Critique Day 4

Being first year students, we are so new to everything.  critiques especially for me are one of those things.  Throughout the semester I learned all about what a critique was about and how it was conducted.  For finals all Iarc students go through a critique rather than a written exam like most students.  We are able to present what we have been working on and get constructive criticism as well as praise that will help us along with the learning process.  On Monday, December 16th, all of us first year students got the opportunity to attend critiques for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year critiques.  I found this fascinating, because I love to see new things and get new ideas and draw inspiration from things I find remarkable or unique.  I was in the group assigned to attend the 2nd year students critiques held in the gallery floor of the Gatewood Building.  I found all of the students projects very interesting and to hear how their creative processes were used into achieving what they had created.  The assignment the students had was a list of lots of words, words that most of them admitted to not knowing.  Which I find interesting, because it is always fun to learn something new especially if it can tie in with creativity and expression.  The students studied the human body and how its connections worked and functioned.  They also talked of folding lots of paper in many different shapes and types of folding.  This exercise was to help expand the students idea of folds, going beyond the basic and thinking of different types (for example crumpling paper).  Eventually they were able to see beyond the folds of the paper and see shapes and figures and look beyond the obvious.  This process helped them with their projects, which were creating a place.  These places were both outdoor as well as indoor models.  One student, Abigail, explained her model, which was an interactive outdoor area.  The model was a tube-like structure made up of triangles.  The triangles were cut from sturdy type of cardboard.  She cut the pieces with a laser cutter, something new to the school that makes very precise cuts on many types of materials.  Abigail then sewed her triangles together with a sturdy type of white thread, in between each triangle was a type of chocolate brown fabric,  in which was used the help the model collapse or be pushed in different shapes.  Abigail made this small scale model to represent an idea of an even larger model.  Something interactive and fun for both adults as well as children.  The Tube structure was very origami-esque, with all kinds of interesting bends.  There were openings on both ends as well as octagonal or hexagonal holes throughout in between joints which helped with function as well as created an interesting light effect on the inside.  I found Abigail's project to be very geometric themed and geared to  something fun for the community to enjoy as well as admire from afar.  I enjoyed the whole critique experience of seeing the different models, new materials students were able to use due to the new laser cutter.  I definitely got alot of good ideas and some helpful tips from different upper level Iarc students.  I also went to check out the 3rd year critique area with large size posters displaying layouts for hospitals, night lounges as well as apartment building designs.  I observed the creativity of the students, who used computer programs to create these design layouts with all different types of color, materials and even furniture ideas.  I think it was a great idea for the 1st year students to be able to see the other critiques, because we can see what we have to look forward to in the coming years, as well as get ideas and compare how our critiques are to theirs including attire.