Structure

In addition to the week-to-week reading, web-postings and other occasional responses outlined in the syllabus, students will be expected to complete all of the following presentations and larger projects:

1. Hello World: Portrait of the Artist as a (Young) Circuit 

This will be an in-class short (up to 8 minutes) presentation of your (previous or current) work, with the goal of introducing yourself to each other (and to me). In consideration of the readings (Hayles & Salter) and Jim Campbell’s formula for computer art, consider your practice as a circuit or system, creating an actual diagram or structuring your talk to discuss a few elements integral to what you do, for example: artist (you), tools, objects, processes, influences, theories, collaborators, viewers, participants, players, environments. Presentations may be formal or informal and may include video or image documentation, live demonstrations, &/or participatory elements.

2. MicroLecture

Each participant will present a 7-minute lecture on an area of research seen as pertinent to a new project or one’s overall practice. This research may extend a previously existing weekly topic or may be a topic not represented in the course plan.

3. Work-in-Progress Sketch

Each participant will present an in-progress work for critique.

4. Final Projects and Artist’s Materials

In addition to presenting a final project for group critique, a culminating submission to the seminar will be made up of a number of elements which address your preparation to effectively practice as an artist and engage in the art communities in Chicago and beyond – these elements will be addressed throughout the semester, and each will be coupled to mid-semester proposals, classroom discussions, etc. We will develop draft versions of these projects by mid semester, discuss these drafts in class, then you will present the final versions at the end of the semester. The projects are made up of several components:

1 – An artists statement which places your artwork within a context of your own experience, historical ideas, motivation, etc.

2 – A fully developed artist’s website with artist statement, bio, work examples, etc.

3 – An in-class presentation which describes your artistic practice (using your web site) and outlines the historical or intellectual context for your current artwork, important influences, precedents, etc. and provides one or two examples of current work.

4 – a research agenda made up of a bibliography (think of this as personal “to-do” reading list for you) as well as a “research agenda” of general topic areas that are related to your work that you need to explore more fully.

5 – A submission (using the above material) to an actual exhibition, artist’s residency, internship, or other opportunity.

Note: Because weekly participation in the class is very important, the school’s regulation re. no more than 3 unexcused absences will be strictly enforced.

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