Marcella Hackbardt

This course is an introduction to the principles, strategies and processes of photographic practice. It is designed to broaden the student's aesthetic explorations and to help the student develop a visual language in the media. This course includes instruction in digital camera operation such as image editing, creative camera work, color digital printing, and both natural and studio lighting concepts and composition. Through readings and discussions, students are introduced to different ways of conceptualizing photography, and students will examine a range of historical and contemporary photo work as an essential part of understanding the possibilities of image making. This is a project-structured course, with lectures, demonstrations, project assignments, regular critiques with active participation, discussions and one exam. Having a personal digital camera is recommended, although some cameras are available for student check out to complete the course. This counts toward the introductory course requirement for the major. No prerequisite.

In this course. students will develop their understanding of color photography as a medium for contemporary art, and as a ubiquitous messaging system doubly bound to veracity and deception. Students will produce digital photographs and then utilize various procedures for image editing, manipulation and color digital printing. Students will create and maintain a web portfolio of their coursework. Theory and workflow, digital camera operation and use of color as an element in photographic design will be covered. This counts toward the intermediate requirement for the major and minor. Prerequisite: ARTS 106, 107 or permission of instructor. Offered every third year.

The focus of this class is the digital making of still color photographs with particular emphasis on the potential meaning of images with color content, symbolism, and complexities such as the relationship of the photograph to culture, observational interpretations, narrative fictions, and the conjuring of the hyperreal. Students work in the digital lab on furthering their skills in capture, image editing, color workflow management, creative camera work, and color digital printing. Through readings and discussions, critiques and project-based portfolio development, students will utilize the medium as a means of refining and clarifying one's artistic language. Having a personal digital camera is recommended, although some cameras are available for student check out to complete the course. This counts toward the intermediate course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARTS 106, ARTS 107.

This course is an introduction to digital photography as a creative medium. Subjects covered include fundamental digital photography skills such as image editing, camera work and digital printing. Assignments direct students toward the development of personal photographic expression, and the exploration of the shifting signs and significance of photography meaning and digitization. Through readings and discussions, students are introduced to different ways of conceptualizing and interpreting photography based on such variables as process and technology, motives of representation and imagination, and the politics of visuality, history and identity. This counts toward the intermediate course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARTS 106, 107. Offered once a year.

This course expands the student's knowledge of black and white film photography, as they are guided towards the evolution of a personalized body of work that is culturally, theoretically and historically informed. Students will work with 35mm cameras, and have opportunities to learn other format film capture, as they further their abilities and experiences with control of the negative and the fine silver print. This course includes demonstrations, lab work, readings, field assignments, and individual and group critiques. Students will be responsible for purchasing supplies for the course. Having a personal film camera is recommended, although some cameras are available for student check out to complete the course. This counts toward the intermediate course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ARTS 222.

This course is structured to create an open environment for students to develop a series of self-determined photographic projects, either by analog or digital means. With faculty mentorship, students will formulate, propose, research, and pursue personal photographic work with the goal of testing and iterating new concepts, and inventing new possibilities in their artistic practice. Student work is discussed in regular critiques, and accompanied by written artist statements for each project. Students will be exposed to contemporary photographic theory, issues, and practices, in order to explore how contemporary photographers have worked to challenge, expand, and reinvent the medium. Readings, image lectures, discussions, and critiques will assist the student in articulating their own ideas and building a context for their own practice in relation to these contemporary dialogues. Having a personal film and/or digital camera is recommended, although some cameras are available for student check out to complete the course. Prior knowledge of camera functions and post-production techniques is expected. Students with digital experience from one of the digital course prerequisites may work in the digital lab, students with analog experience from one of the analog course prerequisites may work in the chemical lab, and students with both prior experiences may work in both labs. This counts toward the intermediate course requirement for the major. Prerequisite: two courses from ARTS 106, 107, 220, 221, 222, 322, 325.

This first semester of a two-semester sequence is designed to enable students to develop their personal artistic vision based on the foundation of introductory and intermediate studio art courses. Students are expected to develop a self-generated body of creative work based on a concentrated investigation of materials, methods and ideas. They develop oral and written presentation and research skills as they work toward a professional exhibition in the second semester. Critiques, discussions, presentations and readings provide context and feedback for this process. Students learn to develop the elements necessary for professional exhibition of a cohesive body of work, including developing ideas, writing an artist's statement and resume, and perfecting presentation skills. Studio art majors are expected to take this class and ARTS 481 with two different faculty members. This course is required for studio art majors. Senior art majors only. Offered every fall.

This course is designed to enable students to further develop their personal artistic vision based on the foundation of their earlier studio courses and ARTS 480. Well into their senior projects at the start of the semester, students continue to refine their concepts and skills into a cohesive body of work for exhibition at the end of the semester. Critiques, discussions and presentations continue to amplify the studio experience. Professional presentation, writing artistic statements and resumes, and visual documentation skills are part of the course. The Senior Capstone, an exhibition required of studio art majors, includes artwork made during this course. This course is required for studio art majors. Prerequisite: ARTS 480. Senior art majors only. Offered every spring.

The studio art faculty does not recommend individual study because we feel it is important for students to work in the context of other student artists. We understand, however, that on rare occasions an individual study may be appropriate. Individual study must be approved by the department according to the following guidelines: it should be undertaken only when a student has exhausted all the options for that medium in the regular curriculum. The subject for an individual study must be in a discipline in which the faculty member has expertise. When possible, the individual study student should participate in some aspects of a course working in a similar medium in the faculty member's field in order to gain feedback from other students. The student is responsible for writing a contract and maintaining a schedule. Because students must enroll for individual studies by the end of the seventh class day of each semester, they should begin discussion of the proposed individual study by the semester before, so that there is time to devise the proposal and seek departmental approval before the registrar’s deadline. An individual study does not count toward the requirements for the major; it is considered an extra course.