ART 288 - Engaged Objects

Much of the material culture in the arts is poised towards the creation and sale of objects. While this practice is valuable in and of itself, there are other ways to apply skilled craftwork. What if the objects one made were designed for application and use? Beyond a cup or a plate, artists have the ability to design unique creations that serve uncharted ends. In this course we will imagine new potentials for the work we make, merging studio practice with interactivity as an additional medium for consideration. We will consider particular audiences and design artistic objects for integration into their lives. To do this we will think about site, participant engagement, and material design solutions that tie these ideas together. Technically, we will focus on metal fabrication, welding, and sewing. Students are required to attend workshops and do studio work outside of class times.

Unit(s): 1
Group Distribution Requirement(s): Distribution Group I
Prerequisite(s): ART 181, ART 182, or any 100-level studio art course
Instructional Method: Studio
Grading Mode: Letter grading (A-F)
Repeatable for Credit: May be taken 3 times for credit
Notes: Enrollment limited to 15.
Not offered: 2023-24
Group Distribution Learning Outcome(s):

Understand how arguments can be made, visions presented, or feelings or ideas conveyed through language or other modes of expression (symbols, movement, images, sounds, etc.).
Analyze and interpret texts, whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts.
Evaluate arguments made in or about texts (whether literary or philosophical, in English or a foreign language, or works of the visual or performing arts).