Course Syllabus
Course: ART 1600
Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New MediaDepartment: Visual Art
Title: Jewelry Making/Small Metals
Semester Approved: Fall 2024
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2029
End Semester: Summer 2030
Catalog Description: This course explores basic methods in designing and making jewelry and small metal sculpture from non-ferrous metals, stones, and other materials. Techniques taught and assignments will include soldering, cold joining, lost-wax casting, lapidary work, and patinas. A lab fee is required.
Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 3
Justification: This is a beginning course that introduces students to the processes involved in creating small metal sculpture and wearable objects. It fills an elective for art majors. This course is a unique skill area for two of the visual arts faculty and corresponds with classes offered at other USHE institutions.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Material Proficiency: An improved understanding of the technical processes and materials involved in creating Jewelry will ultimately lead to a more capable and informed designer. Students will demonstrate a proficiency of materials and techniques by producing a portfolio of basic Jewelry and small metal pieces utilizing various processes and materials.
Historical Context: Students who recognize the historical factors affecting contemporary jewelry design will be more capable of making informed aesthetic decisions that affect their personal work. Students will demonstrate fluency in historical influences by articulating how approaches to Jewelry design have changed throughout history, and what influences both historical and contemporary are driving jewelry designers of today. Understanding of historical context will be assessed in class discussions and critiques at the completion of each project.
Critical Analysis: The ability to critically evaluate a piece of jewelry or small metal sculpture will allow for consistent improvement in the design and manufacturing processes. Students will demonstrate critical analyses of Jewelry and small metal sculpture by participating in critiques including feedback on formal and material issues associated with the design and production of jewelry.
Content:
This course will include an introduction to metalsmithing techniques used to create jewelry and small metal sculpture. Students will learn the proper use and safety associated with a variety of tools used in the production of Jewelry and small metals. Students will also be introduced to historic and contemporary jewelry design. Instructors will expose students to a wide variety of design possibilities.
Key Performance Indicators:
Each student will be evaluated on:
A comprehensive portfolio of original jewelry pieces including evidence of research, and design sketches. 80 to 90%
Attendance, critiques, class participation. 10 to 20%
Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Supplemental readings and research to be determined by the instructor
Supplies to be determined by the instructor
Pedagogy Statement:
This course will include lectures, demonstrations, class discussion, and critiques, which will give students a well rounded understanding of basic Jewelry making and small metal processes.
Instructional Mediums:
Lecture/Lab
Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 15