Advanced sculpture & post-studio practice

Fall 2025 - STUDIO 276
In Person Mondays and Wednesdays 1:00-3:30 PM
Office hours by appointment
Email: richard.saxton@colorado.edu

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Texts:
Society of the Spectacle by Guy Debord
A Sculptural Reader by Harper and Moyer
Passages in Modern Sculpture by Krauss
The Elements of Sculpture by George (optional)
Negative Space: Trajectories in Sculpture by Peter Weibel (optional)

Required Materials:
Sketchbook
Camera, phone-cam, drawing materials you like
Large spiral drawing pad of paper (white)
Materials for your projects
Tools for your projects are not in the tool crib or tool box

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ADVANCED SCULPTURE is designed as a forum for individualized studies in sculpture and post-studio practice at the highest undergraduate level. Students explore what it means to practice sculpture today by creating new art projects, readings, class discussions, and critiques. This course is for students to create new work, learn about current and past work in the field, discuss their methods and philosophies, and ultimately continue establishing their creative visions. 
 
 

COURSE SCHEDULE

WEEK ONE
Aug 25           Course Introduction
                      Create Bio and Image holders for the outside studio door
                      Order texts if desired                        

                       Create Studio work schedule in your calendar
                      10 hrs per week minimum.                               

                     


Aug 27              Student Presentations
                          Prepare a minimum 10-minute presentation on your work:
                          1. Where you’re from or feel most at home geographically or spiritually - origins
                          2. Your artistic process (past and current)
                          3. Artists, examples of work you are inspired by
                          4. Your finished artwork (what you’ve made)
                          5. A few goals for the semester

                  Readings Due: Blockbusters by Dave Hickey

                      

WEEK TWO                     

Sept. 1                No Class. Labor Day


Sept. 3                Library Research Session
                          Book Crate Design Session   
                          Studio Set for Semester                          

                      

WEEK THREE           

Sept. 08              Book Crates Due by end of class
                            20 + art research books Due to your workstation by end of class 
                          Profiles Due to image holders outside the studio door by end of class   
                          Studio Work Session
                           

                                            

                                                    

Sept. 10           CRIT 0:  2-hour sculptures  

                     
                     
                                                                                     

WEEK FOUR  
Sept 15                     Due: 1-page Artist Statements   
                                Reading Due: Passages in Modern Sculpture Chapter 3
                                Lecture/Discussion: Brancusi, Rodin, Duchamp to Antoni + Pre-Minimalism
                                Studio Work Session                           
                                                   
                                               
Sept 17                     Project 1
                                sketchbook prompt: Edge
                                Studio Work Day
                                                   

                                                 
WEEK FIVE  -      
Sept 22               Project 1
                          sketchbook prompt: Installation - Scale
                          Reading Due: Sculpture in the Expanded Field
Presentations: A Sculptural Reader by Harper and Moyer + 2
                          Discussion 

                            

 

Sept 24               Project 1
                            Studio Work Day
                                                

WEEK SIX          
Sept 29                Critique Project 1
                          Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 200 Words                  


Oct. 1                Critique Project 1
                          Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 200 Words
                               
                                               

             

WEEK SEVEN            

Oct 6            Project 2

                        Presentations Due: A Sculptural Reader by Harper and Moyer + 2
                        Clara, Lauren, Hailee


                        sketchbook prompt: Threshold

Oct 8            Studio Work Day
                            


WEEK EIGHT               

Oct 13        Project 2
                    sketchbook prompt: Drafts                                            

Oct 15         Project 2
                    Studio Work Day
                    


WEEK NINE     

Oct 20           Critique Project 2
                     
Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 50 Words 
                                       

                         
Oct 22           Critique Project 2
                     
Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 50 Words
                     

                         

WEEK TEN   
Oct  27         Project 3
                    Studio Work Day 

Oct 29          Field Trip: Arvada Arts Center Sculpture Field / Graveyard
 




WEEK ELEVEN  

Nov 3           Project 3
                    sketchbook prompt: Material Weight 
                    Studio Work Day

Nov 5            Project 3
                    Presentations Due: A Sculptural Reader by Harper and Moyer + 2
                    Hailee, Polly, Clara 



WEEK TWELVE   
Nov 10        Project 3
                        sketchbook prompt: Lighting 
                        Studio Work Day                  
                  

Nov 12       Project 3
                      Studio Work Day


WEEK THIRTEEN 

WEEK
Nov 17             Project 3
                        Studio Work Day 


Nov 19       Presentations Due: A Sculptural Reader by Harper and Moyer + 2                   
                  Lauren, Courtney 


WEEK FOURTEEN
Nov 24          NO CLASS - FALL BREAK

Nov 26           NO CLASS - FALL BREAK 



WEEK FIFTEEN
Dec 1        Final Critique - Project 3
                Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 200 Words

Dec 3        Final Critique - Project 3
                Artist Statements + Label, Approx. 200 Words

WEEK SIXTEEN 


Dec 8        Final Portfolios Due by 5PM