STEAM Project

Project overview: As we discussed in class, for this project you will be making audio-guides for works of art around Baruch or public art around the city. You will build this in 3 phases: (1) identifying and documenting a piece of artwork, (2) researching further, and (3) creating and presenting the audio-guide. Before you start this assignment, be sure to meet up with your team and exchange contact information. Also, identify and agree upon a piece of art that you will create the audio-guide for.

Phase 1: Observing & Documenting (deadline: Oct 9th)

  1. Create a shared Google doc and invite all team members, as well as Hamad and Professor Eversley.
  2. On the Google doc, document your observations about the artwork. Write down what you see and hear and feel, write down any details you observe, like names, dates, and other information that may be listed nearby (if it’s a performance, then try to get the name and contact information of the artist for follow-up interview). Additionally, observe and write down how other people may be interacting with the art; write about the environment around the art – where is it and how is placed in that environment?
  3. Think about what additional information you may need about the artwork. Questions like what motivated the artist(s) to make it, why they made it in the way they did, what else have they done/made, etc. Note these on the Google doc as well.
  4. Log the name of your art object here so that there is no duplication.

Phase 2: Further Research (deadline: Oct 30th)

  1. Find any and all information you can about the artist; you are looking for basic data points about biography: birth and death dates of the artist, where the artist was born and lived, family background, other occupations, important relationships, other artistic work, where they may have shown their art (galleries, museums), and influences.
  2. Find, as much as possible, the following information about the artwork:
    1. When and where was it made?
    2. What’s the style of the artwork (what art movement does it reference or belong to)?
    3. How did Baruch acquire the artwork? Where was it (or who had it) before it got to Baruch?
  3. On your Google doc, start documenting all the information (and sources!) you locate about the artwork and the artist.
  4. Helpful resources:
    1. Research guide from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
    2. NYPL Wallach Division of Arts, Prints and Photographs
    3. A blog post on researching obscure artwork from The Female Gaze
    4. Your ITF! (Hamad)
    5. ArtNet
    6. Artist search on NYC’s Percent for Art project
    7. ArtStor – access through Baruch wifi for free

Phase 3: Script-writing (deadline: Nov 13th (first draft); Nov 20th (final draft))

  1. On your Google doc, create a new section called ‘Audio-guide Script’. (Remember there is only one Google doc per team, please don’t create multiple Google docs for this project).
  2. In this section create a 600 word (minimum) script that explains what you know and find interesting about your art piece and artist. Keep in mind that your audience is a Baruch College student who is likely interested in art or art history. In your script be sure to mix your reactions to the art with information you learned from your research.
  3. But, really, what am I supposed to write?!?! Well, start with this thought: when someone looks at a piece of art, they often wonder about what is so significant and interesting about the piece and what compelled the artist to make it? They also sometimes want their attention drawn to specific details in the piece that may lead to further thoughts and ideas. Use these questions as frames for your script; don’t just answer them directly, instead invite your (future) listeners to listen to your thoughts on this and how/why you came up with those thoughts. Lastly, don’t just reproduce boring facts someone can easily read about on Wikipedia; think about what makes you want to listen to someone – interesting details, funny segues, little-known facts, all make for a good story.
  4. Resources:
    1. How to write the script for an audio guide from Nubart (read with a grain of salt, not all of this applicable to our project)
    2. Smarthistory project from the Khan Academy (listen to some of this to get an idea of how art experts talk about art)

Phase 4: Audio-recording (deadline: Dec 3rd)

  1. Sign up for a spot for the STEAM festival (if your team has not yet)
  2. Sign up for a poster printing spot for after Dec 4th (if your team has not yet)
  3. Hamad will give your team an audio-recorder; use this to record your script and then transfer the audio file to your computer (demo and instructions provided in class Nov 27); tips for good sound quality recording:
    1. Record in a closed space, like a closet, to minimize ambient noise
    2. Don’t try to change your voice – we all sound strange to ourselves and that’s ok; keep your voice casual and inviting (i.e., not monotone)
    3. Don’t worry too much about gaps in the recording – you can edit them out with GarageBand; but do remember that you are aiming for a 2 minute (max) audio-guide
  4. Use GarageBand to edit your audio files (demo and instructions provided in class Nov 27); remember to add the ‘drummer’ track ‘Benny – Modern Motown’ or another drummer track of your choice to bookend your audio-guide track (4 secs at each end); total length of audio-guide (including bookends) should be 1:45 minutes min – 2 minutes max (if its more than 2 mins, then go back and edit!)
  5. Get feedback on the final audio file from family/friends and see if you can improve it
  6. Upload your final audio file (in AIFF format) to SoundCloud (set it as private), and send the link to Hamad by Monday Dec 3rd (demo and instructions provided in class Nov 27)

STEAM Festival Prep (before Dec 8th)

  1. Use this QR code generator to create and download a JPG file of the QR code for your SoundCloud audio-guide link (use the first frame-type in the settings).
  2. Use this template to make and print (on regular size paper) your placard. After printing, test the QR code to see if it works ok.
  3. Use this vertical or horizontal template to make your ‘poster’. Some things to keep in mind:
    1. The slides are already set up to print to the size of a poster (36inx48in, or 48inx36in) – don’t change that.
    2. Your picture of the art-work must have a high resolution—at least 150 dpi but preferably 300 or 600 dpi (you can see/edit image resolution on Preview or any image editing app, and save the image as a JPG file with the highest quality setting before adding it to the poster slide). Remember that images will be blown up when you print your poster, so don’t be lazy with this part, or you will end up with super-pixelated pics!
    3. If your pic becomes pixelated when you scale it up on the poster slide, bring it down to a size where it won’t.
    4. Test print the poster slide to see if it works on regular sized paper by using ‘scale to fit printer’.
  4. Save the ‘poster’ as a PDF and take it to Macaulay on the day/time you chose to print. You will have to take the poster with you once it’s printed.
  5. Give the poster and placard to Hamad sometime before Sat Dec 8th.