- Art History & Visual Studies
- Digital Media
- Painting and Drawing
- Print Media
- Photography
- Sculpture & 3D Studies
- Ceramics
Art History & Visual Studies
Digital Media
Painting and Drawing
Print Media
Photography
Photography courses expose students to techniques and concepts in digital photography, and a wide range of black-and-white photographic techniques. Projects cover basic to advanced level technical skills involved with photography including lighting, camera, darkroom and digital photo practices. Through lectures, workshops, field trips, critiques and group discussions, students explore issues relevant to historical and contemporary practices in Photography. Students have the opportunity to work with digital media encompassing still and time-based visual art, as well as installation. They will apply this knowledge to interdisciplinary projects throughout the entire Fine Arts program.
Sculpture and 3D Studies
Sculpture and Three Dimensional Studies provides an excellent foundation in the basic concepts, materials, methods and history of three-dimensional inquiry within contemporary Fine Arts and Design. There is an emphasis on the blending of theory and practice whereby students are directed to explore the nature of materials and processes while critically assessing the results. The advanced classes provide ample opportunity to pursue personal interests, and in many cases take the form of public art and functional design projects. The classes are small and taught in well- equipped studios with technical assistance.
Ceramics
Ceramics emphasizes the integration of ceramic forms, surfaces and materials in the development of a personal style, and focuses on originality and expressiveness. Students receive a strong foundation in technical processes related to a wide range of forming and firing methods.
Issues in Contemporary Art
This course focuses on theoretical issues relevant to the production and reception of visual art and popular culture in the last 25 years, including debates around semiotics, modernism/postmodernism, feminism(s), postcolonialism, and the attendant politics of identities produced through structures of race, class, gender and sexual preferences/practices. We also consider the emergence of new technologies and their use in art practices. As well, exhibition venues (including commercial galleries, public galleries, artist run centers and public art) will be addressed. The course is structured around a series of required readings. There are regular presentations by the instructor, facilitation of readings and discussion of issues by class participants, viewing of relevant slides, videos, films and field trips to look at public art and exhibitions in commercial and publicly funded galleries.