M/W: 1-3:20PM
Professor Richard Saxton
richard.saxton@colorado.edu
Course Description:
Visual Thinking explores ideas concerning the structure and nature of thinking using visual methodologies and the spaces and relationships our individual visual languages can motivate through creative thought processes. This course also investigates many of the organizing principles of 3-D design, spatial awareness, experiential activation, and their application to contemporary art. This course will include lectures, readings and discussions, writing assignments, studio projects, and visual presentations.
The Sculpture and Post-Studio Area encourages an experimental and interdisciplinary approach to art making. Our curriculum synthesizes a commitment to the studio and the community, emphasizing the interplay between concept, material and context. In this course we will explore various philosophies related to the creative thought process - you will learn many new things about making art and about yourself, and hopefully be encouraged to continue learning through additional Sculpture and Post-Studio Practice Area course offerings next semester. Please talk with me or stop by the SPS resource room on the second floor to learn about recommended courses.
Course Requirements:
Main Visual Thinking Projects – 60 % of your grade (20% each)
You will create and present 3 main visual thinking projects. These projects will represent your understanding of each of the individualized project goals, and whether or not your project is completed on time, and successfully achieves the objectives laid out for each project. Grading for main projects includes research, organization, and critique performance.
Visual Calisthenics – 10 % of your grade
During the duration of this course you will periodically be required to complete visual calisthenics assignments. These are usually short, 1 to 2 hour activities that will train your visual abilities and spatial awareness. Gains in visual calisthenics skills will enhance your main projects and hopefully help them be more successful.
Research Project (Slide Presentation + Paper) – 10% of your grade
You will present a 10-minute digital slide presentation on a topic that you have selected to illustrate a particular idea, movement, or style. A 5-page research paper will accompany each presentation, and will be printed, stapled, and turned it at the time of your presentation. Your papers should include biographical information, as many samples of the artists work as appropriate, excerpts from critical essays about the artist and your own interpretations and observations about the artist and their work. You are required to access a minimum of five resources for you papers, two of which must be analog (books, papers, etc). More information about research projects will be discussed later.
Class Participation + Visiting Artist Lecture Reviews – 10% of your grade
Class participation is measured through day-to-day activities, discussions during critiques, and your engagement with others in the studio and class topics. During the semester you are required to attend and review a minimum of 2 visiting artist lectures. You are required to turn in a two-page page, 1.5-spaced summary (including your thoughts) of each lecture you attend. Visiting artist lecture reviews need to be printed, stapled, and turned in on November 16, 2015.
Final Portfolio – 10% of your grade
At the end of the semester you will be required to turn in (via dropbox or wetransfer) a PPT or PDF file that includes images of the work you have created during the semester and documentation of your various visual thinking exercises. You will include text that states the title, dimensions, and material used to create your projects.
- Work habits: How effectively are you using class time? How much work do you do outside of class time? What is your level of commitment to the work?
- Technique/craft: Is your work crafted at the high level that it needs to be? Are you making conscious decisions about the craftsmanship in the work?
- Punctuality: Do you come to class on time? Are your projects completed in a timely manner?
- Resolving pieces: Do you go back and rework pieces after the critiques in order to make them better or try something new with them?
- Attitude: Are you taking the class seriously? How high is your level of ambition? What kind of goals are you setting for yourself?
- Research: What kind of research are you doing in addition to your work? What artists are you learning about? How are you bringing other information or disciplines into your work?
- Class participation: Are you participating constructively to the class? Are you adding helpful comments to the critiques?
- Experimentation: How far are you pushing the materials? What is the level of creativity in the work? Do you take the project past the basic requirements?
- Concepts: How well are you grasping concepts discussed in class? How much thought are you giving materials?
- Written Materials: Are you writing clearly? Are you putting enough time and thought into your artist statements, project statements, weekly reflections, and visiting artist reviews?
A – Superior. Exceptionally high achievement. This grade is reserved for those students that put and extraordinary amount of time and effort into all aspects of the class. The project exceeds all requirements of the assignment, demonstrates independent thinking and innovation in realizing the project.
B - Above Average. Students receiving this grade are doing above average work, bringing interesting and constructive information to class and working beyond the requirements of the class. Their projects meet all and exceed some of the assignment requirements,
C- Average. These students are completing all work in a timely manner and up to the expectations set out by the course/project objectives. Students are participating in class and have proven through both discussion and their work that they understand the concepts that are being discussed. Students demonstrate innovation and independent thinking during projects.
D – Below Average. Passing, but unsatisfactory. Students receiving this grade are not creating work that is up to the class standards. Work is not turned in on time, not taken seriously or not fully completed. The student is not participating constructively in class, is late to classes or leaves early. Project meets few of the requirements of the course/project objectives.
F – Failing. The student has failed to meet the requirements of the course/project.
Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. It is crucial that you attend class and be prepared. If you are absent from class it is your responsibility to obtain notes, assignments or other missed information. If you accumulate 5 or more unexcused absences, you will fail this course. 3 absences will result in your overall grade being lowered by a 1 letter. Missing one Main Project critique will result in your overall grade being lowered by a 1 letter. If you are unable to attend a class, you must inform me beforehand. Arriving late and leaving early will also result in a lower overall grade. I will make every effort to accommodate students, who because of religious obligations, personal, or familial issues have conflicts with scheduled critiques and other assignments provided you notify me well in advance of the scheduled conflict.
Please let me know at least two weeks in advance of any conflict.
Critiques and Class Discussions:
Most assignments will be evaluated and discussed in the format of group critiques. As a student you need to be prepared to discuss your work and the work of your fellow students in a constructive fashion. Each student is expected to put effort towards making the dynamics of this group-learning situation effective. This involves being respectful of other student’s work and ideas, as well as cultivating the ability to speak honestly and listen objectively.
Research Assistance:
If you're having difficulty doing research or locating scholarly sources for your assignments in this class, you are encouraged to schedule a research consultation with the Art & Architecture Librarian, Alexander Watkins at alexander.watkins@colorado.edu. He can help you figure out where to begin, how to use the library, what the best databases and search strategies are for your topic, how to find difficult pieces of information, or how to manage citations.
Studio Clean Up and Etiquette:
Please clean up your work area after each work period. Help us keep the studios clean by not leaving a mess for the next person. Students are responsible for removing their projects within a reasonable amount of time after they have been graded. If projects are not removed they will be thrown out without notice. Any materials left in disarray, unclaimed or unmarked will be also be discarded. The sculpture studios are communal spaces; you need to be considerate of others and their work. If you get sawdust, material shavings, or paint on the floors, clean it up immediately and do not let liquid materials harden on the floors. You must return all tools to their proper storage areas at the end of class. If the studio becomes excessively messy we will use class time (your studio time) to clean the studio.
Safety:
All safety precautions will be taken to ensure the safe operation of any SPS equipment. However, neither the University of Colorado or the instructor are responsible for personal injury occurring on the grounds or within the VAC. Proper eye protection must be worn at all times when operating power tools. Make sure that long hair is tied back when working with power tools. Please inform your instructor or the shop technician of any condition that might affect your ability to work in the studio or any other special needs that you may have. If you have asthma or if you are sensitive to saw dust or other materials, please let me know.
Students with Disabilities:
If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability please submit a letter to me from Disability Services in a timely manner so that your needs may be addressed. Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities (303- 492-8671, Willard 322, www.colorado.edu/disabilityservices.
Religious Observances:
Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to reasonably and fairly deal with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance. Please let me know well in advance of any religious observance that you will have a scheduling conflict within this course.
Classroom Conduct:
Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender, gender variance, and nationalities. I have been provided with a class roster with each student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.
Discrimination and Harassment:
The University of Colorado policy on Sexual Harassment and Discrimination applies to all students, staff and faculty. Any student, staff or faculty member who believes s/he has been the subject of discrimination or harassment based upon race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status should contact the Office of Discrimination and Harassment at 303-492-2127.
Academic Integrity:
All students of the University of Colorado at Boulder are responsible for knowing and adhering to the academic integrity policy of this institution. Violations of this policy may include: cheating, plagiarism, aid of academic dishonesty, fabrication, lying, bribery, and threatening behavior. All incidents of academic misconduct shall be reported to the Honor Code Council (honor@colorado.edu; 303-725-2273). Other information on the Honor Code can be found below:
http://www.colorado.edu/policies/honor.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**It is important that you fully understand all of what is expected of you at the beginning of the semester. I expect you to act responsibly according to the parameters that I have identified in this syllabus. I will not track you down and reprimand you if you are not fulfilling your responsibility to this class. You will receive periodic evaluations that will give you a fair understanding of why you are receiving the grade that you are. If you have any doubts or questions concerning your performance, please make an appointment with me so that we can discuss these issues.