Kinetic: simple machines

5 Part Project:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. research (record in sketchbook) reading with response Proposal maquette the Sculpture itself

Critique & Due date:

Nov 13

You will end the project with one sculpture based on the idea of kinetics.

The invention of the wheel was a milestone in the advancement of human technology. It has been perfected with many improvements throughout history. Artists have since incorporated the use of this invention in sculptures. Your job is to reinvent the wheel or make use of kinetic parts as sculptural elements. In this project, you are asked to consider what makes a sculpture a work on wheels? Would a kinetic sculpture fit into this category? Maybe a machine? Or can it simply be a vehicle? The goal of this project is to create your own interpretation of a kinetic sculpture/work on wheels.

simple Machines:

Kinetic: (of a work of art)

depending on movement for its effect.

Part I RESEARCH

EXERCISE due: Wednesday 10.30

&

We will conduct some in-class research, but the bulk of this will be your responsibility. It is often helpful to research aspects of the topic and other artists who have made related work. We will go into greater detail in class. In your sketchbook, research three artists who create kinetic sculptures, including at least one image of a work for each artist (small print out pasted in your sketchbook). You can find a list of artists at the end of this assignment sheet. Include title, date, materials, and other relevant information about the art/artist. Then examine the environment that surrounds you and create 3 original images of kinetic elements (wheels, machines, gears, etc); they may either be original photographs or sketches. We will be dividing up into small groups for discussion, so make sure you are able to explain how these images fit into the category kinetic sculpture/works on wheels. The purpose of this exercise is to brainstorm and the discussions will hopefully inspire some of you to think outside of the box. Due Wednesday 10.30 (in sketchbook): artist research with at least three images of kinetic sculptures, three original photographs/sketches of kinetic elements in your environment.

Artists List: Marcel Duchamp, Alexander Calder, Jana Sterbak, Jeff Koons, Susan Leibovitz Steinman,

Martin Puryear, Jean Tinguely, Reuben Margolin, Theo Jansen, Ant Farm, John Chamberlain, Anita Larkin, Charles Eames, Kenneth Snelson, Hitoshi Nomura, Noah Purifoy, Ptolemy Elrington, Craig Hill, Mike Dunlap, Chris Gilmore, Lewis Tardy, Amos Robinson, Gerry Judah, Tom Friedman; Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Tim Prentice, Tim Hawkinson

Gravity and Buoyancy

Fall 2013

University of Florida

Erin Curry

1 of 3

Part II READING RESPONSE & PROJECT IDEAS due: Wednesday 10.30

Read the Alexander Calder article then watch the videos below, and prepare for class discussion. Select one artist and write a one page response paper that includes a brief description of the art described (1 paragraph), a summary of the articles main points (1 paragraph), and your personal analysis and interpretation that relate to the greater goals of the project (1 paragraph). Due Wednesday 10.30: Reading Response and Project Brainstorm
o o o o o ALEXANDER CALDER -The Legacy of Alexander Calder by Joan Marter http://www.sculpture.org/documents/scmag98/calder/sm-caldr.shtml ARTHUR GANSON: http://thenonist.com/index.php/annex/machine_with_wishbone/ http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/arthur_ganson_makes_moving_sculpture.html THEO JANSEN: http://www.ted.com/talks/theo_jansen_creates_new_creatures.html JANET ECHELMAN: http://www.ted.com/talks/janet_echelman.html

Part III Maquettes & Project Proposal due: Wednesday 11.04

Bring to class all the materials you will need for beginning your maquettes or models of your project to class. Work in class. Create three studies exploring different possibilities for works on wheels or a kinetic sculpture. These models are meant to be individual studies of three kinds of kinetic sculpture/works on wheels, so they should actually function as such; your wheels should spin and your gears should turn, for example. You will discuss your completed studies in class. After getting feedback from your peers, choose one maquette as the basis for your project. Due Monday 11.04: three functioning kinetic maquettes and project proposal (refer to handout). Create a sculpture based on your own understanding of kinetic sculpture/ works on wheels. Take into consideration everything we discussed in class. There are no specific guidelines as far as materials used, but make sure your project is appropriately sized for the critique space. If you have a specific location in mind, make sure you sign up on the posted critique space map. Because of the complexity of kinetic works and the additional time needed to perform/interact with them, no site-specific works are permitted for this project. Because of their complexity, it is critical that you do a dry run of your sculpture in the actual critique space prior to critique and no later than the evening before. Your work must be installed by the start of class or it will be considered late and will not be critiqued. Due Wednesday 11.14: project, sketchbook, artist statement.

Part IV Project & Artist Statement due: Wednesday 11.13

Gravity and Buoyancy

Fall 2013

University of Florida

Erin Curry

2 of 3

Evaluation :
o Evolution from proposal to finished work o Craftsmanship - Is the work well crafted? Is it presented professionally? Are details attended to? o Aesthetic Concerns - Is the work coherent, are you using effective forms of visual communication? o Conceptual Rigor - Are you making active, thoughtful choices in material, form, and ideas? o Inventiveness Developing your ability to solve problems and devise new approaches will help you to achieve not only the course objectives, but also personal goals. New and unusual approaches often lead to discovery in your work. Demonstrate your willingness to move beyond basic requirements and boundaries. Did you take RISKS? Is your voice present in the work? o Personal Investment- Did you invest time and mental effort? Did you learn and use new skills? o Successful resolution of the assigned problem Did you resolve the assignment in an interesting way? o Experimentation within the parameters of the project guidelines. Did your maquettes show diversity and depth? Are the lessons you learned apparent in the final work?

Sketchbook Criteria
-Conceptual Research

(expanded in another handout)

-Images and sketches (side, front, aerial views) with measurements -Process recording and notes from lectures, demonstrations, research, critiques, experiments, etc. -Project-related artists(at least 5 artists for each project) -Independent artist and art research -Materials Cost and Timelog

Gravity and Buoyancy

Fall 2013

University of Florida

Erin Curry

3 of 3