Course detail

Alternative glassmaking 1

FaVU-1ASklV1Acad. year: 2022/2023

In its first part, the course offers a historical and theoretical overview of the fundamental technologies of production and ways of working with glass. In this part of the course, the material and cultural history of glass will be presented in the form of lectures. This will be traced from the earliest attempts to produce glass to the advanced ways of handling this material. Individual technologies will be located with respect to their place of origin and the spread of their use will be followed. The lectures will also focus on glass as a commodity and the social and economic aspects of glass production. Learners will also be introduced to a basic overview of the history of the production of glass art artefacts. The course has a continuity into the summer semester where the emphasis will be on practice and expanding the experiential base of glass making.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Mgr. Pavel Korbička

Department

Spatial Design Studio (APT)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Completion of the course will enable students to orient themselves in the history and cultural context of glass production and in the range of glassmaking techniques.

Prerequisites

None.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures accompanied by presentation of visual material; facilitated discussions.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Exam in form of a written test. 10 questions based on the syllabus (4 questions covering the history, the rest the technology).

Course curriculum

1. Introductory lesson: Glass and its historical significance
2. Historical overview of glassmaking technologies (technologies from the point of their origin and their subsequent spread to other territories)
3. Properties of glass I (mechanical properties, thermal properties, optical properties)
4. Glass properties II (electrical properties, chemical resistance)
5. Main types of glass / crystal glass
6. Basic glass processing (beading, grinding, polishing, cutting)
7. Coloring glass with oxides and precious metals (discoloration of glass and change of material properties)
8. Refining of glass (chemical polishing, frosting, etching)
9. Glass casting (mould process, temperature curves)
10. Glass blowing (tools, applications, principles, tamper furnaces)
11. Glass sculpture (moulding process, temperature curves)
12. Glass as an artistic artefact I
13. Glass as an artistic artefact II

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim of the course in the winter semester is to provide a historical overview and theoretical orientation in technological procedures in glass production with an emphasis on DIY procedures of working with glass, as the course takes into account the high energy consumption of glass production and aims at creative experimentation with alternative glass production procedures.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Teaching takes place in the classrooms of FaVU BUT in hours determined by the schedule. Minimum participation 85%. Making up missed classes is done in agreement with the teacher in the form of an alternative assignment.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Type of course unit

Lecture

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

MgA. Adam Hejduk