Class Description

What is sculpture? This class will take an inclusive, open-ended approach towards defining what artistic practices might be categorized as sculpture. The focus of this class will be the creation of projects that employ a diverse range of processes and methods including but not limited to: systems, instructions, play, audience-participation, interventions in public, collaboration, multiples, absence, translation, failure, and site/place-specificity. An emphasis will be placed on the student's conceptual and thematic intentions, how they take physical form in three-dimensional space, and how they might be translated to (or from) two-dimensional or four-dimensional forms.

In the first half of the semester students will engage a multitude of exercises that take place in and out of the classroom. In the second half of the semester students will elaborate on one of the earlier exercises and create an exhibition-ready project. In addition, readings, videos and subsequent discussions will highlight works from contemporary artists whose methods question the boundaries between sculpture and other media, and whose ideas merge our notions of art and life.

2/18: Aritsts Identity and Roles

QUESTION: What roles can artists play in society?

ARTISTS: Artist Identity Assignments

ARTFORUM: Scene and Herd

INTERVIEW: David Hammons

VIDEO: Excerpts from The Fundamental Gilbert and George

HOMEWORK: No-Object Exercise

READING: Common Work - Jeff Kelly