Department of Art
Faculty in the Department of Art: Elizabeth Morton (chair), Douglas Calisch, Damon Mohl, Annie Strader, and Matthew Weedman
The Curriculum: Course work takes place on four levels: Fundamental (100 level), Introductory (200 level), Intermediate (300 level), and Advanced (400 level). At all four levels, students are asked to develop their ability to experiment with visual language so that they may more effectively understand and convey ideas in non-verbal forms. This development is realized through improving technical control of particular media and deepening their understanding of visual expression. Both in studio courses and art history offerings, students study the work of other artists, past and present, in order to understand the significance of visual culture. Whether doing studio or art historical research, students are expected to widen their understanding of the visual world and become increasingly visually literate.
The purpose of art history courses is to develop a greater understanding of human creativity as manifested in the visual imagery, architecture, and artifacts of all societies across time. Students develop analytical, research, writing, and verbal skills, as well as a descriptive vocabulary as they investigate the artistic achievements of diverse societies, historical periods and styles, and critical theories and methodologies. Art history courses support the studio by offering students a wide range of creative solutions to the various technical and intellectual problems. Studio courses, in turn, support the work in art history by providing students with opportunities to experience the creative process first hand and to become personally aware of the potential and the limitations of art making.
Goals of the Department: By the end of the senior year, a student majoring in art has thoroughly investigated the discoveries he found most compelling while in the foundations and intermediate-level courses. He has determined for himself what is required to work in a disciplined way as an artist and/or art historian. He has realized that art making or art historical study is a process which involves testing new areas of thought, methods, and/or materials. He has developed a critical engagement with the past, especially with historical questions and experiments, and has begun to evaluate his own work and contemporary practices in light of a broader context. Benefiting from discourse with peers and faculty, the student has also begun to discover his own strengths and has accepted responsibility for both seeking and solving interesting problems. He has sufficient mastery of his chosen field, is able to articulately express insights regarding his discipline, and generates work worthy to be included in a capstone course. The culmination of this work, for majors, is the Senior Exhibition, which—in the best cases—challenges viewers to think and see the world differently.
Requirements for a Major: Students intending to major in Art must complete a minimum of nine courses in the following categories:
Foundation Level Courses (two courses):
We strongly encourage students to complete these during the freshman and sophomore years
ART 125 (Drawing) and Art 126 (Studio Art Fundamentals)
Intermediate Level Courses (three courses):
ART 223 (Ceramics), ART 224 (Photography), ART 225 (Topics in Studio; this course can be taken more than once with a different topic), ART 227 (Sculpture), ART 228 (Painting), or ART 229 (New and Expanded Media)
Advanced Level Courses (one course credit minimum):
ART 330 and/or 331 (Advanced Studio) intended to continue research in a 200-level discipline
Senior Studio (one course credit minimum):
ART 432 and/or 433 (Senior Studio) intended to continue research in a 300-level discipline
Art History (two course credits):
ART 209 (20th Century Art History—required)
And one course credit from the following options:
ART 103 (Greek Art and Archaeology), ART 104 (Roman Art and Archaeology), ART 202 (Art in Film), ART 204 (Art and Architecture of the Ancient Americas), ART 205 (Renaissance Art), ART 206 (Baroque Art), ART 208 (19th Century Art), ART 210 (Special Topics in Art History; this course can be taken more than once with a different topic), ART 311 (Art Theory and Criticism), or ART 312 (Post Modern Art and Culture)
Recommended courses: Students considering graduate school in art should meet early and often with departmental faculty to discuss future goals and course selection. Students anticipating graduate school should plan to take an eleven-course major including ART 311 and 312.
Requirements for an Art Minor: There are two Art Minor Tracks—a Studio Art Track and an Art History Track.
A Studio Art Minor will consist of five course credits—four studio courses and one art history course:
Studio courses (four):
Either ART 125 or 126 and three courses from the following options:
ART 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 229, 330, 331
Art History course (one credit) from the following options:
ART 103, 104, 202, 204, 205, 206, 208, 209, 210, 311, 312
An Art History Minor will consist of five course credits—four course credits in art history and one studio course:
Art History courses (four) from the following options:
ART 103, 104, 202, 204, 205, 206, 208, 209, 210, 311, 312
Studio courses (one) from the following options:
ART 125, 126, 181 ( Historic Materials and Ideas), 223, 224, 225, 227, 228, 229