csu nyc 2016 summer program
ARTISTS IN THE STUDIO
ITDS 1145: Arts in New York (Comparative Arts)
June 12 – July 2 (with class June 3 at 1 pm)
Instructor: Hannah Israel
Email: Israel_hannah@columbusstate.edu
Phone: 706-304-5775 (for emergencies only)
Office Hours: Email to make an appointment
Course Description:
This course explores the arts and cultural events in New York City. Our activities will include analysis, interpretation and creative work. We will observe the way stories are told through opera, dance, theater, poetry, and pictorial art. We will focus on the ways in which art breaks down dichotomies–recasting them into connections such as between the self and other; the “real” and the “imagined”.
​
Objectives:
- Attain understanding and knowledge of the history and philosophy of Artists in the Studio.
- Attain new experiences and an understanding of the arts by visiting Museums, performances, lectures, and cultural events.
- Develope an understanding Art in general and the cultural importance of how the visual and literary art have shaped our world.
Supplies:
- Notebook/Computer for writing
- Smart Phone or Camera
- Map/App of New York
Required Reading:
Seven Days in the Art World by Sarah Thornton
Excerpt from Goodreads/
- The art market has been booming. Museum attendance is surging. More people than ever call themselves artists. Contemporary art has become a mass entertainment, a luxury good, a job description, and, for some, a kind of alternative religion.
In a series of beautifully paced narratives, Sarah Thornton investigates the drama of a Christie's auction, the workings in Takashi Murakami's studios, the elite at the Basel Art Fair, the eccentricities of Artforum magazine, the competition behind an important art prize, life in a notorious art-school seminar, and the wonderland of the Venice Biennale. She reveals the new dynamics of creativity, taste, status, money, and the search for meaning in life. A judicious and juicy account of the institutions that have the power to shape art history, based on hundreds of interviews with high-profile players, Thornton's entertaining ethnography will change the way you look at contemporary culture.
Make a Blog
Each Student in the class will design a basic blog that will be linked to the main course website. You can use wix, tumblr or wordpress to create this site. You need to create this blog site by June 3 by our class meeting. All assignments will be posted in the blog.
Sample: http://www.candaceroserardon.com/blog/
http://www.bordersofadventure.com/blog/
Blog Entries - 6/13 – 7/2
- Students will post a blog entry every day. Your post could be about an exhibition, performance, food, films, observation about the surroundings, thoughts, poetry, your experience being in NYC.
1. Date and title each entry for example 6/13/The Village tour
2. Write down thoughtful observations about your experience.
3. Write about the artist that we visit during the course. What type of artist? Did you like the work? Observation about their process? Observation of the studio?
4. Post images/video or both (3)
Students will post 3 images a day, the photograph you post should be of your experience in New York. It is important that this photograph looks at the world around you without mimicking tourist photography. These photographs can be made using your cell phone, do not crop the images, do not use filters.
- Students can have an option to post 1 30 sec video instead photographs, the video can be an interview with strangers about art, food, or culture or a video can be a poetic observation. These can be made using your cell phone, do not crop the images, do not use filters.
Assignment 1: The Alec Soth Assignment: A news reporter for a day.
Due: June 18 at 4 pm
1. Watch the link to Art Assignment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APRRQ7z75x0
2. Pick one story simple story/ of someone you meet/birthday party/chess playing/Central park/subway trip/pizza owner…
3. Take several images that describe the situation. Find something moving, that describe your subject, and aesthetically interesting. Choose two great images from your pool to attach in your blog.
4. Create a goal by getting access to the depth of the story. Find something that connects the unsuspected.
5. Write a statement that is not entirely obvious. The statement has to be at least two paragraphs or more.
6. Choose a clever and great title for your entry.
7. Upload your article and images in your blog.
Example:
http://www.humansofnewyork.com/
http://www.petemarovichimages.com/
http://jackgruber.com/gallery/california-same-sex-marriage/
Assignment 2: Why Murals?
Due: June 26 at 4 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS1oPqP2qyY
1. In this assignment after watching the brief history of murals, go out and find out modern murals or graphic murals that identifies with the landscape or area that it’s in. How does it change the way you perceive the environment? Is it making a huge impact? Who’s or are the artist/s? Interview people about the mural? Research the history behind the artwork.
2. Take lots of images of the public art.
3. Choose 5 from your findings. Write a couple of paragraphs describing your experience or findings.
4. Note 3 mural artists that you find interesting.
5. Upload your article and images in your blog.
Assignment 3: Selfies in NYC
Due: July 1 at 4 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfoPJnVrBNM
1. Watch the Art Assignment on the Art History of Selfies. Over the period of three weeks create a photo collage in your blog that provides or sites your presence in different places in NYC. This doesn’t have to be your face only but can be your hands, reflections, feet, etc…
2. In your blog create a pictorial narrative using 20 images of the self. Through this series of imagery I want you to focus on how the connections between the self and other and the “real” and the “imagined” is captured during the period of three weeks in the city.
Writing Assignment
ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts – Choose one from the following topics below.
The Artist in the Studio/ In the history of the Artists in the Studio I mentioned that there are differences in how artists use their studio to create and think. Choose two artists one from our Studio Visit Series and one from art history and compare and contrast their way of using the studio as a conceptual space, philosophical space and a maker space. Some artists for example like Damien Hirst or Jeff Koons use the studio like a workshop space similar to what the Rennaisance artists called the Bottega.
-
Write a 3 page paper double-spaced, times new roman, (See guidelines for more information).
-
Compare and contrast one artist from our Studio Visit Series (Hank Willis Thomas, Alison Elizabeth Taylor, Yeon Jin Kim, Joel Carrero) and an artist from Art History for example, Damien Hirst, Jackson Pollock, Pablo Picasso, etc…
-
The paper should have a work cite page
-
Include images
5. Email me the paper no later than 4 pm July 5.
Artist in the Gallery
This paper should be a comparison between 2 different gallery exhibitions. You must visit the galleries with some time to look and think about what you are seeing. We will visit some galleries in class, but it will be better if you come back when you have time and full freedom to observe. These are not museum exhibitions, but should be found in galleries in Chelsea, Downtown, Uptown, Midtown or Brooklyn. There will be over 50 exhibitions to pick from. You can choose any work you like. Paper should be a minimum of 3 pages.
Paper should look at and compare the following:
Why are you comparing these two exhibitions of all the options you have to choose from?
When was the work made? What is the context for the work?
Artist intentions – What is the point? Do you see it in the work?
Presentations differences – How are they framed? What is the size? How many total pieces?
Image differences – What are the photographs of? Quality of light? Color? Black and White?
Gallery Differences – How big are the galleries? Which part of town?
What do you think – was the exhibition successful? Is there anything you would have done differently? These are just some questions too think about, feel free to investigate further.
Research will need to be completed while in New York. Paper (must be emailed) due 4 pm July 5.
​
Attendance:
It is mandatory that you attend all classes and fieldtrips. Only the program directors can excuse a student from a class or a fieldtrip. The student must contact the program directors prior to the class or fieldtrip to be excused. The program directors will notify the student’s professors that a student will miss class or a fieldtrip. Any unexcused absence from class or a fieldtrip will result in a grade reduction of one letter grade for each unexcused absence. Being late to class is inconsiderate to others and impedes the educational experience. Students who are late to class and/or a fieldtrip three times will be considered to have missed one class.
Don’t miss class.
Don’t miss appointments.
Don’t miss group activities.
Don’t be late.
Grading:
You will be graded on the thoroughness of your Blog and writing exploration. Your photographs should use photography to look at the environment of New York City creatively. In your writing you will be graded on the depth of your research and your ability to describe the exhibition of the work. Your participation in class and in the activities of the group will also be a significant part of your grade.
Class Participation: 20%
Blog Entries: 20%
Assignments 1: 10%
Assignment 2: 10%
Assignment 3: 10%
Reading Response: 10%
Paper: 20%
Safety:
I have gone to New York, probably at least once a year every year throughout the past decade. During those visits I have never been arrested, mugged, run over, suffered broken bones, or been in a fight. Just to say that I have found the city to be safe, but I am careful. You should be careful, you should not do anything that you would normally consider stupid or risky just because you are out of town. It is recommended that you always travel with one of your fellow students.
Looking At Art
As a group we will be visiting the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, Guggenheim Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While we are looking at art of all types, from all over the world, throughout the ages, at some of the premier museums in the world, please remember to leave time and energy for the unfamiliar work. As a class we will be visiting some art exhibitions and events without the rest of the group, attendance and a willingness to see and appreciate new things will be necessary. Most people look at art for fractions of a second, please take the opportunity to really look closely and think about the work you are seeing.
Visiting Galleries
Admission to art galleries is free, you can go to them as often as you like and stay as long as you want. This is a great opportunity to see work by emerging, national and international artists. You will not be expected to buy anything, but it is still a private space so be respectful. Galleries are generally not expansive spaces they will fell crowded when all of us are in the space having a rowdy conversation, don’t be obnoxious.
Visiting Museums - There are generally going to be a lot of people in the rooms of the museums.
Museums will have permanent collections that includes work throughout the history of art and special exhibitions that will feature one artists or a themed exhibition.
Museum manners.
Look at the artwork before you photograph the work. (if you must photograph the work) Don’t stand in front of artwork having a conversation about where you are going to lunch. Don’t talk on your cellphone.
We will be in these places to look at art, you should be respectful of the spaces we are in and the other visitors. If other people are being obnoxious that doesn’t mean you should be. Your museum admission will be covered by the cost of the trip, in addition many museums have free evening once a week if you want to go back and visit. If there are additional museum you want to visit please do so.
Additional Activities
Most likely there will be some events added to the schedule when after we arrive. Please update your schedule when you are advised of changes.