Unit 1

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Unit 1

Exercise:

You are to find an object with interesting form and construct a support for that object out of cardboard using 2 methods. 1 method will be tension only and the other can include tape, hot glue or other fastener / joining method of your choosing. A successful project will demonstrate consideration for the space surrounding the object you have chosen, the formal / textural / metaphorical elements present in the support and the interplay between the two.

Unit 1 project:

The first project will use the materials cardboard and hot glue to begin to explore issues central to sculpture such as: form, space (positive, negative / full, void), plane, volume and mass. The first exercise was an introduction to some simple methods of using these tools and a primer for considering form and space. In the longer project, you will be asked to work from one of 3 conceptual themes and your final project should demonstrate your full investigation of one of these themes.

Materiality - working from cardboard, surface, texture, ability to be manipulated to emphasize the qualities of the material in your final work. Successfull execution of this concept will emphasize the inherent qualities and limitations of cardboard and hot glue as materials. You may push them to their extreme limits, the limits of what cardboard and hot glue can or can't do to reveal the qualities of each. Successfull projects will leave the viewer wondering how you got these materials to do what you have done while strongly emphasizing that they are cardboard and hot glue.

Instability - working from carboard and hot glue as building material, a successfull project will be a form or an object that appears unstable. It may appear to be in decomposition, to be unable to stand on its own, to be balanced in a way that seems physically impossible. It may appear to be unstable or it may in fact be unstable. You may wish to add other elements to contribute to its instability, such as (but not limited to) something that is actually damaging it, something that is causing it to move or shake, or any of a million other possibilities.

Interactive - Using Cardboard and hot glue as building materials, you will construct an object that begs the viewer to participate in its full realization. Perhaps it is to be handled or manipulated by the viewer. A significant part of creating such an object includes revealing to the viewer (through the object itself) how they should interact with it to achieve the best effect and the full potential of the object. What entices the viewer to touch? Is there a clear place for them to enter and begin to manipulate the object? A successfull project will reveal to the viewer how it is to be manipulated and the viewer's experience with the object will match the creator's intentions for interaction.

Material expectations

Each of you will have up to 5 4' x 8' sheets of cardboard available to you to construct your objects. These objects should be larger in scale and at minimum 36" in one direction. I want you to work large for these, while continuing to keep in mind that the objects must be able to be removed from the classroom! So, if you are working larger than 36" in each direction, perhaps the object must be sectional so that it can be disassembled to be removed or relocated. Also, the space of exhibition is to be fully considered. Do not make pieces that belong on pedestals. If you piece needs to be on a pedestal or raised, you must construct that out of cardboard and hot glue as well.

We will have hot glue sticks available in class, however, if you choose to use an extreme amount of hot glue, you will be instructed to purchase your own for the project. Also, it may be significant to your project to use post-consumer cardboard boxes or other cardboard for your project. That material must be provided by the student.