Inflatables & Soft Sculpture

(99-361)

Spring 2019

Instructor: Olivia Robinson (orobinso@andrew.cmu.edu)

TA: Miranda Miller (mirandam@andrew.cmu.edu)

Time: M/W 12:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Location: Hunt Library, A5 (Fabrication Lab)

Class website: https://courses.ideate.cmu.edu/99-361/s2019a/

Instructor office hours: TBD

TA office hours: TBD

I animate the forms with air pressure to enhance their spiritual effect. If something breathes, responds to external forces, yet has a will of its own, in a sense it is alive. Or is it possessed?

--- Flo McGarrell        

* the anima part of the word animate comes from the Latin root meaning the soul, or the inner self of an individual

COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course students will focus on the design, fabrication, and creative applications of sculptural and inflatable forms created from soft materials. Soft sculpture and inflatables have a rich history: from early inventions such as hot air balloons and zeppelins, to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, to highly inventive architectural structures, to sculptural works by contemporary artists. Students will learn techniques for turning flexible, flat materials into three-dimensional forms by methods such as inflating with air, stuffing with materials, and holding with a rigid structure. Students will learn to use the sewing machine, as it will be a primary tool for construction. Patterning will be explored extensively, including working from found patterns as well as designing and creating your own. Students will work at a range of scales – that which the body can hold and that which can hold the body. Students will work both individually and in collaborative teams. What we make will be informed by experimentation, readings, slides, and exploration of context.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Skillfully use and craft patterns to construct 3-dimensional forms from 2-dimensional planes.
2. Demonstrate technical skills in sewing to create soft sculptures and inflatables in small, medium, and large scales.
3. Identify and present about artists, designers, architects, and others who employ soft sculpture or inflatables in their practices.
4. Collaborate in a team to generate, create, evaluate, and document ideas and projects.
5. Demonstrate an exploration of research, skills, concepts, and forms through an independent individual project.
6. Articulate material and conceptual choices in discussions and critiques.
7. Apply feedback and brainstorming through a revision process.
8. Contribute productively to a critique environment with open responses, constructive criticism, and positive feedback.
9. Document and reflect upon your process and finished assignments.
10. Plan, organize, and safely execute a public exhibition of our class’s large-scale inflatable collaboration.

COURSE TOPICS & SCHEDULE

Online version of syllabus: view on class website under “Calendar”

Paper version of syllabus: last pages of syllabus

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

• Full presence in class each week.
• Commitment to the well being of the class community.
• Use computer technology professionally.
• Completion of all assignments and readings.
• Participation in class discussions, workshops, field trips and critiques.
• Preparedness/Bringing necessary materials to class each week.
• At least 6 hours of work time outside of class each week.
• Use of safe and respectful studio practices and protocols.
• Care for yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This can help you cope with stress, but all of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help 24/7: call (412) 268- 2922 or visit their website. Over 25% of students reach out to CaPS sometime during their time at CMU.

INSTRUCTOR COMMITMENTS^[1]

• Be accessible. I will hold regularly scheduled office hours each week. You can find those details at the top of this syllabus. If your academic or job schedule does not allow you to come to my office hours and you are in need of a meeting, please email me so we can set something up.
• Quickly respond to emails. I will respond to emails within 48 hours, usually within 24 hours, Monday - Friday.
• Promptly return grades and feedback.  Your grades will be made available to you via Canvas, within 2 weeks of presenting the work. This will allow you to monitor your grade in throughout the semester.
• Solicit student feedback. I constantly strive to improve my ability to teach. You should feel free to email me your feedback at any time. I hope that you will provide your candid and constructive comments.
• Help to provide necessary accommodations. If you have a disability and have an accommodations letter from the Disability Resources office, I encourage you to discuss your accommodations and needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect that you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with the Office of Disability Resources, I encourage you to contact them at access@andrew.cmu.edu.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance to all classes and class-related activities is expected. Within the first week of our course, please look ahead and see if you need to miss class for any excusable reason (religious holidays, CMU-sponsored events, medical or family emergencies, etc.) and email me.

2 absences will drop your grade ½ letter grade

4  absences will drop your grade 1 letter grade

Additional absences will continue to lower your grade by full letter steps.

3 late arrivals/early departures (10 minutes or more) = 1 absence

More than 30 minutes late = full absence

TECHNOLOGY

Our class is small and your focus affects affects the class. You are expected to use your laptop, cell phone, and other technology professionally. This means keep your cell phone packed away for the entirety of the class (12:30-2:20). Also, only unpack your laptop if it is directly needed for an assignment. If you need your cell phone or laptop for translation, please let me know. The reason I have these expectations is because non-class-related use of technology is very distracting and disrespectful. Cell phone or unrelated laptop use will lower your points for Participation.

ASSIGNMENTS & PROJECTS

There are 4 shorter assignments, 1 research presentation, and 1 major project (the Collaborative Pavilion). Each assignment, project and presentation will be presented to the entire class. As a group we will critique and reflect upon all the works. Due dates for every assignment are listed on the course schedule and on assignment pages. Late Research Presentations or Collaborative Pavilion will not be accepted. Other late projects will be will lose 10% points for each week late. Documentation of each assignment and project should be uploaded to the class website within one week of the assignment due date.

Collaborative Pavilion and Concert: This event will take place on Saturday, May 4 in collaboration with the Exploded Ensemble and Kinetic Fabrics classes. Everyone is required to participate in the set-up, presentation and take-down of the event - so set aside the entire day and evening of May 4. Mark your calendars!

DOCUMENTATION

Documentation of your work and process is an incredibly important skill as a maker and learner. You will submit photo and written documentation of each project. Documentation is submitted on the class website by one week after the due date. The class website is powered by Wordpress, an easy-to-use and open-source CMS with no shortage of online documentation and support.

EVALUATION

Grades are based on your assignments, projects, research presentation, and class participation. For group projects, your work will be evaluated based on your specific role in the project. For example, a project with excellent construction but poor installation would result in an excellent grade for those doing construction, but a poor grade for those handling installation. Here is the grade breakdown based on a 100pt. scale:

Improvisation Inflatables = 5 points

Push/Pull (Parts 1 & 2) = 15 20 points

Doppelganger = 10 points

.

Research Presentation = 15 5 points

Collaborative Pavilion = 40 45 points

Participation = 15 points

Participation includes attendance in class, active engagement in our collaborative activities and projects, participation in the class community, stewardship of communal space and resources, helping peers, contributing to discussion and critiques, attentive listening, general demeanor and respect of peers, faculty, and staff. Participation also includes the upkeep of your Sample Book.

I will use a rubric in assessing each of the assignments and projects. The assignment descriptions and rubrics will be available on the class website. The aim is for these rubrics to serve as a communication tool between us, articulating expectations and requirements of each project, and the evaluation criteria I use in grading. I will grade each category of the rubric and give feedback for each project through Canvas. You may check in with me about your grades or other concerns during office hours, or by making an appointment, or after class.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY^[2]

We will be learning new skills in designing and constructing using textile media.  As makers, it is fully acceptable to use found materials (patterns, video, images, etc)  and to use these materials in creating new works of art/design. When using found materials (patterns, images, video, etc) in your own work there are two requirements:

• Attribution. You must clearly identify where the found material came from or who made it.
• Transformation. You must significantly transform the materials you are using. You should extend the material, modify it into something new, offer new insight into the concepts underlying the material, etc. Work that uses borrowed materials without significantly transforming those materials will result in a low grade.

More information on CMU’s Academic Integrity policy can be found at: http://www.cmu.edu/academic-integrity

MATERIALS

Many tools and materials will be provided for your use during this class. This is true for all of the in-class demonstrations and ‘workshops’ held during class time. There are a few tools and supplemental supplies you will need to procure for class. Here is a list of those items:

Acquire and bring with you each week:

1. A 3-ring binder notebook.
2. Fabric scissors.
3. Pen, pencil, sharpie.
4. Any tools you will be given during class (such as sewing needles, dust mask, etc.)
5. A journal or paper to take notes and make drawings in.
6. A smock, apron, or old shirt that can be worn over your clothes for when we work with dye or fabric paint.

Supplemental Supplies you may need/want to acquire for projects:

1. Sewing thread (for many projects)
2. Reusable Rubber Gloves (for dying, if we do dying in class)
3. Fabric specific to your needs if we don’t already have it.
4. Other random materials you might want for projects.

INFORMATION ABOUT IDEATE

Facilities: Most IDeATe facilities are located in Hunt Library. Lending, Physical Computing Lab, Media Lab, the laser cutters, 3D printers, woodshop, and CNC router are on the lower level. Some of the equipment requires special training which you will receive either in the class that requires it or in a micro course. If you are unsure of how to operate any of the equipment or are unsure how to use the equipment safely and effectively, please send email to help@ideate.cmu.edu.

Safety: Report all fires and emergencies immediately to University Police at 412-268-2323.

• Emergency response: University Police — 412-268-2323
• Building maintenance: Facilities Management & Campus Services — 412-268-2910
• IDeATe-related inquiries — help@ideate.cmu.edu

IDeATe Lending: Once you are enrolled in an IDeATe course, you will have access to IDeATe Lending. You will maintain your access through the rest of your time at Carnegie Mellon. You must present your CMU ID each time you borrow an item. You will also be able to purchase a limited number of consumable items (such as plywood and acrylic) for projects. Please visit https://resources.ideate.cmu.edu/lending/ for more detailed information on available resources, to review the IDeATe Lending Borrower Policy, and to find hours of operation.

Classroom and Lending access: If you are enrolled in an IDeATe class at least a week before the start of the course, you will have access to IDeATe Lending and (if applicable) have keycard access to the classroom door on the first day of class. If you add a course during the Add Period, you may need to wait a few business days to receive access while the lists are updated. If you add a course after the last day of the Add Period, email help@ideate.cmu.edu with your name, Andrew ID, and course number so we can add you to our systems.

Laser cutter access: If you are required to use the laser cutters for this class, you have provisional access for the duration of the class. Until you have been trained on the use of the Rabbit laser cutters and have completed the fire safety requirements, you may only use the laser cutters under the continuous supervision of your instructor, TA, or other qualified person. To maintain access to the laser cutters after your class is over, you must complete Environmental Health & Safety training on Fire Extinguisher Use, Parts 1 and 2, available at https://cmu.bioraft.com/.

IDeATe advising: If you have questions or need advice about IDeATe minors or courses, please get in touch with Kelly Delaney, the Assistant Director of IDeATe. Her office is in Hunt 246 and her email is kellydel@andrew.cmu.edu.