ARTS 5490: Celebratory Dinnerware

Jennifer Rogers, Instructor
roger259@umn.edu
Cell: 651-373-1549
Studio: E252
Office Hours: 2-4

Chris Pancoe, Instructor
panco005@umn.edu
Cell: 612-309-0650
Studio: E252
Office Hours: 2-4

The installation is characterized by multiplicity, dispersion, interaction, and temporalness- characteristics that until twenty years ago would not have appeared particularly relevant to the majority of Western art. They are, however, typical of craft history as far back as anyone might care to trace it. Handcrafted objects such as chairs, quilts, brooches or plates are not exactly of the same order as autonomous paintings or sculptures. On the contrary, they are frequently conceived as multiples; are intended to be intergraded into a larger environment of functional objects; are meant to be actively touched; and are expected to acquire the marks of time and use. A set of plates- conceived to be distributed on a table, integrated with glassware, linen, silverware and a variety of foods, and actually handled during the course of a meal – is obviously not self- sufficient, but acquires meaning only in relation to actions accruing within a complex multi- media, spatio- temporal environment.

Glen R. Brown
The Ceramic Installation and the Failure of Craft Theory

Coarse Description

In this class each student will be required to make a dinnerware set for an individual or group, i.e. friend, family member, artist, famous person, or fictional character etc. The clay choice, building process, glazing and firing process will be dependent on the concept.

Please Be Creative.

Final Presentation

At the end of the three weeks each student will be required to present projects to the class in the setting of your choice. Please think about context and presentation. I have reserved the Art Quarter Gallery for our class, but am open to off site installations.

Come to the first class with project ideas.

Instruction Methods

Demos and Slides will be determined by the projects presented. Instructors will work with the class as a group and on an individual basis.

Grading

Things that can strongly affect this overall grade are attendance, meeting due dates, and active participation. This is a three- week session therefore late projects will be lowered one letter grade

A  is awarded to those projects that are outstanding relative to the basic requirements of the assignment. Excellent work.

B  is given for projects that are significantly above the level necessary to the basic requirements of the assignment.

C  is given for projects that meet the basic requirements of the assignment.

D  is given for projects worthy of some credit even though it does not meet the basic requirements of the assignment.

Your grade for this course will be based on:

• Fulfillment of class assignment
• Participation in class firings, clay mixing, & clean – up
• Participation in class discussions and critiques
• Grades for creative works are based on the success and execution of the idea. The success also includes technical proficiency and creative use of the basic elements of three- dimensional art: line, color, volume, surface, form, etc.

Attendance

In this class attendance is extremely important. Every student is required to attend every class meeting for the full class period. Lectures, critiques, and demonstrations (usually announced ahead of time) may be given at anytime during scheduled class hours and all students are responsible for any information given during class time. Students are also expected to participate in class firings and must be available to help with loading, firing, and unloading outside of class time. It is the students' responsibility to make arrangements for any make up work immediately after any absence.

• The final grade for this course will be lowered one letter grade for each absence over three and more than six absences will result in a F for the course
• Incompletes for the semester will only be issued to those students with documented illness or family emergency that causes the student to miss more than three classes

Clean Up

In addition to major class clean – ups, you are responsible for cleaning up after yourself each time you use the studio. Store your clay projects on the designated shelves. Please keep your clay, tools and other belongings in your locker. Lockers must be rented through the Tool Crib for $25 a semester or $50 a year.

Tool Crib Hours

• Mon. – Thurs: 9am – 10pm
• Friday: 9am – 6pm
• Saturday: 10am – 5pm

Studio Access

The studio is open Monday through Saturday from 7:00am – 11:00pm. Special passes can be obtained from your teacher to gain access to the building between 11:00pm and 3:00am. You must have a partner if you work in the studio after 11:00pm.