Surface Work: October 2011

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Happy Halloween! If you could be anything this year for Halloween what would you be? An alien? A cowboy? A princess? Well for today’s assignment I want everyone to think of one costume idea that you think you could create out of the materials we have here in class. Dream big, but be realistic! If you have an idea your heart is set on but you aren’t sure how you would do it come talk to me! Maybe we can come up with a solution together. Also if there is something that you have at home that you really need to complete your project, come talk to me and I will tell you if you can bring it in later. So start brainstorming and get started! Make sure you check in with me and tell me what you’re doing before you start creating! Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lesson Plan

Make Believe Costume

Objectives

· To get students to be creative and come up with an idea

· To work on their skills of combining and using different materials

· For the students to cooperate and learn from each other

· For the class to enjoy learning about what others create

Materials

· Old clothes from thrift stores and hand me downs (students can bring things in)

· Craft materials (pipe cleaners, pom poms, feathers, sea shells, glitter, sequins)

· Scissors and glue

· Students may bring in materials from home if they discuss it ahead of time with the instructor

Outline

1. Read a Halloween of magical creature book or show a video to the students to get them excited for the project (10 minutes)

2. Show them the example or model costume, wear it or possibly show them pictures or have another person model it (3 minutes)

3. Discuss with students possible ideas they have, but give them time to think first (3 minutes)

4. Pass around hand outs (2 minutes)

5. Send them to their seats and to gather materials, send them in groups (whoever wants to be an animal go sit at your seat, whoever wants to be a monster go get materials) (3 minutes)

6. Let the students work for about 20 minutes, walk around and discuss what they are doing see if they need help (20 minutes)

7. Tell the students to clean up and get ready to go (10 minutes)

8. Gather and discuss their progress or what troubles they found that they could avoid next time (5 minutes)

9. Dismiss

Note that the project will probably be half finished with the given amount of time. The next class would probably be taken to finish the costumes and if there was time to present. The idea would need to be re-introduced, possibly by showing another example outfit or by reading the book again or showing the same video.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Art Education

Art Education is my first choice major. I visited the department and spoke with the head of the department and with a professor. They told me that the program requires prep classes, practicum classes, and teaching classes. As a student you get to teach in different settings. You are reviewed by the faculty every semester and to teach you also need to be licensed. I got a chance to sit in on an art education class one day as well. The students had a presentation the day i went about something they read. They talked about multiculturalism and had a power-point to go with their discussion. They strayed from their topic a lot, but their discussion was meaningful still. They had valid points that were inspired by the reading. The students also encouraged me to join the program by sharing some of their experiences with me. They told me how they love going out and teaching the kids and how cute they all are. They said the program was rewarding because while most other majors are really competitive, their major is more about learning and growing together and their is a closer bond between the students. They also said they have excellent advisers and faculty. In this program making art is seen as a meaningful experience and it is shared with those being taught. Universal concepts and a connection to the studio is also very important.

Communication Arts

Communication Arts is my second choice for a major. I visited the department in the Franklin Street building and spoke with someone in the department. He showed me around and talked about some of the student work that was being displayed at the time. All the art was very different and the medium choices were different as well. He told me that observation was very important in Communication Arts, just as important as illustration. He said students did work on the computers in Photoshop and in Illustrator. The first year in the program students learn the basic communication software and later they learn communication drawing and do more 3D work. The program is about understanding the image and the power of art, and how to use it to communicate with a vision in mind.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design is my third choice for a potential major. I visited the graphic design department which is located in the Pollak building. I spoke with the head of the department and I learned a lot that I did not know or expect about the program. I learned that it is not all about computers, especially your first semester in the program. First semester is all hands on and about color theory. You learn lettering and things like that, and then you get onto the computers second semester. Students learn to use Illustrator and Photoshop and more and more programs as they go through the program. There are three to five projects due a semester and students participate in class critiques and one on ones with their professors. First students learn communication skills, and as they grow they get more involved in the practice of design. The program is theory based and the field is very competitive, so the program is as well.