Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - CA 461 D100

Studio in Visual Art VI (5)

Class Number: 6519

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    DT VSAR

  • Prerequisites:

    CA (or FPA) 460 and status as an approved major in visual art.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Permits students completing the visual art major to work in an open and critical studio situation. Students continue to develop a body of work begun in CA (or FPA) 460 for their graduating exhibition at the end of the term. Preparation and installation of the exhibition is part of the course requirement. A course materials fee is required. Students with credit for FPA 461 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is the culmination of the four years of studio practice in the BFA. It is designed to facilitate critical studio production and class critiques of work. The course also focuses on all aspects of the organization, promotion, design and mounting of the BFA graduating exhibition in April. Discussions will include professional practices and the artist’s relation to gallery/museum. Students will develop their proposed projects in consultation with the instructor.

Students are expected work independently on self-motivated studio projects and to participate in class critiques.

(Exhibition/Studio Participation includes exhibition planning, prep and take-down as well as contribution to class discussions and critiques. Participation also includes discussions with professor about the planning of your work and how you incorporate feedback from professor and peers)

Grading

  • Projects 70%
  • Exhibition/Studio Participation 30%

NOTES:

Grades are determined according to the student’s level of:


  • seriousness of engagement with their practice and the problems posed during the course
  • openness and willingness to pursue avenues of investigation relevant to their own progress and needs of their work

  • openness to and awareness of issues in contemporary art
  • complexity of ideas manifested in projects and how those ideas are transformed into material existence ie. understanding of the relationship between materials used and an artwork’s connotation

  • understanding of the chosen process of production
  • attention paid to the “finish” of works: care of fabrication appropriate to works; presentation of works

  • contribution to critiques: level of thoughtful analysis of works

  • ability and willingness to integrate feedback from critiques and from instructor into one’s practice i.e. future work and the thinking about one’s own work and other artist’s work
  • development of work over the semester: degree of advancement attained beyond entering level of achievement

  • ongoing contribution to class group as a whole

REQUIREMENTS:


Please note the following:

• Attendance and punctuality are very important. We are in a pandemic. Please do not come to class if you are unwell. Email the professor to let them know. It is your responsibility to find out what you have missed.
• Students are expected to be in class and working during scheduled class times; material collection, research, etc., is to be done outside of class.
• Students are expected to spend at least as much time on the course outside of class as in class, i.e. 3 hr class + 3 hr extra.
• Complete your projects to meet deadlines. This includes organizing your work for online critique prior to the beginning of class. Marks will be deducted due to late projects.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

There is a course fee for this class but it will not cover all supplies. Students must bring their own materials for individual projects.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.