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Jason Guzman Bayron
Plywood, wood dowels
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
Students in my Sculpture I class were told to approach a stranger and ask them for something they were carrying in their pockets. They were given things like lighters, crumpled receipts, change, lint, business cards, and dollar bills. When they returned to class, they were challenged to use that object as inspiration for a sculpture that would serve as an abstract portrait of the person they received it from.
Tariq Haq
Foam, paper mache, acrylic paint
Senior Seminar, Bowdoin College
For their final project, students in my Senior Seminar class turned a vacant storefront in downtown Portland, ME, into a pop-up gallery for a one-night-only exhibition titled “A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON.” Read an article about the exhibition here.
For this assignment, students were asked to transform a familiar object through additive or subtractive processes made possible by mold-making and casting techniques. James cast his head and face in plaster and then carved away his facial features, replacing them with a unique QR code.
Inspired by Michael Rakowitz’s paraSITE shelters, students in my Architectural Design I class were asked to design and build a “lean-to shelter” that would serve a new and unusual purpose. Charlie created a portable and collapsible “telephone booth” for making private cell phone calls in public places.
This assignment required students to deconstruct and reconstruct a found wood chair to make a floor-standing sculpture that conveyed a sense of tension, either formally or conceptually. Max made a “ghost” of his chair using clear packing tape, and then repurposed the chair to make a lamp that shone a light on its former self.
In the spring of 2012, Chelsea did an independent study with me to learn more about using an Arduino microcontroller in conjunction with LEDs. The semester culminated in a site-specific installation involving a hand-made paper sculpture that was illuminated from within by blinking LEDs.
For a long-term assignment titled “Manufactured Landscapes,” students were asked to recognize the artist’s dual role as both a producer of commodities and a consumer of materials and resources. Field trips and activities focused on where the materials we used came from, how they were made, and the environmental impact of their production and consumption. Several students chose to view their own bodies as landscapes to explore how they fit into the world around them. You can learn more about this assignment and the other work that resulted from it by visiting the class blog.
The first project in Sculpture I was a multiples assignment that challenged students to make a new “thing” – that which cannot be named – by manipulating and assembling existing small-scale objects like matches, pencils, plastic cutlery, and the like. Students were encouraged to forget what those objects are supposed to be or do by focusing on formal elements like color and texture, and exploring many different construction methods. They arrived at a new and unexpected form through a process of play and experimentation.
During a three week residency, visiting artist Layla Mrozowski collaborated with my Sculpture I class on the design and construction of inflatable sculptures for a site-specific dance performance titled FLOAT. Four Bowdoin students performed Layla’s choreography in the inflatable environment, which was installed in the Student Union. The audience viewed the performance from within the inflatable sculpture in the center of the space. Read an article about the project here.
For a long-term assignment titled “Manufactured Landscapes,” students were asked to recognize the artist’s dual role as both a producer of commodities and a consumer of materials and resources. Field trips and activities focused on where the materials we used came from, how they were made, and the environmental impact of their production and consumption. Several students chose to view their own bodies as landscapes to explore how they fit into the world around them. You can learn more about this assignment and the other work that resulted from it by visiting the class blog.
After introducing students to very basic information about electronics, kinetics, and the various movements that can be achieved with a low RPM motor, they were asked to construct a kinetic sculpture that explored the idea of duration. Tory constructed a kinetic sculpture with custom wood gears that slowly unraveled a roll of toilet paper onto the ground.
For this assignment, students were asked to film themselves “performing the time” for one hour. The video documentation of their performances were sequenced to create a 24-hour-long “YouTube clock,” which can be viewed on the website maketimetaketime.com. Philadelphia-based artist Ryan Hinkel designed the site so that it synchronizes the videos with the local time on a visitor’s computer. The site and its compilation of videos is ultimately a functioning clock, literally “playing the time” from the moment you arrive. Please visit maketimetaketime.com to see the project in action on your personal computer. To view each student’s video individually, visit the “Art and Time” Channel on YouTube. Read an article about the project here.
The first project in Sculpture I was a multiples assignment that challenged students to make a new “thing” – that which cannot be named – by manipulating and assembling existing small-scale objects like matches, pencils, plastic cutlery, and the like. Students were encouraged to forget what those objects are supposed to be or do by focusing on formal elements like color and texture, and exploring many different construction methods. They arrived at a new and unexpected form through a process of play and experimentation.
This assignment was inspired by ectoparasites, organisms that attach themselves to the exterior surface of another organism, allowing them to live and thrive at the host’s expense. Students began by finding an existing wood object to use as the “host organism.” They then constructed and integrated an “ectoparasite” of their own design.
James Miller
Plaster, acrylic paint
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
For this assignment, students were asked to transform a familiar object through additive or subtractive processes made possible by mold-making and casting techniques. James cast his head and face in plaster and then carved away his facial features, replacing them with a unique QR code.
Charlie Fogarty
Paper, cardboard, plastic, paint, rope
Architectural Design I, Bowdoin College
Inspired by Michael Rakowitz’s paraSITE shelters, students in my Architectural Design I class were asked to design and build a “lean-to shelter” that would serve a new and unusual purpose. Charlie created a portable and collapsible “telephone booth” for making private cell phone calls in public places.
Max Wolf
Found chair, packing tape, eyehooks, springs, screws, knitting needles, light bulb
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
This assignment required students to deconstruct and reconstruct a found wood chair to make a floor-standing sculpture that conveyed a sense of tension, either formally or conceptually. Max made a “ghost” of his chair using clear packing tape, and then repurposed the chair to make a lamp that shone a light on its former self.
Chelsea Schaeffer
Handmade paper, Arduino microcontroller, LEDs
Intermediate Independent Study, Bowdoin College
In the spring of 2012, Chelsea did an independent study with me to learn more about using an Arduino microcontroller in conjunction with LEDs. The semester culminated in a site-specific installation involving a hand-made paper sculpture that was illuminated from within by blinking LEDs.
Dave Mykins
Plaster, plaster gauze, wood
Introduction to Sculpture, Alfred University
For a long-term assignment titled “Manufactured Landscapes,” students were asked to recognize the artist’s dual role as both a producer of commodities and a consumer of materials and resources. Field trips and activities focused on where the materials we used came from, how they were made, and the environmental impact of their production and consumption. Several students chose to view their own bodies as landscapes to explore how they fit into the world around them. You can learn more about this assignment and the other work that resulted from it by visiting the class blog.
Kelsey Freeman
Post-it notes
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
The first project in Sculpture I was a multiples assignment that challenged students to make a new “thing” – that which cannot be named – by manipulating and assembling existing small-scale objects like matches, pencils, plastic cutlery, and the like. Students were encouraged to forget what those objects are supposed to be or do by focusing on formal elements like color and texture, and exploring many different construction methods. They arrived at a new and unexpected form through a process of play and experimentation.
FLOAT
Inflatable sculptures for Layla Marcelle Mrozowski
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
During a three week residency, visiting artist Layla Mrozowski collaborated with my Sculpture I class on the design and construction of inflatable sculptures for a site-specific dance performance titled FLOAT. Four Bowdoin students performed Layla’s choreography in the inflatable environment, which was installed in the Student Union. The audience viewed the performance from within the inflatable sculpture in the center of the space. Read an article about the project here.
Joy Smith
Steel rod, wood, paint
Introduction to Sculpture, Alfred University
For a long-term assignment titled “Manufactured Landscapes,” students were asked to recognize the artist’s dual role as both a producer of commodities and a consumer of materials and resources. Field trips and activities focused on where the materials we used came from, how they were made, and the environmental impact of their production and consumption. Several students chose to view their own bodies as landscapes to explore how they fit into the world around them. You can learn more about this assignment and the other work that resulted from it by visiting the class blog.
Tory Keith
Wood, toilet paper, motor
Introduction to Sculpture, Alfred University
After introducing students to very basic information about electronics, kinetics, and the various movements that can be achieved with a low RPM motor, they were asked to construct a kinetic sculpture that explored the idea of duration. Tory constructed a kinetic sculpture with custom wood gears that slowly unraveled a roll of toilet paper onto the ground.
Matthew Rasmussen
One-hour performance for 5 o’ clock
Art & Time, Bowdoin College
For this assignment, students were asked to film themselves “performing the time” for one hour. The video documentation of their performances were sequenced to create a 24-hour-long “YouTube clock,” which can be viewed on the website maketimetaketime.com. Philadelphia-based artist Ryan Hinkel designed the site so that it synchronizes the videos with the local time on a visitor’s computer. The site and its compilation of videos is ultimately a functioning clock, literally “playing the time” from the moment you arrive. Please visit maketimetaketime.com to see the project in action on your personal computer. To view each student’s video individually, visit the “Art and Time” Channel on YouTube. Read an article about the project here.
Ezra Duplissie-Cyr
Coffee filters, chicken wire
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
The first project in Sculpture I was a multiples assignment that challenged students to make a new “thing” – that which cannot be named – by manipulating and assembling existing small-scale objects like matches, pencils, plastic cutlery, and the like. Students were encouraged to forget what those objects are supposed to be or do by focusing on formal elements like color and texture, and exploring many different construction methods. They arrived at a new and unexpected form through a process of play and experimentation.
Shelley Park
Found magazine rack, magazines, threaded rods, nuts, washers
Introduction to Sculpture, Alfred University
This assignment was inspired by ectoparasites, organisms that attach themselves to the exterior surface of another organism, allowing them to live and thrive at the host’s expense. Students began by finding an existing wood object to use as the “host organism.” They then constructed and integrated an “ectoparasite” of their own design.
Matthew Rasmussen
Archival inkjet print of digital photo collage
Art & Time, Bowdoin College
The final assignment in Art & Time gave students the opportunity to focus on an independent project of their choice for one month. Students worked in various media, including photography, sculpture, video, installation and performance. Matthew made a series of digital collages using photographs he took of the same place at different times of day. This collage was made from stitching together pictures of red and blue cars taken from a highway overpass.
Colby Charpentier
Wood, motor, balloon, pin, string
Foundation: Time, Alfred University
After introducing students to very basic information about electronics, kinetics, and the various movements that can be achieved with a low RPM motor, they were asked to construct a kinetic sculpture that explored the idea of duration. Colby constructed a kinetic sculpture that threatened to pop a balloon with a pin on the end of a string. To view a video of this and other kinetic sculpture projects, click here.
Charlotte Kleiman & Elizabeth Humphrey
Blue plastic table cloths, tape, blower fan, video projection
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
This assignment required students to collaborate with one or more of their classmates to construct a large-scale, site-specific inflatable sculpture that sensed and responded to viewers. Charlotte and Elizabeth responded to the local environment, and constructed an inflatable tunnel whose shape resembled the path of the nearby Androscoggin River. Videos of swimming fish were projected on the tunnel walls, and the fish would scatter as people walked through.
Noah Pyles
Cast wax, acrylic paint
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
For this assignment, students were asked to transform a familiar object through additive or subtractive processes made possible by mold-making and casting techniques. Noah cast his foot and fingers in wax, which he melted and fused together to create a grotesque combination of appendages.
McKenzie Kessel
Found chair, wood, paint
Sculpture I, Bowdoin College
Hugo Barajas
Wearable sculpture and dance performance
Art & Time, Bowdoin College
The final assignment in Art & Time gave students the opportunity to focus on an independent project of their choice for one month. Students worked in various media, including photography, sculpture, video, installation and performance. Hugo constructed a wearable sculpture for which he choreographed and performed a dance inspired by Nick Cave's Soundsuits.
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