School of Art - Studio University of Manitoba
Course Title: Visual Language
Course Number:
STDO 1410 (section
A04)
Credit Hours:
3hrs
Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Email: derek.brueckner@umanitoba.ca
(response
time to emails may require 24 hrs and on weekends emails may require 48hrs)
Office: 332A Art
Lab
Office Hours: preferably before class or schedule
another mutually agreeable time.
Visual Language Course Website
Pertinent information from course will be posted on the course website.
Updates will be made on a regular basis. It is advised that students check and
consult the website on a regular basis. If students have questions regarding
course website information/assignments print out text and consult instructor
with text in question.
Course schedule: Wednesday
6:00 pm - 8:15 pm
Hours of out-of-class
work: 6 hours per week minimum
Course Description
An introduction to
communication in contemporary visual art through traditional and experimental
2D and 3D modes. Prerequisite for further study in fine arts studio courses.
May not be held with STDO 1200 (054.120) or STDO 1220 (054.122).
Course content and assignments will explore:
·
Investigation of a variety of line and shapes
·
Light, shadow and value
·
Colour applications and colour systems and theories in relation to 2D and 3D materials
·
Space (Optical and 3 Dimensional)
·
Investigations of a variety of textures (illusionistic and tactile surfaces)
·
Logics of Composition that include analytical and intuitive processes of composing 2D and 3D elements
·
Considerations of scale in relation to composition and 3 Dimensional space
· Introduction of historical and non-traditional art materials, which could potentially include interdisciplinary approaches, and/or non-euro centric ideas (i.e.: technology and or current issues)
Course Objectives/Outcomes
The objectives of this Open Studio course are:
· The purpose of this course is to focus on formal design and concepts in relation to historical and contemporary Art. Through this course it is anticipated that participants will be able to enhance skills with 2D and 3D materials. At the conclusion of the course participants will have broadened their visual awareness,
curiosity and visual literacy as well as conceptual and critical thinking. Overall participants will learn to develop their unique vision through intuitive and analytical processes of experimentation, research and discovery.
· Through research of various: texts, art examples and art processes
people will progressively learn to expand a studio practice that emphasizes
developed concepts synthesized with an experimental art material practice.
· Overall the studio work will strive for independent research, which uses
a hybrid of materials, ideas and eventually involving interdisciplinary methods
to resolve each project at the highest formal and conceptual levels possible.
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Instructional Methods
Methods of instruction will include the presenting of art examples
(artists and student work), hard copy and on line assignment texts and images,
class discussions, individual discussions with students while studio work is in
progress, one on one critiques, group critiques of completed work. See
syllabus/course schedule for dates of group critiques.
During each in class
work-day, each person’s art making processes of projects in progress will be an
important in class contribution to the course. These contributions will be an
important part of the learning experience for each person in the course. In
class informal discussions with each other will be important.
Art making processes
will entail thorough research of ideas and materials, an open mind, curiosity,
risk taking and desire/confidence to resolve problems. Process will also
involve a balance between craftsmanship and allowing for intuition, “mistakes”
and unexpected directions to take place.
Often new discoveries during research while
projects are in progress will cause the choices of concepts and materials to
evolve and expand. Through this
evolutionary process sometimes people will need to be open minded to take
unexpected directions from the original plans. Often unexpected directions can
be key to eventually clarifying subject matter and direction of
thematic/metaphorical content at a later point in the art making process.
Overall instructional methods are used to facilitate each student’s
independent research and art development in order to discover the power of
their unique vision with in the parameters/objectives of each
assignment.
Recommended Readings
A separate
bibliography will be handed out later.
Materials List
See Supply List given
in class
Evaluation/Grading for Each Assignment
Each Assignment will be broken down in terms of:
Layers of Concepts/Themes 40
Formal/Visual Language/Technical Skill 40
Synthesis of the concepts/intention with formal/visual language 20
Each assignment will be weighted in course according to the number of
days spent working in class on each assignment and for number classes spent on
for group critique.
Evaluation and feedback of work in course will be provided to student
prior to the voluntary withdrawal deadline of November 18, 2015.
Notification
of Grades for Art Assignments
Grades for all assignments will be will
posted on UM Learn
Students must ensure they are registered with UM Learn in order to access their art assignment grades.
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Syllabus/Course schedule
Week
|
Date
|
Topic
|
Resources
|
Assignment
|
|
1
|
Sept
16
|
Introduction of Course: Presentation of Course Outline, Supply List and
Assignment
1: DIY Black and White Abstract Booklet Assignment
|
|||
2
|
Sept 23
|
DIY Black and White Abstract Booklet Assignment working with assignment in class
|
|||
3
|
Sept 30
|
DIY
Black and White Abstract Booklet Assignment Group Critique
|
|||
4
|
Oct 7
|
Assignment 2A: Double Primary Colour Wheel Assignment
|
|||
5
|
Oct 14
|
Group Critique
Assignment 2A: Double Primary Colour Wheel Assignment and Presentation for Assignment 3:
Constructing Modular/Collapsible Box Project
|
|||
6
|
Oct 21 Minneapolis Field Trip – No Class (Work on Assignment 3 if not
participating on field trip)
|
||||
7
|
Oct 28
|
Portfolio Submission for Documentation and Final Evaluation
Presentation of completed Assignments 1 & 2A for Documentation
and Final Evaluation
Work on Assignment 3: Constructing Modular/Collapsible Box Project
|
|||
8
|
Nov 4
|
Work on Assignment 3: Constructing Modular/Collapsible Box Project
|
|||
9
|
Nov
18
|
Assignment
4: Painting/Depiction of the Box Assignment
Interior
|
|||
10
|
Nov
25
|
Group
Critique of Assignments 3 & 4. Evaluation of course by students (SEEQs)
|
|||
11
|
Dec
2
|
Group
Critique of Assignments 3 & 4.
|
|||
12
|
Dec
9
|
Portfolio Submission for Documentation and Final Evaluation
Presentation
of completed Assignments 3 & 4 for Documentation and Final Evaluation.
|
|||
NOTE Regarding Deadlines:
1) Any work not
presented during documentation and
final evaluation will receive a zero.
2) Any assignment
missing or incomplete during group
critiques will receive one letter
grade deduction.
3) Missing any group
critiques or documentation for the evaluation of work in a studio course is
equivalent to missing an exam or test in lecture courses.
|
|||||
E-mail
University communications will only be sent to a student’s U of M
account. The full policy is available at umanitoba.ca/governance.
It is mandatory that all
students maintain and regularly monitor a University of Manitoba email account.
Critical information from the registrar, instructors, and the School of Art
will be relayed to you through the Web mail, Jump, and Aurora electronic
notification systems.
To get your free U of M
account visit: http://umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/accounts/claimid.html.
For more information, visit:
http://umanitoba.ca/computing/ist/.
Students without personal
computers can use computers in Information Services and Technology labs in a
variety of locations on campus including the Dafoe Library. More information is
available in your orientation package or by calling IST at 474-8600. It is your sole responsibility
to continually monitor your class site(s) for information such as class
announcements and email correspondence.
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
STRUCTURE for GROUP
CRITIQUES and INDIVIDUAL CRITIQUES
Group or Individual
Critiques (Crits) will become a very important component in the student’s
learning process for this course. The group critique is loosely structured in a
way that allows the class as a group to discuss and build a consensus as to
what each artist or art student's work is conveying to the viewer (classroom
audience). Not attending a group critique is equivalent to missing a
test – grades will be deducted. The individual critique will involve an
intensive one on one consultation.
During a group critique
usually the audience (class piers) will view and be required to speak first
about the presented work. The artist who is presenting work then responds to
remarks made by classmates and may also discuss ideas that were missed by their
classroom peers. Usually group critiques will last approximately 10 minutes per
student. Each critique will offer advice and constructive criticism regarding
such ideas as intent, level of formal and conceptual content, context and
overall professionalism. Critiques of work (Group and Individual) will offer as
many options as possible to strengthen the artist’s/art student's work. There
are many variables and possible solutions, a person will be required to
research, explore and investigate many options to discover the applicable
solution(s).
Due to the instructor having
more experience than the students within the visual arts at times during group
and individual critiques the instructor will strongly challenge a student’s or
a student group’s value systems, preconceived ideas and interpretations of
various course issues.
Ultimately the purpose of
group critiques and individual critiques can be pared down into these following
points: generating ideas and new ways of thinking, creating a class culture
that has a positive and productive dialogue, and assisting the person to grow,
expand and improve their work. As well the group critiques and discussions are
also about developing a person’s attention span and their ability to focus on
discussions.
Note that the work presented
during group critiques will not be given a final evaluation (grade) until the
work is videotaped at the end of each quarter. However it is still
extremely important and compulsory to have the work completed for group
critiques. If the work is deemed too incomplete the work will not receive
a group critique and the student’s grade will be penalized. Students are
strongly encouraged to continue to utilize comments from the group critiques
and individual critiques with the instructor. Following any critique, students
will always be required to rework and quite often significantly modify
assignments outside of class until it is time to videotape work for final
evaluation. (See course syllabus for videotaping/documentation dates)
During the group critique students
will be evaluated on your class participation, this evaluation will be part of
your overall class participation grade. This class participation includes
complete attention to all discussions during crits, general professional and
respectful behavior, actively viewing work at a very close range and offering
comments. Due to the nature of most assignments, group crits will be emphasized
more for the latter part of the course.
Please keep in mind the instructor’s criticisms during individual and
group critiques is always intended to assist the artist/student in improving
their work. The ability to apply these criticisms is also firmly connected to a
student’s evaluation (grade) in the course.
Statement on Student Participation in the Presentation or Discussion
of Art
At the School of Art, numerous required
and elective courses contain content that includes working from the nude model
and some language, imagery, or dialogue that may offend students. In
particular, the School of Art provides comprehensive art training that requires
use of the nude model in some courses. In viewing and discussing works of art,
the School of Art encourages the broadest possible tolerance consistent with
Canadian law.
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Evaluations and Grading
Projects/assignment evaluations are
based on the following grading rubric:
Letter Grade Matrix
All School of Art students are expected to
maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5. If the student’s term or degree GPA falls below
2.5 the student will receive a warning letter from the student advisor
indicating they have one year to improve or they will be placed on Academic Probation.
Students in the BFA Honours Degree Programs must maintain a GPA of 3.0.
Grading Rubric
A+/A: Reserved for Exceptional performances and normally
achieved by a minority of students. These grades indicate a student who is
self-initiating, exceeds expectation and has an insightful grasp of the subject
matter.
A+ 93-100 Exceptional
Works in this range:
- challenge the current
boundaries of the field
- show evidence of a high
level of contextual awareness
- show full command of
chosen materials or technology
- present a remarkable
example of progress and development
A 88-92.9 Excellent
achievement
Works in this range:
- show awareness of the
current boundaries of the field
- show thorough contextual
awareness
- show confident use of
chosen materials or technology
- present an excellent to
outstanding example of progress and development
B+/B: indicate a Very Good performance. Normally
achieved by the largest number of students. These grades indicate a good grasp
of the subject matter or excellent grasp in one area balanced with satisfactory
grasp in the other area.
B+ 80-87.9 Very
Good achievement
B 75-79.9 Good
achievement
Works in this range:
- are consistently within
the current boundaries of the field
- reveal commendable
awareness of context for evaluation
- show a reasonable
ability with chosen materials or technology
- present a good to very
good example of progress and development
C+/C: indicates Satisfactory, or minimally
satisfactory performance. These grades indicate a satisfactory performance
and knowledge of the subject matter.
C+ 68-74.9 Satisfactory
C 60-67.9 Adequate
Works in this range:
- readily accept known
boundaries of the field
- reveal partial
contextual awareness
- show limited ability
with material and technology
- are intermittent in its
progress during the term
D: indicates Marginal performance. A student receiving this grade demonstrated a superficial
grasp of the subject matter.
D 50-59.9 Marginal
Pass
Works in this range:
- provide very limited
understanding of limits of the field
- have unsubstantial
contextual awareness
- have low level of
competence with materials and technology
- very limited development
of work within the term
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Evaluations and Grading (continued)
Letter Grade Grade
Point Value Percentage
A+ 4.5 93-100% Exceptional
A 4.0 88-92.9% Excellent
B+ 3.5 80-87.9% Very Good
B 3.0 75-79.9% Good
C+ 2.5 68-74.9% Satisfactory
C 2.0 60-67.9% Adequate
D 1.0 50-59.9% Marginal
F 0 Below 50% Failure
P Pass
S Standing
Assignment Deadlines:
1) Any work not
presented during documentation and final
evaluation will receive a zero.
2) Any assignment
missing or incomplete during group
critiques will receive one letter
grade deduction.
3)
Missing any group critiques or documentation for the evaluation of work in a
studio course is equivalent to missing an exam or test in lecture courses.
Please note that the School of Art will not accept
assignments at the office. Arrangements have to be made with the instructor in
advance of assignment deadlines to submit late assignments.
For an exception to the late deduction or a zero
grade a Doctor’s note with signature must be submitted clearly indicating
specific dates effected by illness, which should obviously include and
encompass any pertinent assignment deadline. If the Doctor’s note does not
specify and encompass the pertinent dates the assignment will not be eligible
for an extension without repercussions of a zero grade or deductions.
If there are any questions or comments
regarding the above grading criteria feel free to talk to the instructor during
class, or after class, or schedule a meeting outside of class.
Return of
Student Work
The retention period for unclaimed student work is as follows:
Studio Projects for the Fall Term:
December 9, 2015
Unclaimed studio projects and art assignments after the deadline will
become property of the School of Art and will be disposed of at its discretion.
Class Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is expected of all students
in all courses. Letters of warning may be issued for unexcused absences of
three classes in one term reminding the student of academic consequences of not
attending classes. Students who do not attend or submit assignments but do not
withdraw will receive a final grade of F.
Material and
Process Restrictions
Flammables, poisons,
potentially bio-hazardous materials, aerosol sprays, and high-temperature
processes are strictly prohibited in the School of Art classrooms, adjoining
hallways, and the vicinity of the ARTlab. The instructor must be consulted
before any materials or processes not on the class materials list are used. If
there is any doubt as to the safety of work to be undertaken, work must be
halted until the instructor has been consulted.
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy
To
plagiarize is to take ideas or words of another person and pass them off as
one’s own. In short, it is stealing something intangible rather than an object.
Obviously, it is not necessary to state the source of well-known or easily
verifiable facts, but students are expected to acknowledge the sources of ideas
and expressions they use in their written work, whether quoted directly or
paraphrased. This applies to diagrams, statistical tables and the like, as well
as to written material, and materials or information from Internet sources. To
provide adequate and correct documentation is not only an indication of
academic honesty but is also a courtesy that enables the reader to consult
these sources with ease. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. It will also
be considered plagiarism and/or cheating if a student submits a term paper
written in whole or in part by someone other than him/herself, or copies an
answer or answers of another student in any test, examination, or take-home
assignment. Plagiarism or any other form of cheating in examinations, or term
tests (i.e. crib notes) is subject to serious academic penalty (i.e. suspension
or expulsion from the faculty or university). A student found guilty of
contributing to cheating in examinations or term assignments is also subject to
serious academic penalty.
Similarly,
to copy parts, or to reproduce everything from an artist’s individual artwork
and pass them off as one’s own is also considered a form of plagiarism. When
completing assignments or presenting work done in self-directed studio art
projects, students should avoid this practice, since it is expected that you
will originate the ‘look’ or ‘style’ of the work from your own responses to the
subject or ideas in question. To do otherwise, through the knowing use of
printed or internet reproductions of published artist’s work, would be
academically dishonest, except in cases where making a direct copy was a
requirement of the assignment by an instructor, or that an idea required such a
response. In those cases it is clear as to the intent to copy and is a public
aspect of the meaning of the work.
Policies Related to Student
Discipline
Policy on Respectful Work and Learning Environment
Inappropriate and Disruptive Student Behaviour
Accessibility Policy for Student with Disabilities
http://umanitoba.ca/admin/governance/governing_documents/students/281.html
Appeals
Students wishing to appeal a grade given for term work are expected to
discuss matters relating to the grading of that work with their instructor
first, as an attempt to resolve the issue without the need to submit a formal
appeal.
For further information on grade appeals, please go to the Appeals
Policies, Procedures and Regulations on the School of Art website at: umanitoba.ca/schools/art/media/UG_Policies_GradeAppeals2012.pdf
More information related to appeals
can be found at: umanitoba.ca/registrar/grades/691.html
Academic Accommodation
Please approach your
instructor as soon as possible should you need some form of academic
accommodation. Students with disabilities should also contact Accessibility
Services, located at 155 University Centre (Phone: 204 474-6213; TTY: 204
474-9790; Fax: 204 261-7732; E-mail: student_accessibility@umanitoba.ca)
Visual Language Instructor: Derek Brueckner
Important
Dates Calendar
FALL 2015
|
|
September 8 to 9
|
New Student Orientation
|
September 16
|
Last day to pay fall term fees without
financial penalty
|
September 10
|
First day of classes for most faculties and
schools
|
September 23
|
Last day to add fall or spanned courses
Last day to drop fall or spanned courses for
full refund
|
October 12
|
Thanksgiving Day – University closed
|
October 21-24
|
First Year Field Trip to Minneapolis
|
November 11
|
Remembrance Day – University closed
|
November 18
|
Last day to VW from fall term courses (no
refund)
|
December 9
|
Last day of fall term classes
|
December 11 to 23
|
Exam period
|
December 24 – January 4
|
University closed for seasonal break
|
Jan 6, 2016 (to be confirmed)
|
Fall term grades due
|
