Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus
Rebecca Kamen - 703 845-6095
(Office hours will be announced 1 hour before class)
Email: rkamen@nvcc.edu

Course Objectives: At the end of the course, students will understand and be able to use the following objectives in future work.

1. To gain a better understanding of the concepts and techniques of three dimensional
form.
2. Through specific problem solving, students will explore the three dimensional elements
of line, mass, plane, space, texture, volume.
3. A wide spectrum of creative thinking techniques is encouraged.

PROBLEMS:

1. Self -Portrait Relief: You will start with a digital image of yourself. This image will be used to create a background for a self portrait relief. Transform the image in some way, i.e. photoshop, digitize it, cut it up and or re-organize it in some fashion. You may also raise areas within the photographic background. This image should be mounted on either wood or foam core. After creating this photographic background you will create a grid type element out of found materials, which have some personal meaning to you. These materials will be attached to the surface of the image by the use of a linear material such as pins, nails, thin wooden dowels. Choice of scale is up to you.

ELEMENTS:
Line
Texture
Volume
Mass
Space

PRINCIPALS:
Movement
Balance
Unity
Expansion
Structure

ARTISTS: Lucas Samaras

2. Trap / Cage: You will formulate a definition of a trap/cage. After defining "trap", "trapping", or being "trapped", you will create that object or state of being.

ELEMENTS:
Volume
Space
Mass

PRINCIPALS:
Tension
Movement
Structure

ARTISTS: Martin Puryear, Alexander Calder, Judy Pfaff, Richard Serra, Jean Tinguely.

3. Activating the Space Between the Wall and Floor: We will discuss the perception of space and where we exist in it. We will then compare the difference between persoanl and public space. Assignment: Create a 3-D work that activates the space between the wall and floor.

ELEMENTS:
Line
Texture
Shadow
Form
Mass
Space
Color

PRINCIPALS:
Balance
Movement
Tension
Unity
Modules
Scale

ARTISTS: Robert Morris, Donald Judd, Tony Smith, Robert Smithson, Dan Flavin, Louise Nevelson, Eva Hesse, Richard Serra

4. Skin / Structure: Using any type of rigid, linear material such as balsa wood, twigs, wire, metal tubing and light coverings such as rice paper, plastic, mylar, sheet fabric, etc. to create a piece in which the "skin" and the structure that supports it are equally importnat. References to kites, flight vehicles, or oriental design may develop.

ELEMENTS:
Space
Light
Line
Shadow
Form
Volume
Plane
Mass

PRINCIPALS:
Balance
Contrast
Modules
Movement
Unity
Expansion
Tension
Repetition

ARTISTS: Carol Hepper, Martin Puryear, Mario Merz, Lee Bonteceau

 

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