Major Concepts/Content: The creative crafts course is designed for students who are interested in exploring the design possibilities in various materials with course emphasis given to good design and quality workmanship. Students will learn to develop the ability to execute designs by using the appropriate tools, materials, and techniques for the craft. This studio course might include work with batik, jewelry, macramé, weaving, mosaic, soft sculpture, copper enameling, stained glass, and/or textile design. Students will create all of their own designs. No patterns will be used.

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will provide practice using various materials, tools, and equipment. Activities will include modifying the form of an object to improve either the aesthetic quality or functional character of the object and creating craft objects that are personally expressive. Visits to craft exhibitions and museums will be included when feasible.

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be required to demonstrate the ability to choose and maintain appropriate tools and equipment used in making craft products. Student projects will be evaluated for originality, craftsmanship, effort, time utilization, and quality with consideration given to the individual or students' talent, experience, and/or limitations. Both written and oral tests will be used to evaluate knowledge of course content.

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the creative crafts course, the student should be able to:

1. Create Works of Art

• Use the elements of design and print to create functional and decorative craft works.
• Demonstrate the skill and craftsmanship used to produce a variety of crafts.
• Demonstrate the ability to create a craft object that is personally expressive.
• Design an artwork that combines two or more craft techniques, such as weaving and batik, or clay and basketry.
• Maintain a sketchbook/journal.

2. Demonstrate Aesthetic Perception

• Recognize the use of natural and manmade materials in craft works
• Modify the form of an object to improve either the aesthetic quality or the functional character of the object.
• Relate comprehension of aesthetic quality of craft works through intuitive responses.

3. Develop Knowledge of Art Heritage

• Discuss the significance crafts have had in recording history.
• Research the history of a particular craft.
• Compare the crafts produced by various cultures.
• Identify career options in the field of creative crafts.
• Discuss the use of crafts as a lifetime leisure activity.

4. Utilize Critical Judgment of the Visual Arts

• Discuss the merits of craft pieces in relation to the basic elements of design.
• Critique the functional attributes of craft pieces.
• Recognize the artistic, the functional, and the decorative aspects of craft pieces.
• Compare the quality of original one of-a-kind art objects to the quality of mass-produced objects.

Select quality craft pieces for display.

Last Revised: July 18, 2005