The Muses - TRANSCENDENCE

Week 1

Review of syllabus and material list.

Introduction to Architecture and Historical Periods

Slides of Architecture and Drawing that examine timeline and epochs.

Student will draw architecture of various periods

Materials - 18" x 24" white paper, HB, 2B, 4B graphite pencils, kneaded eraser. Ink Marker Optional

Conceptual

This introductory lecture begins with the question: “What is Architecture?” Along with examining this simple question, students will be exposed to masterful works of architecture from around the world, spanning decades, centuries, and millennia.

Architecture from its prehistoric beginnings through Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, evolved technologically to give the world obelisks, columns, and then arches.  Continuing with Medieval Gothic architecture of the dark ages, students should take in examples of churches and fortifications.  Of course no class of architecture would be complete without mention of the Renaissance and the city of Florence or the beautiful and sculptural forms of the Baroque era.

The Industrial Age of steam power and ironworks will draw the class closer to the modern era, which presents itself shortly after the invention of the elevator to bring about the epoch of the skyscraper.  Present day architecture continues in ways that would have truly baffled the early builders of the pyramids. Now it lives in bold expressions in Vegas hotels, Disneyland castles and Dubai towers.  New materials and technology have brought about structures that astonish civilization and only the space of virtual architecture in film, video games or motion based simulators can transport us any further.

Students should be invited to look and analyze architecture and talk freely about its history, beauty, style, technology, cultural significance or simply as an act of storytelling.

ASSIGNMENT

The Three Muses – Three Structures + Sketch Studies

Architecture is often born of inspiration that is specific to an idea, a person, a method or a style.  The purpose of this exercise is to explore and examine architecture as an expression of technology, style and/or ritual through the creation of three structures.

Practical

·          Review the history of architecture and examine more deeply the various architectural eras.  

·          Select your three (3) muses. Please identify one (1) for each category:

o    Scientist Category

Ø  What does your scientist research?

Ø  Be creative.... chose a cause. 
       ·    Astronomy, Electricity, Genetics, Medicine, Alchemy?

Ø  What does your scientist need? 
       ·    Telescopes?, Coils?, Bodies?...Darkness?, Light?,etc.
  

o    Artist Category

Ø  What does your artist create?

Ø  Be creative.... chose a theme.
       ·    Paintings?, Sculptures?, Film? Giant Puppets?, Machines?

Ø  What does your artist need? 
       ·   Plants?, Stones?, Bones?, Carcasses?, Auto Parts? ,etc.

o    Poet Category

Ø  What Inspires the Poet?

Ø  Be creative.... chose an idea.
       ·    Nature? Animals? (Dragons?) Elements? (Snow, Sand?) 

Ø  What does your poet need? 
       ·  Solitude? (a tower?), A View?, A Drink? Hard Drugs? ,etc.

·          Examine or identify the traits, needs or rituals of your three chosen muses

·          Create a set of drawings (three in total), each depicting architecture born of and for each muse

·          Identify three styles or historical periods (one per architecture -structure/muse)

·          Research and depict three different building materials or technology for each of your structures

·          Evidence of your research should be found within the drawings of your architecture and oral presentation

·          Craft you set of 3 drawings onto one panel 18"x 24" or use three separate panels (one for each muse) totaling 18"x 24"

·          Include rough sketch studies to help communicate your design process –(these can be on loose pages)

·          DO NOT DRAW THE MUSE! (But thoroughly understand the muse as a source of inspiration for the architecture)

·          AVOID creating "sculpture" .......use the language of architecture as you know it and be creative.

         Your MUSE does not need to be a real person or even a human...it could be an alien, a spirit or even inanimate.  

·          Just draw the architecture…and have fun.

Homework

Review History of Architecture:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_architecture

Google

Complete:                                Assignment “Three Muses”                                3 Drawings + Sketches

Read:                                       Architecture: Form, Space and Order             Chapter 1 (pp. 18-48)

                                                Architectural Graphics                                        Chapters 1, 2, & 3 (pp. 4-45)