Art
Disciplinary Major or Minor(Bachelor of Arts)
Professors - David Damkoehler, Carol Emmons
Associate Professors - Curt Heuer, Jennifer Mokren, Christine Style (chair)
Assistant Professors - Kristy Deetz, Sarah Detweiler, Alison Gates
Instructional Staff - Robert Ratajczak
Web site: http://www.uwgb.edu/art/
The visual arts are important components of human experience. They provide a means of articulating and understanding that experience through processes of seeing, making, and thinking in terms of visual systems. The disciplinary major or minor in art includes courses in studio art and art history, other cultures, and contemporary art.
Studio art courses:
- present art making as a problem-solving process using creative methods combining intuition and imagination with critical analysis;
- provide knowledge necessary to master materials and techniques;
- provide a foundation for and continuing reference to the principles of visual organization and structure essential to works of art;
- foster a receptive attitude toward diverse forms of artistic production including fine art, applied art, and art produced outside the artistic mainstream.
Art history, other cultures, and contemporary art courses:
- provide a conceptual and philosophical context by investigating stylistic characteristics of specific periods and the dynamic relationship between art and society. Refer to communication and the arts listings for related courses taught by art faculty.
The art discipline has three areas of emphasis. These are:
- Studio art, which can lead to professional practice as an artist or to related visual communication careers.
- Gallery/museum practices, which offers preparation for a wide range of careers in museums, art centers, galleries, collections, and other art organizations.
- Art education, which leads to credentials for teaching licensure from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
A fourth career direction is open to art majors who select a minor in communication and the arts with an emphasis in graphic communications. Possible careers include graphic design, art direction, advertising, and other professional work in graphic communications.
A fifth career option is open to art majors who select a minor in communication and the arts with an emphasis in arts management. Possible careers include arts administration and gallery director.
All areas prepare students for viable careers or for entry into graduate school programs. Students in art should take as many and varied art courses as possible.
Art majors typically select interdisciplinary minors in communication and the arts with emphases in graphic communications or arts management. Minors in human development, business administration and humanistic studies may be appropriate depending upon students' individual goals.
Students should seek faculty advising no later than the sophomore year in order to complete an art major in a timely manner.
Students in many fields find an art minor an excellent supplement to their academic programs in the context of today's visually oriented, media-driven culture.
The art minor may serve:
- individuals fulfilling a personal interest in art;
- those seeking to add visual skills to career preparations in such interdisciplinary fields as communication and the arts, humanistic studies, urban and regional studies, and environmental planning;
- persons who intend it as a component of professional studies in fields such as education and business (advertising and marketing).
Art facilities include well-equipped studios in painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography (traditional and digital), jewelry/metals, fibers/textiles, and printmaking. All art students who complete ART 101 (Tools, Safety, and Materials) have access to a professional wood and metal-working laboratory managed by a full-time staff person who provides training and technical assistance.
The gallery/museum practices emphasis provides opportunities to work in the Lawton Gallery and the 407 Gallery under the direction of the curator of art. Internships in regional art organizations and museums are also possible in the gallery/museum practices emphasis.
Active student organizations provide additional opportunities for art-related activities, as does a program of national and international visiting artists.
Students seeking information on teacher certification should contact the Education Office.