Fine Arts

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Fine Arts Department Mission

The Fine Arts department develops conceptual and technical abilities in students to pursue creative professional careers, individual studio practices, or advanced education in the arts.

Fine Arts Program Description

We are a closely-knit community where students receive individual attention from faculty who are professional fine artists. We develop opportunities for students to expand their professional networks and make personal connections within the art and design community. We encourage our students to contribute to the ongoing dialogue of creative culture and to pursue life-long scholarship and creativity.

Fine Arts curriculum takes a multi-disciplinary approach to art making. Students experience a broad range of disciplines to better align with the ways contemporary artists are working today. Rather than focusing on specific discipline students explore concepts through a wide range of mediums. Students take courses in painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and photography in conjunction with Foundations and Liberal Arts courses.

Students also take critical thought and professional practice courses that expand students understanding of historical and contemporary art methodologies. We also offer a rotating selection of elective special topic courses that reflect art practices that are experimental, emerging, and are in the forefront of the contemporary art world.

Program Outcomes

CONCEPT: The artwork reveals a strong sense of conceptual thinking and risk-taking (Concept development; clarity of concept; manifestation and realization of one’s intent.)

PROCESS: The artwork demonstrates an attention to materials that is commensurate with the concept and exhibits a willingness to develop the technical skills to develop the artwork (experimentation, complexity/simplicity, perceptive use and choice of materials, relationship of detail to whole).

THEORY: The student can articulate and the artwork reveals,an understanding of historical and/or contemporary issues/theories and their relation to culture/society (visual, conceptual, and technical awareness of historical and/or contemporary issues/theories).

PRACTICE: The artwork demonstrates the student’s commitment to the profession and the community (self-motivation, respect for diversity of viewpoints, constructive peer critique, respect for all facilities/equipment, adherence to attendance, and studio policies).

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