The document discusses different types and purposes of sculpture including commemorative works, religious sculpture, and those meant for aesthetic or communicative purposes. It describes common materials used like stone, metal, and wood and techniques like carving, casting, and assemblage. The document contrasts craftsman or traditional sculptors who focus on mastering techniques and materials with conceptual sculptors who prioritize ideas over medium. Big name contemporary sculptors highlighted include Vik Muniz and Do-ho Suh.

1. What is Sculpture?

2. The Function of Sculpture
Public and Private Works
– Commemorative
– Religious Reflection
– Aesthetic
– Communicative

3. Commemorative
• War monuments
– Dedicated to great
heroes
– Fallen Soldiers
– Places of Conquest
– Items of Conquest
– Symbols of peace
– Sculpted:
• marble
• stone
• carved architectural
friezes in high or low
relief
• Cast bronze

4. Commemorative
• Historical Moments
– expansion of land
– changes in law
– memorial to
devastation

5. Commemorative
• Famous People
– Rulers
– Nobility
– Heroes
– Humanitarian Efforts
– Social and Political
– Artistic Impact
• Lay People
– Figures
– Busts

6. Religious Reflection
• Idols
– Gods/goddesses
• Icons
• Funerary statues
• Totem Poles
• Meditative Gardens
• Earth works
• Sculpted in:
– Stone
– Metals
– Marble
– Wood
– Natural materials

7. Absolute Aesthetic
• Consideration of
materials and elements
and principles of art
only
• Consideration of public
environment it may be
commissioned for.
• Sculpted in:
– Sculptures who are
craftsman typically fit
under this category

8. Communicative
• Idea dominates material
and skill
– Material follows idea
– Sculptures who work
communicatively tend to
change materials often
dependent on what they
need to communicate
• Opinion-minded
• Feelings/expression
• Political or social
commentary

9. Sculpture and Materials
• Subtractive
• Additive

10. Sculpture and Materials
• Subtractive
– Marble
– Stone
– Wood
– Clay
– Plaster
Through relief forms,
chiseling, carving,
turning, throwing etc.
Found in statues, doors,
friezes, architecture,
pottery

11. Sculpture and Materials
• Additive
– Clay
– Found Objects/materials
– Metals
Through construction,
modeling, adhesives,
welding, mold making
Found in installation, clay
objects, assemblages,
busts/figures
(sometimes)

12. Sculptural Methods
• Contemporary Methods
• Traditional Methods

13. Sculptural Methods
• Traditional
– Bronzing
• Poured and cast bronze
– Plaster
• Poured or strips
– Carving
• Marble
• Cement
• Concrete
• Granite
– Clay
• Throwing
• Molds -hump/slump
• Relief
• Modeling
– Slab, Pinch, Coil

14. Sculptural Methods
• Contemporary
– Assemblages
– Installation Art
– Performance Art
– Interactive Art
– Sound and Video Art
– Kinetic Art
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W
– Contemporary Materials
• Fiberglass strips
• Plastics
• Resins
• Paper Mache

15. Sculptural Concepts
• Craftsman
Sculptor
• Conceptual
Sculptor

16. Sculptural Concepts
• Craftsman Sculptor
– Traditional sculptor
– Working with refining
or understanding a
particular medium
– Tends to focus on
one medium
– Often figurative
– Known through
commissioned work

17. Sculptural Concepts
• Conceptual Sculptor
– Contemporary Sculpture
– Working with ideas
– Tends to not focus on one
particular medium. Allows idea
to dictate medium
– Known through gallery work
and documented photographs
or video
– Funded by National
Endowment for the Arts or
other grants

18. Big Idea Artists
Vik Muniz
http://blog.ted.com/2007/04/20/vik_muniz_on_te/
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/natalie_jeremijenko_the_art_of_
http://video.pbs.org/video/1237715781
Do-ho-Suh