Course: Art 3720, Public Art
Prerequisites: Art 1160, Art 1170 and one of the following: Art 2200, Art 2310,
Art 2600, Art 2700
3 credit hours, 6 hours outside of class per week
Professor Suzanne Kanatsiz, Skanatsiz@weber.edu
RM 165, Kimball Art Building Phone: 626-8672
Schedule: Fall

Course Goals:
1. To examine the history, nature and purposes of public art.
2. To understand a prospectus and the ways in which public art is commissioned.
3. To learn how to develop a successful public art proposal.
4. To learn the steps of communicating favorably with a diverse
range of professionals involved in the public art process.
5. To develop skills of collaboration with others towards a public art project.
6. To build confidence and purposeful methodologies in the public art process.
7. To research, design, and implement an actual public art piece (if available) in the
community.
8. To explore landscape architecture, and how it factors into designing art for the public site.

Methodology:
Students will learn by working in and out of class to research public art opportunities, prepare a proposal, collaborate with professionals in other fields such as engineers, architects, and city officials, and will design an actual public artwork. Class lectures, hand-outs, guest presentors, and group research will inform course contents. The fundamentals of the public art process will be covered during the first few weeks of the term and will be followed by on-site visits to areas within the community and on campus. Students will collaboratively research and develop a public art proposal, either for an actual call for proposals regionally or nationally, or for the campus or community. As time and funding allows, actual fabrication of a project may take place both during and outside of class.

Class Participation:
Interaction, enthusiasm and “hands-on” learning are an important aspect of the class. Students are expected to fully participate. This comprises 75% of the final grade.

Studio Activity:
This is a studio art course with designated lab time for students to work on assigned research, the fabrication of a maquette, and an actual public artwork if a commission is secured. Students are expected to come to class prepared, with materials, and to work during class. Students may not “go home to work” or “go get materials” during class periods that are scheduled for lab. This will be counted as an absence.

Fabrication:
The scale of public art is often large. Students may be working indoors or outdoors (if commissioned) to collectively fabricate a public artwork. This will require working together with other students outside of class on the project. Fabrication sessions are considered homework, and may not have instructor supervision. The student may not permanently attach anything to the artwork or to any public structure without permission of the instructor. The student will not alter the landscape in any significant way without permission of the instructor. No obstruction of a public access or walkway is permitted. The student cannot create anything that could potentially harm or injure another person, plant or animal. Instructor approval is required for any actual site fabrication during the course.

Attendance:
Roll is taken at the beginning of each class. Grade will drop one half grade for each absence after 3. Students do not need to discuss with the instructor when they miss or why. Individual instruction will not be given by the professor when students miss class. Please exchange phone numbers with fellow students or e-mail the instructor to receive information on what was missed. Attendance will not be adjusted at any time during the semester. Arriving late and leaving early will lower your grade. At times the class will be dismissed early for assignments to be completed. This will be announced during the semester.

Grading:
Class participation, attendance 50pts
Research and assignments 50 pts
Total amount of points possible for class: 100 pts

91-100 pts. = A
81-90 pts. = B
71-80 pts. = C
61-70 pts. = D
51-60 pts. = E

Evaluation, Midterm, and Final:
Feedback will be given on a regular basis throughout the semester. At mid-term, the student will have an individual conference with the professor and will be apprised of his/her progress and preliminary grade. There will be no final for this class. We will meet on the scheduled final day for class discussion and critique.

Safety and Clothing:
Wear clothing you are not concerned about getting dirty, and appropriate safety wear when required for specific projects. Announcements will be made when students need specific clothing or specific safety equipment.

Attached Class Schedule:
This is a tentative class schedule and may be subject to change during the semester.

University Policy:
Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.