John Burton Program: Courses

This "classroom" is the school's Resource Library which contains art resources, links to inspirational websites, interviews, videos, galleries, museums, and artists in glass. Yearly membership to the John Burton Program will grant you access to the growing Resource Library for a period of one year from the date of enrollment. You will also become eligible to participate in juried group exhibitions around the country, and to apply for our glass grants.

Membership in the John Burton Program costs $25.00 a year, but is offered for free for a year when taking the Glass Art Seminar with Paul Stankard. Please contact Laura Roman for the password.

The Glass Art Seminar with Paul Stankard will survey the contemporary glass art landscape. Mr. Stankard, an internationally renowned artist and American Craft Council Fellow, will focus on excellence and originality while over-viewing studio glass. This course will include lectures and a field trip to broaden the student’s understanding of the contemporary glass art community. This course is designed to take advantage of Mr. Stankard’s distinguished career and will be offering a window into the challenges that a studio glass artist encounters.

Requirements:

• Students must be committed to being creative in glass and have experience as makers.
• Students are required to compose two questions per session to be emailed the day before class. The questions are inquiries into all aspects of a career as a Studio Artist.
• Students will conduct a daily review of the blog Daily Art Muse.
  
• Students must be present for 14 sessions approximately 1 ½ hours long each. The course will be held online at 7:30 eastern standard time and 4:30pm pacific coast time. There will be a midterm break.

Objectives:

• To enhance the student's artistic maturity.
• To celebrate studio artists working in glass who have developed a personal vocabulary outside of the market place.
• To develop a vocabulary to discuss contemporary glass art in order to be engaged in the visual conversation.
• To promote a sense of community with all artists working in glass

Summary: The classes will overview the international studio glass landscape to identify and celebrate excellence and diversity in this field. This class will study the art of 50 artists who are respected on the international glass landscape. We will overview glass art collected and exhibited in major museums and private collections from around the world. The philosophical differences between craft, design, and fine arts will be discussed at length and examples of great glass will reinforce the visual point. Conference calls and online discussions will play a major role in the course. Students will make a short introductory statement or comment at the beginning of each class. The subjects should be focused on the student's current creative challenges. This class will consist of 14 units.

Required Reading:With each assignment, a question and/or statement will be turned in to the instructor. A group discussion will be held in conference calls.
“No Green Berries or Leaves the Creative Journey of an Artist in Glass” by Paul J. Stankard (No Green Berries or Leaves is a prerequisite for the first class)

You will need the following books for this class:

"Makers" is an optional book - with a capital O. This book will be discussed during the course and it is recommended that you have it or obtain a copy from your local library or inter-library loan.

*Note: all texts available as audio books from the Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic

• Please research John Burton’s career so we can celebrate his contribution to the colored borosilicate field and the creative spirit. This book is not required for the course but it is on the recommended reading list.

Additional Texts (Optional):
You do not need these books to take the class.

Class Resources:The John Burton Program Website
American Craft
Glass Magazine
Neues Glass
www.cmog.org
www.glassart.org
www.wheatonarts.org
www.pilchuck.com
www.penland.org
www.urbanglass.com
www.paulstankard.com

Session One:

• Explanation and discussion of the John Burton Program.
• Review the Syllabus, and discuss the goals of the course.
• Discuss the web site and library as a resource opportunity for the program.
• Discuss various strategies for enhance artistic maturity while advancing ones career as a studio glass artist.
• Discuss three aspects to grow with artistic maturity: To be knowledge about art history (know want interests you), to know the careers of major artists in the studio glass movement and to be able to identify their work, and to find and be close to a community of creative people (fellow John Burton Program students included).
• Discuss the Never contemporary diorama project.
  
• Homework: Review 10 artists on the internet for session two.
• Read first one third of the book The Story of Art. by H. E. Grombrich.

Session Two:

• Lecture and discussion of the philosophy of aesthetics and identify the criteria to differentiate the ingredients making up Craft, Design, and Fine art.
• Discuss the merit of the assignment The Story of Art
• Review 10 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.
• Read second third of the book The Story of Art
  

Session Three:

• Discuss Studio Glass Movement and the significant of understanding its influences on the contemporary flameworked landscape.
• Discuss functional art and relevance in studio glass
• Review: Spirit of the Never’s Diorama exhibit.
• Discuss the merit of the assignment The Story of Art
• Review 6 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.
• Read final third of the book The Story of Art

Session Four:

• Students will have read two essays on Beauty from the book Uncontrollable Beauty and will discuss beauty in the context of their work.
• Review 5 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.

Session Five:

• Guest lecturer - Preston Singletary (subject to change in date)

Session Six:

• Discuss the writing assignment focused on one of the artist listed in the Syllabus. Paper to be posted on the John Burton Program web site.(optional)
• Review 5artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.

MID TERM BREAK

• Read the Smithsonian’s interview of Harvey Littleton

Session Seven:

• Discuss the economics of a career- MONEY and how it can compliment or distort works of art.
• Review 5 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.

Session Eight:

• Open discussion on the artistic maturity, or lack there of, of the flameworking community
• Review 6 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work..
• Read first one third of the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making by David Bayles and Ted Orland

Session Nine:

• Post an opinion statement on Facebook about contemporary glass.
• Review 5 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.
• Read second third of the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making
  

Session Ten:

• Written assignment on an artist’s work due. (Optional posting on the Library web site.)
• Review 4 artists and discuss the artistic merits of their art work.
• Read final third of the book Art & Fear: Observations on the Perils (and Rewards) of Art Making

Session Eleven:

• Guest lecturer (to be announced)

Session Twelve:

• Lecture on contemporary glass scene and the Gallery/artist relationship.
• Select five of the previously surveyed artists that most interest and be prepared to explain your selection.

Session Thirteen:

• Written assignment defining the differences between art, craft, and design, using contemporary works of art as examples
• Open discussion Philosophical attitude towards boro versus soft glass

Session Fourteen:

• Lecture and discussion on strategies for surviving in the marketplace
• Overview the course and discuss ways to improve the material and delivery of course material
• Submit evaluation questions to Laura Roman
• Receive evaluations (optional)

All sessions subject to change.

The cost for this seminar is $200.00, and includes membership to the program and access to the Resource Library for a period of one year from the date of enrollment.

Please contact Laura Roman for the class key at cassidy1love@gmail.com.