Project 1 - Point Line Plane

Project 2 - Instructable

Project 3 - Retelling the News

Project 4 - Data Visualization

Project 5 - Ideation (public art)

Assignment 1: Point Line Plane

1. Read the pointLinePlane.pdf that is posted to the website and write a one-paragragh (200 words) comment about the reading.

2. Download or photograph 5 images and outline the Point, Line, and Plane compositional structure of the image. To do this open the image in Photoshop and convert it to an 800 x 600 image, then save it as a .tif file.
In Illustrator, open a new file (letter size) and use File> Place to place your image (tif) from Photoshop.
Using the drawing tools, outline the Point, Line, and Plane compositional structure of the image.

3. Save all of the images and the illustrator files in a folder labeled with your name. Bring these to class next week.

Objective:

The goal of this project is to refresh the concepts taught to you in your Media Studio Imaging class. You should have an understanding of asymmetric visual balance, and be able to compose your images using the Rule of Thirds.

Assignment 2: Create an Instructable

What is an instructable?  From Wikipedia: “Instructables is a website specializing in user-created and uploaded do-it-yourself (DIY) projects, which other users can comment on and rate for quality. Instructables is dedicated to step-by-step collaboration among members to build a variety of projects. Users post instructions to their projects, usually accompanied by visual aids, and then interact through comment sections below each Instructable step as well in topic forums.”

Go to www.instructables.com to get some ideas.

Objective: The goal of this assignment is to become proficient in communicating an idea or narrative primarily through the use of images.  This project will demonstrate your understanding of composition, cropping, focus (depth of field), color balance, lighting, and illustration.

Requirements:

  1. Pick a project to instruct.  This can be anything from a recipe to a DIY concept, as long as it has a logical linear progression from proposal to completion.
  1. Your project does not have to be real; it can be a work of fiction. You will be graded on your ability to communicate an idea through images and not on your ability to do the instructable project itself (though it should be a compelling project). Things to consider are personability, technology, need, and believability.  Why should this instructable exist?  What purpose does it serve?
  1. You will need an introduction (ingredients, materials needed, objective) and a conclusion.  You will need a minimum of 5 steps leading from your intro to your conclusion.  All seven of these steps should be represented by 3 photos each for a total of 21 photos (minimum).
  1. You may only use your camera as the source of your images.  Take 3 photos for each of the photos required for your steps (that’s 63 total).  Each of these 3 photos should be from a different, relevant angle (top, side, bottom, front, back, inside, outside, etc.)
  1. Use appropriate lighting, cropping, and composition.  Consider the utility of the image and the eye flow.
  1. Choose a category for your instructable.  You can use one from the Instructables website or you can make up your own.
  1. At least one image should be converted into a graphic illustration (or schematic) that helps describe the process.  This will be demonstrated in class.
  1. Each step should be brought into Illustrator, and a text description should be given for each step.

To bring into Illustrator:

    1. Open Illustrator and create a new document (for each “step”) that is a portrait letter size (8.5 x 11).
    2. Save your images from Photoshop as (roughly) 800 x 600 pixel .tif files.
    3. Import your images into Illustrator using the “Place” and scale them on the page.
    4. Add text, labels, and associated graphics.
    5. Save your file as an Adobe Illustrator file (.ai)
    6. Save your file as an Adobe Acrobat file  (.pdf) – we will cover this in class.
    7. Name your files yourname_intro.pdf, yourname_step1.pdf, yourname-step2.pdf…

Class Evaluation

When we discuss these as a class we will have a mock judging competition (that will not be graded) based on this criteria:

  1. How interested you were in learning the Instructable?
  2. Would you want to do what the Instructable teaches?
  3. Did you identify with the person instructing or the outcome of the project? Did it have a deeper meaning than just a set of instructions?
  4. How effective was the project at communicating an idea?

Assignment 3: Retelling the News

When digitally manipulating images, what are the rules? Are you required to tell the truth with your images? As an artist are you allowed to create fictional images? If so, what are the ethics of using real images, real people, and real situations in a fictional context? Do you have a responsibility to let your audience know that your work is a fiction?

When you watch the news, read the paper, or read an online blog what do you choose to believe? How do you know that what you are seeing hasn't been manipulated? Where is the line between journalism and art? Consider the impact of the image - how do images presented at a United Nations hearing affect a nations choice for going to war? How do retouched images in beauty magazines affect a person's self-image and identity?

Using a news story (from any source and in any medium) from this week, you will use the tools in Photoshop and Illustrator to retell this news story in your own way. You will choose to reveal hidden truths in the story or to create a fiction. You are free to retell the story in any way you choose. Remember that this is an art project and should contain your unique perspective and expression. You will need to be able to explain the reasoning for your work.

Objective:

The goal of this project is to make you aware of the power that images have over reality and belief. You should become aware of the responsibility that artists have to their work and audience. You will also gain a better understanding of ways to manipulate digital imagery.

Requirements:

  1. Spend some time researching this week's news. You can choose any news story. It can be a sports game, the weather report, a story in a tabloid, the latest bill in Congress, etc. However, you must have a clear reason and intention for what you choose. The more intellectually creative projects will receive higher grades.
  1. Choose or create an image/photograph (or series of images) to represent your story. You can use minimal text and graphics, but this project will be primarily image(s).
  1. Manipulate your image(s) through using digital tools or compositing several images together. We will discuss the Rubber Stamp Tool, the Healing Brush, and the Layers Palette. You might also want to consider using graphics created in Illustrator.
  1. Once you have finished your manipulation you should consider the presentation format. For instance you might consider printing the story in a newspaper (or newspaper insert), posting it to a blog, replacing a magazine cover, creating a Power Point presentation, mounting the images on foamcore and presenting them as evidence. Be creative, the more thoughtful your presentation the better chance to receive a higher grade.

Project Evaluation

You are being graded in two primary areas:

First, your work should be mature, creative, and intellectual. You should choose to retell a news story that you care about. Through your work you should have answers to questions posed in the "Assignment" paragraph above. Your work can be humorous, sarcastic, or even ridiculous, but it should be more than mere entertainment.

Second, your work should be of high quality and exemplify a mastery of the tools that we have discussed in class. There will not be a requirement for the amount of technical work done for this project or the number of images you use. However, projects that exhibit the most amount of quality-thoughtful work will receive the highest grades.

Assignment 4: Data Visualization

It has been claimed that we are living in the Information Age. This is defined as “a period beginning in the last quarter of the 20th century when information became easily accessible through publications and through the manipulation of information by computers and computer networks.” (http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu)

However, this definition is an oversimplification of what it means to live in the Information Age. Our social, economic, and cultural systems are being (have been) reshaped by the vast amounts of data increasingly present in our daily lives. The text you are reading right now is an assemblage of thousands of binary digits (digital data) that are a bio-mimicry of our molecular world. In this assignment you are being asked to make a visual representation of data that is significant in your life, your interests, and/or your artistic pursuits. You will explore ways to effectively communicate this information (data) through digital imagery.

Objective:

The goal of this assignment is to learn how to accurately and artistically represent a dataset with digital imagery. You will explore ways that the images can reveal truths and fictions about data. You will also consider ways in which your data can be revealed through visual narratives, algorithmic patterns, and metaphor.

Requirements:

1) Choose a topic and do research. (Initial dataset due March 16th)

Consider: web searches, questionnaires, experiments, observations, etc.
Your initial dataset should consist of 50-100 entries. This number may increase or decrease.

2) Plot your data. (Due in-class March 16th and 19th)

Try different ways of plotting your data. What is revealed? What visual representations best represent your findings? Consider: scale, linearity, proximity (space), grouping, parallelism, metaphor, time, change, repetition, color, line (weight, angle, slope/curve), and 3 or 4 dimensions.

3) Create a visual representation of your data.

Your visual representation should accurately or artistically communicate the significance of your data.

4) Presentation. (Due March 30th)

Be creative, the more thoughtful your presentation the better chance to receive a higher grade.

Assignment 5: Ideation

Using digital imaging software to create printed or projected media, you will create a work of art that will be publicly exhibited in a "site specific" space.

Objective: Upon successful competition of this project you will have a greater understanding of the documentation process for proposing and submitting your work for exhibition. In addition, you will explore concepts for creating public art - you will incorporate many of the concepts learned from prior assignments given in this course. Finally, you will learn techniques for transferring 2-dimensional screen work to print, projection, and 3-dimentional or 4-dimensional space.

Requirements:

1) Unlike past assignments, the concept and content of this assignment is entirely your creation. However, you may NOT create work that is in some way illegal (vandalism, libelous), causes damage, or is deemed personally offensive (i.e. found offensive to a racial group, religion, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender, gender identity, or political affiliation).

2) Choose a site for your work (have a plan B and C, and obtain necessary permissions for said site). You may only choose a public site that all students will have access to. Projections requiring nighttime presentations will have to be documented if all class members cannot be present.

3) Document the site with photographs and illustrations or maps.

4) Digitally composite your proposed work into your documentation and submit a proposal for your instructor's approval. Your final proposal will be submitted on April 16th and your concept/project cannot be modified after the instructor's final approval. A proposal form will be provided for you.

5) Print or project (note: projectors may be in short supply and may require you to have a plan B) your work in the space. You will be required to "baby sit" your work as it can easily be removed by authorities or damaged by the public.

Download and print the [proposal].

Some examples from my lecture in class:

http://www.oldenburgvanbruggen.com/
http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/
http://www.billboardliberation.com/
http://graffitiresearchlab.com/
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/holzer.html
http://new-art.blogspot.com/2005/11/wodiczko-in-warsaw.html
http://creativetime.org/programs/archive/2007/archive_unleashed/archive_intro.html
http://www.morning-earth.org/ARTISTNATURALISTS/AN_Goldsworthy.html
http://www.vodstrup.com/bbw/work/emigrant.htm
http://vodstrup.com/2007/05_poacea/grassboards.jpg

Consider this:

Define public space.
Define your audience. How does your work serve their needs, or how do they serve your needs?
What does site specific mean?
What is ephemeral?
What is symbolic about public art? When a country or government collapses, why is public art one of the first things to suffer?
What is temporal?




© bbw 2010