Leah Ke Yi Zheng

What are the concerns that drive one's creative practice? How does one set the terms for its future development? Sophomore Seminar offers strategies for students to explore, reflect upon, and connect common themes and interests in the development of an emerging creative practice that will serve as the basis of their ongoing studies at SAIC and beyond. Students will examine historical and contemporary influences and contextualize their work in relation to the diverse art-worlds of the 21st Century. Readings, screenings, and field trips will vary each semester. Presentations by visiting artists and guest speakers will provide the opportunity for students to hear unique perspectives on sustaining a creative practice. One-on-one meetings with faculty will provide students with individualized mentorship throughout the semester. During interdisciplinary critiques, students will explore a variety of formats and tools to analyze work and provide peer feedback. The class mid-term project asks students to imagine a plan for their creative life and devise a self-directed course of study for their time at school. The course concludes with an assignment asking students to develop and document a project or body of work demonstrating how the interplay of ideas, technical skills, and formal concerns evolve through iteration, experimentation and revision. Prerequisite: Must be a sophomore to enroll.

This class will begin with an introduction to the basics of ink and brush painting (Sumi-e), learn how to use tools, materials and developing ideas and techniques for creating paintings. An introduction to the Eastern philosophy of Zen will be made as well as the basic practice of Zen meditation, concentration, self-reflection, and inner strength building. Students will develop basic skills of the ink medium; they will be encouraged to explore their creativity through meditating and experimenting within the possibilities of the ink medium. Two slides presentations will be given for the class: Slides presentation A: A brief history of bamboo paintings. Study of works by old masters: Wen Tong (1018-1079), Ke Jiusi (1290-1343), Zhen Xi (1693-1765, one of eight eccentrics of Yangzhou School, his theory and practice) Shi Tao (1641-1707, a master of Huang Shan School), Pu Hua (1836-1911, a Shanghai master of the late 19th century. Slides presentation B: An introduction of comparative study to Chinese modern and contemporary ink painting. Works by Qi Bai Shi (1863-1957), Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), Li Jing (born: 1958), Chai Yiming (born: 1965) and others artist's works will be showed and discussed. Besides weekly assignments, a body of work (approximate 10 pieces in fair sizes) and an artist statement are needed to be presented at final critique.

This studio explores specific problems in each student's area of concentration and interest. Students are expected to command familiarity with problems of color, composition, and basic materials.