Art Appreciation: Summer 2010 syllabus
Northwest Mississippi Community College— Desoto Center
Phone: (662) 342-1570 (Desoto Center Main Office)

ART 1113 62 M-F 10:15 to 12:20 in Room 100
Instructor: Catherine Blackwell Peña
E-mail: cpena1995@hotmail.com

Text: No text is required for this course. All reading material will either be available on our class blog or distributed in class. (Please consider the environment before frivolous printing articles from the blog.)

The link to our class blog is: http://nwmccart.blogspot.com/

Course Objectives / Core Abilities:
This course is designed to familiarize non-art and intro art students with the visual arts. Class assignments will introduce students to a variety of art that exists within the art world while provide an opportunity to experience art marking. Students enrolled should not expect to become great artists producing masterpieces but rather to become aware of art practices and how artists use these basic techniques to create.

Students will:
• Become familiarized with the fundamentals of art through the Visual Elements and Principles of Design
• Keep a sketchbook during the duration of the class
• Become aware of art in the world and its affect on their lives
• Develop a personal set of standards for judging art
• Write critiques and give oral critiques about works of art

General Core Outcome:
The Student will demonstrate the following:
• Solve visual art problems independently through analysis, synthesis and evaluation
• Demonstrate an understanding of how the communication of ideas relates to the media, techniques and processes used.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the formal elements of art and principles of design.
• Evaluate a range of subject matter, symbols, and concepts in relation to history and cultures.
• Have the ability to understand and discuss the social uses of art in contemporary American society, and its role in personal development.
• Have the ability to understand the importance of art as an element of diversity in a multicultural environment, and its role in the establishment of culture.
• Have the ability to research, prepare and present a written, critical evaluation of an artwork.

Grading Percentages:
35%- Assignments
35% - Class Projects
20% - Multiple Choice Tests
10%- Sketchbooks
Tests:
There will be two (2) multiple-choice tests. Each test will be worth 25 points. **Note: no exam or project grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.
Test 1: Friday, June 18th 2010
Test 2: Thursday, July 1st 2010

Multiple Choice tests requirements:
• #2 pencils – NO PENS!
• SCANTRON forms
• These tests are necessary for the establishment of the visual / critical vocabulary that is needed in order to communicate ideas effectively in this class, in assigned papers, and in the art world at large. (Both SCANTRON forms and pencils are available through the bookstore.)

*Note:
—If you are absent for a test without prior notice the test CANNOT be made up. The student will also be responsible for adequate documentation for the purpose of the absence.
—No make up exams will be given unless approved by the instructor prior to the date of the exam.

Class Project Requirements:
** Students will be informed how each project will be graded and the total number of points one can earn.
• Students are required to be in class and participate in class projects and critiques. Each projects is designed to help facilitate students’ understanding / appreciation of various techniques and the process of art making. This is not busy work. If you put forth the effort and complete all projects, you will do well.
• If a project is turned in late, the final project grade will be dropped one letter grade. Make prior arrangements if you know you will not be in attendance of the due date of a project.
• Students are responsible for acquiring necessary materials to complete each project. Some materials are required while others are based entirely on each student’s concept for their project.

Project 1 Due: Thursday, June 17th
Project 2 Due: Tuesday, June 29th
**********All projects are due at the beginning of class************************

Art Museum or Art Gallery attendance:
Students are required to attend one art exhibition at an appropriate gallery or museum sometime during the duration of the summer session. After attending the exhibition, students will describe their experience in at least 5 paragraphs in their sketchbook. In addition, students must attach evidence (i.e. postcard, business card, and/or photographs) of their attendance to a particular gallery or museum.
• Art Exhibition Assignment Due: Monday, June 28th

Free Art Exhibits (usually):
Memphis College of Art
Northwest Mississippi
University of Memphis
University of Mississippi
Rhodes College
Brooks Museum (discounted or free w/student I.D.)
The Dixon (discounted or free w/student I.D.)

* Other Galleries:
Delta Axis @ Marshall Arts or Powerhouse
David Lusk Gallery (Memphis, TN)
L. Ross Gallery (Memphis, TN)
Jay Etkin Gallery
Perry Nichole
Material
Marshall Arts
UrbanArt
Odessa

Excellent Art Calendars:
http://www.artsmemphis.org/event/cat/visual_art
Current issues of the Memphis Flyer

* Other exhibits can count towards your sketchbook entry but you must receive my approval for alternative venues. I will do my best to share upcoming exhibition information as I receive it throughout the semester.

Class Assignments: (all assignments must be completed in your sketchbooks unless otherwise directed)
Throughout the semester each student will focus on two subject matters (of their choice) that will be explored and developed through class projects. All assignments are designed to help you develop each projects conceptual content, formal qualities, and method of execution.

We will also focus on a variety of contemporary artists to gain a wider knowledge of their working methodologies, techniques and backgrounds. Each student will be responsible for reading any assigned articles and include written analysis when directed. For each artist focused on, students are required to find 5 images of the artists work to analyze. Each image should include a corresponding paragraph (5 sentences) that comments on why the piece was selected (i.e. its formal qualities or it’s conceptual content).

Sketchbooks:
All students are required to have a spiral or hardbound 8 1/2 x 11 sketchbook with blank pages no later than Monday, June 7th 2010. Sketchbooks are to be used for class assignments and the addition of 5 complete pages per week of anything that interests you (i.e. artwork, pictures, poems, quotes, lyrics, collages, and/ or personal reflections). Sketchbooks are to be used as a tool for creative conceptual development thus it is important that lecture notes be taken in another notebook. During sketchbook checks I will look for completed assignments and the quantity of additional pages. The content of these pages is up to the student, but you must have 5 pages per week totaling 20 pages for the semester.

***Note: If you do not have your sketchbook or are absent on the day sketchbooks are collected, 1 point will be deducted from each category graded.


Attendance Policy:
Attendance is mandatory. We have 1 month to cover approximately forty thousand years of human artistic endeavor and to make our own investigations into artistic practice, criticism, and communication. Attendance will be called at the beginning of every class. If you come in late, it is up to you to come to me after class to mark you present. Three (3) unexcused absences will result in a failing grade for the semester. This does not include absences with a doctor’s excuse.

Two (2) unexcused absences will result in a lowering of one letter grade of the final semester grade.

Other Class Policies:
• Turn cell phones and pagers off or on silent mode. If electronic devices become a distraction to the other students or instructor, you will be asked to leave class and will be counted absent.
• Do not bring children to class. This is NWCC policy.
• Do not cut out of class early. This will result in an unexcused absence for the day.
• Do not ask for special treatment. If you have legitimate special needs, let me know.
• Do not ask me to change my schedule for any reason.
• Treat fellow students and instructor with respect.
• You are responsible for your space in this classroom, keep it clean and dispose of any trash you produce.
• Do not disrupt class. This includes but is not limited to: sleeping, talking out of turn, outburst, coming and going in and out of class, coming in late, etc.
• Do not discuss topics that are not pertinent to this class.
• If you have already planned to have absences (i.e. vacations, weddings) prior to taking this class, please inform me of these dates ASAP. Such absences are not excused. I will do my best to keep you updated to help you from falling to far behind.

The instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus and will notify the students in a timely manner.

MATERIAL LIST:
A significant part of the class is making art objects, therefore materials and supplies are essential and required. I’ll notify you ahead of time of the supplies we’ll use for each project.

MATERIALS you will need after Monday June 7th
* 8” x 10” Sketchbook (either a bound or spiral sketchbook will work)
*Writing utensils (i.e. Graphite drawing pencils, pens, markers, color pencils)
*Scissors
*Glue sticks or tape
*Art Gum Eraser (only if you plan on using graphite pencils)

During the semester you will be required to have access to a digital or 35mm camera. You may use a camera phone but you must be able to have the pictures printed at a local photo lab. PLEASE do not buy a camera for this course unless you do not have the option of borrowing one from a friend or family member.

OTHER SUPPLIES WILL BE NEEDED…ADVANCE NOTICE WILL BE GIVEN