Experimental Sculpture Collection Assignment Guidelines

Assignment:

• Create a collection of three non-representational sculptures.
• Utilize the elements and principles of art and design.
• Strive for innovative ways to use the materials to visually provoke curiosity.
• The final solutions will be ambiguous.

am·big·u·ous| amˈbiɡyəwəs | 

adjective(of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning: 

Objective:

• Explore how materials can be manipulated to achieve innovative results.
• This approach to exploring gives permission for students to take risks and exercise curiosity.
• Utilize the elements and principles of design to create sculptures that are visually unified and balanced.

Artist Inspiration. Link below.

The artists I collected for inspiration are not necessarily using the same materials as required for this project. However, their use of materials, formal use of elements and principles and/or concept of form can most certainly provide inspiration.

Be sure to look at all the posts. There are over 42 posts. Click on link below.

https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Experimental%20Sculpture%20Collection%20Artists

Student Work. Link below.

Over the semesters this assignment has had varied guidelines. However, all student work I gathered can offer inspiration.

There are over 32 posts with student work so be sure to look at them all. Go to this link:

https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Experimental%20Sculpture%20Collection%20Student%20Examples

Ideas for how to use materials. Link below. 

https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Experimental%20Sculpture%20Collection%20Material%20Ideas

Elements and Principles - Review

https://foundations3ddesign.blogspot.com/search/label/Elements%20and%20Principles%20Visual%20Examples

Student Work. Tangible Examples in the studio:

Plastic bin with tangible examples in studio, in metal cabinet. When done looking at examples, please place plastic bin back in metal cabinet.

Guidelines:

• Do not create representational forms.
• You can be inspired by representational forms. 

• Each sculpture has to have at least three materials from the list below. 
• Do not use the same three materials for all three sculpture. 

• For each sculpture:
• Carefully consider how color can enhance the formal and conceptual aspects of the sculpture. 
• Consider how color works with the materials you selected. 
• Consider how color looks from all angles. 
• Monochromatic color or a gray scale also an option. 

• Sculpture #1
• Create a pattern or repetition of elements that dominates the form. 
• Consider how making marks on the surface of material or using textural forms can create pattern and/or repetition. 

• Sculpture #2
• Create a sculpture that visually communicates an innovative focal point.

• Sculpture #3 
• Create a sculpture that visually communicates innovative negative space. 

• Color 
• Must use ink for this assignment. If you do not have your own inks, I provide ink, on the Karma Kart, top shelf. 
• No more than two colors per sculpture. So, one or two colors for each sculpture. 
• Can be the same color(s) for all three sculptures.
• Black, white or gray counts as a color. 
• Amount of color can be very little. Focus on demonstrating on color can make an impact on your sculpture. 
• Color can also occur by using colored thread. 

• Size
• Each sculpture needs to measure at least 8-inches in one direction.
• All three sculptures will have height, width and depth and be free-standing. 

• Materials
• At least three (3) materials need to appear on each sculpture and used with innovation.
• See list below for suggestions on how to use materials with innovation.
• For additional inspiration, I will leave a plastic bin of past examples in the metal cabinet in Studio 3.
• Use only the materials on the list below.
• Each sculpture has to have at least three materials from the list below. 
• Do not use the same three materials for all three sculptures. 
• Glueing two pieces of a material is not an innovative use of glue. Select materials from list below:

• Gel Medium or Modge Podge
• Available in the studio on the Karma Kart. 
• Use brushes and water to apply - brushes in your kit. Cups for water near sink in back of studio. 
• Dries clear. 
• Gesso
• Available on the Karma Kart. 
• Use to build with paper. Add water. 
• Dries opaque white. 

• Mask Tape
• Use as a material for it to count as a material. This means the tape is not used solely to "attach". 
• Tape available in the studio, on the Karma Kart. 
• For those of you who purchased the materials for the class, you have masking tape in your supplies. 

• String and/or Thread. 
• Thread available in the studio, on the Karma Kart, in the drawers with the ink. 
• See me for needles to stitch or string (I keep these items in my office). 
• String is in my office, so will have to use during class time. 
• Yarn and embroidery thread is a possibility if used with innovation. Can also be used for your color choice. See me if you are considering these options. 

• Tracing Paper or Tissue Paper
• Available in the studio, on the Karma Kart, top shelf, in bin. 

• Paper - Any white paper. 
• Can use copy paper or see me for a higher quality paper. 
• Many paper scraps in bin on top of Karma Kart, labeled Misc. Papers. 
• You can also find paper in the bins under the TV in the studio. 
• Can use the paper that you purchased from materials list I sent before school started. 
• Can also use paper pulp made with copy paper. See me for copy paper if you don't have your own. Do not use craft paper roll in studio - this paper does not work well. 

• Wood (Balsa or other)
• A bin of scrap balsa wood available in the 3D metal cabinet in the studio. 
• Scrap wood available in wood shop.
• Must train with Russell Maycumber, woodshop manager, before using any tool in the woodshop. 

• Wire
• Available in the studio, on the Karma Kart. Use the 18 gauge wire in the package. Please do not take out of the package as wire will tangle. The package is designed to pull out the amount of wire you need. 
• Must wear safety glasses when working with wire. Safety glasses on top shelf of Karma Kart in bin. 
• Wire cutters also available in the studio, Karma Kart, in small plastic drawer. 
• Heavy duty wire cutters available in the wood shop.

• Hot Glue
• Glue guns available in the studio, on the Karma Kart. 
• Glue sticks are in the kit you purchased. There may also be a few extra on the Karma Kart, in one of the small drawers. 
• Do not, do not, leave glue guns plugged in when done working. Allow time to cool down, return glue gun to Karma Kart. 

• Clear Packing Tape
• Available in the studio, on the Karma Kart.

• Elmers Yellow Wood Glue 
• Available on Karma Kart. 
• Dries yellow. 
• To make glue shapes like we did in class, use plastic. There is a brown paper bag on the Karma Kart that has plastic for this purpose. 

• Gorilla White Wood Glue 
• If you purchased the materials for the class, this was on the list.
• Extra glue on Karma Kart. 
• Dries clear. 
• To make glue shapes like we did in class, use plastic. There is a brown paper bag on the Karma Kart that has plastic for this purpose. 

• Acrylic or 3D printing plastic materials from the INNOVATION CENTER. 
• Go to website for innovation center, scroll down to box that states "technology use request". Submit your request. 
• https://www.flagler.edu/student-life/student-spaces/brown-innovation-center

• Materials needed for construction:

• Utility Knife
• Exacto Knife
• Pencil
• Ruler (optional)
• Cut Matt 
• Brushes 
• Scissors

Some ideas on how to use materials with innovation:

• Twist
• Shred
• Fold
• Roll
• Weave
• Wrap
• Layer/stack
• Braid
• Pierce
• Paper Mache
• Use gel medium or modge podge. Might need to dilute a bit with water. Use tracing paper, copy paper or craft paper from roll in studio. Newspaper also an option. 
• Stitch. 
• Ask me for needle and thread. Or you can create "rope" from paper or masking tape and use this as thread.  
• Paper Pulp 
• Soak paper in water to create a pulp. You can add ink to the paper pulp for color and/or glue to make a paste. 
• Paper Molds
• Form wet paper over an object. Do not add glue as this will attach paper to the object. Once paper is dry, will take on shape of object. To remove, cut paper off of object. 
• Roll Tape Mask Tape
• Stick rolled shapes together to form another shape.
• Hot Glue
• Use hot glue to cover a form or make individual forms that are applied/sewn to a larger form. 
• Elmers Yellow Wood Glue or Gorilla White Glue
•  Create shapes on a flat, plastic surface. Once dry, the glue will form a "plastic". Small, individual shapes can be applied (sewn, glued) to a larger form. Or one larger form can be created an added to the another form. 
• Interior Space
• Cut "windows" so viewer can see inside a form. Consider what will be "inside". 
• Ribs
• Use wire to create a skeleton. Drape with trace paper that has been soaked with a water and gel medium mixture (paper mache). 

Steps to Follow:

Step 1:

• Introduction to materials and processes.
• As a class, we will visit the Innovation Center and wood shop. 
• In class, I will share tangible visual examples and we will complete in class exercises exploring materials.
• The tangible visual examples are available for students to look at. I encourage students to spend time exploring the examples. All examples are located in a plastic bin, located in the metal 3D cabinet. 

Step 2:

• Homework. Reflect on the images you selected for research. The images were due the fourth week of class. Use these images to inspire ideas.
• I also suggest reviewing the images in the link above for "Sculpture Collection Artist Inspiration".
• And looking at past student work for this assignment. Link is above.
• Come to the next class with various experiments utilizing the materials listed above.
• Experiments should demonstrate time and effort and risk taking.
• Focus on risk taking - not final solutions.
• I want to see several examples of you taking risks with the materials. The pieces should demonstrate exploration, not a finite idea.

Step 3:

• Start building - beginning ideas are "three-dimensional" sketches because you will be learning what the materials can do by exploring the materials and taking risks. 

• If your process includes sketching, make sure you complete outside of class. In class, I want to see you exploring the materials. 

• Remember to take in-process pictures as you are working. 

Step 4:

• Complete a handout that asks you to address the materials you used for each sculpture and the focus of each sculpture when you turn in the work. 

Evaluation Criteria: 

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

What do I post 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: Research Images for this assignment due the third day of class. Refer to due date section in document in Canvas, mentioned above. 
• The remainder of information due during final exam week. 
• Date announced in class shortly after mid-semester. 
• Late work not accepted for blog posts.