Project Lead: Simon Trethewey, Amber Khokhar and Jonathan Horning
Number of participants: 16
Duration: 4 days
Project Outline:
Project One Arabesque Design – form and symmetry (2 Days)
Exploring new insights into biomorphic principles within nature and interpreting the variety of the vegetal world to inspire personal development in art and design.
An introduction to the geometric analysis of biomorphic principles and the structure of arabesque design from the world of traditional arts, this will lead to translation of motifs and their application to ceramic plates.
Project Two Geometry of Structure (2 Days)
A point of departure for artists and designers to establish a fresh awareness of structure underlying ‘order in nature’, as the basis to inspire future work in their own fields.
An introduction to Platonic and Archimedean solids through 3D model – making and drawing exercises, this will lead to the exploration of spatial systems founded in the natural world.
Timetable:
Geometry of Structure Project in 1st floor classroom
Participating students: 8 RCA & 7 PFSTA students
Tuesday
9.30 – 10.00 am: Welcome and Introductions
10.00 – 10.45: Illustrated power point talk
10.45 am – 1.00 pm: Simple stick models
1.00 – 2.00 pm: Lunch break
2.00 – 5.00 pm: Stick models constructing Platonic and Archimedean solids and space frames.
Wednesday
9.30 am – 1.00 pm: Drawing nets for plain model making.
1.00 – 2.00 pm: Lunch break
2.00 – 5.00 pm: Constructing card models of various types of polyhedra with some exploration of close packing. Depending on time and space available, the exploration of a larger scale geodesic construction.
Thursday & Friday
Two groups to swap classes.
Arabesque design Project
(in basement workshop & 2nd floor boardroom)
Participating students: 8 RCA & 6/7 PFSTA students
Tuesday
9.30 – 10.00 am: Welcome and Introductions
10.00 – 10.45: illustrated power point talk
10.45 am – 1.00 pm: Geometrical analysis of flowers and observational work from nature
1.00 – 2.00 pm: Lunch break
2.00 – 5.00 pm: Analysis and development of arabesque design
Wednesday
9.30 am – 1.00 pm: Finishing and pouncing the design drawing
1.00 – 2.00 pm: Lunch break
2.00 – 5.00 pm: Under glaze painting onto plate (plates to be fired and delivered to the RCA later)
Thursday & Friday
Two groups to swap classes.
The location will be at The Prince’s School of Traditional Arts, 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SG (nearest underground Old Street on the northern line via Bank).
Each student will work in a group of 8 RCA and 7 PSTA students. There will be two such groups participating alternately in each workshop. The two projects will run concurrently in two working environments within the School: one in the PSTA first floor classroom and the other in the basement workshop.
The ceramic plates will be fired after the workshops have been completed and will be delivered to the RCA for collection by the students. The School has an Open Programme running short courses (evenings, Saturdays and week long) which are open to the public and the RCA students are welcome to sign up for any courses after the workshops.
Materials you will need to bring:
They need to bring with them a compass (Jakar is a good brand with at least 15cm leg), pencil 2H or HB, ruler 12”, eraser, pad of A3 paper 150 gms and a biro with a note taking pad.
Links/images
Please look at website of the School www.psta.org.uk. The School has a book entitled “Arts and Crafts of the Islamic Lands” published by Thames and Hudson which is a good source of reference.