Seeing and Sensing the City

Pre-requisites for enrolment

This is a Level 7 course and as such is seen as an introductory course and no previous knowledge is assumed. However, students should have some basic experience of art practice or experience in a related visual practice / discipline such as architecture, an interest in contemporary art and the urban environment, basic drawing and painting materials, such as pencils, pastels and small sketchbook, and a digital camera / cameraphone in an outdoor environment. Students should be comfortable with working outside for short periods during each class and come suitably dressed for the weather.

Special Information

This course requires you to bring your own art and design materials. Most of these can be sourced and purchased in advance from any good art material supplier such as the Art Shop at ECA Lauriston Place Campus. Essential items not readily available will be provided during classes and you will be invoiced at the end of the course for items used. Listed below are the materials and equipment requirements for this course and an estimated cost. You are advised not to purchase any materials until you have received confirmation the course is running – usually 7 days before the start of the course.  You will be guided by the tutor as to which materials you need to bring to classes each week.

Essential materials you will need to bring to the first class:

• A small sketchbook and pencil/pen and basic colour set that students feel comfortable with using outside

• A simple digital camera / cameraphone for capturing images during fieldwork

• Small reporters’ notebook and pencil for making notes on fieldwork and for journaling thoughts and ideas between classes

Materials and equipment provided for students as part of the course and included in course fee:

• 1 sheet of A1 one-sided card

• 2 sheets of A3 tracing paper

Content of Course

1. Introduction.

Introduction to aims and structure of the course. Students to bring, for group discussion, a sketch/photo/small piece of work which exemplifies for them the way they currently see the city. Introductory practical exercise as a form of orientation to the course.

2. Viewpoint.

Slideshow: selected artists across a variety of disciplines who work with viewpoint. Briefing and preparation for structured practical exercise on viewpoint. Structured exercise: viewpoint - drawing / photography / journalling.

3. The scale of the city.

Discussion of participants’ images/responses from week 2. lideshow: selected artists across a variety of disciplines who work with scale. Structured exercise: scale – drawing/photography/journalling.

4. Project development.

Students to work in small groups to share ideas on how ‘scale’ and ‘viewpoint’ might be developed as a theme in their work. Tutor to hold individual discussions with each student regarding their own interests. Students to develop individual project using fieldwork techniques explored in weeks 2 and 3.

5. Project development.

Continuation of week 4 work with further individual discussions.

6. Walking in the City.

Slideshow: artists who work with walking in the city. Group discussion and questions. Structured exercise: walking – walking / photography / journalling.

7. The ‘infraordinary’.

Slideshow: artists who work with the infraordinary. Group discussion and questions. Structured exercise: the infraordinary - drawing / collecting / journalling.

8. Project development.

Students to work in small groups to share ideas on how ‘walking’ and ‘the infraordinary’ might be developed as a theme in their work. Tutor to hold individual discussions with each student regarding their own interests. Students to develop individual project using fieldwork techniques explored in weeks 6 and 7.

9. Project development.

Continuation of work from week 8.

10. Project development and course conclusion.

Conclusion of student projects. Group discussion of learner ‘journey’, facilitated by students bringing the piece of work they brought in week 1 and a piece of work they have begun to develop during the course.

Teaching method(s)

Through short, local fieldwork visits, tution shall be given to a range of practical strategies and methods, which participants might use to gather visual and sensory information from the urban environment to make their own work. In the studio, demonstratations shall be delivered in relevant practical techniques for developing work and advise on materials according to the interests of each student.

One to one tution shall also be given during the fieldwork trips and in a studio context, speaking to each person in turn about their experience of the task they have been given, to help them reflect on their experience and begin to draw out their interests.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Employ a range of practical methods to engage, experience and gather information from the city, utilising a range of approaches by artists, writers and other urban practitioners.

• Relate to the urban environment in a critical and reflective way.

• Contextualise field based research methods to contemporary art practice, synthesising approaches within their own art practice, as appropriate.

Sources

Core Readings

The following texts are recommended. Students will be advised of further specific readings as the course progresses:

• Evans, D. (2013). The Art of Walking: A Field Guide. London: Black Dog Publishing

• Perec, G. (1997). Species of Spaces and Other Pieces. London: Penguin

• Coverley, M., (2006). Psychogeography. London: Pocket Essentials

• Johnstone, S., (2008). The Everyday: Documents of Contemporary Art. Massachusetts: MIT Press

Class Handouts

Course information will be provided on enrolment. Handouts with references, teaching summaries and excerpts from selected texts will be provided at relevant points in the course.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.