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The primary purpose of the Art Department is to foster creativity and
critical thinking through an understanding of the practice and history
of the visual arts. We seek to help students develop visual literacy and
problem-solving skills, to explore confidently the many avenues of technical
and creative expression, and to develop an appreciation for craftsmanship.
Through such experiences the students are also encouraged to see how their
own creative endeavors relate to other disciplines within the liberal
arts.
The art curriculum is structured to provide entering students with basic
skills in two- and three-dimensional studies such as drawing, painting,
design fundamentals, photography, ceramics and sculpture. All these areas
include a theoretical component, which is further supported by survey
courses in the history of art. Students may then pursue a chosen area
in depth, and on a more experimental level by taking advanced studies
courses that focus on individual projects in a variety of media. Group
discussions of these projects are intended to promote a more personal
style of art making, skills in critical thinking, visual responsiveness
and an awareness of aesthetic issues common to most art forms. Such skills
may be augmented by upper-level art history courses, and by innovative,
often interdisciplinary winter-term offerings both on campus, and sometimes
abroad. In this way, students are encouraged to develop a broad knowledge
of the visual arts plus a sense of self-sufficiency that will assist them
in the continued pursuit of goals after graduation. The capstone of the
art major's undergraduate career is the production of a sustained and
coherent body of work for the annual senior exhibition.
For art students to flourish, more is needed than the skills outlined
above. They also require the stimulus of challenging exhibitions and an
awareness of the rich resources of the regional and local community. Assignments
in both the practical and art history courses frequently require students
to take advantage of high quality exhibitions at the Boise Art Museum,
the galleries of Boise State University and other venues. On campus, the
Rosenthal Gallery of Art shows work by professional artists, items from
the College's western and ethnographic collections, and provides a forum
for local high schools to display the art of their best students.
Graduating art majors pursue career goals in a variety of ways. Those
interested in fine art are directed to graduate programs that confer a
Master of Fine Arts degree. Students who pursue a concentration or a minor
in art history or graphic design often find rewarding careers in museum
work or the applied arts. Students wishing to earn a living in the latter
area are advised to complete a minor in business. Those seeking to teach
art in the public schools must complete the requirements listed by the
Education Department.
Art Major
Consists of 32 to 33 credits, to include the following required courses:
- ART 100 Drawing Composition
- ART 130 Introduction to Design
- ART 239 Ancient to Medieval
or
ART 240 Renaissance to Modern
- ART 323 20th Century Art
or
one 300-level art history course
- ART 330.1Figure Drawing
- ART 308 Advanced Drawing
- ART 401 Senior Exhibit 2-D Media or
ART 402 Senior Exhibit 3-D Media or
ART 403 Senior Project
- Three credits from painting, printmaking, or photography
- Three credits in ceramics or sculpture
- Six credits of advanced studies.
Students seeking teacher certification with a major in art should consult
a member of the Education Department.
Art Minor
Consists of 24 credits, to include:
- ART 100
- ART 130
- ART 239 or
ART 240
- ART 323 or
One 300-level art history course
- ART 330.1
- Three credits from painting, printmaking, or photography
- Three credits from ceramics or sculpture
- Three credits from Advanced Studies.
Students seeking teacher certification with an art minor should consult
a member of the Education Department.
Graphic Design Concentration (for Art Majors)
Consists of the requirements for the Art major plus Art 123, ART 363
(six credits) and ART 497 (three credits).
Graphic Design Minor (not for Art Majors)
Consists of 17 to 18 credits to include ART 100, 130, 123, ART 363
(six credits), ART 497 (three credits), and a choice of ART 106 or 308
or 330.1.
Art History Concentration
(for Art Majors) consists of 21 credits to include ART 239, 240, 323
plus nine additional credits in art history and three credits of either
ART 494 or 497.
Art History Minor
(not for Art Majors): consists of 21 credits to include ART 239, 240,
323 plus nine additional credits in art history and three credits of
either ART 494 or 497.
Art (ART)
LOWER DIVISION
ART-100 Drawing andComposition 3.0 cr.
A study of the principles and elements of composition using an extensive
selection of drawing media. Primary focus is on black and white. Extra
fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-101 Basic Painting 3.0 cr.
Instruction in the basic principles of painting composition. Emphasis
will be on the individual's creative development through the exploration
of both opaque and transparent media. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-103 Ceramics 3.0 cr.
A basic introduction to pottery and sculptural forms in clay, using
both hand and wheel methods. The course includes instruction in a variety
of glazing and firing techniques, such as stoneware, raku, and low fire
glazing. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-106 Basic Photography 2.0 cr.
A study of basic techniques in lighting, exposure, developing, printing,
and achromic composition. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-118 Digital Art 3.0 cr.
Winter. This introductory course will explore the design and creation
of art on the computer. Students will use computer programs such as
CorelDraw and Adobe Photoshop to create drawings and photo collages.
Examples of new and traditional art will be shown. Extra fee.
ART-122 Introduction to Web Design 1.0 cr.
Winter. This course will introduce the visual and functional design
of websites using FrontPage and Dreamweaver. Issues such as organization
of a site and development of an interesting visual style will be covered.
In addition to creating their own websites, students will also study
and critique current websites on the World Wide Web. Extra fee. Limited
enrollment.
ART-123 Introduction to Computer Graphics 1.0 cr.
Winter. A study of two dimensional graphics programs and desktop publishing.
Design elements of line, shape, and color are also addressed in this
studio course. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-125 Introduction to Raku Ceramics 3.0 cr.
Winter. A studio course exploring basic ceramic techniques, pottery
design, and the Japanese quick fire method of Raku. Extra fee. Limited
enrollment.
ART-128 Understanding Spirit in Art & Culture 3.0 cr.
(Same as ATH 128.) Winter. This course will examine a variety of cultural
groups where artistic, spiritual, and cultural experience are integrated
or woven into the fabric of life as a whole. It will focus on Native
American and other cultures where ritual, art, and daily life are not
compartmentalized. The course will also include cross-cultural case
studies and field trips. (FINE ARTS THEORY AND/OR SOCIAL SCIENCE AND/OR
CULTURAL DIVERSITY).
ART-130 Introduction to Design 3.0 cr.
A lecture and studio experience providing a conceptual basis for organizing
both two- and three-dimensional space. Issues of line, color, shape
and form will be explored through a variety of media. Extra fee. Limited
enrollment. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-140 Native American Art & Literature 3.0 cr.
Winter. (Same as ENG 140). This course will offer students an opportunity
to see the connection between Native American art and literature. The
focus will be on Navajo and Pueblo traditions involving word and image.
Authors will include Leslie Silko and Scott Momaday. (LITERATURE AND/OR
FINE ARTS THEORY AND/OR CULTURAL DIVERSITY).
ART-141 Introduction to the Arts of Native America 3.0 cr.
Winter. Alt. Years. A survey of the native arts of North America. Includes
rock art, pottery, basketry, painting, sculpture, and weaving. Lectures
will address the philosophical ideas common to many of the indigenous
arts of North America. (FINE ARTS THEORY AND/OR CULTURAL DIVERSITY)
ART-199T Special Topics in Art 1.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. These one-credit introductory topics offer students
a variety of hands-on studio experiences. All courses will address basic
design principles and artistic concepts, and will allow students to
explore a variety of media. Topics may include: Handmade Paper and Books,
The Sketchbook, The Ceramic Cup; and Small Works. Extra Fee.
ART-230 Introduction to Sculpture 3.0 cr.
A studio course exploring a variety of media and techniques including
modeling, carving, and assemblage. Related lectures explore the historical
context of sculptors' approach. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-239 Ancient to Medieval 3.0 cr.
An introduction to basic art history terms and concepts and a survey
of major western art works from pre-history to Fourteenth-century Europe.
The course may include cross-cultural comparisons to place the works
in the wider context of world art. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-240 Renaissance to Modern 3.0 cr.
A survey of key developments in the history of western art from Fifteenth-century
Europe to the present. Attention will be given to technical developments
and sociopolitical conditions effecting art production. Cross-cultural
comparisons may be made. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-294 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: permission. Readings and research in
art history for those with no previous art history background. This
course does not fulfill the general graduation requirement for independent
work. See independent study guidelines.
UPPER DIVISION
ART-302 Drawing the Portrait 3.0 cr.
Winter. Prereq.: ART 130 or other appropriate studio experience. This
studio course explores traditional and experimental approaches to portraiture.
Students will consider a variety of issues including the factors contributing
to a likeness, and the presentation of public versus private images
of the sitter. A variety of media will be used, and some art-critical
reading may be required. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-308 Advanced Drawing 3.0 cr.
Winter. A studio course in complex drawing problems to foster a more
independent and individual drawing style, including greater use of color
media. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-315 Printmaking 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: Art 100, 130 or permission. A study of monoprints, block
prints, and intaglio prints. A variety of techniques and concepts, including
etching and dry-point, will be explored. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-323 20th Century Art 3.0 cr.
Fall. Prereq.: some art history or upper-level humanities or social
sciences course work is recommended. A history of western art from Post-Impressionism
to the present, focusing on key artists, movements and critical theories.
(FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-324 Picasso & 20th Century Art 3.0 cr.
Winter. Prereq.: some art history or upper-level humanities or social
sciences course work is recommended. Students will examine the major
contributions Pablo Picasso made to Cubism, Surrealism, and Modernist
Abstraction. Themes of eroticism, popular culture, violence, and political
protest in the artist's work will also be considered. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-325 Art of the Romantic Era 3.0 cr.
Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: some art history or upper-level humanities
or social sciences course work is recommended. A survey of western art
from the mid-Eighteenth century to the Napoleonic period, focusing on
the rise of Romantic individualism, and its importance for the art of
our time. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-330.1 Figure Drawing 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: Art 100 or permission. A studio course focusing on traditional
and innovative approaches to rendering the human figure. A variety of
media will be used. Extra fee. Limited enrollment.
ART-340 Realism to Surrealism 3.0 cr.
Fall. Alt. years. Prereq.: some art history or upper-level humanities
or social sciences course work is recommended. A survey of western art
from the 1850s to the 1930s, focusing on rationalist, utopian and subjectivist
approaches in early modern art. Attention is also given to the development
of collage and to theories on the creative role of the subconscious.
(FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-350 Expressionism in the 20th Century Art 3.0 cr.
Spring. Alt. years. Prereq.: some art history or upper-level humanities
or social sciences course work is recommended. A survey of western art
from the early 1900s to the present, and examination of the nature of
expressionism in the work of the German Expressionists, the New York
School, and the Neo-Expressionists of the l980s. (FINE ARTS THEORY)
ART-361 Advanced Studies in Drawing 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 100, or 130, or permission. A studio course in complex
drawing problem to foster a more independent and individual drawing
style, including use of color media. May be repeated once for credit
with a different project.
ART-362 Advanced Studies in Two-Dimensional Design 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 100 or 130 or permission. An investigation of the relationship
of form and function as it applies to principles of color, line, and
shape. Specific projects might include fabric, poster, or book design.
May be repeated once for credit with a different project.
ART-363 Advanced Studies in Computer Graphics 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 123, or 130, or permission. A computer lab course that
further investigates the relationship between fine and applied art.
Problems may include animation or desktop publishing. May be repeated
once for credit with a different project.
ART-364 Advanced Studies in Graphics 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 100, 130 or permission. A studio course that includes
a variety of studies in any of the graphic arts including ink, printmaking,
pencil, and photography. May be repeated once for credit with a different
project.
ART-365 Advanced Studies in Mixed Media 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 100, or 130, or permission. An exploration of a variety
of media that may include two- and three-dimensional materials such
as pen, watercolor, paper, and clay. May be repeated once for credit
with a different project.
ART-366 Advanced Studies in Painting 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 101 or permission. An investigation of oil, tempera,
acrylic, or watercolor. Special projects are designed to meet the interests
of individual students. May be repeated once for credit with a different
project.
ART-367 Advanced Studies in Printmaking 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 315 or permission. A study of etching, aquatint, monoprinting,
wood block, cyanotype or other specialized printmaking projects of interest
to the student. May be repeated once for credit with a different project.
ART-368 Advanced Studies in Photography 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 106 and 130, or permission. Individualized photography
projects. Typical projects might include the pinhole camera, sports
action, the view camera, nonsilver print processes, exhibition processing,
or color. May be repeated once for credit with a different project.
ART-371 Advanced Studies in Three-dimensional Design 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 130 or permission. An investigation of the design of
functional and nonfunctional objects. Advanced studio problems include
aspects of form and function and construction technique. May be repeated
once for credit with a different project.
ART-372 Advanced Studies in Ceramics 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 103 or 125 or 126 or permission. A studio course in ceramic
pottery or sculpture. Students may investigate techniques of throwing,
hand building, kiln construction, glazing and firing of a variety of
clays. Extra fee. May be repeated once for credit with a different project.
ART-373 Advanced Studies in Sculpture 3.0 cr.
Prereq.: ART 230 or permission. A studio course exploring realism
or abstraction in sculpture. Students may study traditional approaches
involving casting and modeling as well as contemporary techniques of
constructed metal and found object sculpture. May be repeated once for
credit with a different project.
ART-399T.1 Gender Images & Issues in Modern Art 3.0 cr.
Recommended prereq.: one lower-level art history survey and GS 101
or permission. A study of artists from the Impressionists to the present
who specifically allude to gender issues in their art. Includes substantial
art-critical readings. (FINE ARTS THEORY AND/OR CULTURAL DIVERSITY).
ART-399T.03 Art of the Pacific 3.0 cr.
Fall. Alt. years. Prereq.: one art history course or humanities/social
sciences course or permission. this course surveys the arts of Melanesia,
Polynesia and Micronesia. It includes the study of architecture, sculpture,
decorated objects and personal adornment, and seeks to understand their
social, ritual and ethnic significance. (FINE ARTS THEORY AND/OR CULTURAL
DIVERSITY)
ART-401 Senior Exhibition Two Dimensional Media 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: ART 100, 130 and previous advanced studies course
work. Creation of a body of two-dimensional work for the spring exhibition.
Organizing, hanging and critiquing work and related reading are also
covered. (INDEPENDENT WORK)
ART-402 Senior Exhibition Three Dimensional Media 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: ART 100, 130 and previous advanced studies course
work. Creation of a body of three-dimensional work for the spring exhibition.
Organizing, hanging and critiquing work and related reading are also
covered. (INDEPENDENT WORK)
ART-403 Senior Project 3.0 cr.
Spring. Prereq.: ART 100, 130 and previous advanced studies course
work. Creation of visual arts projects within a business or museum environment
and presentation of that work in the spring exhibition. Organizing,
hanging, critiquing work and related reading are also covered. (INDEPENDENT
WORK)
ART-494 Independent Study 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Fall, winter, spring. Prereq.: Permission. Approved reading and research
studies in art history. See independent study guidelines. (INDEPENDENT
WORK)
ART-497 Internship 1.0 to 3.0 cr.
Specific internship projects which may include computer graphics, museum
work, or various applied experiences in art. See internship guidelines.
(independent work)
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