Art 4990 | Special Topics: The Found Image

This course will address photography’s expanded field by making use of found and sourced lens-based imagery for the purpose of making fine art.

Below are descriptions of some of the assignments in the course with student work examples.

Project 1: The De-Constructed Family Album

Using found vernacular images with a focus on family that are provided by you or images from your own family albums, you will create a series of 3 images that go together thematically and stylistically. This assignment will have a prescribed theme and studio problem, which you will need to develop a concept for and visually resolve.

A photograph of a girl that seems to be burned on the outer corners A photograph of a family with white pen like over the children, and tape like over the moms mouth. Nothing on father A photo of what looks like a man holding a baby, repeated 4 times over lapping. a photograph of an older woman, repeated twice seems like sewn back together

Project 2: False Memories

Using found vernacular images that are provided by you or images from your own family albums, you will create a series of 3 images that go together thematically and stylistically. This assignment will have a prescribed theme and studio problem, which you will need to develop a concept for and visually resolve.

A photograph of what seems to be like two people looking at something that does not exist A photograph of a young child being held by a figure that no longer exist A photograph of a figure that no longer exist grilling hamburgers A photograph of a person selling a rose, the photograph is dismembered into small triangles a photograph of a man and woman dismembered into squares and rectangles of the image

Project 3: Evidence of Existence

For this project you will address the issue of existence by using found vernacular images, images from your own family albums, or copyright free images. This assignment will have a prescribed theme and studio problem, which you will need to visually resolve.

A photograph of a mannequin made out of other photographs A photograph of a photo album like figure filled with other images A brief case full of other photographs, a an empty pill bottle, and a fork A photographed image of a box like cage with lights

Project 4: Identity

Using found vernacular images that are provided by you or images from your own family albums, you will create a series of 3 images that go together thematically and stylistically. This assignment will have a prescribed theme and studio problem, which you will need to visually resolve.

A photograph of a girl that reads "you do not need anyone elses approval, you are enough" Sewn into it A photograph of a two girls that reads "you are enough, you don't have anything to prove to anyone, be a mess" sewn into it a photograph of a man that reads "you are worthy of love you are not a problem to be solved you are enough" sewn into it An photograph of figure that no longer exist, cut out and replaced by flamingos A photograph of a man inside of a bubble like figure that reads "ten feet small" in small box like letters

Final Project

Using found vernacular images provided by you or images from your own family albums, you will create a series of eight (8) images that go together thematically and stylistically. This assignment will have an open theme and studio problem, which you will need to propose, develop a concept for, and visually resolve. The 8 images will need to be turned in in a portfolio with an accompanying artist statement.

A photograph of a woman laughing, seems like the image was once burned now has a mans face in the back of it A colorful hard to read image of a woman holding a baby by a window A photograph that seems to be old, very hard to read. seems to be a Child running in a field A photograph of a. woman what seems to be like at a barbecue type thing A photograph that appears very old, the sides seem to be burned - image of a man