What Are You Selling? Design a New Dollar Bill as a Sign of Our Times

Nations represent themselves through their currency design, using symbols, colors, textures, portraits of leaders, typefaces, decorative embellishments, mottos and phrases. Considering this particular sums up what you think represents current harmonies and/or tensions. Think about what we do or should value and take a stab at devising symbols that convey your sense of what we as a nation are about.

Take a look at a real dollar bill. Then make a list of at least 30 words that come to mind in a “stream-of-consciousness” sort of way. What are the events, issues, dynamics, concepts that strike you? Continue in the same stream-of-consciousness manner to collect associated images off the internet, from books, magazines, drawings, doodles, etc.

Using your list and archive , construct a “mind map” to graphically arrange relationships. Get visual with it by pairing the words of your list with images and symbols. Think about colors, fonts, graphic styles, etc., that will help you convey the idea you are working toward. Try to push beyond your first impulses and let the map grow as you work.

Working off your map, select the strongest combination of elements and sketch out a few potential designs. Consider scale relationships, use of photographs and symbols, use and style of text. Consider the “authority” of print versus the casual, homey, DIY quality the hand-drawn and hand-written. Consider how your color choices will contribute to the overall effect.

Your final design should be 6x11 inches and may be done digitally and printed or constructed by hand (collage, hand-drawn or a combination).

Mind maps due Monday Oct 5
Final due Oct 7

Welcome to Idea & Form Fall 2009

This course introduces an approach to understanding visual culture and the language of images. With an emphasis on critical thinking and analysis, we will investigate the way social and cultural dynamics shape meaning and perception in art and design. We'll explore concepts by looking at examples from art history, contemporary art and popular culture, by reading and discussing and by completing related hands-on projects. Consult this course blog for updates to the syllabus, additional information on assignments, class work and for other resources.

We have made a link list of the individual student blogs. Begin and maintain your course blog to record and share your reflections, interpretations and reactions to our readings, discussions and project assignments. The blog is also a place to collect digital images, questions, links to relevant artists and issues, samples of your art work, etc. A minimum of 10 posts is required (1 per week). You are encouraged to look at each others' blogs, comment and exchange ideas. 

Week 10

On Tuesday we will have an opportunity for you to get feedback from your classmates and me on your final project plans. You should have all your raw material for your exhibit together and be considering presentation alternatives. Bring in materials, drawings, drafts of explanatory "wall text" and whatever else you are considering to tell your story.

I'll have a sign-up sheet for final presentations on Thursday. Pre-select a space to set up and, if possible, come to class early so we can begin promptly. Have a copy of your catalog zine on display with your exhibit. (I will bring treats to fortify us.)

Turn in a copy of your Exhibition-in-a-Box catalog zine and update your blog with all reflections, exercises and projects by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

MAIL ART INVITATION

Postcard Call for Participation: “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero Weapons of Mass Destruction: Create a Culture of Peace Now!”

KIK (Kulturel Information - Koordination), The Ribbon International, and Women’s Caucus for Art invite artists, mail artists, students, children, activists and concerned individuals, classrooms and organizations to create postcards for this year’s United Nations NGO Conference, “For Peace and Development: Disarm Now!”

Our postcard theme focuses on one of the major issues debated at this conference: “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero Weapons of Mass Destruction – Why? How? When?” Lend your voice to this debate. What does a culture of peace look like? How would you resolve conflict in peaceful ways? What does it mean to feel safe and secure? Why must we oppose the creation of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction? How can we remove these weapons? What can happen if we remain silent? What can change look like? Express yourself through words and/or artwork! Make postcards! Send us your postcards!

All postcards received by September 1, 2009 will be documented online and displayed together with The Ribbon International at the United Nations Conference in Mexico City in September, 2009. Afterwards, this exhibition will travel to venues in the United States for further display and dialog.

Deadline: September 1, 2009

Artwork: 4”x6” or Size 6 postcards on the theme “Zero Nuclear Weapons, Zero WMD: Create a Culture of Peace Now!” On the back of the postcard, provide your name and State/Country so we can acknowledge your submission on the blogsite.

Teachers and Educators: We welcome classroom participation!

All Postcards will be documented on http://wcaartwavesinternational.blogspot.com/.

No jury, no fee, no return. Postal delivery only.

Mail postcards to P. Otani, Curator, “Zero NW Zero WMD: Create a Culture of Peace Now!” 263 Laidley Street, San Francisco, CA 94131 USA

Exhibition Collaborators:

Kulturel Information – Koordination (KIK) is a Danish NGO which works to link people through a network of Art and Culture for a Global Culture of Peace. Website: http://www.kik-kultur.dk/

The Ribbon International is a peace art project. The Ribbon is an ever growing number of meter-by half-meter (or one yard by half-yard) pictures, sewn or painted on fabric, showing what each individual maker loves most and wants to protect by abolishing nuclear weapons, ending wars and preserving the environment. Website: http://www.theribboninternational.org/

The Women's Caucus for Art (WCA) is the leading national nonprofit organization for women in the visual arts professions in the United States. Founded in 1972, WCA has 27 chapters across the country and is an affiliate society of the College Art Association. Website: http://www.nationalwca.org/ also an NGO of UN

Week 9 and 10

Tuesday we will discuss Kabakov's "Man Who Threw Nothing Away," share your proposals and your favorite collections.

We will also discuss the role of the curator in preparation for a field trip to the Cooley Gallery at Reed College on Thursday 5/28. Gallery director Stephanie Snyder will talk to us about the current exhibition, China Urban, and her role as a curator.

View the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Gallery website prior to Thursday and read the information about the exhibition in preparation for our visit. What do you think the job of a curator is? Think about this and formulate a question for Stephanie.

We will meet at the Cooley Gallery on the first floor of the Reed Library at 2:30. We will organize car pooling in class on Tuesday. Driving and bus directions are available here.

Over the weekend work on the final project and bring in materials and presentation ideas for a work session during class on Tuesday 6/2.

Make sure your blog posts are up to date with assignments and reading summaries.

Final presentations on Thursday 6/4.

Final Project: Exhibition in a Box

Investigate the ways contemporary artists engage relics of “the everyday” by curating a portable exhibition that will function as a portrait of a either someone you know or a fictional person you create. In either case, your subject, and the focus of your exhibition, should somehow represent an aspect of the spirit of our time (the “episteme” thing). You may choose to work singly or in twos or threes (greater expectations for grandeur go along with larger groups). Declare your intentions with a brief proposal on 5/21. See the project sheet handed out in class for more information.

Artists to investigate: Mark Dion, Sophie Calle, Pepon Osorio, Ilya Kabakov, Christian Marclay, Annette Messager, Christian Boltanski, Aleksandra Mir, Andrea Zittel