Art

About the Department

The Art Department offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Studio Art and Art History. The two majors are distinct, but students in either major are required to take supporting courses in the other area to insure breadth and depth in their knowledge of art. Particular attention is paid to the university's emphasis on writing, and all Art courses include a writing component. The department gives first priority to liberal education. The specific education of artists and of art historians is a very important second priority. Department courses serve majors as well as students who are enrolled for the Fine Arts Approaches core. Careful attention is given to meet the needs of these different student programs.

The department occupies a cluster of three buildings with Kittredge Hall and its galleries as the nucleus. Approximately eleven exhibitions are held each academic year in the galleries.

Art Studio

It is the goal of the department that studio majors should be able to demonstrate a mastery of process, an understanding of the principles of design, a familiarity with art history, and sensitivity to expression in visual language.

The studio areas are well equipped for an institution of our size. Areas of concentration include ceramics, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. Digital Imaging is offered as an elective. In addition to instruction from the regular staff, a number of visiting artists are brought to the campus each year to talk and work with students.

Studio classes average 14 students per class, providing opportunities for close relationships between faculty and students. The studio faculty is exceptionally well qualified. All are exhibiting artists, showing their works in national and international competitive exhibitions and museum exhibitions, as well as in regional and local shows.

Art History

Art history majors develop skills to analyze artwork from a wide range of cultures. This includes the study of methodology for analyzing art in the context of a particular civilization. Written work culminates in the presentation of a major paper that demonstrates the student's ability to apply methods of research and analysis.

Courses in art history cover the surveys of Western, Asian, and modern art history, with upper division (300-400 level) studies in Ancient, Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque, 19th and 20th Century European and American Art, Mexican, and several areas of Asian art history. Sophomore level standing or consent of instructor is required for 300 level courses.