Art in the Public Realm

Additional course fees apply to this course. Please reach out to your Prague Program Manager for additional information about these fees.

Course Description
In this class we will explore questions such as: How is “public space” defined? Does it vary according to social and national contexts? When art is introduced into these contexts how does its method of delivery (e.g. illegal vs. commissioned) influence its fundamental meaning? How does art in public influence the perception of “public space” itself? How can artists consciously work within these dynamics to create work of power and relevance?The class consists of image lectures, readings, and in class discussions as well as creative studio assignments. Students are required to complete all assignments and readings in order to pass the class. There will be four creative project assignments. You may work in any medium you choose on the majority of assignments: from sculpture, to web-based works, video, sound, performance, social practice, prints, photography, drawing, painting, zines, graffiti, sound based works and other creative possibilities. All work must be created for the public sphere. Process work must be comprehensively documented in either a physical or digital format.

Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be ableto:

• Understand and analyze public art in context.
• Acquire skills in creating public projects.
• Apply these skills to produce and present professional projects.
• Learn to work collaboratively with community and peers.
• Explore notions of “public” and the political/social role art plays in creating the “public” sphere.
• Develop understanding of how keeping a sketchbook can inform projects and help create tangential works.
• Analyze to what degree the notion of “public space” manifests in digital form.
• Acquire documentation and presentation skills.