Desert Fabrication

From The Department of Physical Art

AQ Sound Bath by Scott (Seamus) Kildall, Bombay Beach Biennale

Overview

How does creating art in the desert landscape change its interaction with people and the environment? Mars College is unique — it’s a site-specific temporary community — situated in what appears to be a barren setting. The area is sparsely inhabited and has materials for artistic reuse everywhere. The possibilities in this specific canvas open up a rich conversation that taps into a vibrant history of contemporary art. 

This course module is a production course that will be a part of the Department of Physical Art and rely on working in the shop to make physical things, installations based on art, architecture and other large things.

We will begin some light readings and conceptual aspects of creating art in the landscape, with conversations around Land Art pioneers such as Robert Smithson and Nancy Holt to spark ideas and conversations around what we might want to build.

Will will also make field trips to Bombay Beach to explore the installations and East Jesus, also possibly, the Noah Purifoy Joshua Tree Museum to seek inspiration and context for what kinds of things we can make in the desert.

The production goal will be to make a physical installation for the Finals and also optionally, the Bombay Beach Biennale.

I am offering up a curatorial possibility of hosting artwork on my two beach parcels — called Ceres — for the Bombay Beach Biennale, and hosting a 1-year exhibition of artwork created from this course module there.

We will support each other with ideation, design, and production, offering feedback, mentoring and physical help with making large-scale art installation work and building community along the way!

Sun Tunnels (1973–1976) by Nancy Holt

Pre-requisites

None. Any previous fabrication experience will be welcome. We will share knowledge and work as a collective.

Time

This will be a good amount of time with a low bar for technical entry. We expect about 3 hours/week of actual course instruction/checking in with most of this time being front-loaded towards the beginning. The Shop will be open for communal activity from 1-5pm, Monday-Friday. This will be a place where we can expect fabrication support.

Joshua Tree Outdoor Museum, Noah Purifoy

Rough Course Outline (this will change)

Week 1: (Jan 7):

Class 1:

90 minute Introduction to “Desert Fabrication” with introductions, ~20 minute slide presentation, tour of the shop, question & answer, ideas about projects and freeform discussion and how to tailor this course for folks.

1-hr shop orientation, basic tool training. Wood fabrication training: table saw, compound mitre saw, drill press. Shop clean.

Week 2 (Jan 15):

Shop improvements.

Class 2: Land Art and what it means to build things in the environment.

1 hour: Laser-cutter training

Field Trip: Walking tour of the Bombay Beach installations. Take photos.

Discuss ideas. Sunset on the Beach Parcels (Ceres) with a fire pit.

Homework: Brainstorm your project!

Week 2 (Jan 22):

Class 3:

1 hour. Student presentations on inspirations (5 minutes each), follow up from Ideas Week, combine with what you saw at Bombay Beach.

Welding demo.

Ceres land clear and art relocation 

Field trip to East Jesus (Saturday)

Week 3 (Jan 29):

Class 4

1 hour: Brainstorm ideation + project ideation

Project management.

CNC demo..

Week 4 (Feb 5):

Class 5

1 hour Final Project critiques

Get Materials list

Class 2

2 hour field trip to Ben’s (TBD) for CNC demo, other spits in town

Week 5 (Feb 12):

Have your project ready for presentation

Materials and project plan ready to do

Midterms — Feb 16th-18th (details tbd)

Week 6-10:

Build weeks

Finals — Mar 15th-17th (details tbd)

Ceres, two beach parcels at Bombay Beach