Art Worlds

This program combines the study of art history, studio art skills, expository writing, and contemporary art. Many students aspire to be visual artists, but know very little about the art world and the many career paths that support the visual arts. This program examines the role of artists and the nature of artistic production at crucial points of change. By drawing on historical examples, we hope to show how contemporary artists can critique the status quo and generate new relationships between artists, patrons, materials and audiences. Using a case study approach we will explore, for example, the European Renaissance and Meso-American Art at the point of contact with Europeans. We will explore art movements of the twentieth century such as the Arts and Crafts Movement, Bauhaus and New Deal efforts to deal with the consequences of mass production culture. We will examine contemporary art movements such as the environmental art movement, contemporary Native American art, public art and performance art.

The program will combine lectures, workshops and hands-on visual art studio practice in drawing, movement and performance art. The program will include field trips to art museums, galleries and performance spaces and lectures by arts administrators, curators, critics, art historians and practicing artists. Students will learn skills in writing art criticism, visual analysis, artist statements and art history research.