AHA 300: Arts and Humanities Administration
CLASS INFORMATION:
CLASS TIME: Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 - 6:45 pm
CLASS LOCATION: High Tech Center, Room 137
REQUIRED TEXT: The Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist by Margaret R.
Lazzari
INSTRUCTOR INFROMATION:
INSTRUCTOR: DYAN GREEN
OFFICE: McMullen Hall, Room 134
OFFICE HOURS: 2:00-4:00 Monday in MCM 134
OFFICE HOURS: 1:00-4:00 Wednesday in GTA 123
PHONE: (775) 753- 2228
EMAIL: dyang@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This 3 credit course is a thorough introduction and exploration in the practice of
arts and humanities administration. In AHA 300 you will independently plan and
create an alternative arts event and an do the ground work for a formal
exhibition. Through these intensive projects you will learn how to propose,
promote, organize, document and critique art and humanities events. As a class
we will be examining a variety of artists through reading, videos and research as
well as communicating with several contemporary artist via LIVENET OR
PODCAST and telephone. Expect to work 1 hour outside of class for every hour
in class.
GOALS OF THIS COURSE:
1. To become familiar with a variety of contemporary arts and humanities
practices, genres and classifications.
2. To develop an understanding of the basic vernacular in art and humanities
disciplines.
3. To learn how to advertise and promote art events as well as how to target
different audiences within our local community.
4. To become familiar with design practices for arts advertising.
5. To learn how to constructively analyze and discuss individual works of art
and entire exhibitions with sophistication.
6. To communicate directly with artists by conducting artist interviews and
participating in the INTERART Symposium Series.
7. To install, present and document art in a professional manner.
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:
AHA 300 is divided into three 5 week sections. In the first 5 weeks we will read
and discuss our text while researching different art practices. In the second
section you will individually organize a formal solo exhibition for a professional
artist who has volunteered to exhibit their artwork at Great Basin College.
Finally, you will produce your own alternative arts and humanities event.
SECTION 1: INFORMATION
In the first 5 week section of our class we will be reading and discussing
The Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist by Margaret R. Lazzari and
watching videos from the PBS ART 21 series. We will also be reviewing aesthetic
principles and discussing different art genres and categories. This section of the
course will focus on obtaining information about contemporary art and related
vocabulary. Each week you will be assigned a responsive essay (1 pages typed
and double spaced this will be turned in via WebCampus). Your grade for this
section will come from your written responses and your participation in class
discussions.
SECTION 2: FORMAL EXHIBITION
This section of class is based on learning the preliminary processes involved in
curating formal exhibitions. For this project I have asked 10 of my artist
collogues from around the world to participate in a series of small exhibitions at
Great Basin College organized by you. This is an outstanding opportunity to
work with professional artists and learn how to prepare for an exhibition. Each
one of you will be assigned an artist and you will be responsible for handling all
of the preliminary aspects of organizing their show.
Participating Artists are:
Wen Fan, a Ceramic Sculptor from Shanghai, China
Kelly Sim, a Printmaker and Digital Media Artist from Aberdeen, Scotland.
Ruth Pringle, a Conceptual Artist from Dundee, Scotland/Brussels, Belgium
Melissa Wilkenson, a Painter from Denton, Texas
Aaron Huenberg, a Printmaker and Digital Media Artist from Louisville, KY
David Scheel, a Sculptor from Houston, TX
Jaiwei Gong, a Digital Media and Installation Artist, Shanghai, China
Diana Baumbach, a printmaker and paper artist from Chicago, IL.
Kate Kaminski, a sculptor and installation artist from Milwaukee, WI.
Amiko Matsuo, a ceramicist and installation artist from Los Angeles, CA.
Four of the artists have also volunteered to give a telecast or podcast lecture for
the college as part of their exhibition this semester. We are calling this lecture
series the INTERART Series. Since these artists are giving their lectures for your
benefit it is required that you attend and participate in all of them. Students
from other art classes will also be attending. (Distance Learners: We will try to
set up IAV so that you can interact with them as well, if we can't get that to
work you will be sent a recording and can email the artist questions.)
For section 3 you will be graded on your interview of the artist, their press
release, the design advertisement, your curatorial strategy and your formal
verbal presentation.
SECTION 3: ALTERNATIVES
In the third section you will independently conduct an alternative arts and/or
humanities event. This could take the form of mail art, and independent
publication (such as a "zine"), conducting a literary/poetry reading, music event,
community creative radio broadcast, legal(!) graffiti project, dance benefit,
interactive/performance project, domestic exhibition, etc, etc. This section
focuses on how to organize, promote, host, document, and write about
grassroots events and projects. Your goal is to get 25 people to participate in
your project. You will be assessed by your written proposal, advertisement
design, documentation, presentation and your critiques of your classmates
projects.
SECTION 4: FINAL REVIEWS
For your final you will take the roll of an art critic and review 2 of your
classmates presentations and the artist's work. Whether you like it or dislike it
you must be able to write intelligibly about their work and how it was presented.
(Distance Learners See Addendum #6)
ASSESSMENT:
SECTION 1:
5 essays = 75 points (15 points each)
+ Participation in discussion= 25 points
Total Points = 100
SECTION 2:
Interview/Bio= 20 points
Press Release= 20 points
Ad Design= 20 points
Presentation= 20 points
+ Curatorial Strategy= 20 points
Total Points = 100
SECTION 3:
Written proposal= 25 points
Advertisement= 25 points
Documentation= 25 points
Presentation= 25 points
Critique= 25 points
+ Turn Out at Opening/Sales= 25 points
Total Points = 150
SECTION 4:
2 Critical Responses (25 points each)
Total Points = 50
SECTION 5:
Participation in the INTERART Symposium Series
+50 points for each Artist
Total Points = 100
OTHER CLASS INFORMATION AND POLICIES:
LATE PROJECTS: Late work will not be accepted. The only exception to this rule
is if you have a doctor's note excusing you or documentation of a family
emergency.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: This is a 3 credit course so 3 unexcused absences are
allowed without penalty. For additional absence your total class grade will drop
by 5 percent (half a letter grade) after 6 absences they will drop by 10 percent.
After 9 absences you will automatically fail the course. Excused absences will
only be granted with a doctor's note or documentation of a family emergency.