Project Description for Advanced Ceramics
Contemporary Derivation
Derivation: the obtaining or developing something from a source or origin.
All artists have primary influences – be they historical, contemporary or life experiences. Working artists over time develop concepts, methodologies, processes and tools in which to create their work. As such, tools and methodologies are just that – ways in which to create. A glaze or a clay body is no different than a pencil used to make a drawing, or a tube of oil paint used to make a painting. Your tools do not define who you are as an artist. It is how you use the tools that determine uniqueness and/or originality.
For this project you are to research one contemporary artist who works primarily in the medium of ceramics. Your research and your coursework should include the following:
1. A written report to be given as a PowerPoint presentation summarizing who the artist is, what kind of work they make, describe the concept of their work. You should also relate what historical context you determine they fit into. Plan at least 20 images and 10 minutes for the presentation. You will present your research on the last class day after the clean-up.
2. For your course load you must create a derivative body of work from the Contemporary Artist you chose to research. Specifically:
If you choose a sculpture: You must make five pieces (no smaller than 15 inches but no larger than 20 inches). You must try to mimic the glaze or surface treatment of your researched artist. This means you are to adapt the methodologies and tools of your chosen artist and rework them to create something of your own. Your first piece may be an attempt to directly remake a piece of your chosen artist, but the next 4 pieces should demonstrate derivation. The final piece should be so far removed that it starts to become a visual vocabulary of your own. The ultimate goal of this process is for you to develop new ‘tools’ and methodologies in your artistic practice. Thus, when selecting an artist to research, think of forms, subject matter, or surface treatments you are interested in learning how to use and incorporate into your own methodologies.
If you chose a Functional Wheel thrown or Functional based hand-building artist: You should make 10 small bowl forms, 10 mug forms, 3 large bowl forms, 10 lidded forms, 5 vase forms, 5 pitcher forms and 5 teapot forms. You may choose 1 to 3 forms to replicate (for example, you may choose one mug, one bowl and one teapot form), but the work from there on must demonstrate derivation of the piece you have chosen to replicate. You must try to mimic the glaze or surface treatment of your researched artist. This means you are to adapt the methodologies and tools of your chosen artist and rework them to create something of your own. The ultimate goal of this process is for you to develop new ‘tools’ and methodologies in your artistic practice. Thus, when selecting an artist to research, think of forms, subject matter, or surface treatments you are interested in learning how to use and incorporate into your own methodologies.
Note: As each artist will contain differing amounts of complexity, the amounts given above in the course work are only guidelines of the expectations for this course. I will work with each of you individually to prepare a specific schedule for content of the coursework. Your grade will be determined from the specifications outlined in the calendar we devise. Meaning, did you complete all the work? Was it completed on time? This is an advanced course so expectations are that you will complete a course load that is equivalent to or exceeds that of the intermediate course.
OR, if you have already taken this course and completed this project you must choose to do one of the following:
1. Dinnerware for 4: You must design and make a complete dinnerware set to serve at minimum 4 people. The set should be designed around a specific menu and include things such as a centerpiece, small vases pitchers, creamers, gravy boats, desert trays, cake tray, candelabras just to give a few examples. Some research will prove invaluable. For final crit you MUST set up your dinnerware set on one of the tables in the hand building area. You may want to include some kind of table cover as well. Your set may be fully utilitarian, or it could become more of a metaphorical statement such as Judy Chicago’s “Dinner Party” that was designed to celebrate feminist ideas and femininity. All the pieces may be constructed on the wheel or hand built OR a combination of both. Slip casting is also an option.
2. Comic Strip Narrative: You must create a narrative body of sculpture that functions as one piece. You must have a minimum of 5 pieces. Think how a comic strip functions with each scene leading to the next to complete a story. Thus, one sculpture should lead to the next. You choose the concept. Your final ‘Piece’ must be set-up on one of the tables in the hand building area. You may want to include some kind of table covering. The covering could also be part of the piece – for example, what if you made enough tiles to cover the whole table and each tile had something carved or painted on it. You can choose whatever technique suits your ideas to create each piece.