Syllabus and Class Schedule

JE3300: Advanced Hollow Construction

Fall 2012

JE3300/Section A

Wednesdays 9:45am-1:00pm

Instructor: Jenn Parnell

Office Hours: Wednesdays 1-1:30pm; by appointment

Phone: 512-589-6431 (cell)

Email: jenn_parnell@corcoran.edu

Homepage:

Required Text: none

Supplemental Text (not required): The Complete Metalsmith - An Illustrated Handbook

Tim McCreight, Davis Publications, Inc. Worchester, Mass

Course Description

Students in this course perfect the fabrication skills they have already learned, acquire more advanced hollow construction skills, and deepen their understanding of design principles. Techniques covered include construction of simple and compound geometric forms, and forming and forging forms to create complex hollow elements. Prerequisite: JE1210 Introduction to Jewelry II.

Course Objectives

At the end of this class students will:

1. Understand the geometry and mathematics used to create hollow forms

2. Understand the construction and fabrication process and steps for hollow construction

3. Be able to demonstrate construction of

• Sphere
• Cylinder
• Cube
• Pyramid
• Cone

4. Be able to demonstrate develoment of the above simple forms into complex forms with the following techniques:

• Fabrication of combination forms
• Forging and Forming
• Cutting and Resoldering

Course Expectations

Projects and Homework Assignments: You are expected to complete the class projects as well as the homework assignments on time. You are expected to keep a sketchbook for your designs and notes.

Technical Proficiency: I look for effort in completing assignments to the highest level of skill you can. I expect that as the course progresses that you will push your technical knowledge and continue to pursue perfection in the skills you learn.

Creativity: I expect that in your projects, you will express yourself as an artist and attempt to integrate your artistic vision and interests into each piece.

Attendance/Participation: Attendance is extremely important. You are expected to be on time. If you miss class, you are expected to talk with your classmates to get the notes for that day. You are expected to participate actively in class, ask questions, and comment in critiques.

Course Requirements (Assignments, Projects, Exams, etc.)

Students will create 5 completed forms: sphere, cylinder, cube, pyramid, cone. Students will then complete 2 hollow construction projects: one using a compound shape, one using altered and recombined elements. In addition to the projects, students will also complete design homework and maquettes.

Each project will be critiqued- the first 2 as a group, the last one individually as part of final critique which encompasses all work from the semester.

Grading Criteria

See the Corcoran Student Handbook for Undergraduate and Graduate Grade descriptions.

Grades are determined based upon the following:

1. Timely completion of all class projects with effort for creativity and technical skill.

2. Attendance and participation in class discussions and critiques

3. Timely completion of homework and samples/exercises.

Attendance Policy (see Student Handbook- http://www.corcoran.edu/student-handbook )

Students are expected to attend all class sessions and course-related activities for each course in which they register. Students may not attend any class for which they have not officially registered. Three absences (two during the summer term) within a given class, or 20 percent of the semester, are grounds for automatic failure of the course. In exceptional circumstances, the Director of Student Affairs, in coordination with Director of Continuing Education, may approve emergency absences for medical or other legitimate reasons. In such cases, students are required to provide medical or other supporting documentation. Absences due to religious holidays must be pre-approved by the instructor one week in advance of the absence.

Although students may miss up to two class sessions, they are not relieved of the obligation to fulfill all course assignments, including those that can only be fulfilled in class. Of special note to all students: instructors may modify the standard attendance policy (stated in this handbook) according to how they weigh various components of the curriculum throughout the semester. If there are any changes to the standard policy, they will be written into the course syllabi that are reviewed on the first day of classes.

Honor Code (see Student Handbook)

Faculty members are responsible, to the best of their ability, for maintaining the integrity of the learning and testing process, both in the classroom and outside of it, and for fostering conditions of academic integrity. To alleviate misunderstandings, all instructors are required to delineate at the beginning of each semester what constitutes a violation of the Honor Code in their classes. This should include an explanation of:

1. The extent to which collaboration or group participation is permissible in preparing term papers, studio work, reports of any kind, tests, quizzes, examinations, homework, or any other work.
2. The extent to which the use of study aids, memorandum, books, data, or other information is permissible to fulfill course requirements.
3. Guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism, including requirements for citing sources.

Course Outline

Week 1- September 5

• Introductions
• Studio Tour- introduction to the equipment, basic safety for the machinery, shop protocol
• Discussion of Hollow Construction
• Lesson 1: Sphere
• Lesson 2: Cylinder
• Homework: Fabricate and finish a cylinder and sphere to 600grit

Week 2- September 12

• Cylinder critique

• Lesson 3: Cube
• Homework: Fabricate and finish a cube to 600 grit

Week 3- September 19

• Sphere critique

• Lesson 4: Pyramid
• Homework: Fabricate and finish a pyramid (open top) to 600 grit

Week 4- September 26

• Cube critique

• Lesson 5: Cone
• Lesson 6: Sweat Soldering
• Introduce Project 1: Compound Shapes

• Homework: Fabricate and finish a cone (closed top) to 600 grit
• Homework: Designs and maquettes for Project 1

Week 5- October 3

• Pyramid critique
• Lesson 7: Finishing Techniques
• Discuss Designs for Project 1

• Work on Project 1

Week 6- October 10

• Cone critique

• Lesson 8: Connections for Hollow Forms

• Work on Project 1

Week 7- October 17

• Lesson 9: Forging Forms
• Work on Project 1

Week 8- October 24

• Lesson 10: Cutting and Recombining Forms

• Work on Project 1
• Introduce Project 2

Week 9- October 31

• Discuss Designs for Project 2
• Assign Research Project
• Work on Project 2

Week 10- November 7

• Project 1 due- group critique
• Work on Project 2 

Week 11- November 14

•   Work on Project 2

Week 12- November 28

• Work on Project 2
• Research Project due

Week 13- December 5

• Work on Project 2

Week 14- December 12

• Project 2 due

• Individual Critiques
• Fill out review forms and discuss class experience