Description
INDI
This class is for Individualized majors only and should be taken while the student is working on their thesis exhibition. The Individualized Senior Projects class concentrates on the transition to professional practice with an emphasis on resume and proposal writing and requires students to apply to three professional venues of their choice; residencies, graduate programs, jobs, etc. Students will develop their thesis proposal into a Senior Thesis Project/exhibition with faculty input and will be asked to document and give a public presentation of their work to the Individualized Program. Students are expected to participate in and lead class discussions on relevant topics to the class.
Seniors will concentrate on developing a body of work for their graduating exhibition and exit portfolio, as well as all the pertinent issues relating to professional practices, including developing an artist web presence, portfolio and image preparation. Student will also become familiar with career path opportunities and resources. Guests will include artists and art world professionals, and visits to local museums and galleries. A continuing class dialog and rigorous evaluation of each student's work, as well as refining studio practice, will be important components for the class.
Sculpture
This class is for any student working sculpturally in their last two semesters who wants to understand and acquire the professional skills needed to enter into the contemporary art world. Our primary focus is to develop your work for presentation in solo and group exhibitions as well as for public art commissions, participatory projects, and a variety of alternative formats and venues. We will look critically at your independent research and studio practice, exploring ways to deepen your engagement and articulate your relationship to ongoing contemporary art dialogues, helping you identify the ideal audiences for your work and exploring ways to get your work out there. Best practices on documenting your work, curating your portfolio, refining your artist statement, giving artist talks, building your artist resume and featuring your work online will be covered. You will receive well-researched and up-to-date information on opportunities for emerging artists in the Bay Area and beyond, and will be taken step-by-step through the process of submitting your work for juried exhibitions and image archives, as well as applying for residencies, graduate school, and grants. Tips on navigating and networking in the art world including proper etiquette for studio visits with gallerists, art critics, and museum curators will be provided, as well as strategies for setting up a studio inexpensively and storing and archiving your work post-graduation. All students in the course work toward senior solo shows and collaborate on a group exhibition, developing their body of work with critical feedback from peers, the instructor, and guests.
Textile
Senior Project shifts the focus of art making from assignment-based projects to self-directed studio work. Seniors work independently on building a cohesive and conceptually sound body of work, culminating in the senior exhibition. Through group dialogue and critique, students sharpen their aesthetic perceptions, research their conceptual concerns, and refine the content of their work. Further, students develop strategies for pursuing a professional career in the arts including writing effective resumes and artist statements, titling work, and creating a professional web presence. First semester seniors prepare proposals for their senior exhibitions and second semester students mount their exhibitions and deliver a formal presentation of their work to Textiles Program faculty.
- Instructor: Taro Hattori