Class Schedules

This studio course is an introduction to fundamental drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, portraiture, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, perspective, mark-making, and composition. Context for assignments is given through frequent discussion of both historical and contemporary artworks. In group critiques and discussions, we consider composition, representational accuracy, creative expression, content, and intention. Two three-hour periods per week. (4 credits)

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This studio course is an introduction to fundamental drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, portraiture, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, perspective, mark-making, and composition. Context for assignments is given through frequent discussion of both historical and contemporary artworks. In group critiques and discussions, we consider composition, representational accuracy, creative expression, content, and intention. Two three-hour periods per week. (4 credits)

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 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 material and symbolic practices through myriad visual culture forms, from standards of fine art such as painting and sculpture to mass media including TV, film, advertising, and the Internet. Students will learn different theoretical paradigms and techniques for visual analysis in order to understand how visual culture mediates numerous social, economic, cultural and political relationships. We will investigate these diverse practices through lectures, guest speakers, film, historical art and media and, of course, those proliferating images that define our daily experiences. Offered every Fall.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

​This course surveys the visual and material culture of Europe, the Middle East and the broader Mediterranean world from prehistory through the late Medieval period, including early Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures. We consider the artistic and archaeological remains from the Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, Greece, Etruria, Rome, and western Europe from a contextual perspective in order to understand each culture's ideologies, and the diverse social and artistic purposes for which art and architecture was created and used.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course introduces the art and visual culture of China from the Neolithic era to the twenty-first century. Lectures and readings will teach methods of formal visual analysis as well as provide the opportunity for students to think critically about how scholars write the artistic history of the region. Through this class, students will engage with a broad array of media, from jade carvings, Buddhist cave painting, architecture, calligraphy and monumental landscape paintings to ceramics, modern graphic media, and contemporary installations. While examining the specific cultural, social, economic, and political functions of these spaces, images and objects, we will interrogate the multifaceted ways that shifting concepts of hybridity, ethnicity, authority, religion, militarism and politics have informed visual production.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

From ancient Egypt to the contemporary United States, people attacked, mutilated and smashed images with motivations influenced by religion, politics and other ideological agendas. The statues of the Egyptian queen Hatshepsut, Roman Emperor Nero or the southern general Robert E. Lee were the targets of official and/or public anger, and thus either removed or destroyed entirely. This course will explore the dynamics of such iconoclastic attacks on images by examining case studies from ancient to modern contexts in the Near East, the Mediterranean world, Europe and the Americas. How and why have images been perceived as a threat by monarchs, invading armies, religious zealots or political activists? What have been the intended outcomes of image destruction? By focusing on these main questions, this course will explore the function and power of images through the millennia.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

What is the difference between a #selfie and a self-portrait? How can we use photography to accurately represent not just what we look like, but also how we feel? This course introduces the conceptual, technical, and historical aspects of photography within a fine-arts context with a focus on the aesthetics and politics of self-representation. The emphasis throughout is on photography as a tool for outward and inward exploration and will introduce strategies and methods related to this goal through creative assignments and class exercises. Students will learn the foundational aspects of digital photography from manual camera operation to the editing of images through Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Students will also be introduced to critical theory surrounding the use and consumption of photographs through a series of reflective writing assignments. Note: A digital SLR camera is required for this course.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP

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 begin with an exploration of the nature of vision, creating life-size clay portrait heads of a partner. We move on to the exploration of the tools and processes available in the sculpture studio, including woodworking tools for both carving and fabrication. Sculpture I introduces students to case metal work in our foundry, where we will learn a lost wax ceramic shell casting system. The range of form which can be explored is infinite and starts with a wax form which is eventually replaced with 2100-degree bronze. Like my other course offerings, Sculpture I will include off-site projects that includes a class trip to my farm/studio in Western Wisconsin. $150 materials fee charged. Prerequisite(s): ART 130 is recommended.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

A hands-on introduction to original printmaking in the media of relief, etching, lithography and handset type. Included are discussions of aesthetics, the impact of printed imagery on our society, printmaking practices from around the world and field trips to local exhibits and museum collections. Emphasis is on individual expression and appropriate techniques for the content. Two three-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

In this class we explore the fundamentals of two-dimensional design through a series of hands-on and digital projects. Topics such as process, pattern, iconography, collage and typeface are explored through both fine-art and commercial design projects. Demonstrations, field trips, and artist talks are included in addition to lab time and class discussions.  Software explored includes Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Three two-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course explores major developments in European and American art from the 1900s to the 1980s, including Fauvism, Cubism, Expressionism, Dad, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Pop, Minimalism, and postmodern art trends. It will examine the key figures and works of Modernist period and the critique of Modernism formulated by its contemporaries and the postmodern discourse. Throughout the semester we will trace the unfolding of different avant-garde practices, both in the early decades of the twentieth century and in the post-World War II period, and analyze them in the context ofpolitics and historical catastrophes of World War I and World War II, and with regard to ever increasing powers of capitalism and mass culture. Theoretical models used by critics and art historians to study artistic production of the twentieth century art will be incorporated in the course. 4 credits

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course introduces students to the art and visual culture of Japan from the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century, a period of Japanese history marked by dramatic cultural, political, and social change.  The class focuses primarily on the visual arts from the 1850s to 1945, a time when modernism and modernity were seen (by some) as empowering and (by others) as a threat to foundations of national identity; we will also consider artistic practices in the postwar era to understand the "crisis of the modern" that developed in the first decades after the war as artists struggled to find their individual and national voices. Drawing on a diverse array of artistic forms and visual media, including painting, prints, sculpture, architecture, anime (Japanese cartoons), film, photography, advertising design, and manga (Japanese comics), we explore themes such as trauma, nationalism, imperialism, fascism, protest, hybridity, fantasy, embodiment, and performativity. Students will be asked to consider critically how these works operated as a part of international flows in art, design, and consumerism as well as how they contributed to evolving modern identities in Japan.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

From the ancient world to the early modern era, Babylon, Rome and Constantinople served as the centers of great empires, and thus controlled vast demographic, material, intellectual and artistic resources. This course will explore the formation and transformation of these metropolises through centuries. What kind of social, political and economic conditions stimulated their rise? In what ways did their urban layout change through time? What forms of art and architecture defined them as imperial centers?  Keeping these main questions in mind, this course will explore the impact of politics, religion and other historically and culturally specific conditions on the formation of the three cities that has inspired Western imagination for millennia.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Varies by semester. Consult the department or class schedule for current listing.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Globalization processes are forcing artists, curators and museum directors to rethink the way we study and understand contemporary art. The increasingly international art market and auction houses, art fairs, festivals, and biennales in places such as Dubai, Istanbul, or Cairo spark the excitement about the contemporary art around the globe, beyond the traditional centers of gravity in Europe and the United States. This course will introduce students to global artistic production from the 1990s to the present. Using a series of case studies, it will examine how globalization impacts artistic production in different parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, India, Latin America, Russia, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. While analyzing a diverse range of artistic practices in these regions, the course will critically explore discourses of multiculturalism, post-colonialism, transnationalism, and globalization.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

We are surrounded by three dimensional design; from the architecture of our built environment to the tools and objects that surround us, to the human-altered landforms and plantings of our larger environment. All of these elements can be considered and affected by design choices which we make. In the class we build structures which can be considered from structural, aesthetic, and functional points of view. Some of these projects are built to very specific parameters so that trade-offs can be observed and measured. We smash a lot of things, but learn a lot about problem-solving along the way. The course includes a field trip to my farm/studio in Western Wisconsin where we install a large site-specific project. Past projects have included a collaboratively-built ninety-three foot long illuminated lantern across the pastures, as well as a series of kinetic structures. The food is great too!

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Create your own original narratives and communicate them through images. Refine your visual storytelling skills through creative prompts, sequencing, editing, juxtaposition, and exploration of metaphor and non-linear structure. This course will emphasize the wide range of possibilities for visual storytelling, and how material and aesthetic choices enhance the power of narrative. We will explore many forms, including cartooning, sequential art such as comic books and graphic novels, artist’s books, viewer interactivity, and more. Substantive independent final projects can be in any media— including installation, sculpture, animation, or video.

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 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 studio course is an introduction to fundamental drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, portraiture, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, perspective, mark-making, and composition. Context for assignments is given through frequent discussion of both historical and contemporary artworks. In group critiques and discussions, we consider composition, representational accuracy, creative expression, content, and intention. Two three-hour periods per week. (4 credits)

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 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:

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.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

What is the camera’s relationship to truth? In an era of “fake news” and Photoshop, how can photography be used in a truthful way to communicate news stories? Through a blend of photo assignments and theoretical readings, this class examines contemporary photo-journalistic approaches in social media and other digital formats to help students read and create their own news stories in emerging contexts. Students will develop stories for web and social media platforms by creating compelling news images and transforming them into engaging stories. Contemporary outlets such as Magnum in Motion, Instagram Stories, and the New York Times Lens will be case studies for students to learn how to adapt their work to different venues. Students will also have the opportunity to work collaboratively with existing news and art outlets. Previous photography experience highly recommended.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

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 narrative 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 digital workflow, color managment, and how to take their images from screen to print. Historical presentations and assigned readings will help students develop the critical skills needed to understand how photographs function in society and culture. $75 materials fee charged for course. Note: A digital SLR camera is required for this course.

General Education Requirements:

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 begin with an exploration of the nature of vision, creating life-size clay portrait heads of a partner. We move on to the exploration of the tools and processes available in the sculpture studio, including woodworking tools for both carving and fabrication. Sculpture I introduces students to case metal work in our foundry, where we will learn a lost wax ceramic shell casting system. The range of form which can be explored is infinite and starts with a wax form which is eventually replaced with 2100-degree bronze. Like my other course offerings, Sculpture I will include off-site projects that includes a class trip to my farm/studio in Western Wisconsin. $150 materials fee charged. Prerequisite(s): ART 130 is recommended

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

A hands-on introduction to original printmaking in the media of relief, etching, lithography and handset type. Included are discussions of aesthetics, the impact of printed imagery on our society, printmaking practices from around the world and field trips to local exhibits and museum collections. Emphasis is on individual expression and appropriate techniques for the content. Two three-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course examines the visual arts in the United States and Europe during the last three decades. It coves major artists and art movements that shaped the character of contemporary art within sociopolitical, cultural, and theoretical contexts. The course focuses on the exploration of the most recent artistic, cultural and intellectual trends, with attention to post-modernism, post-colonialism, globalization, internationalism, and multiculturalism. Prerequisite(s): ART 149 or ART 160 or ART 161 or permission of instructor.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

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:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course will explore the art and architecture of the medieval Christian world from the time of Constantine the Great (306-337 CE) to the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The lectures and class discussions will focus on the role of images and relics in Christianity as well as the developments in sacred and secular architecture across Europe and the Byzantine empire. Special emphasis will be given to certain trends such as the foundation of monasteries, pilgrimage, icon and relic worship, and the emergence of Romanesque and Gothic styles in architecture, which changed the urban and rural topography of the continent.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Coined in the late 19th century by the German geographer, Ferdinand von Richthoven (1833-1905), “the Silk Road” was neither a singular road nor strictly occupied with silk. Rather, it was a complex web of overland and maritime trade of multifarious luxury goods including jade, porcelain, prints, paintings, metalwork, sculpture, furniture, and (of course) textiles; these goods moved along routes extending geographically from the Far East through Central, North, and South Asia to the Mediterranean. This course examines art and artifacts that moved along these trade routes from around the 2nd c. BCE to the 19th c. CE, inspiring the evolution of culture and taste in many regions. We will also discuss how religions such as Buddhism and Islam contributed to shifts in material practices during this dynamic time. Through a study of the art and treasure associated with the "Silk Road", we will learn about the muddy, complicated, and fascinating nature of ancient, pre-modern, and early modern trade and the formative role it has played in shaping cultures we see and understand today.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

Building on the tools and techniques learned in the Photography I course, Photography II highlights the material aspect of photography in contemporary art and is designed for self-driven students wanting to pursue a photography-based art project. Alternative processes, advanced lighting, and digital distribution will be explored at length. Students will work toward the product of printed and digital portfolios and create work for a group exhibition. Class time will consist of critiques, readings, lectures, material demonstrations, field trips, and lab time. 4 credits. Prerequisite(s): ART 233

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. Basic welding is taught, allowing students to develop strength and scale in their projects. the new The foundry provides the means for an individual or a small group to cast bronze components which can become part of larger sculptural pieces. The foundry process includes working with dangerous materials, requires wearing of funny outfits, and offers the potential for dramatic moments. Students in Sculpture II will create a piece for transport and installation at the farm/studio. A typical project which could be shown at the farm might be a wind-powered kinetic sculpture. 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, ART 133, or approval of instructor.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This topics course will explore techniques and concepts commonly used in illustration for publication and mass media. Studio projects will investigate a variety of illustration categories, including advertising, editorial, scientific illustration, and narrative/book illustration. Projects will emphasize conceptual problem solving, creative interpretation, clarity of visual communication, and the development of a personal style. Illustration skills are valuable for careers in advertising, publishing, graphic design, product design, animation, fine art, and more. We will meet with professional illustrators working in a variety of specialties throughout the semester. Materials will be both traditional (such as pen and ink, watercolor and gouache on paper) as well as digital tools (Wacom tablets, drawing software). Digital tools will be provided: your own laptop is helpful but not required. No prior experience with these materials is necessary. Prerequisite: Drawing 1.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

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 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 prepare artist statements, professional resumes and learn grant and application writing techniques. Two three-hour sessions per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This studio course is an introduction to fundamental drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, portraiture, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, perspective, mark-making, and composition. Context for assignments is given through frequent discussion of both historical and contemporary artworks. In group critiques and discussions, we consider composition, representational accuracy, creative expression, content, and intention. Two three-hour periods per week. (4 credits)

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This studio course is an introduction to fundamental drawing materials and techniques. Students explore a variety of themes and subjects, including still life, architecture, figure drawing, portraiture, and imagination. Formal elements covered include: line, value, volume, space, proportion, perspective, mark-making, and composition. Context for assignments is given through frequent discussion of both historical and contemporary artworks. In group critiques and discussions, we consider composition, representational accuracy, creative expression, content, and intention. Two three-hour periods per week. (4 credits)

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 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 material and symbolic practices through myriad visual culture forms, from standards of fine art such as painting and sculpture to mass media including TV, film, advertising, and the Internet. Students will learn different theoretical paradigms and techniques for visual analysis in order to understand how visual culture mediates numerous social, economic, cultural and political relationships. We will investigate these diverse practices through lectures, guest speakers, film, historical art and media and, of course, those proliferating images that define our daily experiences. Offered every Fall.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course examines material and symbolic practices through myriad visual culture forms, from standards of fine art such as painting and sculpture to mass media including TV, film, advertising, and the Internet. Students will learn different theoretical paradigms and techniques for visual analysis in order to understand how visual culture mediates numerous social, economic, cultural and political relationships. We will investigate these diverse practices through lectures, guest speakers, film, historical art and media and, of course, those proliferating images that define our daily experiences. Offered every Fall.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

​This course surveys the visual and material culture of Europe, the Middle East and the broader Mediterranean world from prehistory through the late Medieval period, including early Christian, Jewish and Islamic cultures. We consider the artistic and archaeological remains from the Near East, Egypt, the Aegean, Greece, Etruria, Rome, and western Europe from a contextual perspective in order to understand each culture's ideologies, and the diverse social and artistic purposes for which art and architecture was created and used.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course introduces the art and visual culture of China from the Neolithic era to the twenty-first century. Lectures and readings will teach methods of formal visual analysis as well as provide the opportunity for students to think critically about how scholars write the artistic history of the region. Through this class, students will engage with a broad array of media, from jade carvings, Buddhist cave painting, architecture, calligraphy and monumental landscape paintings to ceramics, modern graphic media, and contemporary installations. While examining the specific cultural, social, economic, and political functions of these spaces, images and objects, we will interrogate the multifaceted ways that shifting concepts of hybridity, ethnicity, authority, religion, militarism and politics have informed visual production.

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 narrative 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 digital workflow, color managment, and how to take their images from screen to print. Historical presentations and assigned readings will help students develop the critical skills needed to understand how photographs function in society and culture. $75 materials fee charged for course. Note: A digital SLR camera is required for this course.

General Education Requirements:

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 start with an exploration of the tools and processes available in the sculpture studio, including woodworking tools for both carving and fabrication. Sculpture I introduces students to cast metal work in our foundry, where we will learn a lost wax ceramic shell casting system. The range of form which can be explored is infinite and starts with a wax form which is eventually replaced with the 2100 degree bronze.Like my other course offerings, Sculpture I will include an off-site project that includes a class trip to my farm/studio in western Wisconsin. At the farm we will install a series of wind powered kinetic sculptures which is your first project. There is also a flock of sheep to visit as well as great food.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

A hands-on introduction to original printmaking in the media of relief, etching, lithography and handset type. Included are discussions of aesthetics, the impact of printed imagery on our society, printmaking practices from around the world and field trips to local exhibits and museum collections. Emphasis is on individual expression and appropriate techniques for the content. Two three-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

In this class we explore the fundamentals of two-dimensional design through a series of hands-on and digital projects. Topics such as process, pattern, iconography, collage and typeface are explored through both fine-art and commercial design projects. Demonstrations, field trips, and artist talks are included in addition to lab time and class discussions.  Software explored includes Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. Three two-hour periods per week.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course explores the making and function of art and architecture in ancient Egypt along with its socio-economic and political context from pre-dynastic times (ca. 5300 - 3000 BCE) to the Roman era (30 BCE - 391 CE). The lectures and class discussions will focus on concepts of design, representation and aesthetics in Egypt, and explore the uses of art objects and monuments in politics, religion, private and state cults, and burial practices. Addressing topics such as pharaonic ideology, imperialism, gender, and afterlife, this course will help students comprehend the fundamental place of art and visual culture in the creation and sustenance of one of the oldest civilizations in the world.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course will explore the art and architecture of the Islamic world from the time of the Prophet Mohammed to the 18th century. The lectures and class discussions will focus on culturally specific concepts of design and aesthetics in the vast geography from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Subcontinent, and analyze a variety of genres including architecture, glass, wood and metal working, painting, calligraphy and ceramics in their political and socio-economic contexts. Within these chronological, geographical and typological frameworks, this course will focus on special themes such as patronage, art and politics, figural representation, religious vs. secular art, and the impact of pre-Islamic Near Eastern heritage and Christianity on the development of Islamic forms and styles.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

This course examines how social constructions of race, class, and gender in the US have been reflected and mediated in American photography from the early 20th century to the present. The course will consider theoretical questions regarding the medium of photography along with ethical and political issues involved in taking pictures of the "Others", and explore how issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, and economic and geopolitical relations of power re inseparable from the historical study, practice, and dissemination of the medium of photography. No previous knowledge or art history or photography required.

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

The end of the Cold War in 1989 marked the beginning of a new era for the former communist countries, bringing about great changes in the art world. The profound political, social, economic, and cultural transformations that took place in Russia, Eastern Europe, China, and Cuba have radically redefined the cultural imperatives of the communist state, shifting the function of a work of art from a conduit of propaganda to a vehicle for social change and political contestation. The course begins with the Soviet period, then continues with case studies focusing on regions including Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, China, and Cuba, as well as transnational art collectives such as Slavs and Tatars. This course will explore the questions of power and identity that circulate in the post-communist world, by analyzing and contextualizing art created in these regions in the past twenty-five years. We will study artworks in a variety of media (ranging from art in galleries to public, performance, and street art) and examine how during this period of transition, art helped to re-evaluate deeply entrenched historical narratives and redefine individual and group identities. We will develop a shared conceptual framework that will allow us to critically address the artwork that we will encounter.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

The large challenges facing us in the 21st century are not going to be solved in one sector. We need creative collaborations and innovative experiments. Change is happening at the intersection of art, science and design. In this class we are going to learn about artist and scientist who are doing things differently and explore how they engage with people, collaborate cross sector, change systems and involve people in the their research. We will use design thinking and prototyping to build new platforms in our cross departmental class. Together we will explore four large topic areas, bring in speakers and go on filed trips across the cities. Each student will have the opportunity to design and test prototypes of their ideas in the public and bring back both their successes/challenges for the class to learn from. The class will end with collaborating on a local issue facing the City of St Paul. As a class working together we will develop a creative plan that will include working prototypes, possible funding sources and how to sustain our idea. The final idea will be present to the city for implementation.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials

In this course we will explore both the structural and expressive aspects of figure drawing. Students will be introduced to the elements of surface anatomy and structure of the human body through working with nude and clothed models, the skeleton, anatomical texts, and other source material. Confidence, the ability to improvise, and an expressive connection with the figure will be encouraged through exercises that encourage experimentation with gesture and materials. In an in-depth, independent final project, students will develop their own personal content related to the figure/body, using the materials and methods of their choice. Discussion of the various issues brought up by representation of the body will be part of our study of both contemporary and historical works of art. Every other fall. Prerequisite(s): ART 130 or permission of instructor.

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. Weekly group discussions and critiques. Three two-hour periods per week. Prerequisite(s): ART 234

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

We begin with a trip to the farm where we will fell an Ash tree with an axe. In the studio, we will saw and split the wood into billits with wedges and gluts. In this class, we will learn a bit about various species of trees and how their unique characteristics suggest different uses. We will explore tools, materials and processes which have applications well beyond traditional woodworking. Much of what we do in the class will take advantage of our woodshop, in an investigation of the intersection between hand and power processes. Finally, one of the goals of the class is to illuminate a fundamental toolkit that a beginning maker would be able to acquire cost effectively, and use and maintain with basic competence. Most importantly, you will learn how to sharpen knives and chisels and other cutting tools.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Fine arts

Course Materials