Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Photo Mixed Media Spring 2010

PHOTO MIXED-MEDIA. Spring 2008
ART064/01.Tues : 1-30pm to 4-45pmm, Wed: PHOTO LAB
Pipo Nguyen-duy. Associate Professor
OFFICE: ART 112. Office Hours: Tue & Thur 4-30 to 5-30
Email : pipo @oberlin.edu


“ Good taste is the enemy of creativity. “ Picasso

“ Yet the vernacular of beauty, in its democratic appeal, remains a potent instrument for change in this civilization. ……to engage individuals within and without the cultural ghetto in arguments about what is good and what is beautiful.” David Hickey, The Invisible Dragon

" And this led me to reflect, on the inimitable beauty of the pictures of nature's painting with the glass lens of the Camera throws upon the paper in its focus- fairy pictures, creatures of a moment, and destined as rapidly to fade away." William Henry Fox Talbot

“A twenty-year old stands before a microphone and, after declaring himself an all-consuming demon, proceeds to level everything around him- to reduce it to rubble.” Greil Marcus, Lipstick Traces

• This class is designed for advanced students dealing with Alternative Photographic Processes with an emphasis on challenging the boundary of the medium . During the first part of the semester projects are designed to introduce students to the photographic materials and concepts of the 19th century. During the second half of the semester however students will be encouraged to experiment with a variety of methods beyond the traditional two dimensional photographic form to convey their ideas. In the past, thesis from this class have included: paintings, performances, sculptures, installations, projections and artist’s books.


METHODS

We will accomplish our goals through class demonstrations, studio projects and critiques, lectures, reading assignments, attending visiting artist lectures and a field trip to Pittsburgh


ASSIGNMENTS

#1: CONTAINING MEMORY- The Camera as an object.
#2: THE STORY OF MY NAME
#3: SITES & LOCATIONS
#4: THE GIFT

***in addition each student will be required to give a technical demonstration of an alternative photographic process



WORKLOAD

This is an intensive studio class, which will require approximately 20+ beyond normal class time. If you are signed up for this course, be aware of the intensity of the class, and schedule your classes accordingly.


HEALTH & SAFETY

Appropriate clothing, shoes are required at all time. And precautions must be taken when working with extremely hazardous materials such as toners. Beyond your personal safety, you must be sensitive to our environment, you have to make sure of knowing how to dispose of chemicals appropriate and to conserve water whenever you can.


COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Attendance is required ( 2 unexcused absents will constitute a drop , 2 tardiness will constitute an unexcused absent)
Completion of all projects by the required dates
Class participation
A technical demonstration
Flawless etiquette in the lab (see house rules.)



GRADING

70% Visual projects
30% Class participation, and lab conduct


HOUSE RULES

Only students enrolled in class or students with instructors permission can work in the lab
Students must pay the appropriate lab fee
Students must sign in each time he/she uses the lab
Students are responsible for the repair of broken equipment
Students must abide to the lab's posted hours
Students will contribute their time to the maintenance of the facilities.
If any student, after 2 warnings, continues violate lab rules he/she could loose access to the darkroom


TEXTS
All reading materials with the exceptions of handouts are kept in the reserved or the open-reserved sections of the art library. There are many books set aside for students in the open-reserved area for their independent research.

Robert Hirscht. Photographic Possibilities.
William Crawford The Keepers of the Light
James. The Book of Alternative Photography****

RECOMMENDED WEB SITES

www.pinholeresource.com
www.toycamera.com
www.subclub.org
www.skypoint.com/members/escargo/ppp.html
www.duke.usask.ca/~holtsg/photo/faq.html
www.mrpinhole.com
http://zonezero.com/
http://www.khake.com
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/Photos/online.htm
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/
http://www.artandculture.com/index.html
http://www.geh.org/photographers.html



PHOTO SUPPLIERS

The Photo Co-Op
Loomis Camera, Elyria
Dodd's Photo, Cleveland
B & H, NY. 1-800-947-7785. www.bhphotovideo.com
Freestyles Sales Co., LA.1-800-292-6137. www.freestylesalesco.com

Sources for pinhole sheets

The Pinhole Resource
Star Route 15
Box 1355
San Lorenzo
NM 88041
USA
Phone (505) 536-9942
pinhole@wnmc.net

Pinholes made in full-hard stainless steel stock (excellent and affordable) are available from:
W. Joseph Christiansen
7586 County H
Post Office Box 313
Maplewood, WI 54226
920-856-6842
bubba@mail.wiscnet.net
A basic set of 12 pinhole sheets is $28.00, but special orders are accepted:
exact size; two pinholes on a single sheet, etc.

Bostick & Sullivan ( Alternative Chemistry)
1-505-474-0890
1-505-474-2857 -- FAX



1st Module


02/05 Introduction
02/06 Cyanotype


02/12 Kodalith
02/13 Workday
Begin research on Demo


**02/15 Pittsburg meet in parking lot @10am


02/19 Lab Day
02/20 Lecture: Photography, the early years
Begin research on Demo

02/26 Lab Day
02/27 Critique: The Camera

03/04 Lab Day
03/05 Reading the Story of My Name

03/11 Reading the Story of My Name
03/12 DEMO

03/18 Lab Day
03/19 Critique: The Story of My Name

Spring Break

Vis/Pro Syllabus

VIS/PRO: PHOTOGRAPHY. Spring 2010

ART 052/01. Tues & Thur : 9-00am to 11-45 pm. PHOTO LAB

PIPO NGUYEN-DUY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Email : pipo @oberlin.edu

Office Hours: Tue & Thur 4-30 to 5-30 pm

One day, quite some time ago, I happened on a photograph of Napoleon's youngest brother, Jerome, taken in 1852. And I realized then, with an amazement I have not been able to lessen since: "I am looking at eyes that looked at the Emperor." Roland Barthes, Camera Lucida

I was told once that more photographs exist than bricks...........Photographs, like bricks, are everywhere. Can there be anyone left who has not seen a photograph? Peter Turner, History of Photography

" And this led me to reflect, on the inimitable beauty of the pictures of nature's painting with the glass lens of the Camera throws upon the paper in its focus- fairy pictures, creatures of a moment, and destined as rapidly to fade away." William Henry Fox Talbot

I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed. Garry Winnogrand

MINOLTA

When you are the camera and the camera is you - advertisement (1976)

This class is designed for students with very little or no photographic background. This is an Art Studio Class dealing with Photography as a medium of the visual language. The emphasis of the course is the history of the medium and its relationships to contemporary culture and to the other art media .

OBJECTIVES

During the first half of the semester we will explore the basic techniques of silver based process and during the second half of the course, students will be introduced to the Digital Darkroom. We will learn to understand the camera, to create the good working negative, and make the fine print.. Good technical skills and a strong foundation on photographic design will help students creating visually seductive and arresting photographic images.

Good technical skills and formal strength, however, are not the only goals of this class. Students will be introduced to photographic theories and issues as well. Students will be encouraged to apply their critical skills in order to discuss the photograph in both form and content, and to be able to contextualize what they learn in the classroom and what they create to the history of photography, to other art media, and to the real world.

METHODS

We will accomplish our goals through class demonstrations, studio projects and critiques lectures, reading and writing assignments, attending visiting artist lectures…….

ASSIGNMENTS

Assignments are designed to introduce students to critical photographic topics and it is organized along the timeline of the medium’s history. On the first half of the semester assignments are focused on the medium formal and technical elements. In the second half, assignments are more content oriented, and their focus will be the transgression of the medium's boundaries. Finally, students will design their own final project after having familiarized themselves with the technical and conceptual possibilities within the medium.

#1: Sites and Locations: A Mapping Project

#2: Emulation

#3: Personae and the Fabricated Identity

#4: Utopia

DIGITAL SOURCE BOOK (Blog)

Each week, students are asked to collect at least 20 images for future reference. In addition to the weekly images, there will be assignments designed specifically to be included in the source book. Students will be asked to share their source books with the class and in the end the source books will be considered a part of their final grades.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

= Your timely attendance is required

2 unexcused absents will constitute a drop, 15 minutes late is considered an absent

= Completion of all projects by the required dates. Late projects will not be considered for critique

= One technical quiz

= Class participation

= Flawless etiquette in the lab ( see house rules.)

= A Digital Portfolio to be submitted at the end of the semester

HOUSE RULES

The working area and the darkroom must be kept free of personal materials at all times.

Equipments cannot be taken outside of the area.

Only students enrolled in class or students with instructor’s permission can work in the lab

Students must pay the appropriate lab fee

Students must sign in each time he/she uses the lab

Students must abide to the lab's posted hours

Students, if needed, will contribute their time to the maintenance of the facilities.

If any student, after 2 warnings, continues violate lab rules he/she will loose access to the darkroom

REQUIRED TEXTS

All reading materials with the exceptions of handouts are kept in the reserved or the open-reserved sections of the art library. There are many books set aside for students in the open-reserved area for their independent research.

Upton & Upton. Photography( open reserved). Also available at the Photo Lab

RECOMMENDED PUBLICATIONS

Contact Sheet

Color

Aperture Magazine

CameraWork

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Barret, Terry. Criticizing the Photograph

Ansel Adams. The Camera, The Negative, The Print

Vicki Goldberg ed. Photography in Print

Beaumont Newhall,ed. Photography: Essays & Images

WORKLOAD

This is a labor intensive class. If you are signed up for this course, be aware of the intensity of the class, and schedule your classes accordingly.

COSTS

This class could be prohibitive also because of its costs. Students will spend approximately $300 to $600 per semester on materials.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Appropriate clothing, shoes are required at all time. And precautions must be taken when working with extremely hazardous materials such as toners. Beyond your personal safety, you must be sensitive to our environment, you have to make sure of knowing how to dispose of chemicals appropriate and to conserve water whenever you can.

PHOTO SUPPLIERS

The Photo Co-Op

Loomis Camera, Elyria www.loomiscamera.com

413 Broad St,Elyria, OH 44035.(440) 322-3325

Dodd's Photo, Cleveland www.doddcamera.com

Phone: (216) 361-6800Toll free: (800) 507-1676

2077 East 30th Street. Cleveland, OH 44115

The Framing Workshop (matting and framing), Oberlin

B & H, NY. 1-800-947-7785. www.bhphotovideo.com

Freestyles Sales Co., LA.1-800-292-6137. www.freestylesalesco.com

WEB RESOURCES

http://zonezero.com/

http://www.khake.com

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/Photos/online.htm

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/

http://www.artandculture.com/index.html

http://www.geh.org/photographers.html

http://www.photography-guide.com/

http://ffffound.com/

MATERIALS

Manual Camera

Film

Negative Storage Container

Can Air

Photo paper( RC and Fiber. Multigrade, Variable Contrast)

Photographic Grey Card

Hand towel *

Lens tissues and cleaner

Scissors & Can Opener*

Spotting brush

Tripod*

Cable release*

Matt boards

Lock for lockers*

Bulk film and reusable film canisters




Dates

2/09 Intro. Handing out materials

2/11 Bring camera and film to photograph

Lecture: Camera, Film and Exposure

Demo: Film Developing Making Contact Sheet

Blogs

Read: Upton & Upton. Chapter 1,2 &3.

Source Book: 10 Photographers-Names and examples

A paragraph on the most important photograph in your life

2/16 Lecture: Project #1

Demo: Making Contact Sheet ,The Print

Read: Chapter 4&5. **memorize chart on pg 99 ( B&W zones ).

Recommend : Chapter 16, History o f Photography.

Exerciset#1: read The Vocabulary of Form. William Henry Fox Talbot, " Some Account of the Art of Photogenic Drawing"

2/18 Printing

2/23 Critique Exercise #1

Lecture: A Short History

Source: Photo of 3 people that you know, 3 people that you would like to know, and 3

strangers

Recommend: Peter Turner. History o f Photography Chapter 5: Brave New World. The Rise of Modernism.

2/25

3/02 Critique #1

3/04 Critique

3/09

3/11

3/16 Demo: Toning and Matting

3/18 Workday

3/23 Critique # 2

3/25 Critique # 2

Spring Break