| Michelle Forsyth, Associate Professor
Painting and Drawing
Fine Arts Department
Washington State University
5072 Fine Arts Center
Pullman WA 99164
Office Hours: by appointment
Office Room #: FA 7015
Office Tel: (509) 335 - 3278
FA 313: Drawing from the Body
Spring 2008 -Tuesday, Thursday, 1:25 - 3:55
Course Description:
3 (0-6) Prereq F A 111. Continuation of F A 111. Contemporary discourse surrounding the body; exploration through the practice of drawing and perfomative actions. May be repeated for credit.
Objective:
What does it mean to represent the body? How can we represent the self? Our bodies can be represented through drawings or photographs, but they can also be represented through other means such as sound or written description. In this course we will examine metaphors for representing our bodies that go beyond the typical images of our body as a container. We will do so using drawing as well as performative actions.
Grading:
Handouts, critiques, and demonstrations will contribute to each student's formal studio technique and critical facility. Interaction and collaboration with your peers will be an important aspect of the learning process. Attendance is mandatory. You must show work during class to receive a grade. You can miss no more than 5 classes to pass. (Breakdown: 60% In-class Exercises, 30% Participation, 10% Final Critique).
Disability Resource Center Reasonable Accommodations Statement:
Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may mean that requested accommodations might not be available. All accommodations must be approved through the Disability Resource Center located in the Administration Annex Room 205, 335-3417.
Materials:
As needed to complete assignments.
Required Texts:
Warr, Tracey and Amilia Jones. The Artist's Body. (London; Phaidon Press, 2000) Barbara Steiner and Jun Yang Art Works: Autobiography (New York; Thames and Hudson, 2004)
Schedule (subject to change):
Week 1 - 4:
Project 1: Autobiographical Documents
Many of us have attempted to record the facts of our lives in one way or another, whether that documentation has taken the form of photographic album, a journal, or a diary, we catalogue our lives for various reasons. For the first project of the semester we will begin by making a series of 10 works that document your daily existence or activities. These works can take any form.
Artists to look at:
Gerhard Richter, Mary Kelly, On Kawara, Hasan Elahi
Detailed Schedule: Week 1 - 5:
Tuesday January 8
Introduction to the course, the first assignment
Due next class:
Reading : Writing Identity from Autobiography
Exercise : Set up a Facebook account, begin to construct/document your identity through the collection of data.
Also - You should bring images, text, diary/journal, or some other facts and begin to collect and archive information.
Thursday January 10
Discuss reading and Facebook pages / Lecture: The Myth of Autobiography
Studio work - We will begin by organizing and drafting our ideas. Bring materials as needed.
Due Jan 22:
Reading: Room 3: Facts
Tuesday January 15
I will be out of town. Jeneve Parish to sub. Meet at Library for instruction Terrell 105, Tuesday 1:30 - 3:00. Please do not arrive late. Attendance mandatory.
*** Wednesday, January 16th at 5:00pm in the Fine Arts Auditorium ***
Visiting Artist: Linda Sormin
Thursday January 17
Class cancelled. Continue preliminary research for final project at Library. Tuesday January 22
Discuss Reading: Writing Identity from Autobiography / Lecture: Crafting Identity - Documenting Identity
Studio work - Continue
Due next class:
Be ready for in-progress critiques
Thursday January 24
In progress crit
Studio work - Continue
Tuesday January 29
In progress crit
Studio work - Continue
Due next class:
Reading: Room 9: Self Reflection from Autobiography
Thursday January 31
Discuss reading / Lecture: The Self Portrait.
Studio work - Continue
Tuesday February 5
Studio work - Finalize project and display of it.
Thursday February 7
Final Crit on Project 1
Due next class:
Reading: "Gesturing Bodies" in The Artist's Body
Exercise : Perform and test several acts that you would like to record for this project and document them through the use of photography. Quick snapshots will do. Bring in several possibilities so we can discuss.
Week 5 - 8: Project 2: Gesturing Bodies
As a liberation from the prudishness of the 1950's artists in the 60's began to make work using their bodies as art. These performative acts-in-the-world were intended to exist for the duration of the act itself, yet the artists performing them often relied on photographs to document these events. For this project you will create a series of 10 documentations a single act. The goal of this project is to examine the nuances of the physicality of your body through the examination of everyday acts such as sleeping, breathing, crying etc. The final documentation should include drawing of some kind but can take on any final form.
Artists to look at:
Bruce Nauman, Bas Jan Ader, Erwin Wurm, Yayoi Kusama, Dennis Oppenheim, Eleanor Antin, Charles Ray
Detailed Schedule:
Weeks 6 - 9:
Tuesday February 12
Continue Final Critique on Project 1
Discuss Reading: "Gesturing Bodies" in The Artist's Body and look at images of gestures
Due next class:
Choose 1 gesture and be ready to work with it in class.
Thursday February 14
Lecture: Documenting the gesture with image and video
Studio work - Start Project 2
Tuesday February 19
In progress crit of Project 2
Studio work - Continue
Due next class:
Reading: "The Legacy of Jackson Pollock" in The Artist's Body p. 194-5
And Harold Rosenberg "The American Action Painters" in The Artist's Body p. 193-4
Thursday February 21
Discuss Reading with Images: "The Legacy of Jackson Pollock" in The Artist's Body p. 194-5
And Harold Rosenberg "The American Action Painters" in The Artist's Body p. 193-4 and
Studio work - Continue
Tuesday February 26
In progress crit of Project 2
Studio work - Continue
Due next class:
Reading: "The Dematerialization of Art" in The Artist's Body p. 203-205
Thursday February 28
Visit Gabriel Brown's studio
Studio work - Continue
Tuesday March 4
Discuss Reading with Images: "The Dematerialization of Art" in The Artist's Body p. 203-205
Studio work - Continue
Thursday March 6
Critique of Project 2
Week 9 - 11: Project 3: Prosthetic Bodies
Advances in medicine have enabled us to extend and control our own physicality. We are now able to transplant living tissue as well as artificial parts onto our bodies provided we can afford to. Artists today are using these kinds of technologies in their own work. What kind of implications does this have? For this project you will construct an extension for your body that enables you to do something you otherwise could not have done. Once you have constructed your body prosthetic you will perform some kind of action. This action can consist of anything from a mundane task to an absurd one. The goal here is to examine the limitations of your own physicality. For this project you will create a series of 10 documentations your action. The final documentation should include drawing of some kind but can take on any final form.
Artists to look at:
Stelarc, Rebecca Horn, Nam June Paik and Charlotte Moorman, Lygia Clark, Orlan, Matthew Barney
Tuesday March 18
Continue Final Critique on Project 2
Discuss Reading: "Extended Bodies" in The Artist's Body .
Thursday March 20
Studio work - Continue
Tuesday March 25
In progress crit of Project 2
Studio work - Continue
Due next class:
Reading: "About the Act" by Lygia Clark and "Mathew Barney: Of Goats & Men" by Stewart Morgan in The Artist's Body p. 284 & 287
Questions to address: TBA
Thursday March 27
Studio work - Continue
Discuss Reading: "About the Act" by Lygia Clark and "Mathew Barney: Of Goats & Men" by Stewart Morgan in The Artist's Body p. 284 & 287
Tuesday April 1
Studio work - Continue
Thursday April 3
Critique of Project 3
Week 12 - 14: Project 4: Doppelgängers
Locate an autobiography or biography or memoir of a person whose character and life story you are interested in. This biography will be a guide for a persona that you will create for yourself. Read it. Know it. Pay close attention to details that will help you to re-invent yourself. Stage five acts for your persona. These five acts should be cumulative--each one should better the previous one and get you closer to understanding and taking on the persona you are developing. Create a document (any form) that describes each act, the reasons you chose it, and your observations about it.
Artists to look at:
Marcel Duchamp as Rrose Selavy, Nikki S. Lee, Cindy Sherman, Matthew Barney, Yasumasa Morimura
Weeks 13 - 14: Tuesday April 8
Studio work - Begin Final Project
Thursday April 10
Discuss Reading: "Performing Identity" in The Artist's Body and " Writing Identity" from Autobiography
Studio work - Continue Final Project
Tuesday April 15
Studio work - Begin Final Project
Thursday April 17
Studio work - Continue Final Project
Week 15:
Tuesday April 22
Final Critique, Attendance mandatory
Thursday April 24
Final Critique, Attendance mandatory
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