The SRISA 3D and 4D sculpture studio program is dedicated to a contemporary vision of materials, a critical understanding of form and space, and a wide-ranging use of technical resources that extend beyond traditional art practices.
Course Structure
During semesters, courses meet twice a week for 6 contact hours, which include demonstrations, art history and critical theory presentations to support coursework, and extensive open-studio and one-on-one work with professors.
Mid-term and final critiques are an important component of each course and students are encouraged to participate in discussions and engage with their peers. Classes leave campus to work on-site whenever possible to visit exhibitions and museums while engaging directly with the cultural landscape. Students have generous access to the art studios outside of class during evenings and weekends to work on projects. The best work made by each student is chosen after the final critique and presented at the final student show.
3D
3D courses at SRISA introduce students to various processes that explore the performative aspects of creation and challenge the significance of formal aesthetics. Multiple mediums such as woodworking, clay, plaster, metal, and fiber guide the students through a range of approaches to sculpture and installation rooted in a conceptual investigation that engages the history of the medium while pushing its boundaries and definitions. The projection of ambitious works and the elaboration of proposals further the students’ vision beyond the immediate while fostering growth and articulation of the their choices.
4D
SRISA’s 4D courses are dedicated to the development of works rooted in temporal and multisensory mediums. By engaging ethereal and technological techniques to materials, students are challenged to develop a range of interconnected approaches in the realm of performance, video, film, sound and computer as well as circuit based works. Students acquire a deep understanding of the role of context and extensive knowledge of related conceptual and experimental theories that involve the development of visual and textual language, realized through various artistic approaches to representation and presentation.
Facilities
Located on the Santa Reparata Campus, the large open-space sculpture studio is one of the most dynamic spaces at SRISA.
The Sculpture Studios, awash with natural lighting from the skylights, is a spacious area divided into three main areas on the ground floor; advanced studios, sculpture studies, projection and lecture area, private workspaces, and a gallery. The large loft-like floor plan offers ample space for the installation of work. The unique openness of the facility along with many architectural intricacies inspire students to create and reimage the space every semester.
The Sculpture Studio is complemented by a separate fully equipped wood shop and kiln room. The classroom features a combination of open workspace, tables, a sink area, personal project storage areas, and a tool shop. Facilities for clay, plaster, metalsmithing, installation, work-working, fibers, digital video, sound production, and editing provide students with the tools necessary to develop their ideas, while access to the facilities outside of class time allows students the time and space to be creative.
