ART 3101
Projects
Calendar
Campus Policies

ART 3101: 3D Modeling & Sculpting

ART 3101-0010

Fall 2020

Days & Time

Tue/Thur 8:10AM - 10:55AM

Location

Hopkins Hall 156

Virtual Meetings

Zoom Link(Pass: 976589)

Instructor

Hirad Sab— osu@hiradsab.com

Office Hours

By appointment (Zoom Link)

Communication

Course Discord Server

Website

hsab.github.io/art3101

Syllabus

bit.ly/3101syllabus

Recorded Lectures

Youtube Playlist

Note: Texts in red are clickable links

Catalog Description

Study of concepts, aesthetics, procedures, and critical practice of sculpting with 3D modeling software for generation of form, environment and character. Includes output to 2D and 3D rapid prototyping printers, laser cutters or CNC milling.

Course Learning Objectives

This course is an introduction to 3D modeling and integration of software, hardware, and materials for the purposes of conceptualization and fabrication of form. Throughout the semester we will explore the processes involved in the translation, mediation, and remediation of form, from physical to digital spaces and the other way around.

We will explore traditional and digital technologies for the application of 3D modeling to multidisciplinary visual thinking, design, communication, and the arts. This course examines the history of digital form and sculpture from its inception to its current state. In doing so, we will explore the language, theory, history, and implications of the technology through critical, speculative, and functional perspectives.

Through a series of exrcises, projects, readings, and screenings we will explore and study the following:

We will explore the field through workshops, tutorials, lectures, readings, screenings, discussions, student presentations and critique. By the end of the quarter, you should have gained a comprehensive understanding of the key concepts relevant to 3D modeling, digital form, physical fabrication, and related theory.

Health and Safety Requirements

All students, faculty and staff are required to comply with and stay up to date on all university safety and health guidance, which includes wearing a face mask in any indoor space and maintaining a safe physical distance at all times. Non-compliance will be warned first and disciplinary actions will be taken for repeated offenses.

Format & Delivery

This is a hands-on, process-oriented studio. It is comprised of presentations, assignments, participatory activities and exercises, individual and group discussions, and reviews. This course is hybrid or in-person. Synchronous Zoom meetings will be used for the introduction of assignments, some demonstrations, breakout group meetings, and group critique discussions. Other activities such as working on assignments and exercises, viewing videos, and reading assignments will be executed synchronously and asynchronously. In-person activities will include demonstrations, presentations, group exercises, and critiques. Weekly announcements will serve to inform when activities will take place.

Departmental Note: A hybrid course provides online learning opportunities for up to 74% of the semester. That means that up to three-fourths of your in-class meeting time may occur at a distance with the expectation that your full attention will be given to this course during the scheduled two hour and forty minute long meeting times, regardless if you are meeting physically or otherwise.

Attendance

Each unexcused absence (beyong the allowed three) will result in one full letter grade deduction (e.g. B+ to C+). Six unexcused absences (20% of the semester) results in a failed grade. If there is an emergency and you must miss class, contact us beforehand. Absences will not be excused after the fact except in extreme circumstances. Illness requires a doctor’s note. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will be marked tardy. Three tardies result in one unexcused absence. Any disputes should be discussed within two weeks.

Departmental Note: The Department of Art acknowledges that illness, family obligations, and other conflicts with your classes do occur from time to time and up to three absences are allowed for any reason during the semester without penalty. All absences from class will be counted, however, and in the instance that you miss three class meetings, you are required to meet us to discuss strategies for avoiding additional absences.

Departmental Note: It has been determined that some in-person learning is necessary for you to successfully engage your instructor and peers, course activities, and to meet learning objectives. Timely and consistent contributions are critical in all formats used to deliver the content of this course. In the instance of class-wide quarantine or campus closure, a course contingency plan has been designed so that we can transition to an exclusively on-line format if we are required to actuate one. Attendance will be taken regardless of delivery format.

Participation

Attendance, productive class activity and meeting in-progress deadlines are factors in the assessment of your progress. You are expected to be present and active for the entire class period. Participation is critical to passing and enjoying this class. Do the work, share your thoughts, ask questions, prepare for class meetings and discussions, offer feedback during critiques. This class is meant to be a safe space in which you feel encouraged and supported in learning and taking creative risks. This means being aware and considerate of different backgrounds, perspectives, and identities. Respect each other and this space we are building together. Don’t assume, ask. Remain open, be willing to take responsibility, apologize, and learn. Help each other in this. If you have concerns, please let us know.

Communication

Discord is used as our primary mode of communication. You are required to signup for an account, join our server, and keep up to date with announcements and group discussions. Discord is also used to organize resources, readings, screenings, and learning materials. Here, you will also submit your assignments.

Discord Server Interaction

Ongoing weekly discussions and participation in the Discord server is required. We will use Discord to gather and share resources, respond to readings and peers’ works, and to share your work in progress.

Each week should feature at least:

Readings & Discussions

During the quarter, you will be assigned readings on a variety of topics. The readings are intended to familiarize you with some of the relevant discussions that relate to the field. We will discuss our findings and thoughts with our peers in class. Your participation in these discussions matters. The discussions serve as a dialectical engagement to learn from one another and explore the readings in conversation. Moreover, the readings serve as a foundation for discussing the screenings, which are purposefully picked to convey some of the ideas from the readings in practice.

Projects

Projects are due at the start of class on the date assigned. Projects may be turned in up to one week late for a one letter grade deduction off the project grade. Work that is more than one week late will not be accepted. If you are absent, you are still expected to turn in projects online by the deadline. Extra time will not be given for work lost due to save issues, software errors, computer crash, etc. You should regularly backup your files on your desktop, online, and/or on an external harddrive or USB stick in case your computer is lost.

Grading

There are 100 possible points, distributed across participation, attendance, exercises, and projects. Individual works will be assessed according to assignment objectives, effort and quality of in-class and online or distance activities, vigor of exploration and research initiative, participation in reviews and discussions, and ability to adapt.

  Participation & Discord Interaction: 15 pts
  Ecercises: 15 pts
  Project 1: 20 pts
  Project 2: 20 pts
  Project 3: 30 pts
  Total: 100 pts

Late Assignments

If you miss deadlines due to valid, extenuating circumstances you may submit the required work at a date agreed upon with us. Please contact us to discuss modifying the deadline prior to the original deadline.

Grading Scale

A   (93 - 100)

Work, initiative, and participation of exceptional quality

A- (90 - 92)

Work, initiative and participation of very high quality

B+ (87 - 89)

Work, initiative and participation of high quality

B (83 - 86)

Very good work, initiative and participation

B- (80 - 82)

Slightly above average work, initiative and participation

C+ (77 - 79)

Average work, initiative and participation

C (73 - 76)

Adequate work; less than average level of initiative and participation

C- (70 - 72)

Passing but below good academic standing; less than average level

D+ (67 - 69)

Below average work, initiative and participation

D (60 - 66)

Well below average work, initiative and participation

E (59.9 - 0)

Unsuccessful completion of work. Limited or no participation.

Course Materials and Tools

Our course heavily relies on free, open-source, and libre software. Throughout the semester we will explore modeling, rendering, and fabrication using Blender, Meshroom, Cura, MeshLab, and Unity. Blender provides a powerful arsenal of tools that enables advanced 2D and 3D exploration, video editing, and compositing among others. Unity is a game engine using which we will construct a virtual sculptural gallery for online viewing and exhibition. We will use Cura and MeshLab for rapid prototyping (3D printing) and fabrication preparation.

You are required to signup for an account on Sketchfab, an online 3D model sharing platform. Here you will post your 3D models for assessment and dissemination among your peers. Sketchfab is also used as an AR platform for exercises and projects.

Discord is used as our primary mode of communication. You are required to signup for an account, join our server, and keep up to date with announcements and group discussions. Discord is also used to organize resources, readings, screenings, and learning materials. Here, you will also submit your assignments.

All required readings and screenings will be posted on our Discord server. There is no required book for this class. We will coordinate and discuss with the department the possibilitites of obtaining raw materials for fabrication, CNC milling, and laser cutting. However, given our current post-COVID reality, this course is structured such that physical fabrication and virtual exhibition using AR and VR are interchangable.

This course requires a 3-button mouse (left, right, clickable wheel) and a computer capable of running Blender.

Course Technology

Required Equipment

Projects

In light of the pandemic and its imposed limitations regarding space, fabrication, and occupying space, the projects have been designed to permit engagement with space and form-making without compromising your health, your peers’, families’, and faculties’. Nevertheless, we recognize that you could very much be interested in engaging with physical form, fabrication, and experimentation. As such, all projects can be substituted with physical form-making subject to health and safety policies and material/lab availability. We will discuss the alternative projects together and find compromises that fulfill the conceptual and theoretical requirements of the projects while allowing you to engage with form in the “real” world.

Project 1: desire.obj

The world has ended, figuratively, literally, and speculatively. All that remains are digital footprints, rants and status updates, photos of food and landscapes posted to platforms whose remnants are decrepit warehouses that housed petabytes of user content. Amidst the ruins, there remain magnetic disks that survived the inhospitable conditions of this new world. On these hard disks, there exists content from those who foresaw this reality before it occurred: a series of .obj files representing the most valued possession of their makers.

Each of these files belongs to one of you. They represent what you cherish the most, what you value above all else, and what you want to remain beyond your life span.

Project 2: Post-Space

Post-Space is a virtual space, a non-space. An online gallery, explorable through the browser, as a game, on your phone, or through a VR headset. Each of you has the opportunity to exhibit at this space, open to the public. Your digital sculptural forms will be housed indefinitely within the confines of this space.

A non-space, nevertheless, has its own constraints while it liberates from the confines of the physical world. Your sculptures need to capitalize on these opportunities and explore the possibilities that exist in form-making beyond the boundaries of physicality and limitations of fabrication: impossible shapes, planetary and atomic scales, divine textures, and unimaginable materialities. Let your imagination run wild. Do what you wish you could but know you can’t!

PIC

Figure 1:Project 3: Suzanne in the wild!

Project 3: Informal Interventions

Our final project is an exercise in digital and physical intervention. This project is an experiment in “visual hacking” by modifying existing footage from Google Earth to include and encompass your 3D creations. As such it not only engages with notions of imaging, surveillance, and perspective, but it also permits experimentation with land and large-scale sculptural forms. Moreover, it allows you to intervene in how land, space, and cartography are presented, archived, and accessed. Take this opportunity to create a piece of work that sparks a conversation. Here are some questions to think about as you engage with this experiment: Who occupies this space? Who used to be here? How can maps, boundaries, and borders be used as a means of exercising power and oppression? What is virtual occupation? How is it relevant and how can it affect political, social, and economical discourse? How can such an exercise comment on notions of inclusion and exclusion? The very notion of reality and what it can and can not encompass? What is a critical engagement with form, space, and space-making? What is invisible resistance and how permanent can it be?

Much like Project 2, you have the opportunity of mobilizing the possibilities of digital form-making and presentation. However, for this project, you need to conceptualize your creations in relation to the spaces they will be situated in. You are to select and justify a location where you will “place” your sculptural forms. You are to occupy this space! Think about your values. What do you want to resist? What do you want to protest? Why? You should keep these thoughts in mind as you select your location and decide on the subject of your 3D model.

Remember, this is primarily a 3D modeling exercise. Do not spend excessive amounts of time on camera animation and video editing. We are primarily interested in your 3d models and how they create a dialouge with your choice of placement.

Calendar

Tentative schedule. Subject to change based on student progress, health and safety policies, discourse, engagement, and demand.

Weeks

Program



Week 1
(8/25-8/27)

  • Introduction & Discussion
  • Claim Forms, Computer & Door Access
  • Syllabus Overview
  • Logistics & Communication
  • Workshop
  • Logistics:
  • Lessons: Interface Overview, Preferences, Adding and Deleting, Primitives, Operator Settings, 3D Viewport, Collections, Layers, Visibility, Navigation, Object Selection, Transformation, Basic Materials, Editors, Interaction Modes
  • Readings:
    • Critical Response Process, Liz Lerman
    • Pragmatics of Studio Critique, Judith Leeman
    • Prompt: How do you define critique? What do you think are the most impactful ways of critique for students from diverse backgrounds? Can you see critique as dialogue or do you think they are two different strategies for engagement?
    • Response Due 8/27
  • Resources: Blender Fundamentals



Week 2
(9/1-9/3)

  • Individual Presentations (In-class 9/1) Create a 5 minutes long presentation about yourself. This should include your previous works, expertise, and how/where you want to move forward in your career and practice. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your projects, instead include up to 3 works that interest you conceptually, technically, and aesthetically. Your presentations must be made with Google Slides. Make sure they are publicly avaiable and share the public link in our Discord server: Exercises ⇒ #presentations
  • Lessons: Modeling, Objects, Object Data, Materials, Modeling Tools, Interaction Modes, Modifiers Introduction, UV Unwrapping
  • Exercise 1 - Primitive Landscape (Due 9/1) For your first exercise you are to create a still rendered image. The aim is to practice and become comfortable with Blender’s transformation tools. For this exercise you need to add every primitive object, as well as a bevelled curve to your scene. Scatter the objects on a grid and so that there exist margins between them. Rotate each object by a random amount on either one, or multiple axes (X, Y, Z). Similarly try scaling them. Finally add a camera to you scene and position it with an angle such that all the primitive objects are visible in the camera frustum. Post your final rendered image to the Discord channel.
  • Readings:



Week 3
(9/8-9/10)

  • Semester-long Project Proposals (Due 9/8) This assignment only applies to those who are repeating this course for a second time. If this is the first time you are taking 3101, this is NOT you! Moreover, if you are repeating this course and want to follow the standard syllabus this does not apply to you either. For repeating students who are pursuing a semester-long project, you must submit a proposal outlining your plan, concepts, ideas, and software. Your proposal must include:
    • 500-word description of your idea and concept
    • Include 3 sketches of your final sculpture.
    • Rough timeline of deliverables and development plan for the next 13 weeks.
    • A detailed fabrication plan, if your project is to be physically produced, or an exhibition plan if your project is purely digital—for this you can have a look at the Projects section to get some ideas about presentation such as VR, AR, game engines, or web-based.
    • A list of artists whose work you find inspiring in realizing your own project. These can be curated based on aesthetics, technique, software, and/or concept.
    • List of the software you are using and how you plan to use them.

    Submit your proposal as a PDF file under Exercises ⇒ #extended-projects.

    Note: As you progress through your project, we understand that things change. Creative work is part accident, part intention. This proposal enables us to better assist you in realizing your project and to follow and track your progress along the way. It is not a binding contract, so don’t worry if things change.

  • Lessons: Materials, Nodes, Rendering, Render Settings, Color Management, Advanced Modifiers, Texture Painting, UV Unwrapping, Boolean Modeling, Metaball Modeling
  • Exercise 2 - Modeling (Due 9/8) Create a lowpoly 3D model of a found object in your surroundings. This can be a piece of furniture, an edible object, toy, pet, gadget, etc. Use the modeling techniques discussed previously and explore the tools avaiable in the toolbar of Blender’s mesh edit mode. Once done, upload your models to Sketchfab and post a link to the Discord channel.
  • Exercise 3 - Project 1 Sketch (Due 9/10) Create 3 sketches/drawings of your desire.obj. Each sketch must represent a unique perspective, e.g. front, top, side. You can create your sketches traditionally with paper/pencil or use digital software. Upload your final sketches to the appropriate Discord channel.
  • Screenings/Artists: Morehshin Allahyari, Theo Triantafyllidis, New Scenario
  • Resources: Additivism



Week 4
(9/15-9/17)

  • Exercise 4 - Node Spaghetti! (Due 9/15) For this exercise we are going to experiment with different shader nodes and their capabilitites by creating 8 unique materials. You are required to experiment with at least 6 different shader nodes, as well as the Mix Shader and Add Shader nodes. Explore the possibilities of texturing, transparency, and procedural patterns. A standard template file will be provided for consistent lighting and render settings. This excercise prepares us for our discussion about Cycles and EEVEE render engines. Once done, render your scene and post the image to the Discord channel.
  • Open Studio Week:
    • Signup sheets are posted to Discord for Tuesday and Thursday. Feedback and hands-on problem-solving sessions will be provided during the entire class. Students are free to join either in person or virtually through Zoom. When you are signing up, select ONE of the available two days so that we can accommodate the campus safe and health policies. Have your projects ready on an external disk to be brought to class.
    • Signup Sheet: 3101 Open Studios Signup Sheet



Week 5
(9/22-9/24)

  • Project 1 Discussion & Critique
  • Project 1 Online Exhibition
  • Lessons: Cycles, Lights, Lights in Eevee, HDRI and World Environments, Realtime Rendering vs. Path Tracing, Volumetrics and Volumetric Modeling, Remeshing and Remesh Modifier
  • Screenings/Artists: Hito Steyerl, Bruce Nauman, Simon Denny
  • Project 1 Due 9/22



Week 6
(9/29-10/1)

  • Lessons: Advanced UV Unwrapping, Texture and Data Baking, Sculpting, Sculpt Brushes, Brush Management, Brush Settings
  • Exercise 5 - Project 2 Proposal (Due 10/1) Submit a proposal in PDF format for Project 2. As usual, this proposal is non-binding and subject to change. Nevertheless, it allows us to understand your concepts and ideas more tangibly. Your proposal should contain a minimum of:
    • 3 sketches: Your sketches can be either hand-drawn, digital, or prototyped using 3D software. If time permits, explore a combination of these methods to push your sketches closer to your mental image.
    • 400-word written statement: In your written response, explain what you are “sculpting”, why you are attempting it, and how do you plan to execute your ideas?
      Example: “I’m creating a keyboard made of walnut wood at 100-meters tall…to facilitate a conversation on the excesses of technology and its permeation in daily life…To achieve this I will use box-modeling to outline my initial shape which I will further sculpt for more details…I am interested in spots X, Y, and Z as they are the only ones that can accommodate a sculpture at this scale…”
    • References and mood board: At last, you should include a mood board (minimum 10 images/clips) in your proposal that convey your vision more clearly. Use these references to communicate your idea in terms of form/sculpture, as well as materials and visual presentation.
  • Readings:
    • In Free Fall: A Thought Experiment on Vertical Perspective, Hito Steyerl
    • Prompt: How does the notion of perspective situate the observer in relation to reality? What other modes of observation could exist that value the perspective of the group above individuals? How does the vanishing point transform in such an optical apparatus? What other forms of meta-perspective can you imagine? Think outside of the box, beyond images, think of volumes, X-Rays, or the residue of gunpowder as a form of observing a bullet in the past. Respond as a 400-word written essay, or better yet try to implement and visualize/render such “perspectives”. (Caustics and volumetrics in Cycles can be your friend!)
    • Response Due 9/29
  • Screenings/Artists: Anna Uddenberg, Jonathan Monaghan, Martine Syms
  • Resources: The Wrong Biennale



Week 7
(10/6-10/8)

  • Lessons: Photogrammetry, Meshroom, MeshLab, Lowpoly Modeling vs. Highpoly, Procedural Modeling, Cycles vs. EEVEE, Advanced Rapid Modeling (Skin Modifier, Cloth Brush, Metaballs)
  • Exercise 6 - Project 2 / Phase 1 (Due 10/6) For this exercise, you are to show progress made towards your Project 2. This exercise is not meant to show “how much” progress you have made, but to demonstrate that you are actively working towards your project 2. Submit proof of your prototypes, tests, and preliminary attempts. These can be submitted as rendered images or a Sketchfab submission. Post your images/links to the appropriate Discord channel.
  • Exercise 7 - Project 2 / Phase 2 (Due 10/10) For this exercise, you are to show progress made towards your Project 2. This exercise is not meant to show “how much” progress you have made, but to demonstrate that you are actively working towards your project 2. Submit proof of your prototypes, tests, and preliminary attempts. These must me submitted through Sketchfab. Post your Sketchfab links to the appropriate Discord channel.
  • Readings:
    • The 3D Additivist Manifesto, Morehshin Allahyari and Daniel Rourke
    • Prompt: What is a post-material future? How does material reality inspire our technological and creative exploretions? What are instances of this process in reverse: technology and imagination translating to material objects? Respond in form of a 3D render, a 300-word written reponse, or a series of drawings and sketchs.
    • Response Due 10/8
  • Screenings/Artists: Jenny Holzer, Nora Al-Badri, Sondra Perry
  • Resources: Neural Magazine



Week 8
(10/13-10/15)

  • Exercise 8 - Scanning (Due 10/13) For this one, we will experiment with 3D scanning and photogrammetry. We will use the same object from Exercise 2 to compare and contrast the difference between lowpoly and highpoly modeling. There is no right or wrong for doing this project, and it really doesn’t matter how accurate and high detail your scan is. You can either take multiple photos and use Meshroom for reconstruction, or use 3D scanning apps available on your app store. Once done, upload your models to Sketchfab and post a link to the Discord channel.
  • Exercise 9 - Project 2 / Phase 3 (Due 10/15) For this exercise, you are to show progress made towards your Project 2. This exercise is not meant to show “how much” progress you have made, but to demonstrate that you are actively working towards your project 2. Submit proof of your prototypes, tests, and modeling attempts. These must me submitted through Sketchfab. Post your Sketchfab links to the appropriate Discord channel.
  • Open Studio Week:
    • Signup sheets are posted to Discord for Tuesday and Thursday. Feedback and hands-on problem-solving sessions will be provided during the entire class. Students are free to join either in person or virtually through Zoom. When you are signing up, select ONE of the available two days so that we can accommodate the campus safe and health policies. Have your projects ready on an external disk to be brought to class.
    • Signup Sheet: 3101 Open Studios Signup Sheet



Week 9
(10/20-10/22)

  • Project 2 Discussion & Critique
  • Project 2 Online Exhibition
  • Screenings/Artists: Geraldine Juárez, Nervous System, Mediated Matter
  • Project 2 Due 10/20



Week 10
(10/27-10/29)

  • Lessons: Physically Based Rendering, Batch Baking, Model Optimization, Production Ready Assets, Future of Computer Graphics
  • Readings:
    • Encoding/Decoding, Stuart Hall
    • Prompt: How do you imagine the future of digital media is produced, disseminated, and interpreted? What role does the “digitality” of our media objects play in the distribution of content? What are your thought on Facebook’s 3D photos, social platforms like Sketchfab, and our intimate relationship with computer-generated content in movies and video games? How, when, and why do we shape and inform the message that such media carries? In your response think of how such media expands beyond its medium. Think of action figures and Barbie dolls, MMORPG and massive open-world multiplayer games, Lara Croft and Princess Peach, Avengers and Thanos. Finally, think about what “collective action” means in such contexts. Respond in form of a 3D render, a 300-word written reponse, or a series of drawings and sketchs.
    • Response Due 10/29
  • Screenings/Artists: Behnaz Farahi, Rian Hammond, The Speculative Prototyping Lab
  • Resources: Creative Applications



Week 11
(11/3-11/5)

  • Lessons: Advanced Node & Material Workshop, Advanced Modifiers & Procedural Modeling
  • Exercise 10 - Project 2 Asset Preparation (Due 11/3) Before we can integrate your 3D models in the virtual gallery, they must be prepared and optimized for “production”. This is quite often the case when you need to take your assets outside of Blender, work with other artists on a project, import your models into game engines, or use them in production for film and video. Furthermore, during this process we will standardize our materials to adhere to the industry standard PBR approach. Here are some of the requirements and resources that can guide and assist you in this process:
    • Note: An instructional video has been prepared to guide you through the process. All the steps below are clearly demonstrated in this video. You can watch it here.
    • There are .blend template files prepared for you to quickly bake your models. You can download these templates from Google Drive here.
    • You can download the Bake Wrangler addon here.
    • Your 3D geometry is limited to at most 50,000 faces. Use the techniques we have discussed previously, such as the decimate modifier, voxelization, and retopologizing (InstantMeshes) to optimize your geo-count.
    • When you are ready, pack the template file that you modified. Save it as a new file using the Firstname_Lastname_Project2.blend naming convention. Submit your blend file here.
  • Exercise 11 - Project 3 Proposal (Due 11/5) Submit a proposal in PDF format for Project 3. As usual, this proposal is non-binding and subject to change. Nevertheless, it allows us to understand your concepts and ideas more tangibly.
    • Location Renders: Submit images of your selected location. These images should be obtained from Google Earth/Maps and contain the 3D building information. You can find an example here. Clearly mark the location where you will be placing your sculpture and ensure it is properly shown in the images (example). If you feel adventurous, submit a video from GES.
    • 400-word written statement: In your written response, explain what you are “sculpting”, why you are attempting it, and how do you plan to execute your ideas?
      Example: “I’m planting a 100-meters tall Euterpe precatoria tree in an empty lot in front of the main headquarters of the Ministry of Environment of Brazil. Euterpe precatoria is one of the most common species of trees found in the rainforest…This intervention is in protest to the recent deregulations, championed by this ministry, that leads to faster deforestation of the Amazon rainforest…To achieve this I will use the skin modifier to outline my initial shape which I will further sculpt for more details. I will use a combination of curves and meshes to generate the leaves…My 3D model will then be composited on GES generated video of the empty lot with the camera orbiting around the tree.”
  • Screenings/Artists: Claudia Hart, Sophie Kahn, Marjan Moghaddam, Alfredo Salazar-Caro, Frederik Heyman, Cécile B. Evans
  • Resources: Rhizome Anthology, e-flux, NEWMEDIAART.EU



Week 12
(11/10-11/12)

  • Lessons: Advanced Modifiers & Procedural Modeling
  • Readings:
    • It’s 2039, and Your Beloved Books Are Dead, Alix E. Harrow
    • Think about… What is the ultimate form of narrative immersion? How do formats shape, describe, and prescribe the reality of their stories? Do these prescribed realities, like those in video games and movies, form a homogenous understanding of reality in contrast to books that leave the reader in charge of interpreting and imagining their reality?
    • Class Discussion on 11/10
  • Screenings/Artists: Riley Harmon, Kyle McDonald, Takeshi Murata, Jacolby Satterwhite, Sam Rolfes, Ed Atkins
  • Resources: Mediated Matter



Week 13
(11/17-11/19)

  • Open Studio Week:
    • Feedback and hands-on problem-solving sessions will be provided during the entire class. Sessions are held virtually.



Week 14
(11/24-11/26)

  • Open Studio Week:
    • Feedback and hands-on problem-solving sessions will be provided during the entire class. Sessions are held virtually.



Week 15
(12/1-12/3)

  • Project 3 Soft Deadline (Thur 12/3@8:00AM)
  • Project 3 Discussion & Critique (Thur 12/3@8:00AM-10:50AM)
  • Open Studio Week:
    • Feedback and hands-on problem-solving sessions will be provided during the entire class. Sessions are held virtually.



Week 16
(12/8-12/9)

  • Project 3 Hard Deadline (Tues 12/8@11:59PM)
  • Project 3 Discussion & Critique (Wed 12/9@8:00AM-9:45AM)
  • Project 3 Online Exhibition
  • Project 3 Documentation



Department Notes & Campus Policies

Release of All Claims

Please completed, sign, and submit the Release of All Claims Form. In support of the educational activities within The Department of Art, certain equipment is provided which may be used by students, advisor and faculty which, if not used properly, can result in bodily injury to user. By signing the Release of All Claims Form, among other things, you certify that you have full knowledge and understanding of such risk, that you know how to use the equipment in a proper manner, and to follow all appropriate safety precautions. You also agree to take responsibility for leaving this equipment in the same condition in which it is found in order to ensure its ongoing safe operation. In consideration of being granted access to the use of the equipment provided by the Department of Art you assume full and complete responsibility for the use of such equipment for the period from August 25, 2020 to December 11, 2020.

Building Access

Weekend access:

Access to classrooms for cleaning:

Special instructions to enable FOD to clean classrooms:

Carmen Access

You will need to use BuckeyePass multi-factor authentication to access your courses in Carmen. To ensure that you are able to connect to Carmen at all times, it is recommended that you take the following steps:

For help with your password, university email, Carmen, or any other technology issues, questions, or requests, contact the Ohio State IT Service Desk. Standard support hours are available at ocio.osu.edu/help/hours, and support for urgent issues is available 24/7.

Accessibility of course technologies

This online course requires use of Carmen (Ohio State’s learning management system) and other online communication and multimedia tools. If you need additional services to use these technologies, please request accommodations with your instructor. 

Feedback and Response Time

Project grading and feedback can generally be expected within 2 weeks.

You can expect a reply to emails within 24-36 hours Monday - Friday, but no response should be expected between 5pm and 8am.

Carmen

Carmen (carmen.osu.edu) is used for general communication through announcements. Carmen is where assignment information, sharing ideas and work, collaborative engagement and assignment development, grades and feedback, readings, and general course content components are posted.
Not applicable to our course. Refer to Communication section.

Email

Email through Carmen’s inbox function or through your BuckeyeMail will be the only source of private and secure digital conversations we will use with you. Secure information on general concerns, assignments, class inquiries, or other similar topics should be addressed using these sources.
Not applicable to our course. Refer to Communication section.

All university correspondence is sent to your BuckeyeMail email address, and all email sent to faculty and staff should be sent from your BuckeyeMail email address.
Not applicable to our course. Refer to Communication section.

Ohio State will never ask for your Ohio State username or password. Do not reply to any email asking for your Ohio State username, password, or other personal information. Report such messages to report-phish@osu.edu.

PPE and Related College Covid Policies

Safe campus requirements include but are not limited to wearing masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, health symptom monitoring, participating in contact tracing, quarantine and isolation, and additional safety expectations detailed at safeandhealthy.osu.edu. All Ohio State students, faculty and staff are expected to meet the behavioral and safety expectations under the Safe Campus Requirements when they physically participate in any university activity, on or off campus. All students, faculty and staff also will be required to perform a daily health check to report body temperature each day they intend to be physically on an Ohio State campus. Failure to adhere to these requirements will be addressed through standard enforcement mechanisms, and an approach built on escalation, whereby adherence will be reinforced through education, choice and peer support before escalating to disciplinary action whenever possible. Where violations are serious and/or ongoing, however, they will be addressed as follows:

COVID-19-Related Attendance Concerns and Planned Course Modifications

Students unable to attend class because of positive diagnosis, symptoms, or required quarantine due to exposure will transition course activities to distance learning to the extent that they are able during periods of mandated absence. Students will work with instructors to confirm their ability to participate or alternative learning activities related to course objectives and assignments will be provided.

If an entire class is required to quarantine, instruction will transition to online interactions and learning at a distance will occur. All university standards and policies remain in place as related to Title IX, academic misconduct, allowances for students with disabilities, studio conduct and respect for others, and other related issues. We will be meeting and interacting in an online format, not an anonymous one. We will conduct ourselves and treat others as if we are meeting in person.

If the university suspends in-person classes, this course will transition to an online delivery mode for the remainder of the semester.

If an instructor is unable to attend class in person because of positive COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms, or required quarantine, a substitute instructor may be assigned to ensure course continuity. If the instructor is able, the course may transition to an online delivery mode temporarily.

Academic Misconduct

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term “academic misconduct” includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed; illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with examinations and artwork created in studio courses. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student Conduct

The Department of Art adheres to all aspects of this Code of Conduct especially in matters relating to the following: Academic Misconduct, Endangering Health or Safety, Sexual Misconduct, Destruction of Property, and Theft/Unauthorized Use of Property.

Reusing Past Work

In general, you are prohibited in university courses from turning in work from a past class to your current class, even if you modify it. If you want to build on past research or revisit a topic explored in previous courses, please discuss the situation with your instructor at the start of the assignment/project.

Citing Your Sources

Cite your sources to back up what you say and write. (Use a citation generator if you are unsure of the proper citation format.) If you use a photograph or are particularly inspired by another work and wish to include, mimic, or apply any part of it to your work, cite it. We will discuss precedent usage and appropriation in class. While precedent usage is expected to inspire new iterations and build skills, you are expected to credit your sources and work to distinct and individual challenge solutions.

Disability Services

The University strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please let us know immediately so that we can privately discuss options. To establish reasonable accommodations, we may request that you register with Student Life Disability Services. After registration, make arrangements with us as soon as possible to discuss your accommodations so that they may be implemented in a timely fashion. Fore more information contact the SLDS office.

Accommodations

In-person classes (as well as the in-person components of hybrid classes) are expected to make reasonable accommodations for students who are unable to be safely present in the classroom and have been approved for an accommodation by the office of Student Life Disability Services (SLDS). For a lecture course, such an accommodation might mean streaming lectures on Zoom or making recordings available to the students. For classes that involve laboratory work, studio work, or a mix of lecture and discussion, a reasonable accommodation will not always be possible. Students are expected to work with their advisors and, where appropriate, SLDS to find workable solutions to their scheduling needs.

Grade Forgiveness

The Grade Forgiveness Rule allows undergraduate students to petition to repeat up to three courses. The grade in the repeated course will permanently replace the original grade for the course in the calculation of the student’s cumulative GPA.

Only a first repeat can be used this way; all other repeats of the same course will be included under the general course repeatability rule.

The original grade will remain on the student’s transcript and some graduate/professional school admission processes will re-calculate the student’s GPA to include the original grade. See: Grade Forgiveness for more information.

Diversity

The Ohio State University affirms the importance and value of diversity in the student body. Our programs and curricula reflect our multicultural society and global economy and seek to provide opportunities for students to learn more about persons who are different from them. We are committed to maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among each member of our community; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her their own potential. Discrimination against any individual based upon protected status, which is defined as age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status, is prohibited.

Sexual Misconduct/Relationship Violence

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories (e.g., race). If you or someone you know has been sexually harassed or assaulted, you may find the appropriate resources at http://titleix.osu.edu or by contacting the Ohio State Title IX Coordinator, Kellie Brennan, at titleix@osu.edu

Mental Health Services

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. The Ohio State University offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the Office of Student Life’s Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS) by visiting ccs.osu.edu or calling 614-292-5766. CCS is located on the 4th Floor of the Younkin Success Center and 10th Floor of Lincoln Tower. You can reach an on call counselor when CCS is closed at 614-292-5766 and 24 hour emergency help is also available through the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALKor at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Trigger Language Warning

Some content of this course may involve media that may be triggering to some students due to descriptions of and/or scenes depicting acts of violence, acts of war, or sexual violence and its aftermath. If needed, please take care of yourself while watching/reading this material (leaving classroom to take a water/bathroom break, debriefing with a friend, contacting a Sexual Violence Support Coordinator at 614-292-1111, or Counseling and Consultation Services at 614-292-5766, and contacting the instructor if needed). Expectations are that we all will be respectful of our classmates while consuming this media and that we will create a safe space for each other. Failure to show respect to each other may result in dismissal from the class.

General Class and Studio Policies

Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with differences of race, culture, religion, politics, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and nationalities. Class rosters are provided to the instructor and may include the student’s legal name unless changed via the University Name Change policy. We will gladly honor your request to address you by another name or gender pronoun. Please advise us of this early in the semester so that we may make appropriate changes to our records.

Tolerance. Required and elective art courses contain content that can include some language, imagery, or dialogue that may be challenging or offend some students. While no student is required to participate in a presentation or discussion of art or design that offends them, it is important to remain open-minded and participate in a cooperative and respectful manner. Art can often challenge our ideas and experiences, and can lead us into some lively discussion, concepts and imagery. Differences (in ideas, perspectives, experiences, etc.) can be positive, productive and educational, challenging and provocative, so please, engage in the exchange of ideas respectfully. Please see us with your concerns as soon as possible.

Please contact us in advance (during the first week of class or as soon as circumstances develop during the term) if you have circumstances that may affect your performance and ability to fulfill your responsibilities in this course.

Data Responsibility

Back up your work. Inevitably, computers crash. Sometimes they get stolen. There are measures that you can take to prevent significant loss of data. These include Cloud back-ups, external devices or disc storage.