Prerequisites:
Art 595 and permission of faculty. Must be a BFA student in senior year - preferably
in the final quarter before graduation.
2
credit hours, meeting times are to be arranged with the sponsoring faculty person
INDEX:
1) DESCRIPTION
2) OBJECTIVES
3) CONTENT
5) EVALUATION
7) CALENDER
DESCRIPTION
This two credit course will provide senior undergraduate BFA students in the Department of Art with practical experience in the development of an exhibition of their work and exposure to professional practices for artists. This includes the development of a significant portfolio, adequate documentation of the student’s work, an artists statement, presentation methods and experience. The governing concept of the exhibition is an acknowledgment and celebration of the student’s accomplishments in the Department of Art.
Each student who is a candidate for a B.F.A. degree must organize and install an exhibition at some point during their final two quarters of study. A faculty member will act as "sponsor" for this exhibition. The course will be treated by the Department as an Independent Study (and the appropriate permission forms will be filed). The faculty sponsor should be chosen from among those who are familiar with the studentss work. Written evaluations of the exhibition will be encouraged from all faculty in the Department and required from the students area faculty.
OBJECTIVES
The "Senior Exhibition" is an important, transitional, academic introduction to the professional world of practices in Art.
It is expected that the course will prove instrumental in helping to focus the students art-making efforts within our Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs and will provide a special incentive to aid the students personal growth as an artist.
Finally, the course will serve to foster a sense of community among our art majors. It will provide them with practical experience in the presentation of their work, writing about their work and help them to acknowledge, celebrate, document and share the students accomplishments within the Department of Art. The exhibitions will aid in a more comprehensive and interdisciplinary awareness of the work being accomplished within our program.
CONTENT
Planning and execution:
1. Selection and approval of a site on campus. Most shows to be held in the Department of Art facilities. Students must initiate arrangements for exhibition space. Some suggestions are listed here.
2. Arrangement for show times.
3. Selection of work
4. Publicity (news media).
5. Printed material (catalog, announcement, posters, etc.).
6. Finances; legal considerations.
7. Design of the exhibition.
8. Construction of frames, matts, pedestals, shelves, etc. as appropriate.
9. Installation in gallery.
10. Formal opening or reception.
11. Review by Department faculty during exhibition.
12. Removal from gallery; restoration of gallery to original condition.
DOCUMENTATION OF WORK
(Copies of all documentation will be retained in the Art Department collection)
1. Slides or high quality images or videos on CD or DVD (to be evaluated at midterm and final).
2. Slides of installation.
3. Artists Statement; draft evaluated at midterm revision, final copy available and/or posted at exhibition.
EVALUATION
Grades assigned on basis of:
1. Planning and completion of Senior Exhibition - 35%
2. Slides or other appropriate documentation of art work - 10%
3. Acceptable "Artists Statement" paper- 35%
4. Documentation of the Senior Exhibition - 10%
5. Demonstration of professional attitude (including assistance to others, participation in the criticism process, commitment) - 10%
Individual works chosen for exhibition should not be factor in the grade for this course inasmuch as they have previously received grades in other courses in the Department of Art.
TEXT & READINGS
No Text Required
READINGS
Writing About Art, Sylvan Barnet, Little
Art In It’s Own Terms, Fairfield Porter, (Edited by Rackstraw Downes)
Nature In Abstraction, John I. Baur, MacMillian Co.
The Artist As Adversary, Works from the museum collections, introduction by Betsy Jones, 1971
Other reading assignment relevant to Artists Statement will primarily be determined in consultation with Faculty sponsor.
CALENDAR
WEEK ONE and TWO Meet with faculty person to discuss requirements, (planning exhibition, required paper, set meeting times, etc.)
WEEK THREE Outline of required paper
WEEK FOUR Outline returned with revision
WEEK FIVE First draft of paper due
WEEK SIX First draft returned with revision
WEEK SEVEN Second draft due
WEEK EIGHT Final paper due
WEEK TEN Documentation of exhibit due
ARTISTS STATEMENT
Here is a great article from Ceramics Monthly on writing an artist statement.
STUDENT ARTISTS STATEMENT
Although a portion of your work may reflect projects directed by faculty, your artist statement should emphasize your present development as an artist. Examine, question the way you work and how your philosophy of art has matured, changed and hopefully become clearer to you.
GUIDELINES
Consider background experience, initial motive for making art, influences and expectation upon entering your major field of study
Consider the influence that began to shape, or alter your direction and philosophy of art.
Research artists, art movements and other relevant influences that will clarify and support your statement. Define the relationship of form and content in your work. Cite relevant, specific works using standard model of description analysis and interpretation.
Consider where you think you are at this point in your development as an artist. Refer to new found concepts again references to artists, writings, etc.
Summarize the changes that have taken place during your studies.
Throughout the writing, look to your development as an artist in the context of the contemporary art world. Challenge your direction, support your choice.
CRITERIA FOR GRADING = CONTENT AND QUALITY OF WRITING
- Clarity of concept
- Evidence of supportive research: Footnotes and bibliography
- Competent use of language
ORAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN STUDENT AND SPONSOR
- Critical discussion of the following:
Exhibition preparation
Exhibition design
Written statement
FORMAT
- Minimum length - 1500 words typed, double spaced
- Completion of outline, first draft, second draft, final paper
Student is responsible for arranging an appropriate exhibition space for their work.
On campus spaces:
Clean Space Gallery
at the Sherman Studio Art Center
1055 Carmack Rd.
Haskett Hall Gallery
and/or soundstage
156 West 19th Avenue
Robert Hite is the contact person for scheduling, but anyone if the photo cage
can help you with this. Visit the cage in Haskett Hall, room 315.
Hopkins Hall, 443 Gallery (yes this is room 443).
Ask in the Art Department office, or phone them at 292-5072
Off campus spaces - these change quite regularly
SkyLab
57 E. Gay St., 5th Flr.
291-0213