Megan and Murray McMillan

Robert Morse, Chair, 2005 (one of my favorite projects ever completed in my 3D Design courses)

College art projects are a teacher’s tool to help students know how to pursue their individual creative voice. Projects are not the goal — they are merely a tool to help students make their own work.

In my experience, many teachers use the same projects they were given as students. Many of these projects have been recycled through multiple generations of teachers and reflect methodology that can be decades old and have nothing to do with contemporary concerns. Art has become much more complex in recent times and curriculums must allow for this.

I’m not arguing against using projects in art courses. I’m arguing for projects that achieve the ultimate goal, and are not an end themselves or worst case, only serve to fuel teachers’ nostalgia. The ultimate goal is to encourage students to pursue their individual creative voice, which is a difficult task. It’s arguably not possible within a 4-year curriculum. The fact that this might take longer only makes it more important to start earlier. This philosophy must be envisioned through every course in a curriculum, particularly foundations courses that so often set the tone for an entire department’s curriculum.

My freshman Creative Strategies course built cardboard structures, suspended from a hallway beam that included found machines that created manifestos about the direction each student wanted to go with their art. We had an excellent critique this morning. Here are three solutions:

Maryam Gharabiklou Zareh
A back-lit cardboard house structure contains hanging dolls. One doll is suspended by a kitchen mixer and spins quickly.

Agnieszka Gradzik
A suspended exercise bike is equipped with a fabricated cardboard mirror, soundtrack and custom-welded basket extension, filled with picnic supplies made from cardboard and colored tape.

Dena Bergman
A horse slowly spins while a music box plays in a suspended carousel frame with repeated text: “Now is about everyone else, because later is about me.”

Beth Houston, Chair/Table, 2006

Lehua Kamakawiwoole, Chair, 2006

More images from my freshman 3D Design course based on an dinner party.

James Lively, Chair, 2006

Danielle Hopper-Sanchez, Food Design, 2006

More images from my freshman 3D Design course based on an dinner party.

Claire Andrews, Table, 2006

Lauren Mauter, Fashion, 2006

More images from my freshman 3D Design course based on an exquisite dinner party.

My freshman 3D Design course is based on an exquisite dinner party. Each student builds a chair, table, fashion/wearable art and a engineering-based eating system for one audience member to experience. Here are images of some of the works:

Beth Purkey, Eating System (Lemon water baloons crash into the bowl to fill cup held underneath), 2006

David Cate, Chair, 2006

Libby Stokes, 2006

Libby Stokes, 2006

Libby Stokes, 2006

One of my graduating students, Libby Stokes is a sculptor to watch. With a rare combination of humor and craft, she connects objects that are not often found together.

Museums do it, and I hear even Boston beans do it: College Art Association 2006 Conference Blog.

[Liberally distorted lyrics courtesy of Cole Porter.]

My students are showing off their latest animations and videos at the Biola Animation and Video Festival tonight at 8pm (Biola University, McNally Theater 21, free admission). We have a delightful mix this year. I guarantee you’ll hate at least one, but also remember at least one the next day.