Course Title: ART 512 Graduate Book Arts
Term: Taught Periodically During Summer for the MeD. Art Education Students.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Major, Elective credit. A course designed to introduce the student to the book as an art form. A creative exploration of the artist book through various uses of medium and techniques. Students will receive a working knowledge of various techniques of bookbinding, structures, and the incorporation of image and text. Contemporary approaches will be explored through research and technology.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Gain a basic introduction to the book as an art form.
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Develop a working knowledge of bookbinding techniques.
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Develop an understanding of various mixed media processes that can be used in artist book making.
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Evaluate art critically, both orally and written utilizing a visual vocabulary.
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Understand safety methods that are used in the studio.
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Develop a basic understanding of documentation of artwork and its purpose for fine artists.
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
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Understand and have a working knowledge of how to utilize the book as an artform.
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Be able to create a book using basic traditional bookbinding techniques.
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Be able to create an interesting content with a variety of mixed media approaches.
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Demonstrate an understanding of concept informs the book as an art form.
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Students will work responsibly in the classroom using appropriate safety methods.
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Students will produce a set of digital images of paintings created during the term.
Digital Portfolio: All art and design students are required to establish a Digital Portfolio in which all artwork created during your time at Converse is documented and turned in on a share folder. Documentation techniques will be covered in the class and students expected to document all projects created in this course.
Work to be graded:
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Gelli Printing/ Snake Book/ Book Binding
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Project Plan Presentation
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Open Concept Book
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OPTIONAL (Repurposed book/ Container Book)
Assignment 1:
Gelli Printing/ Snake Book, Bookbinding Skill.
This assignment is specifically designed with Art Educators in mind as this is an assignment that can easily be done with K-12 students. In this lesson students will learn a quick and simple book binding technique called a “Snake Book”. This is an “Accordion Style” book that is made from a single sheet of 18”x24” paper. As a bonus skill, students will be taught several monotype techniques using a gelli plate. They will learn how to do photo and magazine transfers onto gelli plates, as well as basic stencil and masking techniques.
Assignment 2:
Project Plan Presentation.
After being introduced to the concept of the Artist Book, the history of the artist books, and presented with the question of “What qualifies a book as a book?” or “How can our art take the form of a book?” students are then asked to come up with a concept for their book. They are asked to present this in the form of a PowerPoint to the class and address what their inspiration is? What other artists have they researched? Show us any relevant previous work they may have done, and show us sketches or preliminary work for the project.
Assignment 3:
Open Concept Book.
Students are introduced to a variety of the most common bookbinding techniques as well as many examples of artist books and are then asked to come up with their own form and concept for a book.
Assignment 4:
Traditional Binding Technique or Repurposed Book
During the course the professor will demonstrate a traditional bookbinding technique and make a small journal. If time allows students have the option to create one themselves. Or alternatively students may explore the concept of a “Repurposed Book” or “Altered Book”.
