The Bauhaus Preliminary Course: light and space and thread
Five-day practical and theoretical course
22 July 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm23 July 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm24 July 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm25 July 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm26 July 2019 10.30am - 5.30pm
The Life Room, Royal Academy Schools
£1,900. Includes all materials, light refreshments, lunch and wine receptions throughout the week.
Terms and conditions
To celebrate the 2019 Bauhaus centenary, the Royal Academy of Arts is bringing you the exciting opportunity to experience the legendary 'Bauhaus Preliminary Course'. This five-day practical course explores space, light, shadows, thread and colour to follow in the teachings of Walter Gropius and Josef Albers.
“There is no essential difference between the artist and the craftsman.” – Walter Gropius, Bauhaus Manifesto, 1919
In 1919, Walter Gropius founded the Bauhaus art school in Germany, pioneering the idea of marrying fine art with crafts, which has became an integral influence on modern design.
Bauhaus students started off their education by enrolling in the so-called 'Preliminary Course', which encouraged them to explore humble materials, colour and shapes. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, Fritz Horstman, educator and artist-in-residence at the Albers Foundation in the USA, leads an exciting five-day summer course inspired by this course. While this is not an orthodox re-enactment of the Preliminary Course, it provides a unique opportunity to re-engage with the materials and ideas of the Bauhaus. Participants explore specific classroom exercises from Bauhaus masters including László Moholy-Nagy, Anni Albers and Josef Albers, as well as exercises that follow in the creative vein of the Bauhaus.
At the heart of the Preliminary Course was an investigation of material. Principles of design were drawn out through hands-on experimentation with material – be it wire, coloured glass, plastic or paper. Fritz Horstman leads participants as they gain hands-on knowledge and skills with exercises related to Josef Albers' colour course, Anni Albers' weaving and Moholy-Nagy's material studies. In addition, participants explore texture studies, paper folding, shadows and movement.
An ongoing theoretical discussion of pedagogical techniques will run through the practical sessions. Participants will get the exclusive opportunity to work in the RA Schools and the RA’s artist studios, usually not open to the public. You will also visit the RA Library to be inspired by a very rare and complete set of Josef Albers’ Interaction of Color along with other relevant historic material.
£1,900. Includes all materials, light refreshments, lunch and wine receptions throughout the week.
Terms and conditions
About the course
Artist and Albers Foundation educator Fritz Horstman leads an intensive week-long course focusing on the fundamental practices of the Bauhaus group including creating art in the manner of Bauhaus artists.
Alongside the practical classes will be a specially designed series of lectures that will explore the academic theories of the Bauhaus group's approach to art and design.
The course is suitable for individuals with existing artistic practice and previous experience who would like to immerse themselves in a week-long course inspired by the legendary Bauhaus Preliminary Course.
This course is for you if:
• You have no prior experience of artistic practice but have a serious interest in the history, theory and practice of the Bauhaus or of art more generally
• You have some prior knowledge of drawing and/or painting and would like to extend your skills with a focused narrative
• You would like a new perspective in your approach to your artistic practice
• You would like to develop your skills and ideas within a small group in the Royal Academy’s historic Life Room
Minimum age 18
The number of participants is strictly limited to enable detailed feedback from the course tutor.
Price: £1,900
Monday 22 July - Friday 26 July
10.30am-5.30pm each day
Includes:
• All specialist, practical art materials, as selected by the course leaders and guest speakers
• Refreshments during each day
• Lunch provided on each day
• Drinks receptions throughout the week
• A certificate of participation upon course completion
About the tutor
Fritz Horstman
Fritz Horstman is the Artist Residency and Education Coordinator at the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation in Connecticut, USA, where he has worked since 2004. Fritz received his BA from Kenyon College and his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and has since made a name for himself as artist and tutor. As practising artist, he has shown his works internationally with recent exhibitions in Norway, France, Russia, Japan, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Brooklyn. As tutor, Fritz traces the largely influential teachings of the Bauhaus and has been involved in giving lectures and workshops at the École des Beaux-Arts Paris, the Bauhaus Dessau, Yale University and many other institutions.
Our courses and classes programme
Our programme of short courses and classes offers the opportunity to explore a range of subjects, led by expert tutors and practising artists.
Give this course as a gift
All of our courses can be purchased as a gift for a friend or family member – giving the gift of education and a remarkable experience. To arrange a personalised Gift Voucher, please contact Anna Pojer, Academic Programmes Manager, by calling 020 7300 5684 or email anna.pojer@royalacademy.org.uk
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