Beyond The Studio explores art activities and methods that fall into the loose rubric of post-studio artistic practice. Some of these include social and environmental art projects, site-specific and community art work, institutional critique projects, and locational and field-based practices. Beyond The Studio covers the historical landscape of artists and projects that have worked beyond the studio (and the formal gallery / museum) since 1970. Current works by international artists will be covered and we'll investigate through structured conversations what it all means as we make art today ourselves. We will discuss a number of unique artists and projects in this class, through readings; research; and hands-on projects. Artists work and writings that will frame the conversations for our course include Daniel Buren, Robert Smithson, Yoko Ono, Andrea Fraser, Gordon Matt-Clark, Sophie Calle, Merle Laderman-Ukeles, Gabriel Orozco, The Guerilla Girls, Rick Lowe, Superflex, along with many, many others. In this course you will complete 4 weeks of conceptual tooling and participate in a series of structured thematic conversations. You will participate in three hands-on projects, embark on a research project, and engage in work time and critique course projects.
FALL 2016 COURSE SCHEDULE
12:30-2:50PM, T/TH
August 23, Welcome
August 25, "What's way, way, out there Beyond the Studio?"
Introduction and Discussion of selected slides
12:30-1, Reading Discussion
1-2:30, Conversation
August 30, "The Function of the Studio / The Function of the Museum"
"I will not make anymore boring art"
Case Studies: John Baldessari, Daniel Buren, Brancusi, Michael Asher, Andrea Fraser, Fred Wilson,
LA Urban Rangers
Reading: John Baldessari, 109 art assignments.
12:30-1, Reading Discussion
1-2:30, Conversation
Sept. 01, "Experiential Awareness as Fuel for Art Practice"
109 art assignments
Case Studies: Joseph Beuys, Andrea Zittel, Lita Albuquerque, The Land, James Turrell
Readings: Inside the White Cube and Inside Out: Arts New Terrain, Art Forum Magazine
Share your weekend with Yoko Ono
12:30-1, Reading Discussion
1-2:30, Conversation
Sept. 06, "What good are creative actions outside of the gallery system?"
Review of Projects: Yoko Ono + Lena Alqatari's Script
Sept. 08, "Field Work Aesthetics"
Case Studies: Culture in Action, Susan Lacy, Ellie Ga, LA Urban Rangers, Mark Dion, Merle Laderman Ukeles,
Center for Land Use Interpretation, Wapke Feenstra, Simon Starling
Readings: Documents from the Store by Claus Oldenburg + Written 1-page Response Piece
12:30-1, Reading Discussion
1-2:30, Conversation
Sept. 13, "Activating Ideas in the Living World"
Case Studies: Andrea Zittel, Mel Chin, Lynn Hull, Superflex, Agnes Denes,
Walter de Maria, Robert Smithson, Marjetica Potrc, Lita Albuquerque
Readings: Mel Chin / Tom Finkelpearl from Dialogues in Public Art and Mel Chin Statement from
Sculpting with the Environment, Cultural Confinement by Robert Smithson, and Superflex by A.Brown
12:30-1, Reading Discussion
1-2:30, Conversation
Sept. 15, "Social Sculpture" - POSTPONED / 9/15/16
Guest: Catherine Cartwright
Case Studies: Joseph Beuys, Judy Chicago, Rikrit Tiravanija, Fritz Haeg, Guerilla Girls, Creative Time,
Rick Lowe, Pierre Huyghe, Thomas Hirschhorn, Spontaneous Interventions
Readings: Situationist International, Joseph Beuys: I am Searching for a Field Character. Participation P. 95-104, P. 120-126,
Four Statements by Thomas Hirschhorn, and Rick Lowe and Project Row Houses interview, Dialogues in Public Art
Sept. 20, Meet at Norlin Library, Special Collections by 12:30PM
Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
Sept. 22, Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
4-Week Review Exam
STUDIO
Sept. 27, Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
Richard Gone on project: Tallgrass Artist Residency, Matfield Station, Kansas State University
STUDIO
Sept. 29, Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
Richard Gone on project: Tallgrass Artist Residency, Matfield Station, Kansas State University
STUDIO
Oct. 04 Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
STUDIO
Oct. 06 Project 1: Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
STUDIO
Oct. 11 Mark Making and Landscape Collection (Zine)
CRITIQUE / ZINE ASSEMBLY / WALL WHEAT PASTING
Oct. 13 Project 2: Spatial Reclamation / Tactical Citizenship Introduction
CRITIQUE / ZINE ASSEMBLY / WALL WHEAT PASTING
Oct. 18 RESEARCH WORKSHOP, NORLIN LIBRARY
Oct. 20 RESEARCH DAY, No Class Meeting
Check email for FIELD WORK prep
Oct. 21 FRIDAY FIELD WORK: Last Chance, CO
Readings Due: The monuments of Passaic, New Jersey and Axioms for Reading the Landscape
Oct. 25 RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
SEMINAR
Oct. 27 NO CLASS MEETING / STUDIO WORK DAY
Check Email for Social Sculpture Prompts
Nov. 01 Project 2: Social Sculpture
MIDTERM GRADES
Nov. 03 Project 2: Social Sculpture
Nov. 08 Project 2: Social Sculpture
Nov. 10 Project 2: Social Sculpture
Nov. 15 Project 2: Social Sculpture
CRITIQUE
Nov. 17 Project 2: Social Sculpture
CRITIQUE
Check Email for Project 3 Prompts
Nov. FALL BREAK
Nov. FALL BREAK
Nov. 29 Project 3: TBD
Dec. 1 Project 3: TBD
Dec. 06 Project 3: TBD
Dec. 08 Project 3: TBD
CRITIQUE: TBD
Dec. 13 FINAL PORTFOLIOS DUE BY 5PM - Email + Dropbox
FALL 2016 COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Projects and Actions – 60%
You will create and present 3 projects during this course. These projects will represent your understanding and willingness to execute each of your individualized project goals. Your individual project grades are also based on your preliminary research for each project and whether or not your project is completed on time and presented professionally. Your work needs to be completed and presented in a professional manner prior to the class period of which you are scheduled to present your work. If you are not prepared for your critique, your time slot will be cancelled. There will not be extra class time for make-up critiques.
I. Mark Making and Landscape Collection + Zine
II. Reclaimation
III. Social Sculpture + 100x10
Class Readings/Small Assignments/Discussion/Participation – 10%
A number of readings along with discussion sessions, and smaller actions will be assigned during the semester. You are required to complete each of them, thoroughly digest the material and come to class prepared. With each reading and throughout other aspects of the class, there will be numerous opportunities for you to participate in, and lead class discussions. This may include formal and informal conversations with your studio mates, Q and A sessions, presentations, critiques, impromptu panel discussions, and class lectures.
Research Project [Paper and Slide Presentation] – 10%
During the semester you are required to complete an 8-page research paper and give a 10-minute accompanying visual presentation. You will attend an assigned workshop at Norlin Library that will outline exactly how to go about preparing your research for this class. The subject of your research will be artists and cultural producers that produce work within the scope of the course. A list of potential subjects will be provided.
Final Portfolio – 20%
At the end of the semester you are required to turn in a final portfolio. Your portfolio will include images of all of the work you made during the course and should be burned sent to me via dropbox.
I have a very handy xerox rubric that you can use to keep track of your own performance. Please let me know if you'd like one.
Barbara Kruger. LA Bus (Schoolbus). 2012. Los Angeles, CA. Autowrap and billboard.