previous semesters

This page contains information about prior semesters (for the older ones) and links to their pages (for the more recent ones).
 

recent semesters

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2007 fall semester

Instructor: Jonathan Teppeman with Nathan Watson

  • Class overview [PDF]
  • Send email to the group:

Blow-slot schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9am-12noon Ari + Mat Tom + Ari Viva + Kate Garren + Jon Tom 9am-1pm
David + john 		Jonathan
or Nate
12noon-3pm Ari + Tom Viva + Kate Tom + Viva Garren + Jon Sean + Gabe
3pm-6pm Nate Bryson + Mike Gabe + Sean Garren + Jon Mat + David 1pm-5pm
Matt + john
6pm-10pm Class Matt + Chris Class Mike + Mat Bryson + Matt

 

Assignments

Dates shown are due dates.

Wednesday 2007-11-07: It's All in a Word

Nate writes: It used to be that visual artist expressed ideas that they could better illustrate or more thoroughly examine through images and form.  Works more often stood alone supported only by the strength of their execution and the clarity brought forth by every brush stroke, curve, piece, inch, color, element and placement.  Although there has always been much conversation accompanying displayed works, there did not exist such a dependence on an explanation of context or background information for us to be able to engage art.

The art world is full of people who can speak volumes and write pages about a single work, but is it possible to make clear, relevant, and interesting art from a single word.  Absolutely!!

I would like you all to think about something that is relevant to you and then extract a single word that you think embodies that idea.  The word does not have to be an English word, or fall into any particular category of language.  All that I ask is that you are able to find a legitimate definition for the word.  Secondly I would like you to imagine ways that this one word can be expressed or translated to an audience visually.  It is not acceptable to simply sculpt the word and read it back to us! I want you to consider where the word comes from, what it means, how it feels when you hear it spoken, the different meaning that it can have, how it has been interpreted over time.

Over the next 3 weeks you will be expected to choose a word, examine the meanings and context of the word, and develop a project that will embody and express what this single word really is.  You must execute a relevant part of this project in the glass studio.  On October 24, you must present this project in its completion to the class along with a list of 7 statements that express how your project relates to the one word that you've chosen.  The statements will be read after we discuss the work as a group.

I suggest that you begin by making lists and using a dictionary, Wikipedia, or Google.  The great thing about the Internet is that it may take you to an unexpected place.  Just try it and see what happens!  Then you may want to write out some physical properties that you feel might help illustrate what you're thinking about.  Will you need multiples, lots of color, transparency, scale, or contrast?  It will also be helpful to think about the properties that glass can have and the meanings that can derive from those properties so that they can contribute to your ideas.

Monday 2007-10-08: eight drawings

Eight "solid" pages of sketchbook drawings and/or writings that include all of the things we've talked about including past projects, current and future ideas regarding process and concept.  Also include notes on class time demos and issues from your own blow-slots.  Essentially a glass class diary.  You may also cut out images from magazines, paste articles, make collages, computer images or drawings are fine.  This assignment is required and non-negotiable. Sketchbooks will be collected and graded.

Monday 2007-09-10: draw an object

Draw an object you have created, and then how you would have liked it to be

Monday 2007-09-17: drawings

What do you hope to achieve this semester?

Activities

Monday 2007-10-01:
wrapping a chair!

 

2007 spring semester

Instructor: Jonathan Teppeman.

Blow-slot schedule

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9am-12noon Ric + Danielle Peter + Ric Ari + Hollis Joe +Mat Danielle + Matt 9-1
Ian + john		 Jonathan
12noon-3pm Garen Joe + Bryson Peter + Hollis Joe + Ryan Ari + Mat
3pm-6pm Garen JC + Ryan Ric +JC Dave + JC Mike + Mat 1-5
Mat + john
6pm-10pm Class Dave + Peter Class Matt + Justin Mike + Bryson

 

Assignments

  • 2007.02.08 Assignment 1: 3 cylinders

 

2006 fall semester

Instructor: Jonathan Teppeman

Blow-slot schedule

time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
9-12 Dan +
MattLu		 Joe +
Big Mat		 Dan +
Matt Lu		 Erik +
Justin		 Mike +
Ari		 9-1
John +
Ryan		 JELLY
12-3 Katie +
Bryson		 Henry +
Rich		 Jim +
Rich		 Henry +
Justin		 Erik +
Ari
3-6 JELLY +
Katie (help)		 Bryson +
Eric		 Jim +
Rich		 Eric +
Joe		 Ari +
Big Mat		 1-5
John +
Big Mat		 JELLY
6-9 CLASS JoJo +
Ryan		 CLASS Justin +
Joe (+JoJo assist)		 Mike

 

Assignments and demos

  • 2006.09.13 Assignment 1: a bell is a cup until it is struck ...
    "With this project, you will begin to enforce the fact that, despite the challenge and the spell of seductiveness and immediacy that molten glass casts over those with whom it dances, you are working to become it’s master…not the other way around. Sure, that’s melodramatic, but it is also true … ask Bruce Nauman.

    So, with that in mind, we are going to take on an intentional duality of function. The title of this project is an example. The premise is this…choose an object that you know and love and give it another life by transforming it into another, with another purpose. In class you will run through potential candidates…in the studio you will create the new object, or an inventive combination of both objects. Your process involves more than just making. Spend some time considering the strengths and weakness of the correlation between old object A and new object B. Don’t jump on your very first idea…give yourself the credit to think it through before you put your time and energy into making the thing and presenting it to others.

    You must begin with sketches, not make them afterwards. Got it? Start by sketching the object as it exists, and show (through successive sketches) the metamorphosis of that object ending in a new and surprising form (in a final sketch.) Here is where you can first demonstrate the poetry between your objects, or maintain the connections between the two.

    Now, about the technical concerns. Since you made sketches prior to starting, you have identified those things you know how to do, those you have no idea and those you think may be done a certain way. This is good, it’s called ideation and troubleshooting. Let your sketches serve as blueprints, and rework them if necessary. Invent the techniques you have yet to learn, and come in and watch others working."

    Timeline:

    • 2006.09.13: begin sketching immediately
    • 2006.09.18: show sketches in class
    • 2006.10.04: project due/critique
       
  • 2006.10.11 Assignment 2: Points of Contact
    "Create a glass object, or series of objects, focusing your attention on the points where the body meets its surroundings, where the object contacts its environment.

    Think about how humans inhabit rooms, use objects and touch their surroundings. Think of 'points of contact' literally, as well as metaphorically.

    Some objects we may feel are extensions of ourselves and some may feel distant. Others are so daily and mundane that we overlook them completely. When a person holds a glass of water, the hand meets the glass. This point of contact is actually composed of several points of contact: the thumb, fingers, part of the palm, etc. These points have a lot of information that can be made visible in a drawing, and in an object These creations can show moisture, slight bulges and/or indentations, transparency, reflection, influence tension on certain hand muscles supporting the weight of the glass and the water, etc.
     
    • Will your object exist in an interior or exterior space?
    • Is the object aware of its environment? Interacting with it?
    • What is the point of view of the object? What point of view will you give your viewers?
    • Are objects touching each other? Almost? Never? Is this interaction possible or is it impossible?
    • What ideals are being expressed?
    • Is there tension? Action? Stillness?
    • Consider final placement, lighting, spatial relationships, and most of all, the subtle areas where your object meets its surrounding.
    • How does it rest? Does it?

    Timeline: 2006.11.06: project due/critique

 

2006 spring semester

Instructor: Jonathan Teppeman.

Blow-slot schedule

time Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday Saturday
 9-12 Bryson + Katie Katie + Renata Joe + Mat Jon + Justin 9-1
Eric + john
12-3 Katie + Rich Dan + Rich Jim + Shanie Joe + Tony
 3-6 Dan + Jim Renata + Shanie Joe + Renata Bryson + Tony 1-5
Mat + john
 6-9 (class) Eric + Mat Jon + Justin Bryson + Mike

 

Assignments and demos

  • 2006.03.01 Assignment 1: the magic 8-ball
    "Possible Skills used: blowing, hot sculpting, cutting, mastery of fate...
    For this project we will be at the mercy of the all and mighty Magic 8 Ball. We often let fate lead our lives. In this project we will let fate design our art. However in this piece as in life we can steer our destiny by the approach we take. First you will gather at least 8 objects. No less than 5 of these must be made out of glass and of those 5 no less than 3 will be hand made. Then you must attach these objects together by cold working, glue, binding heat, etc. Where and in what order these objects are to be placed together will be decided by asking very specific questions to the all and mighty magic 8 ball.  
    The result should fit on a pedestal (or the floor): think gallery-ready.  Document your questions and the answers."

 

2005 fall semester


2005 spring semester

Instructor: Elin Christopherson

  • 2005.02.14 Elin demonstrating:
  • 2005.02.21 Joe's sculpture (pictures)
     
  • 2005.03.02 assignment 2: Ritual vessels for the bathroom (pictures, poster 3.2MB PDF)
    "As a choreographer, can you break down a person's bathroom habits into a series of ritualized movements?  What are the objects inside there that you reach for daily?  What would other people reach for?  Create a ritualized container to make the place of cleansing and grooming a trend-setting spot of interest with your custom vessel.  is your vessel a repository for your body detritus, or is it a dispensary for some desired product?  Will the vessel become transformed when it gets filled?  What will it become?"
     
  • 2005.04.04 assignment 3: Instructions for survival (pictures, poster 0.5MB PDF)
    "The end of your world as you know it looms near: Colonial interests are encroaching on your lands and resources are dwindling.  As the sound of mega-machinery grows louder on the horizon, you craft an important object in the best way you know how, to leave for the last of your tribe to use.  Your object will help others to fend off the invaders and thrive."
     
  • 2004.04.04 bubble basics (poster 0.3MB image)
     
  • 2005.04.06 casting (QuickTime movie 01m:04s, 7.4MB)
     
  • 2005.04.18 Elin demonstrating:
  • 2005.04.20 sculpting on the bubble - Elin making a hartebeest head (QuickTime movie 05m:07s, 37.4MB)
     
  • 2005.04.27 assignment 4: Upsize (pictures)
    "Choose an object that is smaller than a penny.  This thing can be a construct of humans or something from nature.  Scale this object up so that it is larger than a loaf of bread.  Create this scaled-up object out of glass with or without other materials."
     
  • 2005.05.09 clinic: Elin demonstrating:
  • 2005.05.11 cane chaos! (QuickTime movie 02m:59s, 20.2MB)
  • 2005.05.16 portfolio review
  • 2005.05.18 last class, assignment 5: do your own thing (QuickTime movie 01m:49s, 11.5MB)