There are many ways of viewing the self. One of these is through the lens of history. For this project, you will select a historical ceramic piece and use its formal elements as well as its conceptual, cultural, ceremonial, or utilitarian aspects as a way to create your self-portrait in clay. The objective of this project is to draw on and appropriate a pre-existing historical vernacular as a means to express your contemporary selves.
Consider the definition of “self” in thinking of how to represent yourself through this historical lens:
Self:
1. a person or thing referred to with respect to complete individuality: one's own self.
2. a person's nature, character, etc.: his/her better self.
3. personal interest.
4. Philosophy.
a. the ego; that which knows, remembers, desires, suffers, etc., as contrasted with that known, remembered, etc.
b. the uniting principle, as a soul, underlying all subjective experience.
Remember, a self-portrait doesn’t necessarily mean portraying likeness or a perfect representation of what you look like. Think of your personality traits, your favorite food, color, time of day, your habits, and routines. How can these be used as a symbol for your “self’ or version of your “self.”
In your notebook:
From the slide lecture or from your own individual research, choose a historical piece of ceramics you will use as your source for your self-portrait. What is it about the historical ceramic piece to which you are drawn? How could you use your initial attraction to the piece as a way to portray your self?
1.Make a list of ten ways you could visually and symbolically represent of your ‘self’ that you could use as a starting point for this project.
2. After you’ve selected a historical piece, make a list of at least ten physical elements (e.g. form, color, surface) it possesses. Be as specific as possible.
Then, make a list of ten contextual/conceptual attributes (e.g. type of ceremonial use, the surface of the clay mimicking skin, culture).
3. Compare your lists. Are there any initial connections can you make between your three lists?
***After the brainstorming, you will construct your self-portrait using one or a combination of hand building techniques such as slab, coil, pinching as demonstrated in class. Your project must reflect two aspects of your chosen historical piece, be it form, surface or a tradition that revolves around it. Your piece should be no smaller than a 10” cube.
Here are some suggestions for research.
Artstor:
http://www.artstor.org/index.shtml
Visual Resource Collection (VRC): Search by Worktype: Ceramic (objects)
https://www.cu.edu/digitallibrary/
https://www.cu.edu/digitallibrary/index.html#
https://www.cu.edu/DigitalLibrary/aahvrcauthentication.html enter-
username: boulder
password: boulder
VRC side collection: RM 82 in Fleming building
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