1.                                              PREAMBLE  

            Sculpture has been identified as one of the vocational subjects at the Senior High School Level because of its importance in the sustenance and development of the culture and arts of a society.

2.         OBJECTIVES  

            The objectives of the syllabus are to test for the candidate’s:

(i)         knowledge in the history and development of sculpture,

(ii)        ability to explore, identify, select, construct, prepare, use, care for materials and tools,

(iii)       knowledge and experience in healthy studio practices.

(iv)       creative and manipulatory skills in designing and production of various forms of sculpture by employing the traditions and cultures of the society to arrive at original creations,

(v)        skills in the finishing and packaging of sculptures,

(vi)       capability to appreciate and critique works of sculpture,

(vii)      ability to plan and establish a small-scale industry.

3.                                              SCHEME OF EXAMINATION  

There will be three papers, all of which must be taken:

PAPERS 1 and 2 must be taken at a sitting in 2 hours, 50 minutes.

Forty objective questions to be answered in fifty minutes, (40 marks)

PAPER 2 (2 hours)

Six essay-type questions will be set. Candidates will answer four questions (60 marks)

PAPER 3 (Five days)

One practical project to be produced from a choice of two within maximum of five days.

(100 marks)  Question papers will be sent to the candidates two weeks before the examination

day.

Designing and preparation notes/sketches should be done within the two weeks of receipt of the question papers. These will be marked by the itinerant examiners on the day of the examination. The execution of the project should be done in six hours a day for five days under strict examination conditions to be marked at the end of the examination.

DETAILED SYLLABUS

            Sculpture, as applied in this syllabus, includes the general knowledge of the history and development of the vocation, selection and use of tools and materials, health hazards and safety precautions, production of works, their finishing and packaging techniques and marketing strategies of the products.

Candidates will be expected to respond adequately to questions drawn from all aspects of sculpture in their objective, essay and practical forms. Questions will be drawn from the following areas:

(i)  Sculpture as a Vocation:

Definition of sculpture, history and rationale for studying sculpture, career opportunies, the sculpture industry, methods of making sculpture i.e. carving, modelling, casting, construction and assemblage, etc.

(ii)        Exploration of materials, tools and equipment:

(a)        Carving – identification and uses of tools, e.g gouges, mallets, chisels, saws, adze, etc. Methods of using various tools; care of tools to prevent rust, damage and promote longevity, (clean and oil metal parts). Keep tools in tool box. Equipment: table, bench vices, clamps, bench-screws, power tools, sprayers, grinders, drills, chain saw, etc. Care and maintenance: clean and oil regularly.

(b)        Modelling – identification and uses of modelling tools, eg. spatula, calipers,frog (cutting wire), throne. Methods of modelling: pinching, slabbing, coiling and hollowing. Care and maintenance: care to prevent damage, clean, wash and dry. Equipment: modelling stand, modelling table, turn table.

(c) Casting - identification and uses of casting tools, e.g.spatula, kidney, lost wax, sand casting, cold casting, plaster, cement, wax and slip casting, paper, etc.Equipment for casting: crucibles, tongs, safety equipment, gloves, goggles, masks, etc.

(d)       Construction and assemblage – identification and uses of tools, eg. hacksaw, wires, hammers, saw, chisels, pincers, rasps files etc.; methods of construction and assemblage, eg. riveting, welding, tying, nailing, soldering, sewing, gluing etc.

Equipment: soldering machine, arc-welding machine, goggles, etc.

(e)        Safety measures and precaution – Carving: wearing protective covering i.e. glasses, respiratory aid, earplugs, boots, etc, carve away from the body.

Modelling: nose guard for working with dry clay, POP, cement, etc, boots, overall clothing. Casting: protective clothing for the body and face, boots, glass, gloves. Construction and Assemblage: protection from naked fire and electric wires, working on dry areas, wearing boots, avoid spillage, inhaling gases and dusty materials.

(f)        Sources of tools and equipment – Tools: blacksmith shop, carpentry, hardware shops (eg. Sambraco Enterprise, (Accra).

(iii)            Material - carving: ivory from elephants, whitehog etc, stone, wood from the forest, sawmills, timber market, from the farms; modelling – clay from river banks, marshy areas, valleys, road construction sites, dug wells, environment and hardware shops, others: environment and shops e.g. POP, cement and paper.

            Maintenance – keep wet clay in bins or polythene, cement and POP in dry places, wax must be stored in a cool place, iron rods must be kept from moist condition, wood must be kept under shed or indoors.

(iv)             Preliminary Design - Meaning and importance of preliminary design: serves as a guide or gives an idea of the end product and also prevents waste of material and saves time. Idea development: sketching and drawing, planning and organization of ideas (manual and computer aided design), preparation of models for reference.

(v)               Method of Production - Production Process - Direct/Indirect

            Method of carving (relief and in the round), engraving, whittling,chipping chiseling, blocking, blasting, etc. Modelling: pinching, coiling, hollowing, scooping, slabbing.

Casting: moulding, lost wax casting, cold casting, waste mould, casting piece mould, casting, sand casting, repouse layering. Construction and Assemblage: welding, soldering, riveting hammering, joining, pressing, sewing, knotting, repouse filigree (Quilling), etc.

(vi)              Lettering

            Types of lettering: e.g. block, gothic, freestyle, italics, Roman, etc Method of execution: manual and computer – stenciling, carving, embossing, moulding, reflexive, scorching, etching casting, forging, modelling casting. Application of lettering/uses -plaques, memorials, tombstone, ornamental inscription, epitaphs, medals, shield, label. Materials for lettering – paper, leather, stone, wood, POP, rubber plastic clay, etc. Tools for lettering – chisels, lino cutters, gouges, spatula, knives, hammer, mallets, scooping tool, computer software, pencils, lettering pens, soldering rod, etc.

(vii)         Decoration and Finishing

            Types of Decoration - eg. incision, engraving, scorching, painting, varnishing, burnishing, embossing, stamping, texturing, smoking, sand blasting, inlaying etc. Methods of decoration, e.g. cutting into surface with tools, pressing into surface, stamping on surface etc.

            Types of Finishing – e.g. polishing, painting,, varnishing, waxing, smoothing, sanding, texturing, etc. Importance of Decoration and Finishing – eg. adds value, preservation, protection, durability, easy to identify, socio-economic importance, high income generation, generation of foreign exchange, boost up exportation, promotes tourism, aesthetics, etc. Materials – eg. brasso, paint, wax, cowries, bones, raffia, beads, straw, wood, etc. Tools – eg. gouges, knives, sprayers, brushes, pincers, files, abrasive papers, etc.

(viii)        Establishment of Small-scale Industry

            Factors to be considered – eg. types of raw materials, labour, transport and communication, location of market, siting of industry/factory, insurance, entrepreneurship, utility services, branding, quality control, capital, etc. Socio economic importance e.g. income generation, promotion of tourism, foreign exchange earnings, high recognition of sculpture, promotion of art and appreciation, etc. Short falls in finishing – eg. uneven/irregular surface textures, disproportionate figures, cracks and dents on works, unstable/imbalanced works, smearing/messy, etc. Ethics of Quality Control – eg. use of quality materials, appropriate subject, avoidance of indecent themes, (eg. vulgarism, pornography, derogatory and insulting signs and language), quality finishing, environmental friendly material, maintenance of clean environment. Ideal studio.

Packaging and Handling – eg. types of packaging: primary, secondary and tertiary. Tools and materials for packaging – eg. Tools; knife, hammer, needle, saw, pliers, drills, staplers, scissors, etc.Materials: plywood, plastic bags, fabrics, paper, glue, cardboard, foam, saw dust, sand, wood-shavings, styrofoam, adhesive masking tape, cellotape, etc.

Techniques of Packaging – eg. boring, wrapping, nailing, gluing, tying, boxing, etc. Importance of Packaging and Handling – eg. prevention of damage, shocks, hurt and damp conditions, facilitate easy and safe handling, add value to item, identification, etc.

(ix)           Costing, Pricing and Marketing

            Marketing of art products includes costing and pricing as well. Basic Marketing Strategies – eg. advertising by posters,hand bill, television, radio, word of mouth, exhibitions, bazaars,and fairs. Effective decoration and finishing, attractive packaging transportation, are also forms of marketing.

Types of Exhibition – eg. general, specialized.

Planning of Exhibitions – factors to be considered eg. type of exhibition, indoor and outdoor, what to exhibit, theme, cost involved in the exhibition, publicity, expected number of guests, duration/time, mounting of exhibitions, general layout for space arrangements, security, visitor’s book, sales, opening and closing, etc.

Mounting Exhibits – factors to be considered eg. colour scheme and balance, size, weight and height of exhibits, effect of light and ventilation of room, creation of free movement for viewing exhibits, decorate room with flowers, ribbons etc., creation of centre of attraction, eg. modelling, video shows, invitations, adverts, press release,

(x)            Managing Sculpture Enterprise

            Knowledge on management is necessary. Functions of a manager – Management process involves: planning, organization, controlling, etc. additional skills for management include supervision, budgeting, book keeping and computer skills. Attributes of a Manager - e.g. perseverance, commitment, temperament, courage to take risk.

Controlling Business Risk – Types of risk: direct and indirect - eg. Direct: theft, fire, misuse/misappropriation of capital and profit. Indirect Risk: lack of sales due to faulty and low quality products or wrong business location, currency inflation problem, introduction of new taxes, change of labour laws, etc. Measures of Control – e.g. theft (regular check of stocks and finished products), hire an accountant/bookkeeper to check the business account every month. Increase vigilance and security to minimize theft, fires (eg. use good quality electrical appliances, make good quality electrical connections to prevent fire outbreak, make regular check on fire extinguishers)

(xi)       Appreciation and Criticism in Sculpture

The process of appreciation and evaluation in sculpture; terms in appreciating 3-dimentional sculptures – e.g. content, forms, subject matter, symbolism, materials  and techniques, artist and style. Critiquing Works of art.

(xii)                 Portfolio of Works

Method of Compiling works; eg. photographs arranged and labelled in album or  slide holder in chronological/stylistic thematic order, pictures of work stored electronically on CD, video tape, computer hard disk. Note: photographs, drawings and sketches should be mounted on cardboards and labelled, etc. Uses of Portfolio – e.g. reference and study, exhibition of works, self evaluation. Importance of Portfolio – e.g. keep record of works, track development of skills, for inspiration, reveals artists weakness, develop  creative ability as well as quality control, help artist to be focused, develop for further studies, self esteem and confidence.

(xiii)               Professional practices Developing a Business plan Artist’s Statement

Definition and Importance

Business Plan

Definition, Importance and Preparation (steps involved)

Business Brochure and Card

Definition and Importance

(xiv)                Museum and Gallery Studies

-    Definition, history and development of the museum.

-    Functions and socio-economic importance of the museum.

-    The administrative structure of the museum.

-    Authenticity and neutrality of the museum.

-    Examples of museums and their activities, deal Studio – eg. indoor areas, outdoor space, facilities needed: eg. water, adequate lighting, good ventilation, fire extinguishers, office, washroom, various section for various types of work (eg. carving, casting, welding, modelling), storage area for eg. tools and materials, raw materials, for finished works etc.