Tuesday, January 24, 2012
herman de vries
If you did not get to the whole lecture this morning, please look at www.hermandevries.org. His work is inspiring to this project and will help in terms of thinking about your relationship to an environment.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Project One
Project One:
Collections:
From Wunder Kammern and Kabinette to Joseph Cornell to Fred Wilson and Suzanne Anker, collecting, ordering and creating narrative/coherence through the juxtaposition of objects has been a fruitful practice for understanding our place in the world around us. We will look at several works by each of these practitioners in class.
Your assignment is to create a collection that expresses your ecology, your relationship to your environment, or your physical surroundings. Ecology can be commonly defined as:
1. The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
2. The study of the interaction of people with their environment.
How are you an organism and what are the physical intersections between you and your environment?
Rules:
1. Your collection must have a minimum of 16 pieces in it.
2. You must write a short (250 word) explanation of how these objects are related and how they relate to you.
3. Your collection must fit into the box we will begin building in class today.
4. The collection in its box will be shown in the space outside the Summer’s Gallery on January 31st.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Syllabus
Rivers of the World, Joseph Hutchins Colton, Johnson’s New Illustrated Family Atlas with Physical Geography (New York, 1864).
ARTS141_Introduction to Art & Ecology
This semester we will investigate relationships between art and ecology, asking what we mean when we use these terms and where the areas of overlap amongst them occur. Through readings, discussion, and project-based production, we will explore an understanding of these fields as complex systems of interrelationships, each with their own models, metaphors, operations, and histories. In order to expand the space of possibility for thinking and making in art practice, we will attempt to identify and challenge given distinctions between art and science, theory and practice, thinking and feeling.
In this spirit, ARTS141 is something of a hybrid between a seminar and studio course. Our goal is to create an open environment conducive to exchange, germination, and evolution. Your participation and collaboration are central; in the broadest sense, this includes: contributions to class debate and conversation, keeping up with readings and crafting questions, timely completion of in-class practicums and project assignments, as well as an energetic dedication to new discoveries in how we–as authors and audiences–make meaning. We will look at a wide range of artists and theorists whose work addresses these concerns, and you are encouraged to bring references to share with the class, whether in the form of images, articles, or upcoming event dates.
Attendance
We need your participation for the ecology of our class, so attendance is crucial. Please be punctual. If you are going to be absent, please notify me by email or phone beforehand. More than three absences means that you are at risk of failing the course, and reasons for excused absences (illness, family emergency) must be communicated to me by email or phone prior to class time. Arriving more than 15 minutes late to class will be equivalent to half an absence.
Assignments
Readings
Weekly readings are required, and you will be asked to formulate at least three (3) questions per week, to be submitted by email by 5 pm the evening before the day of discussion. The thoroughness and consideration that goes into your reading and questioning will enrich our discussions.
All text are available as printed handouts or pdfs through the UNM Docutek eReserves:
http://ereserves.unm.edu/eres/default.aspx
Projects
A description and handout for each Project will be distributed in class according to the course schedule. On project due dates, we will discuss each of your individual projects as a group through class reviews.
Project_1: Collections
Project_2: Mappings
Project_3: Walking/Scoring
Project_4: A Delta Instrument
Grading
25% : Attendance and Class Participation, including Discussion
20% : Reading Questions and In-Class Practicum
30% : Projects [10% each]
25% : Final Project
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
UNM is committed to accomodating students with disabilities and to full compliance with all laws regarding equal opportunity. Students with disabilities in need of assistance or accomodation should notify me as early in the semester as possible and should contact the Accessibility Resources Center, located in Mesa Vista Hall rm 2021
http://as2.unm.edu/ (505.277.3506).
Course Schedule
*subject to change; please check in regularly for updates
...................................................................
WEEK 1
The Nature of Ecology :: thinking, making, metaphor, method
// tuesday, january 17
IN CLASS: introductions
discuss syllabus, schedule
Make Box
introduce Project 1_Collections
ARTS141_Introduction to Art & Ecology
This semester we will investigate relationships between art and ecology, asking what we mean when we use these terms and where the areas of overlap amongst them occur. Through readings, discussion, and project-based production, we will explore an understanding of these fields as complex systems of interrelationships, each with their own models, metaphors, operations, and histories. In order to expand the space of possibility for thinking and making in art practice, we will attempt to identify and challenge given distinctions between art and science, theory and practice, thinking and feeling.
In this spirit, ARTS141 is something of a hybrid between a seminar and studio course. Our goal is to create an open environment conducive to exchange, germination, and evolution. Your participation and collaboration are central; in the broadest sense, this includes: contributions to class debate and conversation, keeping up with readings and crafting questions, timely completion of in-class practicums and project assignments, as well as an energetic dedication to new discoveries in how we–as authors and audiences–make meaning. We will look at a wide range of artists and theorists whose work addresses these concerns, and you are encouraged to bring references to share with the class, whether in the form of images, articles, or upcoming event dates.
Attendance
We need your participation for the ecology of our class, so attendance is crucial. Please be punctual. If you are going to be absent, please notify me by email or phone beforehand. More than three absences means that you are at risk of failing the course, and reasons for excused absences (illness, family emergency) must be communicated to me by email or phone prior to class time. Arriving more than 15 minutes late to class will be equivalent to half an absence.
Assignments
Readings
Weekly readings are required, and you will be asked to formulate at least three (3) questions per week, to be submitted by email by 5 pm the evening before the day of discussion. The thoroughness and consideration that goes into your reading and questioning will enrich our discussions.
All text are available as printed handouts or pdfs through the UNM Docutek eReserves:
http://ereserves.unm.edu/eres/default.aspx
Projects
A description and handout for each Project will be distributed in class according to the course schedule. On project due dates, we will discuss each of your individual projects as a group through class reviews.
Project_1: Collections
Project_2: Mappings
Project_3: Walking/Scoring
Project_4: A Delta Instrument
Grading
25% : Attendance and Class Participation, including Discussion
20% : Reading Questions and In-Class Practicum
30% : Projects [10% each]
25% : Final Project
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
UNM is committed to accomodating students with disabilities and to full compliance with all laws regarding equal opportunity. Students with disabilities in need of assistance or accomodation should notify me as early in the semester as possible and should contact the Accessibility Resources Center, located in Mesa Vista Hall rm 2021
http://as2.unm.edu/ (505.277.3506).
Course Schedule
*subject to change; please check in regularly for updates
...................................................................
WEEK 1
The Nature of Ecology :: thinking, making, metaphor, method
// tuesday, january 17
IN CLASS: introductions
discuss syllabus, schedule
Make Box
introduce Project 1_Collections
ASSIGNMENT:
Project 1_Collections
// thursday, january 19
IN CLASS:
Lecture_"Framing Ecological Practice"
make journal book
ASSIGNMENT:
finish journal
...............................................
WEEK 2
Collection, Classification, Taxonomy :: finding order, sorting, working through
// tuesday, january 24
IN CLASS: do desk crits on collections and display
// thursday, january 26
IN CLASS: visit to Museum of Southwestern Biology
....................................................................
WEEK 3
Collection, Classification, Taxonomy, cont.
// tuesday, january 31
IN CLASS: install boxes
and statements
// thursday, feb 2
IN CLASS: review of collections
....................................................................
WEEK 4
Diagramming / Mapping :: systems thinking
// tuesday, feb 7
IN CLASS: discuss readings
Practicum 2_Diagramming
introduce Project 2_Memory Map [due 10/11 and 10/13]
(starts from base map moves into experiential memory, able to do in class, vellum, pen and base map collage optional)
// thursday, feb 9
IN CLASS: visit to UNM Maps Library
mapping exercise in maps library
ASSIGNMENT:
....................................................................
WEEK 5
Diagramming / Mapping :: systems thinking
// tuesday, feb 14
IN CLASS: desk crits on mapping project - concept statement and base map due
// thursday, feb 16
IN CLASS: Lecture_
peer crits on mapping project - first draft due
ASSIGNMENT:
Corner, James. “The Agency of Mapping”
• Sigmund Freud, Mark Lombardi, Deb Sokolow, Edward Tufte, Amy Balkin, Joseph Beuys, Atlas Group, Natalie Jeremijenko, Janice Kerbel, Charles Darwin, Alexander von Humboldt, Richard Long, Sol Lewitt, Tom Friedman, Chris Ware...
....................................................................
WEEK 6
Diagramming / Mapping, cont.
// tuesday, feb 21
IN CLASS: outdoor mapping exercise - mapping the unseen in the urban fabric
// thursday, feb 23
IN CLASS: in class desk crits
....................................................................
WEEK 7
Diagramming / Mapping, cont.
// tuesday, feb 28
IN CLASS: review Project 2_Memory Map
// thursday, march 2
IN CLASS: review Project 2_Memory Map
....................................................................
WEEK 8
Walking / Scoring
// tuesday, march 6
IN CLASS: Lecture: Halprin - RSVP cycles
introduce Project 3_Score [due 3/1]
• form collaborative groups --
// thursday, march 8
IN CLASS: perform scores - Project 3_Score
ASSIGNMENT: Project 4_Walk design a walk, document it
...................................................................
WEEK 9
SPRING BREAK
...................................................................
Walking/making
WEEK 10
// tuesday, march 20
IN CLASS: present artifacts/walks - Project 4_Walk
503 mechanical movements
• Simon Starling, Joseph Beuys, Robert Smithson, Simparch, Harrell Fletcher, Siebren Versteeg, Roman Signer, Joelle Tuerlinckx, Heimo Zoebernig, Rebecca Horn, On Kawara, Bruce Nauman, Rachel Whiteread, Chris Burden, Diller and Scofidio...
// thursday, march 22
IN CLASS: present artifacts/walks
ASSIGNMENT:
Beuys, Joseph. “I am searching for field character”
“Discussions with Heizer, Oppenheim, Smithson (1970)”
from Robert Smithson: Collected Writings
....................................................................
WEEK 11
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, march 27
IN CLASS: Introduce Final Project_Instrument of Change
Lecture: “to be announced” -- art and change
• Guy Ben-Ner, Pierre Huyghe, Futurefarmers, Hans Haacke, Alfredo Jaar, Olafur Eliasson, Joep van Lieshout, Pablo Helguera, Tino Sehgal, Harrell Fletcher, Stih & Schnock, Michael Rakowitz, Art Workers Coalition, Heimo Zobernig, Francis Alÿs, Sam Durant, Agnes Denes, Urs Fischer, Tim Hawkinson...
// thursday, march 29
IN CLASS: workshop with sound
................................................................
WEEK 12
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 3
IN CLASS: presenting instrument and presenting mechanism of change/ work day
// thursday, april 5
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 13
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 10
IN CLASS: Field trip to Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
// thursday, april 12
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 14
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 17
IN CLASS: mid-review Final Projects
// thursday, april 19
IN CLASS: mid-review Final Projects
....................................................................
WEEK 15
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 24
IN CLASS: work in class
// thursday, april 26
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 16
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, may 1
IN CLASS: review Final Projects
// thursday, may 2
IN CLASS: review Final Projects
IN CLASS: visit to UNM Maps Library
mapping exercise in maps library
ASSIGNMENT:
....................................................................
WEEK 5
Diagramming / Mapping :: systems thinking
// tuesday, feb 14
IN CLASS: desk crits on mapping project - concept statement and base map due
// thursday, feb 16
IN CLASS: Lecture_
peer crits on mapping project - first draft due
ASSIGNMENT:
Corner, James. “The Agency of Mapping”
• Sigmund Freud, Mark Lombardi, Deb Sokolow, Edward Tufte, Amy Balkin, Joseph Beuys, Atlas Group, Natalie Jeremijenko, Janice Kerbel, Charles Darwin, Alexander von Humboldt, Richard Long, Sol Lewitt, Tom Friedman, Chris Ware...
....................................................................
WEEK 6
Diagramming / Mapping, cont.
// tuesday, feb 21
IN CLASS: outdoor mapping exercise - mapping the unseen in the urban fabric
// thursday, feb 23
IN CLASS: in class desk crits
....................................................................
WEEK 7
Diagramming / Mapping, cont.
// tuesday, feb 28
IN CLASS: review Project 2_Memory Map
// thursday, march 2
IN CLASS: review Project 2_Memory Map
....................................................................
WEEK 8
Walking / Scoring
// tuesday, march 6
IN CLASS: Lecture: Halprin - RSVP cycles
introduce Project 3_Score [due 3/1]
• form collaborative groups --
// thursday, march 8
IN CLASS: perform scores - Project 3_Score
ASSIGNMENT: Project 4_Walk design a walk, document it
...................................................................
WEEK 9
SPRING BREAK
...................................................................
Walking/making
WEEK 10
// tuesday, march 20
IN CLASS: present artifacts/walks - Project 4_Walk
503 mechanical movements
• Simon Starling, Joseph Beuys, Robert Smithson, Simparch, Harrell Fletcher, Siebren Versteeg, Roman Signer, Joelle Tuerlinckx, Heimo Zoebernig, Rebecca Horn, On Kawara, Bruce Nauman, Rachel Whiteread, Chris Burden, Diller and Scofidio...
// thursday, march 22
IN CLASS: present artifacts/walks
ASSIGNMENT:
Beuys, Joseph. “I am searching for field character”
“Discussions with Heizer, Oppenheim, Smithson (1970)”
from Robert Smithson: Collected Writings
....................................................................
WEEK 11
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, march 27
IN CLASS: Introduce Final Project_Instrument of Change
Lecture: “to be announced” -- art and change
• Guy Ben-Ner, Pierre Huyghe, Futurefarmers, Hans Haacke, Alfredo Jaar, Olafur Eliasson, Joep van Lieshout, Pablo Helguera, Tino Sehgal, Harrell Fletcher, Stih & Schnock, Michael Rakowitz, Art Workers Coalition, Heimo Zobernig, Francis Alÿs, Sam Durant, Agnes Denes, Urs Fischer, Tim Hawkinson...
// thursday, march 29
IN CLASS: workshop with sound
................................................................
WEEK 12
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 3
IN CLASS: presenting instrument and presenting mechanism of change/ work day
// thursday, april 5
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 13
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 10
IN CLASS: Field trip to Mechanical/Electrical Engineering
// thursday, april 12
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 14
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 17
IN CLASS: mid-review Final Projects
// thursday, april 19
IN CLASS: mid-review Final Projects
....................................................................
WEEK 15
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, april 24
IN CLASS: work in class
// thursday, april 26
IN CLASS: work in class
....................................................................
WEEK 16
Instrument of Change
// tuesday, may 1
IN CLASS: review Final Projects
// thursday, may 2
IN CLASS: review Final Projects
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