Embodiment in 2-D Art

" If embodiment is an existential condition in which the body is the subjective source or intersubjective ground of experience, then studies under the rubric of embodiment are not 'about' the body per se. Instead they are about culture and experience insofar as these can be understood from the standpoint of bodily being-in-the-world."-Thomas Csordas in Perspectives on Embodiment

We will explore and connect these ideas as we practice the intersubjective experience of art making. Through the physical act of drawing and painting we will study fundamental elements in 2-D art in the context of contemporary ideas around embodiment. We will learn formal skills and consider their symbolic meaning in a social context: perspective and perception, color theory and emotions, paint and skin, line and mark making, scale and the body in relation to, contour and negative space, a body of work as a becoming, figure and gaze, etc.

This program is designed for students who desire to gain experience in basic studio skills and an understanding of visual literacy and concept development and want to put that experience into visual form. The curriculum will be primarily studio based with workshops, critiques and independent projects culminating in a final project. The context of art history and critical theory will be integral to our inquiry. Program work will involve a focused and demanding combination of studio work, reading, research, writing and seminar discussion. There will be a trip to Seattle or Portland to visit galleries and museums.