c o u r s e o v e r v i e w
This course will provide a broad conceptual basis for exploring issues of site-contextual art making and design that can be applied to digital media platforms. The course is structured as part seminar, part studio. You will participate in reading-based discussions that investigate historical and theoretical aspects of site-engagement in art and design, while conducting your own research and projects based on topics covered in class. Expanded definitions of “site” beyond the geographic will be considered, and will be informed by investigations into different kinds of spaces, such as psychological, performative, and social. Virtual space will also be considered. However, the aim of this course is to encourage hybrid combinations of the physical and the digital. o b j e c t i v e s
premise: Looking at historical and theoretical spatial practices with regard to site-specific art and design, you will experiment with how to incorporate these ideas into your work.
technique:
1. To explore the cross-pollinating possibilities of combining disparate strategies, processes, attitudes, frames, and technologies with regard to approaching site-contextual practices.
2.In particular, encourage hybrid possibilities out of digital interventions in physical space.
critical thinking & dialogue:
1. To explore and extend the language of site-specific design for the purpose of enabling critical dialogue, analysis of works, expansion of literacy and exchange of ideas and criticism.
2. To foster a collective diversity of criticism that promotes experimentation, research, and affirmation of new creative thought, identity, collaboration and possibilities.
goals:
1. To create works that relate media/process and space/site/place conceptually.
2. To problem solve how site informs meaning and to use those meanings in your work.
3. To create works that relate to site and engender a transfiguration of ordinary space into an extra-ordinary art experience.
4. To document your project in a publishable form that will stand as a record of your efforts.
r e q u i r e m e n t s
projects 75%Parameters and deadlines will be given for each. They are:
1. Maintain a personal website or blog “sketchbook” that is a repository for your research, thinking, creative process, reading responses, and project documentation. 15%
2. Prepare and deliver a short research presentation on an artist working in a site-specific context. This artist may or may not also be working in new media. 10%
3. Develop a site-specific work, to be completed and presented as your final project at the end of the quarter. 25%
4. Participate in the design and layout of a book (publishable multimedia document) that will be a record of your collective explorations and achievements. 15%
5. Short, in-class projects 10%
reading, discussion, response (20%)
The course readings and their in-class discussions are a required part of this class. You cannot earn a passing grade without participating in this aspect of the class. Additionally, you wil be required to write short responses to the readings on your website/blog.
check-in/review (5%)
Periodically I will meet with students one-on-one to review your progress. These short meetings will occur during class time, and will provide me and you with a sense of your standing. We’ll review your website/blog and other work.
