ART 171 Sculpture I
Suffolk County Community College

Professor: Matthew Gehring 
gehrinm@sunysuffolk.edu
Office: Rm. 108 Southampton Bldg.
 
Office Hours:
M/W 11:30AM-4:30PM
T/R 11:30AM-12:30PM
For immediate assistance contact Maria Cherubino: 631-451-4093 or cherubm@sunysuffolk.edu

Problem II: Microcosmos

Requirements:

The book, Microcosmos, is the namesake of this project. It is a collection of photos of microscopic organisms, materials, and structures that are a part of the Science Photo Library online database. It is absolutely amazing and it is free to use. Additionally, view the videos on the NANOYOU Youtube page.

You must register as a user for this site. Build a lightbox (simple tool available on the website) of images of microscopic organisms, nano objects, materials, or other things that have a relationship to the body. Choose images that are aesthetically and/or conceptually engaging.  Once you have done this, you will:

1. create drawings to plan your project

2. create a plasticine clay model

2. build a macro (large) 3D representation of your chosen micro (small) object.

The scale of your finished project should be somewhere between the scale of a basketball and a beach ball. Focus will be on detail in construction and surface. There are no "wrong" materials or processes for this assignment. A number of options will be demonstrated and discussed in class. You must supply your own materials for this project and be excited that they can easily be kept very cheap.

Objectives:

This project acts as a bridge between representation and abstraction, aesthetics and language, and between concept and form. You will be building something that has equal doses of each. Visit the vocabulary page to familiarize yourself with these terms. Projects must be well executed and visually/spatially engaging. This is nebulous terminology. Basically it is your challenge to engage the viewer by these means enough to compel him/her to become intrigued and to want to spend time looking and thinking about your work. In the end, this is the measure of an artwork’s success.

Your projects must utilize the language of your chosen materials, form, and action in a direct and sophisticated fashion. Be critical of why you are using what you are using and allow the choices that you make to be driven by those factors. Consider class lectures, your previous projects, and all prior notes and discussions as a foundation for understanding this language.

Hopefully as a result of your successful completion of artworks that are visually, spatially, and materially engaging, a level of intellectual or conceptual interest will result, as well.

Required Materials:

Elmer's glue

Hot glue and hot glue gun

Chicken wire

Old newspaper

Sculptamold

Sanding sponge/sandpaper

Scissors

Primer

Paint

Quick-dry spackle (optional)

2" spackle knife (optional)

rubber spatula/ceramic kidney (optional)

Found volumetric forms (plastic bottles, small boxes, etc)(optional)

*Depending on the particular form you are creating, you may require and I may suggest additional tools and materials.