Assemblages with Found Objects

Rusty nails, discarded wood, sewing notions, vintage toys and family snapshots – combine objects like these with glue and ingenuity to make an evocative three-dimensional assemblage. Learn from a master assemblage artist to create new meaning by re-combining old objects both cherished and banal.
Please Note: The summer class is designed for people who already have some experience with assemblages. The winter class welcomes people of all levels, including beginners.
For the first class, I will bring in some of my assemblages and talk about the process of making the art. I will show images of other artists’ assemblages, including those of Joseph Cornell. Students will have an opportunity to talk about the items they would like to use for their work. I will bring computer, scanner and printer for students who don’t have access to PhotoShop or do not want to use their original paper goods in their artwork.
In the remaining classes, I will help students (as needed) with both practical and aesthetic advice as you construct your own assemblages.
Assemblage websites
- College Art Association links to assemblage artists
- Open Directory Project links to assemblage artists
- International Museum of Collage, Assemblage & Construction
Selected assemblage artists
- Amy Hitchcock
- Joseph Cornell
- Louise Nevelson
- Dale Copeland
- James Michael Starr
- John Gutoskey
- and some additional Joseph Cornell resources
Course Number
AC516Class Size
6Age Range
17+, teens by permissionSkill Level
BeginnerPrerequisite
SUMMER 2010: Some experience with assemblages, either through previous Assemblages classes or on your own.
WINTER 2011: No previous experience required. All levels welcome.
Materials
Bring to class:
A wooden box of any size
For example:
• cigar box
• wine box (check local liquor stores, which often discard these)
• old kitchen drawer
Found objects
Things I use in my own assemblages include:
• family photographs
• postcards, maps, decorative paper, other paper ephemera
• sewing notions (fabric, needles, threads)
• old tools and hardware
• parts of old dolls and toys
• kitchen gadgets
Throughout the course, I will bring a computer, scanner and printer for students who don't want to use their original paper ephemera in their assemblages.
Class will provide glues, rulers, scissors, balsa wood and assorted paints.
Students in the SUMMER section should bring a bag lunch for both classes.
Instructor, Schedule, and Cost
Instructor: Amy Hitchcock
SUMMER
Section 1S: 2 Saturdays, 9:30am–3:30pm, July 31 & Aug 7, 2010 - FULL
$150
WINTER
Section 1W: 6 Sundays, 9:30am–12:30pm, Jan 16–Feb 20, 2011
$210


