Undergraduate Course: New Medallists: Bronze Art Medals (DESI08111)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This studio based course encompasses both specialist skills and techniques from the Jewellery and Silversmithing industry in casting and modeling. The course will also integrate design research and thinking alongside experience of working to professional competition briefs set by external organisations, agencies and companies.
This course New Medallists : Bronze Art Medals (BAM) provides students with an introduction to small scale studio bronze casting and working with narrative design in the execution of a piece of contemporary hand-held sculptural metalwork to be designed as a medal.
During this project students will learn carving and modeling techniques. Students will also be introduced to different methods of casting metal from small-scale studios to larger foundries.
The course runs in tandem with the national British art Medal student medal project. This live competition encourages and promotes the art of making medals throughout art colleges in the United Kingdom. Each year over one hundred student medals submitted for judging for prizes and selection for exhibition. The Worshipful Company of Founders, the Worshipful Company of Cutlers and Thomas Fattorini Ltd are among the institutions that support the project, and the British Museum sometimes purchases particularly meritorious student medals. |
| Course description |
Through this course students will explore how studio and design work can translate narratives, themes and messages into 3 dimensions carvings and models for a small two-sided medal (approximately 80 mm diameter).
Talks / lectures, visits and handling sessions will provide an introduction to the history of medals and the
development of the contemporary art medal.
Students will be taught how to design, model, mold, cast and finish a medal in bronze that would be eligible for the annual national British Art Medal Society competition.
The course syllabus includes:
1) A lecture and briefing about art medals, the potential wider competition brief;
2) A studio introduction to carving and modeling techniques in wax and other materials like clay and plaster;
3) A studio introduction to casting techniques with metal (sand casting to direct burn out and lost wax casting);
4) A studio introduction to rubber or silicon mould making (to allow for multiples to be made from an original);
5) A factory visit to an Edinburgh bronze foundry, who will later complete final production;
6) An introduction to the theory of the patination and colouring of bronzes
Design consideration will be fostered in relation to the:
1) Means of construction/modelling;
2) Use of edge to incorporate text, imagery or pattern;
3) Development of a theme between the two sides of the medal, to symbolise a theme;
4) Imaginative dialogue between all surfaces;
5) Innovation of the medium;
6) Plane and perspective;
7) Expression of an abstract idea.
Final medals must be able to be held comfortable in the hand and weigh less than 1 kilo. Maximum size 80 x 80 mm x 10mm thick (small parts can protrude to 15mm).
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | If this course is core to your programme you will be automatically enrolled. For all other students, including Design students, the course is open on a first come first served basis until the course is full. Where a course depends on some technical proficiency, PTs are encouraged to help students check with the appropriate Course Organiser regarding suitability, e.g. if student has previous external practical experience. The course will be open to enrolments from Wednesday 11th September at 11.00 am. Please sign up for the course through your own School (they will advise if this is done via your PT, SSO or Teaching Office). We do not currently keep a waiting list. |
| Additional Costs | Approximately £50 to cover bronze casting foundry charge and studio materials. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 12 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 2,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 7,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 28,
External Visit Hours 3,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
150 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% course work
Students will submit the following:
1. Research work and design drawing in a dedicated A3 sketchbook which includes reflective notes from study visits and lectures.
2. Preliminary models, test pieces and exercises that document technical development
3. A final realized piece of work (the bronze medal)
Relationship between Assessment and Learning Outcomes:
Components of assessment 1,2,3 link directly to Learning Outcomes 1,2,3 ( 1:1, 2:2, 3:3) and are equally weighted |
| Feedback |
1. Group presentations and crits for verbal feedback from peers and staff;
2. documentation of individual feedback via VLE;
3. tutorials for discussion of feedback
Formative Mid course/ mid semester verbal feedback
Summative assessment of work at the end of the semester with written feedback |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Respond to a competition brief to formulate appropriate ideas and approaches through design research and investigation to theme of medal design.
- Evidence a transparent iterative process of material research and design development relating to the design for a small scale sculptural design that communicates its idea or purpose effectively.
- Demonstrate the ability to select themes and directions appropriate to lines of enquiry that lead to a resolved 3D final medal and 2D designs.
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Reading List
McCreight, T. Complete Metalsmith : an illustrated handbook. Davis Publications (1982)
Untracht, Oppi, Jewelry Concepts and Technology, Doubleday (1985)
Codina, C. Jewellery and silversmithing techniques. London : A & C Black, (2002)
Brepohl, E. Theory & practice of goldsmithing, Portland, Maine : Brynmorgen Press, (2001)
Jones, M Art of the Medal, (1979) |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Design skills (Studio and Research)
Technical skills (Carving and modelling and mould making in studio)
Competitive Design (studio)
Professional communication of design ideas (Reviews in studio and to professional external agents)
Working to deadlines
Working with external companies |
| Keywords | Modeling,Molding,Carving,Casting,Design,Transcription |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mrs Jenny Gray
Tel: (0131 6)51 5805
Email: Jennifer.Gray@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Georgia Dodsworth
Tel: (0131 6)51 5712
Email: georgia.dodsworth@ed.ac.uk |
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