Although very few divisions exist anymore between mediums, why is Chromophobia (fear of color) so prevalent amongst 3D artists and even painters? The roots of this fear go much deeper than fashion and taste as we’ll examine in David Batchelor’s book “Chromophobia”. In addition to investigating the nature of this puritanical prejudice as it relates to a long history of anti ‘orientalism’, racism, and sexism, we will also examine chromophobia on a personal front. Expanding your material base and addressing palette are just two of many ways to embolden your work, support your content, and make your work contemporary or timely. So, your inner chromophobia might just be holding you back.

 

In this class we will broaden our material vocabularies (we’ll visit the materials library in S.F.), delve into ‘palette’, as well as explore the history of this commingling of color and form during the past century. We will examine our fears and our inspirations. Color is more than art, it’s life! Using it in a very personal and authentic way can change your work (and life). As part of WASTELAND (an interdisciplinary science based studio practice which involves 4 other CCA classes in diverse disciplines), we collectively will explore recycled and repurposed materials as well as bring Scientists into the classroom (Waste and footprint, as well as color theory and color and the brain).

 

Exploring images, videos, and interviews with Artists (ranging from David Smith to Jessica Stockholder to Assume Vivid Astro Focus) who have successfully traversed these areas of exploration, we will gain a more complete picture of the mixed media/installation/’color meets form’ lineage. This studio based class is perfect for Painting majors who want to come off the wall and explore painting in 3D/ installation and Sculpture majors who want to expand your material and color repertoire.

 

Permission to combine media has long been granted in non-traditional art worlds. But, in contemporary sculpture and painting (education especially), it is a fairly recent development. Looking at images, videos, and interviews with Artists (ranging from David Smith to Jessica Stockholder to Shinique Smith to Sarah Sze to Elliot Hundley to Assume Vivid Astro Focus) who have successfully traversed these areas of exploration, we will gain a more complete picture of the mixed media/ installation/’color meets form’ lineage. In addition to Contemporary American and European art, we will also look at non-western examples like the varied and longstanding traditions of Asian art and everyday ‘living’ rituals that incorporate non-traditional materials, forms, and color.

 

A strong studio component will help facilitate you in better understanding your own individual work. You will receive assignments that will allow you to examine the relationship between color, form, meaning and you! The work will vary from discreet object making to installation to site specific or collaborative work. As an upper level class, I encourage students to tailor assignments to their own individual interests and directions. You will also be required to do research on artists or art forms of your choosing that explore color and form.

 

But most of all, I want you to leave your comfort zone, and take some risks!