Class Schedules

This course surveys artists and art movements that are generally perceived to be crucial in the development of Western art from the 14th through the 20th century. The course introduces students to art periods such as  Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism and a wide spectrum of modernist art movements, including Fauvism, Cubism, Dada, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. The course examines visual culture of this broad period of Western art within political, socio-historical and philosophical context in which it was produced. (4 credits).

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course introduces the conceptual, technical, and historical aspects of photography within a fine-arts context. The emphasis throughout is on photography as a creative and expressive medium and will introduce strategies and methods related to this goal through assignments and class activities. Students will learn the foundational aspects of digital photography from manual camera operation to the editing of images through Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Along the way, students will be introduced to the digital workflow, the critique process, and how to take their images from screen to print. Presentations and assigned readings will help students develop the critical and creative skills needed to understand how artistic photographs function in society and culture. $75 materials fee charged for course to cover printer paper and ink. Note: A digital SLR camera is required for this course--students may be able to rent one from the department on a first-come, first-served basis.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

In this foundations course we explore the fundamentals of two-dimensional design through a series of hands-on and digital projects. Topics such as the design process, pattern development and application, typography and branding are explored through both fine-art and commercial design projects. Demonstrations, presentations, and artist talks are included in addition to lab time and class discussions.  Students will finish the semester with a sketchbook full of ideas, a self-directed final project, and a well-rounded design portfolio. Software introduced includes Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Three two-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course contemplates the definition of Sacred Art and Sacred Space by focusing on religious visual culture in Asia and examining how intangible concepts of the divine have become tangible in art and architecture.  To better understand the multilayered functioning of devotional objects and spaces associated with religious doctrines such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism, the class will explore foundations in iconography and then compare different religious objects and spaces through concepts such as gender, state power, the body, nature, ritual, the grotesque, and death.  To account for the shifting meaning of religious icons over time, the class also reflects on how the significance of religious objects changes in the space of a museum.  Ultimately, this course allows us to contemplate the multifaceted ways religious beliefs have been visualized and how these manifestations exemplify systems of cultural exchange in Asia.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Complete your own personal 7-week project in this intensive studio course! We will spend the first week exploring different themes, content areas, and approaches to materials, to help you narrow down an idea that is meaningful to you. Working one-on-one, we will develop a timetable for completing a body of independent work during this module. Realistic goals, and frequent check-ins with a supportive class community will help keep you on track and provide you with in-progress feedback. Materials and scale/quantity will depend on your own individual circumstances, and might include traditional, digital, or non-traditional materials. Prerequisite: Drawing I.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

In this course, students build upon and expand the basic technical skills acquired in Sculpture I, and work to develop more sophisticated, individually-designed projects in a variety of media, incuding wood, metal, and wax, among others. $150 materials fee charged. Prerequisite(s): ART 235

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course is a continuation of ART 236, focusing on individually generated projects. There is an introduction of new techniques appropriate for content such as monoprint, collograph, screenprint, photo-printmaking and computer-based processes. Field trips, and arranged meetings.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course is for students with a passion for clay! Designed to engage and build on students' previous ceramic experiences, advancing their knowledge, techniques and concepts of contemporary ceramic art. Course content will be both assignment based and self-directed whether created on the wheel or through handbuilding. Through thoughtful discussion, critical examination and evaluation of concepts and ideas the class encourages students to develop a better understanding of their relationship to the rich tradition of ceramics and ceramic sculpture. Students will develop an understanding of glaze and clay materials while also taking on responsibilities for electric, gas and raku kiln firings. Lectures, demonstrations, critiques and gallery/museum visits will supplement studio work. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review, along with class participation. May be taken without an introductory class with instructor's review and approval. Can be taken for credit multiple times. Three two-hour periods per week. $100 materials fee is required. Prerequisite(s): ART 131 or approval of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

From ancient Mesopotamia to modern Europe, people attacked, mutilated and smashed images with motivations influenced by religion, politics and other ideological agendas. This course will explore the dynamics of such iconoclastic attacks on images by examining case studies from ancient, medieval and early modern contexts in the Near East, Mediterranean world and Europe. How and why have images been perceived as a threat by monarchs, invading armies or religious zealots? What were the intended outcomes of image destruction? By focusing on these main questions, this course will explore the function and power of images in pre-modern and early modern societies.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course will explore histories, cultures and artistic practices of combining words and pictures. Semiotics examines sign systems and the notion that all images are texts. The designer Eric Gill declared, "Letters are things, not pictures of things." Words and graphics underlie effective posters of advocacy and protest. The word is sacred in many cultures. We shall comparatively examine the work of artists from many different backgrounds whose projects involve language and apply apt theoretical principles to the making of text-based work. Use of text-generating technologies, digital and manual, including letterpress, stamping, laser cut stencils, pochoir, Risograph, mimeo, texting, calligraphy, and more. Logomaniacs welcome.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course is designed for graduating art history majors and it exposes them to methods and theories of art history, with a particular focus on the transformation of the discipline that began in the 1970s and continues to the present. The course will expose the students to both conventional methods of art historical analysis (style, form, iconography)  and to the so called "revisionist" perspectives of "new" art history. The course surveys a wide range of approaches used in the discipline, beginning with writers such as Vasari, Riegl, Panofsky, Gombrich, and ending with the more recent art historical studies informed by Marxism, feminism, and  postmodern and postcolonial theories. Students must enroll in a 2-credit independent study course in the spring semester of their senior year to do additional preparation for the successful completion of their capstone requirement, which culminates in a public oral presentation. Prerequisite(s): Art History seniors only.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This studio course is an introduction to observational drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, photo reference, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, expressive mark-making, and composition. This course is distance-learning compatible, and is designed for both hybrid and fully remote delivery. If the module is hybrid, studio space will be available.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This introductory course will provide a supportive studio environment for the exploration of diverse approaches to the ceramic field, ranging from investigation of utilitarian object making to sculptural practice. Techniques and applications for both handbuilding and wheel throwing will be presented. Emphasis is placed on development and understanding of strong three-dimensional forms as well as the relationship with surface decoration. Content-based assignments allow for individual expression through creative problem solving. The course goal is to present students with a historical perspective and the understanding of contemporary ceramics, building an appreciation for the spirit of the handmade object as well as preparing students for upper level self-directed work. Lectures, demonstrations, critiques and gallery/museum visits will supplement studio work. Learning will be assessed primarily through portfolio production and review, along with class participation. Three two-hour periods per week. $100 materials fee is required.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course examines the art, architecture, and visual culture of Japan, spanning a broad temporal frame from the ancient Neolithic era to our own contemporary moment.  We will discuss a diverse array of art and architecture from ancient Jomon pottery, Shinto shrines, and print media to Buddhist sculpture, painting practices during World War II, anime (cartoons) and manga (comics). In addition to learning methods of formal visual analysis, students will gain insight into how these works articulated complex artistic, social, economic, political, and religious trends. Through this course, students will develop skills to reflect critically on the production of narratives of Japanese culture, while considering concepts such as tradition, hybridity, value, authority, authenticity, sexuality, commodity flows, nationalism, and militarism. This is a stand-alone course which does not require ART 170 - Art of the East I: China as a prerequisite.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

An introduction to the studio practice of painting, using oil paint on a variety of supports ranging from paper, board and canvas to non-traditional painting surfaces. Exploration of the practical techniques and mechanics of painting as well as a consideration of content and meaning will be studied. Topics that will be studied include: paint-mixing, color matching, composition, design and a variety of painting styles. Readings and class discussions of historical and contemporary painting practices and issues will develop a visual vocabulary as well as critical/theoretical knowledge to complement technical skills. Lectures, demonstrations, critiques and a gallery/museum visit will supplement studio work. Three two-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

We will explore the tools and processes available in the sculpture studio, including the woodworking and metal shops. The class progresses from basic sculptural techniques to more student-driven, conceptual assignements. The course includes readings, student critiques and a museum visit. $150 materials fee charged. Prerequisite(s): ART 130 is recommended.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course explores the art and architecture of the Ancient Near East from the earliest agricultural societies in the 10th millennium BCE to the arrival of Islam in the 7th century CE. Within this historical framework the lectures and class discussions will focus on culturally specific concepts of design, representation and aesthetics in ancient Mesopotamia, Iran, Anatolia and Syro-Palestine, and explore their uses in politics, imperialism, burial practices, private rituals and state cults. The lectures will explore topics such as the development of narrative representation, monumental public art, portraiture, small-scale glyptic arts and the design, and production of personal ornaments such as jewelry.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

The Performative Object offers a hands-on studio experience that explores the temporal, kinetic, and interactive aspects of sculpture. In this class we will look at, talk about, and create non-static sculptural forms that foreground time, transformation, flexibility, movement, motion, participation, and viewer interaction. There is no prerequisite for the class, and no previous art experience is necessary. The class is designed for both remote and hybrid instruction. Studio space will be available for students choosing to meet in person.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Building off of the tools and concepts of Intro to Photography, Photo 2 encourages students to integrate experimentation, research, and the use of hybrid (digital + analog) forms for their work. This class will use the “workshop” model and dedicate the entire module for students to work on a singular project that evolves over our 7.5 weeks. Material demonstrations, virtual visiting artists, and critique forums will supplement the studio time. In particular, we will collectively be investigating the question: how can photography become more sustainable? Topics covered include film & silver-based processes, digital pinhole photography, cameraless image creation, and Anthotype (plant-based) processes. $75 materials fee charged for course to cover chemistry and equipment costs. Note: A digital SLR camera is required for this course--students may be able to rent one from the department on a first-come, first-served basis. Prerequisite(s): ART 233 or Instructor Permission.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

A continuation of ART 234, expanding both technical and critical/theoretical knowledge through projects which demand the development of each student's individual interests. Required projects will encourage increasing self-direction and development of the students' own artistic vision. Readings will supplement students'  critical and theoretical understanding of historical and contemporary art practices. Frequent group discussions and critiques, as well as museum/gallery field trips. Three two-hour periods per week. Offered every other semester. Prerequisite(s): ART 234 .

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course provides an introduction to the diversity of twentieth century visual culture of the United States, within the historical, social, and cultural contexts in which it is created. It will analyze the intersection and the social dynamics of race and ethnicity, along with gender and class, and how these shaped the experience of American artists and their audiences at various historical moments during the last century. Studying the work of Native American, African-American, Asian-American, and Latino-American artists in response to the mainstream US art and culture, will provide students with broad and complex understanding of concepts of race, ethnicity, class, and gender as reflected in artistic production of this marginalized artists and art groups.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course provides a setting in which art studio majors complete their capstone projects, including mounting a professional exhibition of recent work. It provides a look ahead to post-Macalester opportunities and the challenges of graduate school, jobs, and career opportunities in art. Arts professionals make presentations to the class and readings provide theoretical grounding for putting contemporary art in context. Students learn professional practices for studio artists, how to write artist statements, professional resumes and applications for grants, residencies and graduate school. Two three-hour sessions per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials