{"id":3166,"date":"2023-08-22T20:24:11","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T20:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/?p=3166"},"modified":"2024-01-09T13:35:24","modified_gmt":"2024-01-09T13:35:24","slug":"synthesis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/","title":{"rendered":"Synthesis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:25%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/nmw\/praxis\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" data-attachment-id=\"219\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/muybridge_skeleton_translg5\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/muybridge_skeleton_translg5.gif\" data-orig-size=\"400,400\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"muybridge_skeleton_translg5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/muybridge_skeleton_translg5.gif\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/muybridge_skeleton_translg5.gif\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-219\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:120px;height:undefinedpx\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/nmw\/praxis\/\">Praxis<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"326\" height=\"326\" data-attachment-id=\"323\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/nmw\/praxis\/critique\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"326,326\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"critique\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-323\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover;width:120px;height:undefinedpx\" srcset=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg 326w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\"><strong>5 | synthesis<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/div>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f1141b7eac7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-69f1141b7eac7\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#A_working_definition\" >A working definition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#%E2%80%9CFinished%E2%80%9D_work\" >&#8220;Finished&#8221; work<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#Cycles_of_completion_the_%E2%80%9Cprogress_review%E2%80%9D\" >Cycles of completion: the &#8220;progress review&#8221;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#The_dirty_secret\" >The dirty secret<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#Presenting_your_%E2%80%9Cdefinitively_unfinished%E2%80%9D_work\" >Presenting your &#8220;definitively unfinished&#8221; work<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#Fall_external_feedback\" >Fall: external feedback<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/#Spring_senior_exhibition\" >Spring: senior exhibition<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"326\" height=\"326\" data-attachment-id=\"323\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/nmw\/praxis\/critique\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"326,326\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"critique\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-323\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique.jpg 326w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/critique-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 326px) 100vw, 326px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Krzysztof Wodiczko, the Tijuana Projection, 2001<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_working_definition\"><\/span>A working definition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Various dictionary definitions of the word synthesis include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The combination of ideas to form a theory or system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A gestalt: the composition or combination of parts or elements such that the whole is other than the sum of said parts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The production of chemical compounds by reaction from&nbsp;simpler&nbsp;materials.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>An artist can understand all of these to be variations on their process: the ability to combine things in new and different ways to create entirely new things. This requires an artist to think flexibly, explore alternatives, and find new ways to accomplish a given challenge. A more advanced level of abstract thinking is needed for synthesis. We can say that all artworks are manifestations of synthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For students taking a studio with me, synthesis can be expressed as a combination of things learned in Heuristics with discoveries made in Prototyping: those twin aspects of skill and knowledge combined with a patient search. Taken together, <strong>Heuristics<\/strong> and <strong>Prototyping<\/strong> are acts of <strong>Iteration<\/strong>. But as we refine, we eventually cross over into the first phase of <strong>Implementation<\/strong>. We are approaching &#8220;finished&#8221; work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"342\" data-attachment-id=\"2100\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/project-statement\/workflow1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1.png\" data-orig-size=\"3154,1054\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"WORKFLOW1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-1024x342.png\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-1024x342.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2100\" srcset=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-1024x342.png 1024w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-768x257.png 768w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-1536x513.png 1536w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/WORKFLOW1-2048x684.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CFinished%E2%80%9D_work\"><\/span>&#8220;Finished&#8221; work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>Aux yeux de ces amateurs d\u2019inqui\u00e9tude et de perfection,&nbsp;<strong>un ouvrage n\u2019est jamais achev\u00e9<\/strong>, \u2013 mot qui pour eux n\u2019a aucun sens, \u2013&nbsp;<strong>mais abandonn\u00e9<\/strong>&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Paul Val\u00e9ry<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>In the eyes of those who anxiously seek perfection, <strong>a work is never truly completed<\/strong> \u2014 a word that for them has no sense \u2014 <strong>but abandoned<\/strong><\/em>&#8230;<\/p>\n<cite>\u2014 Rosalie Maggio, translation of Val\u00e9ry quote<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no such thing as a finished work. What Val\u00e9ry is trying to say is this: the process of iteration can be infinite. But our lives are finite, and thus we have to choose. Which iteration of our concept (as articulated in our project statement) is the best expression of the concept at a given point in time? We have to make a conscious decision to no longer work on it. It may be close enough to the ideal that&#8217;s evolving in our heads. We might at that point be comfortable enough with releasing it into the world. We can thus think of the notion of completion as a cyclical one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cycles_of_completion_the_%E2%80%9Cprogress_review%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>Cycles of completion: the &#8220;progress review&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Here is an idea of what that means. Say you are working on a project that takes more than one academic term to complete. For the first term, synthesis looks like what in the design world is called a &#8220;progress review.&#8221; In a progress review meeting, an art director or project manager has a chance to view the work as it stands and make decisions about future actions. To make the review successful, the design team brings everything to a generally consistent level of completion. Not &#8220;complete,&#8221; mind you: about the same percentage of completion for all elements of the project. This allows the synthesis to be understood without the distraction of super-polished elements bumping into other things that may not even be started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_dirty_secret\"><\/span>The dirty secret<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the dirty secret of our business. With creativity as the driver, nothing is ever &#8220;done&#8221; for certain! But when everything is brought to the same general level of finish, the audience is none the wiser. Audiences are wonderful and forgiving! They take the work at face value. And unless you tell them otherwise, they believe everything you show them is exactly as you intend. You, of course, know better&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s look at a case study of this. It comes as a surprise to many museum-goers to learn that Marcel Duchamp&#8217;s <em>magnum opus<\/em>, <strong>The Large Glass<\/strong>, is an unfinished work. We take it for granted that, if it&#8217;s in a museum, it must be a finished work of art. But according to notes in Duchamp&#8217;s Green Box, if the Glass were <em>finished<\/em>, we&#8217;d see a lot more work than we do now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"548\" height=\"548\" data-attachment-id=\"2202\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/variations\/largeprint\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"548,548\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"largePrint\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint.jpg 548w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/largePrint-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 548px) 100vw, 548px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Duchamp&#8217;s <strong>Large Glass<\/strong> in situ at the Philadelphia Museum of Art<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"995\" data-attachment-id=\"3171\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/large-glass\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1024,995\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Picasa 2.0&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"large-glass\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass-300x292.jpg 300w, https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/large-glass-768x746.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Diagram based on Duchamp&#8217;s etching <strong>The Large Glass Completed<\/strong>, 1965. It notes: &#8220;No. 10 and nos. 18-26 are elements that were not completed in the Large Glass (1915-23).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, this partially finished \u2014 <em>broken<\/em>, even \u2014 work still exerts a magnetic attraction in the art world. Is it any less valued or valuable because of its &#8220;definitively unfinished&#8221; state, to use Duchamp&#8217;s cheeky description?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Presenting_your_%E2%80%9Cdefinitively_unfinished%E2%80%9D_work\"><\/span>Presenting your &#8220;definitively unfinished&#8221; work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Duchamp, presenting his work meant he was willing to exhibit it as a work in progress. This is how it came to be shattered. Upon receiving the work after an exhibition, Duchamp opened up a crate of shards! I&#8217;m pretty sure the tedious task of assembling this fatally dangerous jigsaw puzzle was enough for him to say &#8220;Enough!&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For you in a studio, presenting a work that is approaching, but never quite achieving, completion is an act of bravery and faith. In the studios where I teach, the Synthesis presentation occurs at about the 80% mark of an already too-short semester. It takes on a different complexion depending on the time of year we&#8217;re working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fall_external_feedback\"><\/span>Fall: external feedback<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In autumn, approaching the end of the solar year, we invite external reviewers to come to the studio and provide critical feedback during the Synthesis presentation. Periodically, this includes an international collaboration with faculty from another school. Other times, we draw from the rich artistic community of our region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This presentation is not in an exhibition context but occurs in the studio. This can mean a mediated presentation, such as a slideshow, but given the nature of new media, it can include anything from a web-based interactive work to a high-resolution working prototype fabricated in our maker space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Spring_senior_exhibition\"><\/span>Spring: senior exhibition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In April, approaching the end of the academic year, we offer graduating art students the opportunity to formally exhibit work in the campus art gallery. Those who do so use the senior exhibition as their Synthesis presentation. External reviewers are invited to critique the work in situ, and seniors gain invaluable curatorial and strategic experience as they collaborate on creating a coherent vision for an exhibition. Artist statements, resumes, and promotional media are all part of the experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For those who are not seniors or who elect not to exhibit, the character of the Synthesis presentation is not unlike the fall, except that external reviewers are not part of the experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Praxis 5 | synthesis A working definition Various dictionary definitions of the word synthesis include the following: An artist can understand all of these to be variations on their process: the ability to combine things in new and different ways to create entirely new things. This requires an artist to think flexibly, explore alternatives, and&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/williamcromar.com\/newmediawiki\/synthesis\/\">read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-artwork","category-praxis"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Synthesis - newMediaWiki<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Synthesis: what does it mean for work to be complete? 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