Colorado Mesa University
Course Syllabus Spring 2013
Course
name: Low fire technique
Course
number: ARTS 346 Room:
CMU Ceramics Lab
Hours: 9:00-11:15 MW Semester credit
hours: 3
Textbook: Colorado
Mesa University Shop Notes (Required)
Hands
in Clay by John Toki (Optional, but recommended)
MSC Shop Notes are available for purchase for $5.00 from the Art Desk on
the 2nd floor of the Art Building
Hands in Clay can be purchased at the MSC Book Store at Amazon.com
Course description: Fine art course designed to give you a
general introduction to the media, techniques, and history of firing low
temperature ceramic art and create a deeper appreciation of the creative
ceramic process and unlock YOUR own potential for innovative thinking.
Instructor
name: Jake Allee
Office Telephone number: (970) 248-1797
E-mail: jallee@coloradomesa.edu
Office
number: Art
Building 112
Office Hours : 8:00-9:00 a.m Monday Wednesday
8:00-9:00 a.m Tuesday Thursday
Please contact me with any questions, comments
or concerns you may have. I welcome your
input.
Student Learning
Objectives:
1.
Learn
a working vocabulary of basic low fire ceramic terms and processes associated
with creating ceramic objects.
2.
Demonstrate application of tools, materials, techniques, and proper
use and care for equipment through quality craftsmanship.
3.
Understand
multiple firing processes associated with finishing low fire work: Multiple
glaze firings with successively lower temperatures.
4.
Learn
the firing techniques of earthenware ceramics: slip decoration, low fire glaze,
terrasig, majolica, low fire salt, and saggar
5.
Learn
the techniques of surface decoration in various stages of the ceramic
process: (slip and engobe decoration,
relief decoration, basic brush decoration)
6.
Utilize
basic design principals and expression of personal aesthetic through hand-made
objects.
7.
Learn
techniques of glaze application for multiple fired ceramics.
8.
Documentation
of personal hands on process through written explanation and photography geared
towards personal artistic focus and development in ceramics.
9.
Develop practical skills for entry into a professional career in art
and design.
Attendance:
You are required to attend each class meeting and to stay
for the duration of each class. Most
lectures, demonstrations and explanations of class projects will occur at the
beginning of class periods and will not be repeated for students who arrive
late. A written test over the vocabulary
covered in class may be presented at any time.
You must consult with me when an absence occurs. Make-up assignments are given ONLY for
excused absences and at the discretion of the instructor and must be turned in
promptly. Incomplete or late work will
not be accepted. Make-up tests will only
be given with an excused absence. I
reserve the right to have make-up tests be all essay or practical
demonstration. People not registered in the course are not allowed to be in the
classroom. Absolutely no cell phone use,
text messaging or otherwise disruptive behavior allowed during class. Your
full attention is required when the instructor is addressing the class.
Workload:
An undergraduate student should expect to spend on this
course a minimum of two hours outside the classroom for every hour in the
classroom. The outside hours may vary depending on the number of credit hours
or type of course. More details are available from the faculty member or
department office and in CMU’s Curriculum
Policies and Procedures Manual.
Deadlines:
Projects and assignments have strict deadlines. If a project is submitted late, the grade
will drop by one letter grade per class period.
Projects will be marked down after the numeric evaluation on the rubric
is totaled. Hence, if you turn in “C”
work one day late, it will be marked down to a “D”.
Conduct:
Dedication towards course work is displayed by coming to
class on time and prepared with supplies that are needed for that day’s
activities. All projects are due
completed at the beginning of class period that they are due. All students are expected to clean up their
working area at the end of class. These
points are directly related to the participation and attitude aspect of your
final grade.
Withdrawals:
If at any point you consider dropping the course please
consult with me. Alternative options or
help may be available. I will make every
reasonable effort to assist you in completing this course within the parameters
of the established class meeting times and my office hours. Students wishing to drop should consult an
academic advisor. If you stop attending
class after the CMU established last day to drop with a ‘W’, you will receive a
performance grade most likely an ‘F’.
ADA Statement:
Please notify the instructor
if you have a disability that requires accommodation. It is recommended you
register with the Educational Access Services office (EAS) for Disability
Accommodation. Reasonable accommodations
will be provided for qualified students with disabilities. The EAS office is located in Houston Hall
Suite 108. The telephone number is
248-1826. The Please meet with the instructor the first week of class to
discuss accommodations for your educational needs.
Please get the name and phone
number from at least one other person in class in an effort to communicate
should you miss class.
Grading and Evaluation:
Course grade: 100 point scale 90 and above = A,
80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 59 or below = F. Grades will be determined from the average of
5 to 6 projects given throughout the semester.
Methods of evaluation: Evaluation
is based on your ability to demonstrate learned topics, terminology and aspects
from the course through hands on projects, class participation and discussions. Tests may be given at any time and will count
as a full project grade.
Methods of instruction: Topics will
be covered by a variety of demonstrations, presentations, lectures, and reading
assignments from handouts geared towards student production of assigned projects. Suggested books and internet websites,
videos, class discussions and trips to media related sites will be used to
reinforce instruction.
Some materials are provided, but student purchased materials
will be needed for exploration of ideas
and different creative projects throughout the semester (example: basic tools
for specific media, etc.).
1
Attendance
is mandatory. On the 4th
absence your grade will be dropped one letter.
Every 3 late arrivals to class constitute one absence.
2
10%
of grading is based on attendance/participation in the class and 90% of grading
is based on tests and completion of required assignments (all projects and
tests/quizzes weighted equally).
3
Attention
to “housekeeping” and or cleaning of studio spaces
4
The
class final will consist of your efforts during the prescribed clean up day. Attendance is mandatory during the cleanup
day as determined by the finals schedule.
If you do not attend and participate in the clean up day, you will
receive an ‘F’ as a final grade. If you
do not hand in the final portfolio by the time and date prescribed by the class
schedule, you will receive an ‘F’ as a final grade.
As a student enrolled in this
course you must understand your performance and final grade are your
responsibility. Please recognize the
course objectives and comprehend the commitment the course will demand. Address any questions or concerns to me
promptly and be aware that all aesthetic grade decisions are at the
instructor’s discretion. No assignment
will be accepted late. Final grades will be available only when the registrar
posts them. Work completed for this
course may not be used for credit in any other course and work completed for
other courses may not be used for credit in this course. If at any point you are unsure of your
progress or need to know what your course grade is consult with your instructor
immediately. Concluding course grades
are final and will not be reconsidered.
No Exceptions.
IMPORTANT!!!!
Your Final project in
this class will be assembly of a portfolio that represents all of the projects
assigned during the course. This
portfolio is a project that focuses on the professional documentation of your
material projects. This portfolio
project will be weighted equally with the other assignments in the course and
must be completed and handed in by 4:00 PM on May 13th. Failure to hand the portfolio in at this time
will result in an “F” as a letter grade for the entire course.
All portfolios are due formatted as j-pegs and burnt to a
compact disc.
All photos must be shot as demonstrated in class and all
projects must be represented as prescribed by the final portfolio requirement
list.
PORTFOLIOS ARE DUE BY
4:00 PM ON MONDAY MAY 13. NO
EXCEPTIONS!!!
ANYTHING LEFT IN
THE STUDIO WILL BE THROWN OUT ON MAY 17th!!!
IMPORTANT DATES:
April 25th Last Wet Clay Day
May 2nd Last Bisque Firings Loaded
May 6th Last Glaze Firings Loaded
May 13th All Portfolios Due
May 17th All items left in the studio thrown out