Syllabus

JE 1351: Alternative Materials Casting

Spring 2014

JE1351/ Section A

Wednesdays 6pm-9:15pm

Instructor: Jenn Parnell

Office Hours: by appointment

Phone: 512-589-6431 (cell)

Email: jenn_parnell@corcoran.edu

Homepage:

Required Text: none

Supplemental Text (not required): none

Course Description

Plastics, resin, rubber, and latex are just a few of the alternative materials that can be cast into objects and jewelry. This class will focus on mold making techniques for various materials and how to successfully cast them. Casting techniques will include simple casting, multi-stage pours, imbedding objects into castings, and slip casting. Prerequisite: JE1200 Introduction to Jewelry I. 

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, students will:

1. Understand the process of casting different materials and mold making.

2. Understand the properties of the different cast materials and possible uses for them.

3. Be able to demonstrate the following technical skills:

• Open (one-part) and Closed (two-part) mold making
• Mold cutting
• Single pour casting
• Multi-stage pour castings
• Imbedded object casting
• Slip or rotational casting
• Use of epoxy resin, plastic, paper, rubber for castings
• Use of additional materials for castings
• Cleaning and finishing techniques for non-metal castings

Course Expectations

Projects and Homework Assignments: You are expected to complete the class projects as well as the homework assignments on time. You are expected to keep a sketchbook for your designs and notes.

Technical Proficiency: I look for effort in completing assignments to the highest level of skill you can. I expect that as the course progresses that you will push your technical knowledge and continue to pursue perfection in the skills you learn.

Creativity: I expect that in your projects, you will express yourself as an artist and attempt to integrate your artistic vision and interests into each piece.

Attendance/Participation: Attendance is extremely important. You are expected to be on time. If you miss class, you are expected to talk with your classmates to get the notes for that day. You are expected to participate actively in class, ask questions, and comment in critiques.

Course Requirements (Assignments, Projects, Exams, etc.)

Students will create 2 completed projects based off of design prompts and technical requirements. In addition to the projects, students will also complete design homework, maquettes and samples of techniques.

Each project will be critiqued- the first as a group, the last one individually as part of final critique which encompasses all work from the semester.

Grading Criteria

See the Corcoran Student Handbook for Undergraduate and Graduate Grade descriptions.

Grades are determined based upon the following:

1. Timely completion of all class projects with effort for creativity and technical skill.

2. Attendance and participation in class discussions and critiques

3. Timely completion of homework and samples/exercises.

Attendance Policy (see Student Handbook- http://www.corcoran.edu/student-handbook )

Students are expected to attend all class sessions and course-related activities for each course in which they register. Students may not attend any class for which they have not officially registered. Three absences (two during the summer term) within a given class, or 20 percent of the semester, are grounds for automatic failure of the course. In exceptional circumstances, the Director of Student Affairs, in coordination with Director of Continuing Education, may approve emergency absences for medical or other legitimate reasons. In such cases, students are required to provide medical or other supporting documentation. Absences due to religious holidays must be pre-approved by the instructor one week in advance of the absence.

Although students may miss up to two class sessions, they are not relieved of the obligation to fulfill all course assignments, including those that can only be fulfilled in class. Of special note to all students: instructors may modify the standard attendance policy (stated in this handbook) according to how they weigh various components of the curriculum throughout the semester. If there are any changes to the standard policy, they will be written into the course syllabi that are reviewed on the first day of classes.

Honor Code (see Student Handbook)

Faculty members are responsible, to the best of their ability, for maintaining the integrity of the learning and testing process, both in the classroom and outside of it, and for fostering conditions of academic integrity. To alleviate misunderstandings, all instructors are required to delineate at the beginning of each semester what constitutes a violation of the Honor Code in their classes. This should include an explanation of:

1. The extent to which collaboration or group participation is permissible in preparing term papers, studio work, reports of any kind, tests, quizzes, examinations, homework, or any other work.
2. The extent to which the use of study aids, memorandum, books, data, or other information is permissible to fulfill course requirements.
3. Guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism, including requirements for citing sources.

Course Outline

Week 1: February 5

• Introductions
• Studio Tour- introduction to the equipment, basic safety for the machinery, shop protocol
• Lesson 1: Basic Wax Carving
•  Homework: 2 wax carvings

Week 2: February 12

•  Lesson 2: Simple Resin and Plastic casting
• Introduce Project 1
• Homework: 3 different castings from the pre-made molds

Week 3: February 19

• ·         Lesson 3: Mold Making
• ·         Discuss Designs for Project 1
• ·         Homework: Sample mold

Week 4: February 26

• ·         Lesson 4: Multi-stage Resin and Plastic casting
• ·         Homework: Sample multi-stage casting

Week 5: March 5

• ·         Lesson 5: Finishing Plastics and Resins
• ·         Lesson 6: Integrating and Connecting Castings
• ·         Homework: 2 finished castings (can be your previous samples)- one polished, one matte

Week 6: March 12

• ·         Work time
• ·         Introduce Project 2

NO CLASS MARCH 19

Week 7: March 26

• ·         Lesson 7: Foam casting
• ·         Homework: Sample foam casting
• ·         Discuss Designs for Project 2

Week 8: April 2

• ·         Lesson 8: Rubber casting
• ·         Homework: Sample rubber casting

Week 9: April 9

• ·         Lesson 9: Advanced rubber casting

Week 10: April 16

• ·         Lesson 10: Concrete casting
• ·         Homework: Sample concrete casting

Week 11: April 23

• ·         Lesson 11: Chalk and Paper casting
• ·         Homework: sample casting of either material

Week 12: April 30

• ·         Work time

Week 13: May 7

• ·         Work time

Week 14: May 14

• ·         Final critiques