This studio arts program examines the role of the object in art history and contemporary artistic practice. Students will have the option to work either in painting or in ceramic sculpture and to combine 2- and 3-D approaches in their individual creative projects. Our thematic focus will be on the object, the “still life.”  Our objects reflect and represent us; they embody our tastes, values, hopes, and identities. Through lectures, readings and seminars, we will examine how humans have historically used inanimate objects to present religious, allegorical, personal and political ideas. And through our own creative projects we will explore what role the object plays in contemporary art and the relationship between image and object.  

Students entering the program with an interest in painting must have a solid background in representational drawing. Students will have the opportunity to develop technical skills in the use of acrylics and oils and to learn about the history of painting. Each student in the program will create a series of creative works an individual theme related to the object over the course of the quarter. This program is designed for students who have a strong work ethic and self-discipline and who are willing to work long hours in the studio on campus in company with their fellow students.