Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Shae's Instructables
Here are the three projects I found.
The first is making soap out of used cooking oil, which is interesting, because I never know what to do with used oil and the page says this stuff has good cleaning power.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Soap-with-used-cooking-oil/The second one is instructions for making a simple airbrush. I don't know how well it works, but airbrushes are expensive, so maybe this would be a good, cheap, recycled solution.
The last one is how to make plasticine, which I use to seal coddling boards when making plaster molds. I also use it to fill air bubbles or chips in molds, so I thought it would be interesting to know how to make some, especially since it is pretty cheap, and seems simple.
DIY ideas from Instructables.com
Silicone Molds and Gummi Cast
It would be fun to somehow find function out of this process - like making a tool or container.
Geodesic Dome
It seems like the Geodesic dome is an economic way to build a structure (survival skills). It would be good to talk about the physics and pay tribute to Buckminster Fuller.
Honey Comb Structure
This one is structurally economic and is from bees.
Toothpaste
Why not? Seems short, and its always good to know what things are made of.
It would be fun to somehow find function out of this process - like making a tool or container.
Geodesic Dome
It seems like the Geodesic dome is an economic way to build a structure (survival skills). It would be good to talk about the physics and pay tribute to Buckminster Fuller.
Honey Comb Structure
This one is structurally economic and is from bees.
Toothpaste
Why not? Seems short, and its always good to know what things are made of.
Sara's Instructables
http://www.instructables.com/id/All-you-need/
Neat squat seat made from a toilet plunger and an old bike seat!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Self-watering-recycled-plant-pot-for-growing-herbs/step9/The-reservoir/
This is a great idea for those who frequently forget to water their plants. If one wanted to be really green second hand water could be used to fill the vase. Also lining the bottle with newspaper adds a layer of compost when you transplant.
Great way to have plants around when there is little space. The plants will grow upward towards the light source.
Instructables for Theresa
I have to say that there is nothing better than dancing in sync with others.
I've wanted to do spirograph art with some kids I teach...but I didn't want to have to do a lot of math...plus this will use parts that my be thrown away.
Spirograph-bike-o-graph
Spirograph-bike-o-graph
I have an ambition to live like a nomad...since we now have resources that aren't necessarily from nature we might as well use the principals of the nomadic life and use the waste to our advantage.
Fish Trap with soda bottles
When I was in Zambia there was a women's project that supported the school by collecting the plastic bags from the streets and crochet them to sell to the ''west". I don't know how to crochet, and would like to be able to teach this method and know it for myself.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Syllabus Spring 2011
Towards A Green Sculpture
Spring 2010: Monday/Wednesday 6:00-8:50, Sculpture Conference Room
Office hours available upon request
Zach Springer
903-705-2678
zach@craftandconcept.com
Description
This course will explore possibilities for making sculpture in ways that are not harmful to humans or the rest of the ecosystems. In our class we will collaborate as we examine our own practices for ways we can continue with the forms and ideas we are interested in, in a more ecologically conscious and responsible manner. We will conduct analysis and experimentation of materials and processes. Each student will be responsible for presenting these experiments on a regular basis, and for making work that arises out of the experiments and is an extension of their own interests in studio art. There will be a community- based collaborative project as part of the course. This project will extend the exploration initiated in the experiments and will be considered as one avenue that many artists are taking towards a green sculpture. For their independent work students may choose to make sculptural objects, installations, site-specific work, performance, video, sound works, to work in mixed media and/or new ways.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course students will understand the historical and contemporary motivation behind sustainable art practices, and how those ideas can function on a practical level. Students will be able to safely design and build their own artwork while being conscious of their impact on the environment around them.
Community Connection
During this course students will spend 2 weekends learning how to harvest natural materials and make sculptural objects with them. Martha Younkin will host this activity in her Union, MO home. On Friday, April 1 we will meet at 10 AM in the sculpture conference room and leave for a camping trip at Martha’s home, we will return Sunday morning. Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 Martha will come to KCAI to host a follow up workshop. All students are expected to attend both of these weekend events.
Blog
Our class blog can be found at http://greensculpturekcai.blogspot.com. Each student will have the ability to post on the blog, and will be expected to on a weekly basis. Each post should be an update to the project you are working on, pictures are greatly encouraged.
Weekly Assignment/Class Participation
Each Monday one student will bring 9 copies of an interesting article related to environmental issues (art or other) to class. The same student will give a Powerpoint presentation updating the class of their project status, and we will discuss what we think. The following Wednesday we will discuss the student’s article.
Evaluation
Your grade is based on your performance in this class, which includes not only the quality of what you produce, but also how you contribute to the class through participation. Every student is expected to engage in all discussions and not doze off.
Each project will receive a letter grade based on:
25% - craftsmanship & presentation
25% - ambition & work ethic 25% - experimentation
25% - documentation to class blog
Final course evaluation will be based on:
25% - Class Participation
25% - Blog posting
25% - Instructables Project
25% - Final Project
Grading scale
A (100-94%), A- (93-90%), B+ (89-87%), B (86-84%), B- (83-80%), C+ (79- 77%), C (76-74%) C- (73-70%), D+ (69-67%), D (66-64%), D- (63-60%), F (59-0%)
Extra Credit
Almost every Thursday night there is an artist lecture at 7:00 in Epperson Auditorium. If you attend one of these and write a personal response on our class blog you can receive 2 extra credit points towards final grade. If the writing does not clearly articulate your ideas you will be asked to revise it, and Zach will help if it is needed.
Spring 2010: Monday/Wednesday 6:00-8:50, Sculpture Conference Room
Office hours available upon request
Zach Springer
903-705-2678
zach@craftandconcept.com
Description
This course will explore possibilities for making sculpture in ways that are not harmful to humans or the rest of the ecosystems. In our class we will collaborate as we examine our own practices for ways we can continue with the forms and ideas we are interested in, in a more ecologically conscious and responsible manner. We will conduct analysis and experimentation of materials and processes. Each student will be responsible for presenting these experiments on a regular basis, and for making work that arises out of the experiments and is an extension of their own interests in studio art. There will be a community- based collaborative project as part of the course. This project will extend the exploration initiated in the experiments and will be considered as one avenue that many artists are taking towards a green sculpture. For their independent work students may choose to make sculptural objects, installations, site-specific work, performance, video, sound works, to work in mixed media and/or new ways.
Objectives
Upon completion of this course students will understand the historical and contemporary motivation behind sustainable art practices, and how those ideas can function on a practical level. Students will be able to safely design and build their own artwork while being conscious of their impact on the environment around them.
Community Connection
During this course students will spend 2 weekends learning how to harvest natural materials and make sculptural objects with them. Martha Younkin will host this activity in her Union, MO home. On Friday, April 1 we will meet at 10 AM in the sculpture conference room and leave for a camping trip at Martha’s home, we will return Sunday morning. Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17 Martha will come to KCAI to host a follow up workshop. All students are expected to attend both of these weekend events.
Blog
Our class blog can be found at http://greensculpturekcai.blogspot.com. Each student will have the ability to post on the blog, and will be expected to on a weekly basis. Each post should be an update to the project you are working on, pictures are greatly encouraged.
Weekly Assignment/Class Participation
Each Monday one student will bring 9 copies of an interesting article related to environmental issues (art or other) to class. The same student will give a Powerpoint presentation updating the class of their project status, and we will discuss what we think. The following Wednesday we will discuss the student’s article.
Evaluation
Your grade is based on your performance in this class, which includes not only the quality of what you produce, but also how you contribute to the class through participation. Every student is expected to engage in all discussions and not doze off.
Each project will receive a letter grade based on:
25% - craftsmanship & presentation
25% - ambition & work ethic 25% - experimentation
25% - documentation to class blog
Final course evaluation will be based on:
25% - Class Participation
25% - Blog posting
25% - Instructables Project
25% - Final Project
Grading scale
A (100-94%), A- (93-90%), B+ (89-87%), B (86-84%), B- (83-80%), C+ (79- 77%), C (76-74%) C- (73-70%), D+ (69-67%), D (66-64%), D- (63-60%), F (59-0%)
Extra Credit
Almost every Thursday night there is an artist lecture at 7:00 in Epperson Auditorium. If you attend one of these and write a personal response on our class blog you can receive 2 extra credit points towards final grade. If the writing does not clearly articulate your ideas you will be asked to revise it, and Zach will help if it is needed.
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