Ehren Fritz Gerhard

Teaching Portfolio

Ehren Fritz Gerhard

Teaching Philosophy

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

Paul Gauguin, 1848–1903

Every human has a unique perspective formed by a rich personal history. Communication through the visual arts affords humans the opportunity to present their histories and observations to the world. An artist utilizes expanded methods of conventional thinking to develop sophisticated ideas and is capable of solving problems from multiple perspectives. As an educator of young artists, it is my conviction that studio or classroom environments open to personal expression that embrace an evolving discussion of artistic viewpoints can safely harbor the development of an individual’s artistic spirit.

A strong foundation of tools and techniques aids students in developing the language of their craft. Guiding my students through a wide range of artistic approaches expands their technical vocabulary and personal boundaries. Through research and hands-on projects students develop a relationship with the world of art. Technical and conceptual excersizes address multiple perspectives and solutions to visual problems.

Informal classroom conversation provides students with insights and ideas oriented towards their interests. I encourage students to work together, talk, collaborate, integrate ideas, and form new visual concepts. In discussions we collectivly establish a world view that builds from tradition and integrates new aesthetics and contemporary ideas. Together we approach art as an evolutionary philosophy.

I want to give my students the skills nessesary to integrate art with life. Presenting conversations by internationally recognized artist’s gives multiple perspectives to art making and opinions on what art is, why we make it, and its significance. Developing a comprehension of personal history while embracing global traditions and trends helps students gain understanding of what art means to their lives.

The development a visual language is an evolving process. In every artist’s work progress comes from a diligent work ethic and dedication to the act of making. Like an athlete trains their body to perform, the artist must train the muscles of the hand, mind, and soul to search for meaning and relevance in their art and lives.

Ehren Fritz Gerhard

818 W. 3rd Street Apt #127

Tempe, AZ 85281

Phone (239) 560-7422

Education

2009-2013Master of Fine Arts Candidate, Painting, Arizona State University

2004-2009Bachelor of Art, Florida Gulf Coast University, Honors

2003-2004Diploma, Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, Honors

Teaching Experience

2007-2009Instructor, Super Science and Amazing Art, Fort Myers, Florida

Lead introductory classroom art program detailing traditional to contemporary art mediums in an experiential learning environment.
Develop and present lectures addressing contextual, historical, and contemporary art practices.
Utilized visual aids and technology integration.
Placed emphasis on the “real world” applications and contexts of art.
Facilitated classroom management and addressed individual student needs.

2008Designer/Presenter, Potters for Peace Brigade, Nicaragua

Collaborated in creation of visual teaching aids presenting marketable low technology ceramic designs and techniques to local potters.
Develop and conduct series of demonstrations presenting the information to local artists and craftsmen in their studios.
Design a series of stamps and molds incorporating historical replication methods and cultural heritage imagery for contemporary markets and mass production.
Drafted hand-drawn illustrations to eliminate language barriers and improve communication of methods and ideas.
Perform in-depth research of cultural trends, tourism and export markets.

2007Presenter, Media and Technique Demonstration

Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, Fort Myers, Florida

Lead demonstration of acrylic painting methods for students including group critique and discussion of my work.
Assisted students with problem solving and conceptual development in painting.

2008-2009Gallery Assistant, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida

Conduct gallery talks for visitors explaining the methods, concepts and contexts of traditional and contemporary artists.
Documentation and preservation of archival collections.
Presentation, lighting and layout of exhibitions.
Administer receipt of deliveries, packing, and shipping of traveling exhibitions.

Exhibitions

2009 Solo Exhibition, Broadway Palm Art Gallery; Ehren Fritz Gerhard

2009 Group Exhibition, Artfest Fort Myers; “Best of the Next”

2008 Group Exhibition, Space 39 Gallery; “New Works”

2008 Group Exhibition, Space 39 Gallery; Dark Art 2

2007 Group Exhibition, Sydney and Berne Davis Art Center; 13 Sculptors

2006 Publication, Art and Literary Magazine, The Mangrove Review

2004 Group Exhibition, Florida Sate Fair; Florida State Youth Fine Arts Competition

2003 Group Exhibition, Holland Area Arts Council, March Festival Exhibition

Honors and Awards

2009 1st place, Southwest Florida Craft Guild Award

2008 1st Place, Michi’s Pictorial Arts Award

2004 Honorable Mention, ArtFest Fort Myers Drawing

2004 Best in Printmaking, Southwest Florida Craft Guild Award

2004 2nd place, Fort Myers Beach Art Association Scholarship

2004 3rd place, Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition

2004 Florida State Youth Fine Art Competition Award

2004 Certificate of Outstanding Achievement- Course of Study- Portfolio

2004 Florida State Youth Fine Arts Competition- Selected for Exhibit at Florida Sate Fair

Professional Affiliations

Southwest Florida Craft Guild - Honorary member, 2004

Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization - volunteer 2007-present

Conservation 20/20 - Volunteer Artist 2007

Lee County Parks and Recreation – Volunteer Artist 2007

Potters for Peace – Member

Empty Bowls SW Florida – Volunteer Artist 2007-present

Happehatchee Eco-Spirituality Center – Volunteer 2008-present

National Art Honor Society- Member 2001-2004

Other Training & Experience

Advanced Electronic Media Experience:

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Advanced Media Experience:

Acrylics

Watercolor and Watercolor Pencil

Pastels

Conte Crayon

Graphite

Charcoal

Canvas Frame and Stretcher Building

Wood Tools (Chop Saw, Table Saw, Router, Jig Saw, Band Saw)

Clay (Hand Building, Potters Wheel, Slab Roller, Extruder, Wet and Dry Mixers)

Ceramic Kiln Firing, Scheduling and Operation

Mold Making/ Slip Casting

Metal Casting

Welding (Arc and Tig)

Oxy-Acetylene Torch

Plasma Cutter

2-D
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, School of Art, artCore Program, Fall 2010
ART 112 (2-D Design). #70284. M/W. 10:40AM -1:30PM. ART 232
Instructor: GERHARD. Office: Tower A-105.Phone: 5-8339, Main Office: 5-3468

Office hours: M/W 4:30 – 5:30PM and by appointment
e-mail:

______

Course Description

This course provides a foundation in the fundamentals of pictorial design. In a sequence of hands-on exercises and projects, you’ll be introduced to the concept of the picture plane, figure/ground relationships, scale and proportional transformation, patterning, composition, value, color, methods for conveying time, and spatial illusion. Using a wide variety of materials and methods--including the computer—you will be encouraged to develop your own design vocabulary and repertoire of practical techniques. In addition to introducing formal design strategies, the course emphasizes content issues and the historical and cultural context in which works of art are produced. Regular slide lectures and critiques are structured informally to encourage dialogue and to provide you and your colleagues with an opportunity to translate visual evidence into words. Beyond the concepts and skills essential to good design practice, this course will open a window towards self-expression and awareness.

References

(Required) The artCore Website:

(Required) Launching the Imagination, Mary Stewart, McGraw Hill, 2003

(Optional) Design Basics, David A. Lauer, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Publisher, 5th Edition, 2000. (Note: the textbooks are available in the ASU bookstore for about sixty bucks. They are also on Reserve at the Hayden Library. Other readings will also be assigned as needed.)

Course Requirements
During the whole of the semester, each student will be expected to participate fully in the activities of the 2Design Studio. In addition to the completion of assigned projects turned in on time, this means regular attendance, studio etiquette, and participation in class discussions and critiques. All projects are to be kept in a portfolio you are required to make or purchase (min. size: 17 x 22). In addition, a three-ring notebook is to be kept of all handouts, sketches, ideas, notes etc. It should be filled with "Biology Paper" (available in the Bookstore) for drawing and notes. Your notebook will be a running record of your involvement in the class and will be collected and evaluated a number of times over the course of the semester. Your portfolio will be collected at the end of the semester.

Sketchbooks: I do not recommend restricting the use of a sketchbook to one class. This promotes a separation of thinking. All skill sets are interrelated. One sketchbook for ALL your classes will promote cross-disciplinary thinking: the foundation of all art practice. You are likely to notice new relationships between classes by not separating ideas/processes/and units in the sketchbook. I discourage putting overtly personal materials in this sketchbook. If you do not want me do read it, do not write it. When submitting sketchbooks for review, please tab the pages relevant for this class. Hardcover sketchbooks take a better beating and I have asked the local vendors to have plenty affordable options in stock.

Grading
Completion of all assigned projects on time, with a reasonable degree of craftsmanship and care, and regular attendance is the minimum expectation that will earn you a “C”.I will allow you to “re-do” any project with in one week without penalty for a higher grade--as long as you turn the work in on time and show your best effort throughout the exercise. Late assignments will be accepted within one week of the assigned date at the expense of an automatic letter grade deduction.

Your final grade for the course will be based on the quality of your portfolio and heavily influenced by the quality of documentation you provide in your sketchbook. This documentation, to be organized around the sequence of assignments, may take the form of drawings, photographs, computer print-outs, or other media. Top grades will be awarded for a combination of design excellence, conceptual depth, intelligent participation in discussion, and, most importantly, individual improvement.

General outline of grading and qualifications:

A = Work shows a strong sense of imagination, creativity, with excellent execution. Overall, anexcellent degree of improvement and quality is shown and created with an excellent working attitude.

B = Work shows above average imagination, creativity, with good execution. Overall, a good degree of improvement and quality is shown and created with a good working attitude.

C = Work shows some imagination, creativity, with fair execution, but it is not above average. The student puts forth a good working attitude, some improvement is made and all projects are completed.

D = All projects are turned in but work shows little improvement, imagination, creativity, is poorly executed and created with a poor working attitude.

F = All projects are not turned in and what work is turned in shows no improvement, imagination, creativity, is badly executed and created with no worthwhile effort.

artCORE Attendance Policy

3 unexcused absences = one letter grade drop from final grade

Your grade will then drop one letter grade for every additional absence.

Information that is covered in class will not be repeated.

3 partial attendance (late arrivals and/or early class departures) = 1 absence

7 or more unexcused absences will result in failing the class

Arriving more than 15 minutes after attendance has been taken and/or departing more than 30 minutes early from class will result in a partial attendance for that day.

Any additional excused absences MUST be accompanied by a note from doctor, student services, or other evidence that demonstrates the need to miss additional classes. Every effort will be made to accommodate extenuating circumstances when necessary.

As a courtesy to me, please email or leave a message in my art office mailbox if you cannot attend class.

Classroom Code of Conduct

You are expected to behave in a responsible manner that allows everyone in the classroom access to resources and learning. Behavior that disrupts classroom learning will not be tolerated. If your actions are disrespectful to the Instructor or to other students, you will be asked to leave and counted absent.

-Cell phone and PDA use is prohibited during class unless the Instructor is informed of a

pending emergency at the beginning class. These units should be muted or set to vibrate.

- Access to the Internet is permitted ONLY when it is related to the class material.

Respect should be given at all times to the Instructor, classmates and your working environment. This includes appropriate behavior, language, and use of classroom resources.

- Safety is primary concern for all students to work effectively. You must follow all the safety procedures and guidelines posted in the studio you are working.

- Dressing appropriately for the studio activity that you are engaging in is another important safety factor. This may include no food/drink, open toe shoes, excessively exposing clothing, dangling jewelry, and/or tying hair back.

- At all times you must you’re the equipment in the studio in the manner is was intended for use and per the instructions of your Instructor.

Student Code of Conduct and Student Disciplinary Procedures

The ABOR Student Code of Conduct is designed to promote and protect an environment that encourages reasoned discourse, intellectual honesty, openness to constructive change and respect for the rights of all individuals. In keeping with this mission, the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities staff seeks to balance the rights and needs of the individual with responsibility of the individual to meet the needs of the community. In addition, it reviews allegations of student misconduct, determines whether a violation has occurred and if applicable, imposes appropriate sanctions. Students are expected to adhere to the ABOR Student Code of Conduct. Student Rights and Responsibilities:

Obtaining an ASURITE Computer Account at ASU
For this class you are required to have an ASURITE account because some projects, images, and services are password protected. You can use any type of computer (Mac, PC) that has an Internet browser installed (such as Microsoft Explorer, Firefox, Safari). Getting an ASURITE “userID” is self-service. The easiest thing to do is to subscribe online at the following URL:

There is also a special terminal set aside in various locations around campus just for creating new accounts and adding new services in person. I suggest going to the one at the Computing Commons (about a block East of the MU). Look for the specially marked terminal on the First Floor, on the left next to the Computer Store. Sit down and subscribe! The process takes about 15 minutes and your account will be ready to use in half an hour. If you have problems, the computing site staff will be happy to assist.

E-Mail – It is required that all students activate their ASU email accounts. No other email accounts will be used to communicate electronically with students. You can link your ASU account to your personal account if you choose to do so.

Lockers

Lockers are available in the main Art Building. Lockers in the Basement are reserved. Lockers in the SOA are First Come First Serve. Bring your own lock.

Materials

A complete material list can be found on line at the following URL:

Supply Houses

Local supply houses can be found at the following URL:

Safety Procedures (take responsibility for your health and safety!)

Health and Safety Module:

It is now required that all 100 level classes pass a Health and Safety Module to be administered the new Blackboard 9 website.You must pass with an 80% to receive credit. You must repeat the test in additional CORE classes until you receive a 100%. When you achieve a 100% you will be exempt for taking the quiz again and instructed on how to take a screen capture to maintain a record of your accomplishment. If you do not take the test, or pass the test by August 31 you will receive a notice of potential class failure in the first Academic Status Report, September 16-23. In order for you to access the test after August 31 you must make an appointment with me during my office hours. The test will be worth 5% of your final grade. (whether you achieve 80% or 100%)

Special Accommodations - Any student needing a special course-related accommodation due to a physical and/or learning impairment must bring this to the attention of the instructor with appropriate documentation within the first week of class so that learning needs can be addressed effectively. Students must contact the ASU Disability Resource Center ( to document a disability. Accommodations cannot be made retroactively.

Academic Dishonesty - All necessary and appropriate sanctions will be issued to all parties involved with plagiarizing any and all course work. Plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty that is in violation with the Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated. For more information, please see the ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy:

Calendar (schedule approximate.) All content is subject to change.

August 23: First Day of Instruction The Frame

In Class: Syllabi Overview, Meet and Greet, Lecture, Frame Exercise,

Out of Class: Buy supplies, Collect Photos for Morgue, Read Frame and Mark Making discussions from artCore website, Text (Stewart) pages 2-10

August 25 - August 30: Mark and Lines

In Class: Lecture, Mark Making Exercise, Group Critique, Introduction of Graffiti Project

Out of Class: Graffiti Project, Read Unity and Identity from artCore website, Text (Stewart) Pages 66-74

August 29 (in person) -31 (online): Add/Drop Deadline

Sept. 1 - 8: Unity: Unity/ Variety

In Class: Group Critique of Graffiti Project, Unity Lecture, Group Unity Exercise, Introduce Identity Sheet Project

Out of Class: Identity Sheet Project, Read Figure/Ground discussion from artCore website, Text (Stewart) pages 10-22