Studio Art

This course offers hands-on experience in exhibition preparation and installation, under the guidance of the directors of the Marian Graves Mugar Art Gallery and the Bill and Sonja C Davidow ’56 Fine Art Gallery. Weekly class meetings cover topics relating to gallery operations and management, including promotion and publicity, budgeting and scheduling, selection of artists and exhibition themes. The differences between commercial and nonprofit galleries are also discussed. Can be repeated for credit in multiple semesters. Course content varies from term to term.

This course presents the foundational theories, concepts, and practices of contemporary visual art and design. Through a series of research projects and experiential studio projects, student-artists will be introduced to key elements of visual literacy, art history, semiotics, and other frameworks for interpreting our increasingly image-based culture. Students will study a diverse array of professional artists and their work, providing a context for their own visual art and design research. 

This course presents the foundational theories, concepts, and practices of contemporary visual art and design. Through a series of research projects and experiential studio projects, student-artists will be introduced to key elements of visual literacy, art history, semiotics, and other frameworks for interpreting our increasingly image-based culture. Students will study a diverse array of professional artists and their work, providing a context for their own visual art and design research. (WI)

This stacked level seminar for Art and Design majors focuses on contemporary practices across visual disciplines. Students use group critiques, shared reading discussions, and art-history based research projects to help build their art and design portfolios. In their sophomore year, majors join a cohort with upper level students who are communally engaged in the critical practice of assessing and refining their work.

This stacked level seminar for Art and Design majors focuses on contemporary practices across visual disciplines. Students use group critiques, shared reading discussions, and art-history based research projects to help build their art and design portfolios. In their sophomore year, majors join a cohort with upper level students who are communally engaged in the critical practice of assessing and refining their work.
Prerequisites: Major in Studio art, Graphic Design, or Art & Design, or Minor in Studio Art, or Graphic Design

In this course students develop an understanding of three-dimensional ideation and sculpture construction. Students conceptualize through historical and contemporary research and sketch book drawings. The course covers armature building, the additive process and clay modeling. In addition, students are introduced to subtractive and mixed media construction methodologies. Protocols for studio safety and equipment operations are emphasized; studio agreements and tool instruction authorizations are signed-off on by students.

Objects for personal adornment have, for centuries, been part of our culture. Often these objects serve as a means of distinguishing ourselves as a distinct culture or group as well as a means of personal expression, remembrance or commemoration. This course will explore some of the different forms and functions that the medium has taken in various cultures around the world. The focus of the course will be on the production of jewelry and/or small-scale metal sculpture. Students will learn some of the traditional methods of jewelry fabrication and design working with precious and non-precious metal and stones.

Please note: As with many studio courses, some materials will be provided for the class, and some will be purchased by students. Given the current increased cost of metal, expected individual costs are $130+ (depending on the precious or non-precious materials students choose).

This introductory elective art internship is designed to provide BA and BFA studio art majors with exploratory, on-site art and design related work experiences and opportunities in related businesses or nonprofit organizations. A studio art or graphic design faculty member serves as the student's internship sponsor. An internship contract must be submitted to the Harrington Center for Experiential Learning, and study plans must be submitted to an art faculty advisor of choice for approval prior to the beginning of the internship. Graded Pass/Fail.

The second course in a stacked level seminar series for Art and Design majors continues its focus on contemporary art practices across visual disciplines. Students use shared reading discussions, group critiques, and individual research assignments to develop their portfolios. In their junior year, majors participate in the Art & Design cohort, taking a leadership role in reading discussions and art critiques.

The final course in a stacked level seminar series for Art and Design majors continues its focus on contemporary art practices across visual disciplines. Students use shared reading discussions, group critiques, and individual research assignments to expand their portfolios. In their senior year, majors take on mentor and leadership roles in the art and design cohort, modeling the practices of successful student-artists as they prepare their portfolios for capstone presentations and the Senior Art and Design Exhibition.
 

This sculpture course introduces students to new materials and processes based upon their own ideation and project frameworks. Students will explore ideas through the construction of maquettes and process frameworks. Students are expected to research and apply their understanding of contemporary art. Considerable outside of class work will be required. Each student is expected to understand and use studio safety best practices.

This sculpture course challenges students to explore materials and processes based upon their own ideation and the project frameworks. Students will explore new ideas through conceptual drawings and through the construction of maquettes. Students are expected to research and apply their understanding of contemporary art. Considerable outside of class work will be required. Each student is expected to understand and use studio safety best practices.

Throughout history, handcrafted jewelry has served as a channel for cultural distinction, personal expression, remembrance, and commemoration. As such, this course will examine influences on the artisan as well as how to cultivate inspiration for original design. This course further explores the skills and techniques acquired in ART 247. This course will focus on drafting original designs, refining traditional jewelry skills and techniques, and acquiring advanced-level skills in stone setting, engraving and etching, molding and casting, and surface finishing (such as patinas, reticulation, raising, and planishing). In addition, there will be an emphasis on developing or adding to an artist portfolio. In this course, there will be a higher expectation of creativity and craftsmanship while also refining foundational skills such as soldering, filing, sawing, stone setting, and polishing.

Please note: As with many studio courses, some materials will be provided for the class, and some will be purchased by students. Given the current increased cost of metal, expected individual costs are $130+ (depending on the precious or non-precious materials students choose).

These courses offer students in-depth study of topics in art that are not part of the regularly scheduled course offerings. The topics are announced before registration.

In this course, Graphic Design and Studio Art majors will develop the practical skills necessary for their professional development and career planning. Topics may include job applications, interviews, residency programs, exhibition opportunities, artist grants, portfolio documentation, web/social media presence, self promotion, and graduate programs. Students will create, revise, and refine a promotional portfolio which will include resumés, cover letters, and artist statements, in conversation with their art and design portfolios. 

The Studio Art & Design Capstone course facilitates seniors in the development of robust art and design practices that thrive. Through a series of readings, project prompts, group critiques, and written student reflections, seniors will examine their own art and design work, find their singular vision, and become fluent communicators of their ideas. To those ends, seniors will research the work and writings of contemporary artists and professional designers, providing context for their own visual art and design practices and locating their place in the broader discourse of the visual arts. Students will also write and revise artist-statements, and regularly present their work to the class as they refine their portfolios for capstone presentations and the senior Art & Design Exhibition.
 

Students will finalize their self-identity promotional materials, hone their interviewing and presentation skills, and present their final portfolios during the campus capstone event. In addition, students are required to prepare their work for exhibition, understand exhibition requirements, and mount a group exhibition of their work in the college galleries.

This advanced course challenges students to learn new techniques and processes, while building upon the foundations of prior work. Students explore three dimensional solutions to art-making and create individually expressive contemporary works of art. Advanced research, problem solving and self-criticism are major parts of this course. Outside of class work will be demanding and all studio safety best practices will be modeled.

This advanced course challenges students to research and employ multiple techniques and processes, while building upon the knowledge gained in ART 445. Students explore three dimensional solutions to art making and create individually expressive contemporary works of art. Students will research contemporary concepts of multi-media and installation-based sculpture. Advanced research, problem solving and self-criticism are major parts of this course. Outside of class work will be demanding and all studio safety best practices will be modeled.

Students in this course explore image-making options in photography. Emphasis falls on producing consistently high-quality photographs while developing a single artistically cohesive body of work. Each student produces a professional level portfolio. A manually adjustable, interchangeable lens digital camera is required (a digital single lens reflex camera [DSLR] with a normal [non-wide/non-telephoto] prime [non-zoom] lens is strongly recommended).

Students in this course further explore image-making options in photography. Emphasis falls on producing consistently high-quality photographs while developing a single artistically cohesive body of work. Each student produces a professional-level portfolio. A manually adjustable, interchangeable lens digital camera is required (a digital single lens reflex camera [DSLR] with a normal [non-wide/non-telephoto] prime [non-zoom] lens is strongly recommended).

An advanced internship is required for all students in the studio art major. This requirement will provide art students with experiences in art related businesses and nonprofits organizations. Art majors may arrange internships with correlative art or design businesses, art centers, design firms, artist and artisan studios. An art faculty member serves as the student’s faculty sponsor. Internships are arranged through the Harrington Center for Experiential Learning with approval and evaluation by the advisor, faculty sponsor and the Harrington Center for Experiential Learning. Specific information is available from the Harrington Center for Experiential Learning. Graded pass/fail.