Learning outcome

The study programme consists of three different courses: History Subjects, Art Subjects and Workshop Subjects

History Subjects:

The candidate has/is able to:

- Acquired an overview of the diversity of Norwegian folk art

- Knowledge of symbols and symbolism relating to folk art

- Place folk art in a cultural, social and cultural-historical context

- Discuss the term folk art and reflect on how it is used today

- Reflect upon local, national and global perspectives in folk art

Art subjects:

The candidate:

- Has acquired knowledge and skills in the use of various formal and aesthetic tools

- Is able to visualise his/her own ideas in the form of sketches and drawings using various techniques

- Understands basic formal terms and is able to use these terms in presenting his/her own work

Workshop subjects:

Knowledge

The candidate has acquired knowledge of:

- The qualities and properties of various materials

- The various work processes from raw material to finished product

- Local design culture in a historical perspective

- Different approaches to using traditional materials

Skills

The candidate has developed skills in:

- Various work processes when using materials

- Designing objects on the basis of a traditional material

General competence

The candidate is able to:

- Analyse, assess and evaluate cultural expressions within traditional arts

- Work methodically and reflect on his/her own practice

- Work independently and reflectively

Course Description

The study programme consists of 3 major course units:

Historical Subjects - will provide an overview of the diversity to be found within the field of folk art and place material objects within cultural, social and cultural-historical contexts; and consider how the term folk art has developed historically.

Art Subjects – will provide students with experience in working with artistic tools. The subject includes amongst other things colour theory, drawing and the study of form.

Workshop Subjects - aims to provide the practical appropriation of production processes within the traditional arts. Knowledge of materials, tools, work methods and work techniques will be emphasised. Students may choose between working with wood, metal or textiles.

The study programme is organized into general and specialization components. The general component includes Historical Subjects and parts of Art Subjects. The specialisation component includes Workshop Subjects and parts of the Art Subjects. In Workshop Subjects, students may choose to work with wood, metal or textiles.

The components are weighted thus:

History Subjects	15 %
Art Subjects	15 %
Workshop Subjects	70 %

3.1 GENERAL COMPONENT

The major course unit HISTORY SUBJECTS

Aims

To become familiar with the main features of Norwegian folk art and how these are expressed in various crafts. Students will become familiar with how the meaning of the term folk art has evolved historically.

Content

Norway has from a historical perspective a rich and varied folk art, mainly due to various cultural and physical conditions in a long and narrow country. The conditions for practising crafts and applied arts has changed over time and in relation to social conditions. Folk art practices in Norway encompass a rich diversity of materials, techniques, forms, colours and décor realised in the objects produced related to everyday life and festive occasions.

The course aims to provide an overview of this diversity. In particular, attention is directed to the use of textiles, metal, wood and decorative paint work from the period called folk art’s “Golden Age”, i.e. from the early 1700s to the late 1800s.

Course units

- What is Folk Art

- Definitions of Culture / Society

- The Local, National and Global

- Identity, Ethnicity and Nation

- The Cognitive Foundation of Folk culture

- The Processes in the Norwegian nation-building from the End of the 1700s

- The Time of Change – Called “The Great Transformation” (Norwegian: “Hamskiftet”)

- Theoretical Perspectives

- Driving Forces in the Development of Folk Art

- Sources of Inspiration in Folk Art Forms

- Guilds - Rural Crafts - Handicrafts

- Town and Country Handicrafts

- Handicrafts Village – The Village Craftsman - Crafts.

- Building Traditions

- Stave Buildings and Lafting

- Types of Cottages and Country Courtyards

- Folk Art using Various Materials and Techniques

- Textile Handicrafts: Woven Covers and Tapestries, Folk Costumes and National Dress

- Metal Handicraft: Peasant’s Awl and Iron, Copper and Brass-Work

- Wood Craftsmanship: Furniture, Furnishings and Wood Carvings

- Painting Handicraft: Rose painting, Pictorial Painting and Other Types of Freehand Decoration

- Everyday Life and Festive Occasions

- Annual Festive Occasions and Festive Occasions During an Individual’s Life

- The Pictorial World in Folk Art

- Symbols / Magic Symbols

- Style History (minor subject)

- From Antiquity / Historicism

The major course unit: ART SUBJECTS

Aims

The aim of the Art Subjects is to develop students’ sense of aesthetic qualities and make them aware of how they may work with form, colour, decoration and materials. A good deal of the teaching in Art Subjects serves as preparation for work done in the workshops. An attempt will also be made to make students aware of aesthetic practices in folk art.

Content

In Art Subjects, students carry out work that involves visualising their own thoughts and ideas. By practising visual awareness, students will become more skilled at expressing their ideas.

By studying form, students will gain experience in using various artistic tools, in both two and three dimensions. An important aspect concerns the interaction between form, techniques and materials.

Students will gain knowledge of colour as an artistic tool, and how it is possible to use colour in artistic expression.

Course units

Drawing

• Freehand Drawing
• Croquis Drawing
• Sketching
• Technical Drawing
• Formal Aesthetics

Colour

• Colour Theory
• Harmony Theory

Form/function

• Perspective Drawing
• Composition
• Two Dimensionality/Three Dimensionality

3.2 SPECIALIZATION COMPONENT

WORKSHOP SUBJECTS · METAL · TEXTILES

Aims

This subject area concerns the practical acquisition of production processes within the field of traditional folk art, and work with the renewal of folk art traditions in relation to current forms and functions.

Students will acquire basic skills in Workshop Subjects using traditional techniques and through the use of aesthetic tools. This will form the basis to enable students to develop projects independently under supervision.

Students will, through their own work, learn about the culture of utility objects and gain experience of a variety of practical production processes. They will gain knowledge of the work processes involved producing objects from raw material to the finished product. For practical and professional reasons, they will utilise relatively processed and modern materials. They will be capable of viewing local design culture in a historical context, become aware of the basis of design and through this gain an understanding of their own culture and that of others.

Furthermore, the study programme will equip students with skills so they will be able to register and analyse traditional materials and plan and produce their own products with roots in traditional design culture.

Workshop Subjects will provide students with the basic knowledge of materials, the knowledge of the use of various tools and the working methods which will enable them to carry on the traditions of folk art.

The teaching of the foundation programme must be viewed in connection with the specialisation programme, because it is not possible to provide sufficient teaching of techniques and various other aspects in a 1-year foundation programme.

Content

The teaching in Workshop Subjects structures the academic year into 3 parts. The first two parts are concerned with two foundation major course units. Each major course unit includes assignments with defined goals and content which must be completed. These assignments are programme requirements which must be completed and included in the students’ portfolios for assessment. Workshop Subjects includes a written assignment related to the syllabus reading list. Within the various major course units the teaching is divided into various topics. This teaching may sometimes be organised so that it runs over complete weeks (course weeks). The last part concerns work on the year-assignment, an exhibition including a written description. The year-assignment also has a clear formulation regarding aim and content. The student, in consultation with the supervisor, selects a topic for this period.

Students will organise exhibitions throughout the year related to the different parts of the programme, where they present their work

Workshop Subjects includes the following 2 major course units:

• Materials, Tools and Techniques
• Form, Function and Construction

In addition to the two major course units, work in the workshop also includes aesthetic questions in connection with product design.

Major course unit

Materials, Tools and Techniques

This major course unit is taught at the beginning of the academic year and will provide the student with an introduction to the materials, wood, metals or textiles and their use in Norwegian folk art.

Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between materials, use of tools and techniques in folk art and be able to work on these issues in their own work in the workshop.

Emphasis is placed on knowledge in relation to development and changes in the use of techniques and materials. Further, there will be a focus on which areas of use the various objects have, and how the material is used in relation to the area of use. An introduction will also be given to the various production and processing methods which have been used in the various folk art processes. The use and choice of materials and techniques is viewed in relation to variations in the physical, economic and social conditions of the cultural areas where the products are made.

An important aspect is the methods for processing and the finishing treatment of the various materials.

Form, Function and Construction

This course will focus on the registration and critical analysis of traditional object material within an area of function. The function of objects, and the context within which they are used, will also be considered.

An analysis of function will form the basis of an assessment of the students’ own choices in relation to function, use of materials and methods in relation to the students’ production of their own products.

Students will work with the technical solutions / design principles in relation to traditional material and use this as a basis for developing their own designs.

Year-assignment, exhibition including a written description

The year-assignment is an important part of the study programme. For the assignment the student should acquire the material from the various subject components of the programme, such as Historical Subjects, Workshop Subjects and Art Subjects.

The work should include both a written part and one or several practical pieces of work carried out on the basis of a problem approach chosen by the student. In addition, there is a requirement that the local traditional material should be used in a new creative work. The problem approach/topic must be approved by the supervisor before the student can start work on the year-assignment.

Students will receive guidance throughout the year in report writing, development of the problem, the use of source material, documentation and presentation of assignments.

3.2.1 Workshop Subjects TEXTILES

MATERIALS, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Course units

• Textiles - Tools
• Spinning
• Weaving Theory
• Weaving using a Flat Loom
• Ribbon Loom Weaving
• The Finishing Treatment of Textiles

The student will gain knowledge of using various natural fibres and spinning methods used in traditional Norwegian textile production and he/she will be given an introduction to, and develop skills in, the production of thread using a spinning wheel / drop spindle. Further, an important aspect of the knowledge of the fibre will occur through an introduction to processes such as felting and matting of fibres and the final treatment of the finished woven material. In this specialisation course students will go through the process from calculation, warp and the setting up of various types of looms such as an Oppstad loom and a flat loom. The students themselves will set up and weave a frieze loom and provide the finishing treatment of the material by using a traditional water-driven frieze stamp.

In parallel with an introduction to practical weaving, the student will receive an introduction to weaving theory and binding analysis. The student will also complete exercises in various techniques and materials and make finished products.

In addition, the student will receive a basic introduction to, and through their own work gain knowledge of, variations in traditional local ribbon techniques.

FORM, FUNCTION AND CONSTRUCTION

Course units

• The History of Costumes
• The Registration of Textiles
• Pattern Construction Based on Folk Costumes/National Costumes
• Traditional Weaving and Sewing Techniques
• The Functional Analysis of Textiles
• Dyeing Techniques
• Embroidery Techniques
• Knitting

In connection with form/function students will gain insight into the development and variation in the design of clothing textiles; this may include visits to museums. Most emphasis is given to knowledge of design variation, use of materials and techniques that are used in the Norwegian folk costumes. Regarding knowledge of the local costume traditions, students will become acquainted with how European trends have influenced Norwegian folk costumes in the various ‘costume regions’.

Students will also gain knowledge of the practical design of textiles used in Norwegian interiors from the end of the eighteenth century up until the present day. In addition, textile techniques and processing methods which are used in connection with the coast culture will be presented to the students during this period. In this work period the student will receive an introduction of how to give a description and compare the design/construction/function of a group of historical textile objects; the aim of this exercise is that students will utilise the knowledge acquired in their own work. A critical analysis of material, design and possibly decoration in relation to function in the present day will be conducted.

Based on the introduction to the historical material and the study of design / design principles, students will continue to work on their own design studies and exercises.

3.2.2 Workshop Subjects: METAL

MATERIALS, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Course units

• Machines and Tools
• Material Knowledge
• Plate and Construction
• Surface Treatment
• Decoration Techniques
• Forging
• Joining Techniques
• Environment and Safety

Students will receive an introduction to the knowledge of tools and materials, and the methods of processing, so that they will be able to use this knowledge in the design of their own products for various areas of use.

They will acquire a significant part of this knowledge through using processes such as adapting and preparing tools for various purposes, forging and using decoration techniques, bending and fracturing plate, mechanical and chemical surface treatment and hard soldering.

FORM, FUNCTION and CONSTRUCTION

Course units

• History, Style Epochs, Types of Objects and Establishing Dates of Production
• Function Form and Corpus
• Filigree
• Function Analysis

In connection with form and function the teaching will be arranged so that students will gain insight into development and variation in form and functional solutions of various metal work from various parts of the country. Based on the introduction to the historical material and the study of design / design principles, students will work on their own design studies and tests.

3.2.3 Workshop Subjects: WOOD

MATERIALS, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Course units

• Working with Raw Material, Collection of Material, Working with Organic Forms
• Using Tools for Processing Raw Materials
• Techniques: Hollowing, Sweeping, Shrinking
• Theory of Materials

Students will receive an introduction to the use of raw materials in various groups of objects from a barter economy up until the present day.

They will receive an introduction in the use of raw wood and be able to produce objects using this material. By gathering materials in nature and through lectures, students will gain experience of which parts of a tree are appropriate to use in the production of various objects. Through practical work in the workshop, and by using various types of tools, students will acquire skills and experience of the production processes.

FORM, FUNCTION AND CONSTRUCTION

Course units

• Theory of Materials
• Surface Treatment
• Technical Drawing
• Traditional Joining Techniques
• Object Analysis in Wood
• Technical Instruction
• Form / Function

In connection with the form/function period, the teaching will provide students with insight into development and variation in form and functional solutions in various types of woodwork.

The theory of materials from the materials period will be further considered, but with an emphasis on the choice of materials and the qualities of materials of objects in which the joining techniques are important.

A further introduction to the use of hand tools and various techniques such as wood turning

Based on the introduction to the historical material and the study of design / design principles, students will continue to work on their own design studies and exercises.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The Folk Art study programme alternates between practical and theoretical studies. In Workshop Subjects, students will acquire knowledge and skills within various traditional techniques and work on their own design of objects which have their roots in local design culture. Formal exercises using materials, techniques and aesthetics are part of Workshop Subjects.

In order to provide students with a comprehensive understanding, through theory and practice, an attempt will be made to integrate the various subjects in the study programme and structure the academic year to support this aim. The academic year has consequently been divided into longer assignment periods and study periods, which make this possible.

On the whole, teaching is given on fixed weekdays, but can also for periods be more concentrated, for instance, course weeks, seminars or special topics when it is advantageous to concentrate the teaching.

Teaching and learning methods alternate between lectures, project work, individual guidance in the workshop, seminars, courses and excursions. Course and seminar activities will vary from year to year, dependent on funding and consideration to the subjects taught. A substantial obligatory study trip for all the students will be arranged. In addition, there will also be shorter excursions within each material group.

In addition to the planned teaching, it is expected that students make considerable individual efforts. This is necessary if students are to require a high technical skill as a basis for continuing folk art traditions.

In the last study period, regarding work with the year-assignment, time will be set aside for individual field work/excursion. Individual guidance. It is a requirement for the year-assignment that the student has received guidance from the course instructor and that the student has followed the plan for guidance in this period.

Art Subjects are closely linked to design in the three material areas wood, metal and textiles. An attempt will be made as far as it is possible to integrate the individual subjects in Art Subjects to the work and assignments in the workshop. Technical drawing is a topic which will be taught in the workshop.

Some of the lectures in History Subjects are taught in common with Folk Music I.

Audiovisual aids will be used in the lectures and various topics will be considered for discussion. In order to achieve the aims of the study programme, active student participation is crucial.

The academic year is concluded with an event with exhibitions, displays and concerts. Completion of the final year assignment and other work is exhibited for assessment and then to the public.

Assessment Methods

There should be some agreement between aims, content and assessment in the programme. The ongoing assessment will provide students with feedback on how assignments have been completed, and what they need to focus on further in the programme. The assessment of assignments, examinations, and programme requirements, which must be completed in order to be allowed to take the examination, will be collected in the students’ portfolios and be assessed by the subject teacher in consultation with the programme team. The majority of these pieces of work will be formally assessed.

Programme requirements / assessment of the individual major course units

Content of the student portfolio:

• Art Subjects

Instruction in the Art Subjects is mandatory.

Programme assignments in the various course units will form the basis for a grade in Art Subjects. The students will select a piece of work within each of the various topics for assessment.

The number of pieces of work to be handed in for assessment will be given in the assignment question.

• Workshop Subjects

Two programme assignments will be included in the student portfolio. Each programme assignment includes a description of aims, content and assessment. All the programme assignments in the Workshop Subjects have a practical and a theoretical part.

In addition to the programme assignments, students will submit a log or report documenting that they have acquired knowledge of the relevant techniques / topics that have been taught. The log / report is assessed on a pass / fail basis.

Most of the teaching in the Workshop Subjects requires mandatory participation, such as the introduction of new topics (both practical and theoretical), theme weeks / week courses and seminars with a review of assignments.

The course unit Materials, Tools and Techniques: The student will complete assignments which must be submitted together with written documentation of the working process. Requirements in this course unit will be specified in the assignment text.

The course unit Form, Function and Construction: Students will complete exercises and assignments that are submitted together with various forms of documentation of the work process. The requirements in this course unit are specified in the assignment text.

The examination in Workshop Theory, 4 hours

Written examination in History Subjects, 5 hours

Year assignment (approximately 10 weeks)

In order to receive a diploma the following requirements must be fulfilled:

Approved quality of assignments submitted to the stipulated time.

.Approved reports from the course weeks / topics teaching

Approved participation in compulsory parts of the study programme (refer to the individual course descriptions)

Approved participation on the study trip

In parts of the study programme that are mandatory, the student must apply to the department to receive a diploma if his/her absence exceeds 20%. The application will be processed at the discretion of the department.

The students themselves are responsible for keeping themselves informed about assignments, deadlines, programme requirements, etc.

Examination

Assessment includes both programme assignments throughout the year, examination in Workshop Subjects, a written examination in History Subjects and year-assignment.

The various parts of the study programme are weighted as follows in relation to the final grade for the study programme:

Assessment of year assignment, exhibition with a written description 2

Written examination in History Subjects 1

From student portfolio 2

Examination in Workshop Theory counts 1/10

Programme assignments in the Art Subjects count 2/10

Programme assignment I, Workshop Subjects, counts 4/10

Programme assignment II, Workshop Subjects, counts 3/10

Students will receive a letter grade, graded from A to F, where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade. In order to receive a passing grade for the major course unit, then each course unit must receive a passing grade.

For more information please refer to Telemark University College Examination Regulations.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean