In this course students are introduced to the central place of concepts in contemporary art practice and simultaneously, how to work with those concepts using sculptural materials to make their own artworks. Through various group critique and discussion formats, students develop critical skills to evaluate and understand contemporary artworks in relation to their historical context. Students are introduced to essential skills, techniques and processes of three-dimensional construction and installation. Workplace Health and Safety (WHS) instruction is an integral part of this course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- use, create and discuss methods and strategies in Modern and Contemporary art practice;
- make artworks that critically engage with historical and contemporary art practices;
- conduct research into the practices and discourses around Modern and Contemporary Art and apply findings to creative production; and
- substantiate artistic outcomes with research and rationale.
Field Trips
There will be an excursion in Week 2 to an Artist Run Initiative and a large art institution in Canberra. Details to be provided in the first week.
Additional Course Costs
OPTIONAL WORKSHOP FEE ($60)
This?Workshop Fee?is for additional access to the workshop and use of equipment, tooling and consumable items during extra hours. It is not essential to course completion. Payment of the Workshop Fee is optional, but if a student chooses not to pay it, access to the workshops outside of stated course hours is not allowed.
MATERIAL FEE ($100)
Each workshop sources appropriate specialist?materials,?which are made available to students?to facilitate their working?effectively,?efficiently and safely?within our programs. The School of Art is able to supply materials that don’t compromise ANU obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS), and that have been assessed as suitable for each course.?
The?Material Fee?is payable for the School of Art to supply materials that become your physical property. You can choose to pay the Materials Fee and have these materials supplied to you through the School of Art, allowing you to take advantage of the GST-free bulk purchasing power of the ANU.?These materials are also WHS compliant.
Students have the choice of acquiring these materials from a supplier other than the School of Art, however students should note that many materials may not be WHS compliant (and therefore are not approved for use in the workshops), or are not available for individuals to purchase because they must be supplied and stored in a particular way in order to meet WHS regulations.
http://soad.cass.anu.edu.au/required-resources-and-incidental-fees
Examination Material or equipment
Students are required to present completed work, test pieces, visual diaries, drawings and other support material.
Students will present their work for assessment in a nominated time and place within the Sculpture and Spatial Practice Workshop.
Recommended Resources
Please see Wattle.
Staff Feedback
Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:
- written comments
- verbal comments
- feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc
Student Feedback
ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.
Class Schedule
Week/Session | Summary of Activities | Assessment |
---|---|---|
1 | Introduction to presentation devices | WHS: Evidence of induction through signature of student and TO in relevant equipment folder. |
2 | Introduction to presentation devices: Preparing exhibition spaces and understanding exhibition conventions | Excursion to ARI and large arts institution |
3 | Introduction to presentation devices | |
4 | Art Village: Supports and Display Strategies | Submit Assessment item #1 and #2 WHS: Students to complete sign off on relevant equipment as it is introduced |
5 | Art Village: Supports and Display Strategies | |
6 | Art Village: reconfigure, represent, and project | Assessment Task #5 milestone: Documentation class work for Art Village assignment |
7 | Bridge building: Model Making | Submit Assessment Task #3. Oral presentation recordings to be uploaded by April 16. Watch prior to class and facilitated group discussions in class |
8 | Bridge building: consolidation | |
9 | Bridge building: resolution | Assessment Task #5 milestone: Consolidate documentation for Bridge exercise |
10 | Artist Run Initiative | |
11 | ARI: Content and curation | |
12 | ARI: Purpose / intent | Assessment Task #4 milestone: Present Statement of Purpose |
13 | Examination Period | Submit Assessment Task #4: Statement of Purpose Submit Assessment Task #5: Folio for Art Village, Bridge and ARI |
Assessment Summary
Assessment task | Value | Due Date | Return of assessment | Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Engagement | 5 % | 09/03/2021 | 23/03/2021 | 1,4 |
Studio work: Folio for weeks 1 – 3 (20%) | 20 % | 09/03/2021 | 23/03/2021 | 1,2,3,4 |
Individual oral presentation (10%) | 10 % | 16/04/2021 | 04/05/2021 | 1,3 |
Statement of purpose – group oral presentation (20%) | 20 % | 25/05/2021 | 01/07/2021 | 1,3,4 |
Studio work: Presentation of folio for Artist Village, Bridge Building, ARI (50%) | 50 % | 08/06/2021 | 01/07/2021 | 1,2,3,4 |
* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details
Policies
ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:
- Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
- Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
- Student Surveys and Evaluations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
Assessment Requirements
The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.
Moderation of Assessment
Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.
Participation
- Respectful, generous and intellectually rigorous participation in group critique and other group learning formats is required
- Attendance to all classes is expected unless you have a medical certificate or other valid reason. This is a practice-based studio course, which means your ability to achieve the learning outcomes will be affected by absences. More than one absence will significantly affect your engagement with the course. Students are expected to attend class from start to finish, and lateness of more than 15 minutes will be considered an absence.
- Weekly attendance at the Sculpture and Spatial Practice Meeting is expected
- Participation in weekly Clean Up of the Sculpture and Spatial Practice Workshop is expected.
Examination(s)
Final assessment requires that students submit their work as outlined by the Sculpture and Spatial Practice Workshop before your allocated examination time during the examination period.
Assessment Task 1
Learning Outcomes: 1,4
Engagement
- Cumulative online participation and reflection from weeks 1 – 3
Students will be given a series of tasks to provide written reflection on the classwork and responses to each-other's documentation to be posted online.
Assessment Task 2
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4
Studio work: Folio for weeks 1 – 3 (20%)
Students will be required to document class exercises, reflective writing and homework from weeks 1 – 3 in a set of Powerpoint slides. Slide templates will be provided for students to upload material into.
Assessment Task 3
Learning Outcomes: 1,3
Individual oral presentation (10%)
Due: 16 April
Pre-recorded oral presentation submitted online
Duration: 6-8 minutes
Analysis of 2 works of art, describing, analyzing, and critiquing the support structures that have been used in these artworks. There should be a connection between either the artworks or the support structures, so that there is a comparison rather than two unrelated analyses.
Students will be guided to selected sources to select examples of work to analyse, compare and discuss. An assignment brief and introduction will be provided in class with the opportunity to discuss critical approaches to display and support strategies across a range of media including objects, installations, performances and conceptual works.
Presentations should include at least one photograph of each artwork along with a detail drawing (by the student) that shows the support structures employed. Some of these may be hidden, in which case the structures might need to be imaginatively reverse engineered!
Presentations must include references formatted in the Chicago style in a slide at the end. Two of these references must be from the selected sources.
Assessment Task 4
Learning Outcomes: 1,3,4
Statement of purpose – group oral presentation (20%)
Due: Week 12 in-class presentation
Duration: 6-8 minutes
Declaration of intent
Small groups of students will form Artist Run Initiatives and develop a statement of purpose. The group statement will be presented in class and will clearly communicate the group’s key values and intentions based on their research into ARIs. What is lacking in the cultural landscape of Canberra that the proposed ARI fills? Students will give an account of the current social and political context and their priorities as artists/producers/curators.
The written paper should be 500-600 words long and include:
- Vision / goals / aims
- Structure / principals of operation
- What kind of works are exhibited
- How decision making is conducted
Group to submit a written paper including referencing and bibliography in the Chicago style at the time of presentation.
Assessment Task 5
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4
Studio work: Presentation of folio for Artist Village, Bridge Building, ARI (50%)
Part A due Week 6: Art village (15%)
Part B due Week 9: Bridge building (15%)
Part C due June 8: ARI (20%)
Documentation of three studio assignments submitted online as a Powerpoint portfolio including sketches and developmental works, research notes and reflective writing, documentation of completed projects.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.
The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.
The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.
Online Submission
You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.
Hardcopy Submission
For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.
Late Submission
Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:
- Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
- Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.
Referencing Requirements
Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.
Extensions and Penalties
Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.
Resubmission of Assignments
Students may resubmit work under exceptional circumstances, with the permission of the instructor.
Privacy Notice
The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.
Distribution of grades policy
Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.
Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.
Support for students
The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
- ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
- ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
- ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
- ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
- ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
- ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
- PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students
Convener
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Sean Dockray
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Instructor
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Kate Murphy
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Instructor
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Lucy Irvine
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Instructor
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Research Interests |
Sean Dockray
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