This course introduces you to contemporary perspectives on art through the lens of race, power, and justice. How has art allowed marginalized people to protest oppression, express joy and defiance, and serve as a cultural space for healing? In what ways does the symbolic, open-ended language of art allow artists to imagine otherwise, conjure different futures, and connect to ancestral pasts that co-mingle with present lived experiences? Course readings center BIPOC voices and focus on issues of representation, cultural appropriation, and decolonization. We look at the emergence of ?fine art,? a cultural category steeped in race, power, and the politics of exclusion; the history of the Black art movement and its commitment to political purpose in art; the challenges that arise from the insistence that the political align with the aesthetic. The course explores Indigenous organizing and resurgence as well as the politics of opacity and refusal. We will study socially engaged art forms, Afro- and indigenous futurisms, creative practices that explode distinctions between ?traditional? and ?modern,? art and craft, and engage with art as a field of cultural expression deeply involved in imagining and demanding social justice.

This is an introductory studio course in drawing with an emphasis on representation from direct observation. Students are exposed to the ideas, methods, and materials of drawing. Fundamental elements such as line, value, texture, shape, and space are explored in works using media such as graphite, charcoal, and ink on a variety of surfaces. Found and other source materials are utilized in collage and mixed-media works. Students will create original work based on observation and imagination in hands-on exercises and projects. This rigorous course will also introduce techniques and methods to realize and evaluate visual ideas. Students will draw from a live model in order to further develop observational drawing skills. Technical demonstrations, lectures, and exhibition visits will provide starting points for further explorations. Individual and group critiques will help students address technical concerns and contextualize their work within the rich history of drawing. We will develop the verbal and analytical skills necessary to critically examine students' work. Studio work outside of class time is expected.

This course is aimed at students who are eager to creatively take risks, experiment, play, and work in an environment of collaboration and team learning experiences. This intro level course is the foundation for sculpture. Through hands-on demonstrations of basic sculptural processes (for example: carving, modeling, assembling, and casting) you will gain experience in developing art projects from idea to realization all the way to the final surprising artwork. Throughout the semester we will be looking at contemporary and historical works of art as examples of how a broad range of diverse artists have explored the concepts and materials they use in their work and how this applies to the work you create. Critiques will be used as a tool for developing critical thinking and project development. You can expect by the end of this course to discover your individual creative processes and feel comfortable and safe working independently in a sculpture studio. You will be prepared for advanced sculpture and foundry and metal casting courses.

Are you interested in working with a material and practice that dates back 20,000 plus years? The creative journey in this course includes learning about diverse global histories, people, and cultures and the dynamic realm of contemporary ceramics. This introductory ceramic course focuses on the various methods and processes of working with clay as an artistic medium. One half of the semester focuses on hand-building methods and techniques. The other half will focus on learning wheel-throwing methods and techniques. This hands-on experience with clay unifies hand, eye, and mind. You will learn foundational three-dimensional concepts, terminology, and vocabulary related to ceramics and explore the range of forms and processes to create functional and sculptural works with clay. In addition, the curriculum places importance on creating space to examine and discuss diverse historical and contemporary global perspectives related to ceramics. You will learn to make clay, load electric and gas kilns, fundamentals of glaze chemistry, and ceramic lab health and safety protocols. Your finished pieces will reflect essential skills, techniques, and knowledge of the complete ceramic production process. This course provides relevant, challenging, and rewarding projects developing creative and critical thinking skills to sustain long-term creative growth. You will be supported with meaningful direction from your instructor and constructive critique, discussion, and self-reflection with peers. At the end of this course, your knowledge and technical skills will prepare you for upper-level ceramic courses.

Students will be introduced to techniques of relief printing using oil based inks, screenprinting using water based inks, and digital printmaking. Relief projects (linoleum and woodcut) emphasize the exploration of mark making, printing techniques and color layering. Screen print and digital applications will explore layering, color and image making strategies. Students will learn digital strategies for creating images in screen printing, working from both photo and drawn sources. The course includes the historical context and recent innovations for each process in order to develop contemporary applications for these each method. Students will develop meaningful content in conjunction with the acquisition of technical skills. Individual and group critiques will help students to address technical concerns and contextualize their work within the rich history of printmaking. Studio work outside of scheduled class time is expected.

Do you want to engage with a medium of the everyday? From watching a film to making a video of a friend or family reunion, moving images are all around. This is an introductory, hands-on studio course in digital filmmaking. Through lectures, screenings, demonstrations, hands-on practice, readings, and discussions, this course will cover practical and theoretical elements of digital filmmaking. Students will be introduced to film language, aesthetics, and technical terminology, as well as camera, lighting, sound and editing. Throughout the semester we will view and discuss films and clips from a variety of genres, including narrative, documentary, experimental, and combinations thereof. Students create several short film projects. They also develop skills in critical evaluation through critique sessions that investigate the aesthetic, technical, and cultural interpretation of moving images. As filmmakers you are free to make films in any genre in this class. Students need to provide their own portable drive and 1 - 2 SD cards for each class, and may choose to purchase their own subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud if they wish to use their own computer. This course is the prerequisite for intermediate level Department of Art courses in Moving Images including Narrative Digital Filmmaking, Experimental Film and Video, Animation, Super 8 and 16mm Filmmaking.

Want to take photography to the next level beyond the phone in your pocket? Photography is a way to understand and explore the world and your own inner life. This class incorporates both digital and analog (black and white darkroom) technologies. It will emphasize a balance of technical skills, exploration of personal vision, and development of critical thinking and vocabulary relating to photography. Your own image making will be considered in the context of photographic history, visual literacy, and the universe of imagery in which we live. Half of the semester will be devoted to B&W film and darkroom, and half to digital cameras and processes. Students will learn the fundamentals of digital and film camera operation and will be introduced to digital imaging software and printing. We will cover refined digital capture, image adjustment/manipulation and inkjet printing methods. Class activities will consist of lectures and demonstrations, individual and group exercises, project assignments, lab time, field trips and student presentations. Students? work will be constructively discussed in class and small group critique sessions. 35mm film cameras will be provided. The class requires students to have their own digital camera (a limited number of cameras are available for students unable to provide their own). Students who have no prior experience with serious photography, as well as those who are already avid photographers, are both welcome. The class serves as a prerequisite for all 3000 level photography classes.

The BA Captstone and Exhibition will focus on building professional skills, developing a strong studio practice, and preparing for an exhibition in Regis Center Public Spaces.