Linda Nylind/Frieze.

source link phiadon.com

portiamunson.com

Lenka Clayton, Artist

Blue Box

2014 / sculpture / steel box containing various found objects

lenkaclayton.com

Fluxus Box Assignment Guidelines

Assignment:

• Apply the concept of the Fluxus movement to design and construct a box that contains at least four (4) objects. These objects are made by the student. 
• Utilize semiotics to develop an idea. 
• Student completes an Ideation Packet for this assignment. The Ideation Packet serves as starting point for developing a concept for personal work. 

Objective:

• Conduct research of a historical movement so as to gain awareness of how art and design documents a culture as well as contributes to cultural ideas. 
• Use research and personal perceptions of contemporary culture to develop and create a visual narrative. 
• Gain experience designing and constructing a "box" with the intention to "hold" items. 
• Apply concepts of semiotics to design decisions. 

What is Fluxus? 
Fluxus began as a small but international network of artists and composers, and was characterized as a shared attitude rather than a movement. The movement began in the early 1960's and lasted until the end of the 1970's. 

The Latin word Fluxus means flowing, in English a flux is a flowing out. Fluxus founder Maciunas said that the purpose of Fluxus was to ‘promote a revolutionary flood and tide in art, promote living art, anti-art’. This has strong echoes of dada, the early twentieth century art movement.

Fluxus boxes were a peculiar form of expression in which the artist gathered a series of objects, cards, materials and components and assembled them in boxes, suitcases or other containers. The assemblage was created with multiple purposes in mind: creating suggestions and tangible poetics by juxtaposing things was something that the cinematographic montage had learned since the beginning of the century, and it was also explored by musicians where the sounds of known objects acted on levels that are simultaneously physical, symbolic and referring to memory and cultures.

Fluxus boxes were intended as non linear narratives to be handled, touched, performed, disseminated, destroyed, reassembled, counted and reconfigured.

Just as cinema montage and music had learned, the orchestration of symbols, visions and other sensorial components was able to create novel scenarios. Interactivity and tangibility created a state of continuous recombination, multiplying interpretation and cognitively activating people, who became part of the artwork while handling, imagining and communicating. The connection with the ordinary flow of life created new dimensions in the world: stratified, recombinant and engaging. Source link here. 
Additional info at Flux Museum. Link here. 

Guidelines:

• Box Design
• The design of the box will visually communicate a theme/narrative derived from your selected movie. 
• Must be an enclosed "box" that you build. 
• Does not have to be a "box". Can be any shape. 
• Must be an enclosed form that securely contains four objects. 
• Has to have a way to "open". Consider this action of opening the "box" as part of the concept. 
• Design an organization system for the objects in the box. 
• A few ideas; create dividers, include clips or secure with elastic binding, create a fabric pouch for objects or create individual boxes for objects.
• Color
• Color is a unifying theme for this assignment. 
• The color palette is derived from the movie you selected.
• Consider how color can visually  create a focal point, communicate emotions, represent a culture. 
• Elements and Principles
• Use the elements and principles of art and design as well as the perception of every day objects to visually communicate a  narrative.  
• Size Box
• At least 12 inches in one direction. See me. I will work with students individually to determine a size based on individual ideas. 
• Number of Objects in Box 
• Box to contain at least four (4) objects. 

Materials:

• The Box/Container. 
• Materials for the box can be wood, foam board, or cardboard.
• Wood is available in the wood shop (or students can purchase their own). 
• If a student chooses to used foam board or cardboard, the student will provide these materials. Foam board can be purchased at local Hobby Lobby (see me before purchasing so I can offer advice on size). 
• Another option is to use leftover foam board in the studio. 
• The Objects 
• Materials are your choice. 
• Create at least four (4) objects that visually communicate your selected theme. 
• Do not use existing/pre-fabricated objects. 
• However, students can alter existing/pre-fabricated objects.

Steps To Take:

• Step 1
• Review following information in preparation for the Ideation Packet. 
• Look at work from Fluxus Box Artists. 
• Go to link below. There are 21 posts with artists so be sure to look at all. 
• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Artists
• Look at Fluxus Box Construct Ideas
• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Construct%20Ideas
• Look at Fluxus Box Color In Film
• Learn how color is used in film as the color palette for your entire sculpture will be derived from the movie you select. Be sure to look at all the posts. 
• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Color%20In%20Film
• Ideas for Color and Objects
• I collected a few examples to inspire ideas for color and the objects. Be sure to look at all the posts. 
• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Color%20and%20Object%20Ideas
• Semiotics
• Learn the basics of semiotics as this concept will be applied to the development of your sculpture. Be sure to look at all the posts. 
• https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Fluxus%20Box%20Semiotics

• Step 2
• Print out a hard copy of the Ideation Packet. The packet is located in the File section of Canvas. 
• Date to bring packet to class announced in class. 
• Must print out. Students cannot complete on phone or laptop. 

• Step 3
• Bring hard copy to class. 
• As a class, we will complete exercises in the packet. 
• Remaining exercises will be completed for homework. 
• Reminder, must print Ideation Packet. Students cannot complete on phone or laptop. 

• Step 4
• Bring completed packet to class on due date (announced in class). 
• Important - Bring completed HARD copy of packet to class on assigned day. As a class, we will share/brainstorm ideas. Students will not be allowed to share information on their phone or computer.
• In class students will share and brainstorm ideas that they gathered in the Ideation Packet. 
• Make sure your Ideation Packet is complete so you can participate in this process. 

• Step 5
• Gather the materials you need for your sculpture. 

• Step 6
• Begin construction of your idea. 
• I will work with all students on an individual basis to assist with construction as well as recommend materials.

Evaluation Criteria: 

• Refer to the document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Evaluation Criteria". The document has the evaluation criteria for all assignments.

What information do I put on my blog:

• Refer to document in File Section in Canvas entitled "Blog Guidelines and Checklist". 
• The document includes guidelines and checklist and due dates.
• Note: All information for this assignment due during final exam week. 
• Date announced in class shortly after mid-semester. 
• Late work not accepted for blog posts. 

Lenka Clayton, Artist

Box Containing 352 Things

2015 / sculpture / lentils, ink / photo: Tom Little