SUI 802- PROCESS & PRACTICE IN CONTEMPORARY ART
Instructor: Randal Thurston
Level: All levels welcome
This workshop is designed for artists and art educators interested in expanding their understanding of contemporary art trends. We will talk about how artists such as Anna Mendenitta, Kiki Smith,
Matthew Barney, Chuck Close and others have found ways of incorporating a variety of materials and methods into their art making and why the ideas raised by their work matter. Exercises will be
introduced to familiarize you with a specific set of themes, including the creation of a personal charm bracelet, which deals with contrasting issues of group and individual identity. Lectures and hands-on
studio time will be supplemented with visits to the nearby Institute of Contemporary Art.

Workshop Objectives:
• To become familiar with concepts, vocabulary and ideas common in today’s art world.
• To develop methods of decoding and evaluating contemporary art practices.
• To discuss the role of research, funding and documentation in contemporary art.
• To develop methods of incorporating contemporary artmaking practices into the art curriculum.

Materials: Materials included in course fee.

Dates: tbd
Workshop Fee: --
PDPs: Completion of this course earns 18PDPs

Registration Deadline: tbd

SUI 803 - THE VISUAL JOURNAL, A Guide to Creative Thinking
Instructor: Nancy Wolfe
Level: All levels welcome

This workshop is designed to open new paths of visual thinking and problem-solving to communicate experiences as you develop content and narrative. The vehicle by which each student records these experiences is what Wolfe calls the “Visual Journal.” Each day a variety of themes, exercises and materials will be introduced. Focused assignments and exercises are sequenced to expand creative thinking – emphasizing process over product.

Themes are based on you and your relationship to sound, touch, color, poetry, music, memory and mythology. Group discussions will assist in formulating a direction, which may produce any number of expressions in various media. Students will come away with a completed portfolio or visual journal full of ideas and information.

You will learn:
• Methods for developing a personal visual vocabulary
• Creativity exercises designed to encourage various types of learners to take creative risks
• Techniques for experimenting with content and narrative
• Methods of integrating a variety of materials, images and concepts into visual expression

Materials: Materials included in course fee.

Dates: tbd
Time: 9am – 4pm
Workshop Fee: --
PDPs: Completion of this course earns 18 PDPs

Registration Deadline: tbd

This workshop will introduce students to traditional water and oil gilding techniques commonly used in framing, furniture restoration and the decorative arts. Working on simple projects with step-by-step instruction, participants will be guided through each stage of the gilding process; wood preparation, how to mix and use glue size, gesso ground, red clay for water gilding, decorative techniques of incised design and gesso relief, and the application and burnishing of 23karat gold leaf. Lectures on gilding as it applies to the history of art and contemporary uses will complement the demonstrations and class work. In addition, Mr. Baart’s award winning documentary on the making of gold leaf “Goldbeating” will be shown. A book of 23karat gold leaf and all other materials will be provided.

Materials: Materials are included in the course fee*.

Dates: tbd
Time: 9am to 4pm
Workshop Fee: --
PDPs: Completion of this course earns 18 PDPs

Registration Deadline: *Due to the extensive cost of materials and preparation for this workshop, a non-refundable deposit of $100.00 is due (along with the registration form) by (tbd) . The balance of $330.00 is due (tbd).

SUI 806 - THE BOOK AS AN ARTFORM
Instructor: Peter Madden
Level: All levels welcome

Spend the weekend working with simple tools and traditional binding materials to create a variety of handmade books which we will take time to refine, dress up and personalize. Simple methods for printing and embellishing will round out our work. Plan on bringing any or all of the following to work with: images and/or text that you are fond of, colored or decorative papers and any small objects you'd like to incorporate. Although no previous bookbinding is required it is helpful in this intermediate-level course. All techniques covered can be continued and explored in your own studio with no expensive or unusual equipment.

Materials: Materials included in course fee.

Date: tbd
Time: 9am to 4pm
Workshop Fee: --
PDPs: Completion of this course earns 12PDPs

Registration Deadline: tbd