Cabrillo Art 35: Sculpture Casting

Course Outline

Sean M. Monaghan, M.F.A.          Section #69801           Mondays & Wednesdays 2:30–4:45 pm, VAPA Rm# 3005

• Off-Campus Studio Tel: 454-9098; Email: sean[at]seanmmonaghan[dot]com (Try these first!)
• Website: www.seanmmonaghan.com (go to Instructor link for class schedule, handouts, etc.)
• On-Campus Office: Rm# 3012, Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:45–5:25 pm, or by appointment.
• On-Campus Tel: 477-3700 x1383; Email: semonagh[at]cabrillo[dot]edu. (Try Off-Campus number and email first!)
• Lab fee: $100. Repeatable twice. Prerequisites: Art 5, or equivalent. Registration in Art 50L required.
• Schedule of Classes
• Course Handouts
• This Course Outline (including schedule) in PDF

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Demonstrations, lectures, slides, presentations, field trips and safety quizzes will alternate with work time in class. Students will generate sculptural forms in wax, then gate, invest, cast, weld, chase, patina and mount at least two projects: one vessel and one final project. Bronze—a copper-based alloy—was the first metal to be used extensively by ancient cultures over 5,000 years ago. Due to its strength and beauty, its discovery ushered in technological, cultural and artistic revolutions. This course will continue to explore the dynamics of that tradition using the “lost-wax” or “cere perdue” method of bronze casting to express ideas in three dimensions.

GRADING: 100 Points Possible {A=90+ pts, B=80+, C=70+, D=60+, F= 59-; CR=70+, NC=69-}

First half of Semester: 50 pts:

1. 25 pts: Participation: An attendance sheet will be available for the first 15 minutes of each class for students to sign themselves in. Missing any demo, required activity (written in bold type on the schedule), midterm or final without prior notice will result in automatic –5 points; missing any other class will result in –2 points. Students are expected to be prompt, use their time wisely, clean up after every class and notify the instructor in advance of any absences. Students will spend at least 9 hours per week on coursework (6 hours in class, 3 hours outside of class).
2. 10 pts: Two Safety Quizzes: 5pts. each. Minimum of 90% correct to avoid retaking quiz.
3. 15 pts: 8" Vessel with 2 parts: One finished vessel, up to 6" in any direction, with 2 parts.
   • 3pts: Vessel sketch.
   • 3pts: Must have wide-open mouth, (no less than one inch).
   • 3pts: Must have a combination of “man-made/geometric” & “random/organic” forms.
   • 3pts: Must incorporate mold-making.
   • 3pts: Must include 2–3 different patinas.

Second half of Semester: 50 pts:

1. 20 pts: Participation (same guidelines as above)
2. 10 pts: Notebook Review: 1pt. for each of the nine Hand Outs with your name on it, and 1point for having both of your safety quizzes included in your notebook. Checked during the last 2 weeks of class. Your notebook is required to be with you at every class. Required during demonstrations.
3. 20 pts: Culmination of Techniques: Artist’s choice, 14”x 7”x 7” maximum, or equivalent.
   • 5 pts: Project Sketches in notebook.
   • 5 pts: Utilization of techniques: waxwork, gating, chasing, patina.
   • 5 pts: Time and effort, including presentation.
   • 5 pts: Overall success.

TEXTS: Required handouts provided. Recommended texts: From Clay to Bronze, Tuck Langland, 1999; Methods of Modern Sculptors, Ron Young, 1980; Sculpture Magazine, Art in America, etc.

SAFETY, MATERIAL FEES AND EQUIPMENT: Safety procedures will be demonstrated in class, and must be followed at all times. Students must cover legs and wear close-toed shoes. Lab fee is $100, which will cover all the materials required to cast up to 10 lbs of bronze. Any bronze over 10 lbs will cost $10/lb. Students may wish to supply extra ‘consumables’ such as blades and abrasives, and may want to have their own personal sets of gloves, smock, respirator, etc.

EMERGENCIES: 911             HEALTH CENTER: 479-6435             TOOL ROOM: 479-6258