2018-19 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Art and Design
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Art & Design Faculty
Professor Emeritus: Robert Mauro
Professor: Scott Rawlins
Associate Professors: Betsey Batchelor, June Yong Lee, Carole Loeffler (Chair), Karen Misher, Gregg Moore, Jill Pederson, Abigail Ryan
Assistant Professors: Michael DeLuca, Elizabeth Ferrell,
Adjunct Professors: Christine Bomberowich, Matthew Borgen, Mark Dean, Robin Fickle, Lara Fiordimondo, Jennifer Manzella, Krista Proffit, Johanna Kane, Chalikias Konstantinos, Richard Torchia, Tamsen Wojtanowski, Maryann Worrell
About Art and Design Programs
Our Philosophy
We believe it is essential to cultivate an environment that encourages aesthetic awareness, historical consciousness, critical analysis, and an appreciation for the role of art in a comprehensive education.
Our Mission
Our mission is to maintain an educational setting that fosters creativity, analytical thinking, critical discourse and innovation through a commitment to the following:
- Technical and conceptual proficiency in the chosen area of concentration within the Department
- Technical and conceptual knowledge in the various areas of concentration within the Department
- An emphasis on critical thinking and creative production through the continued development of analytical, formal, and conceptual skills
- An understanding of the creation, production, and interpretation of art across cultural and historical contexts
This mission is realized within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts university.
Goals, Objectives, & Practices
Our goal is to provide a learning environment in each of our classes that will:
- Cultivate critical inquiry, analysis and reflection.
- Embrace and integrate liberal arts education.
- Foster self-motivation.
- Encourage each student’s sense of his or her individual vision and potential.
- Develop effective visual, oral, and written communication skills.
- Develop a working understanding of and competency with materials and techniques.
- Acquire a foundation in art history and its methodologies.
- Provide professional, safe, clean, and accessible facilities.
- Provide initiatives and opportunities for professional practices.
- Provide a network for students, faculty and alumni to engage in continuing dialogue.
Degrees and Concentrations
The Arcadia Exhibitions
About the Galleries
Spruance Gallery
A nationally recognized venue for contemporary art in the greater Philadelphia area, the Spruance Art Gallery is a 1,100-square-foot facility (housed in a 1893 power station). For over 30 years, this space has provided the region with a stimulating roster of individual and thematic exhibitions shaped by its mission to encourage dialogue among artists, educators, students and the general public about contemporary art and its socio-cultural relevance.
Along with bringing the work of previously un-exhibited or little-known artists to our region, the gallery is also committed to local artists, actively encouraging innovative approaches to art production and acknowledging the contribution of long-standing, influential members of the art community. Educational programs invite the artists and highly respected scholars and curators to discuss each exhibition with the public.
Harrison Gallery
The Harrison Gallery is an open, highly trafficked exhibition space located near the main entrance of the University Commons. This venue, as well as the Rosedale Gallery (see below), hosts exhibitions created by the Art Research Collaboration (ARC) Exhibition Program.
The Harrison Gallery is home to such events as the Juried Student Biennial, and the Alumni Spotlight Exhibition. For the past five years it has also hosted the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) Juried Student Art Exhibition, which highlights the art of local high school students.
Rosedale Gallery
Also in the University Commons, this exhibition venue is located just outside the Great Room, a popular facility for lectures, performances, and other major events on campus. The works featured in this space are often selected to function in conjunction with these events and highlight topics of regional interest.
Judith Taylor Gallery
The Judith Taylor Gallery, located in the Landman Library, is a space dedicated to hosting art exhibitions organized and created by students, either individually, in groups, or as part of a class. Any student currently enrolled in a university art course may sign out the space to present their own work, or curate an exhibition of the work of others.
Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeships give students a competitive edge in the art world. They offer hands-on, real-world work experience, and can help students launch careers as professional artists, curators, designers, illustrators, researchers, leaders of non-profit and community arts organization, and creative entrepreneurs. Through apprenticeships, students utilize the information they learned in such courses as Seminar: Make an Art Exhibition, Exploring Art in Philadelphia, Exploring Entrepreneurship in the Arts, Contemporary Curatorial Practices, Art History courses, Studio Art courses, and The Artist and the Exhibition: Gallery Practicum. Always tailored to individual interests, students can apprentice with artists, art historians, curators, galleries, museums, non-profits, art collectives, community organizations, art publications, and more.
Portfolio Requirements
About the Review
The Art and Design Department requires a portfolio review as part of the admissions process. Each student applying to the University as an Art and Design major in a B.A. or B.F.A. degree program must submit a portfolio of work before acceptance into the program is granted. Typically, portfolio reviews are conducted during the University’s Fall Open House programs, Spring Portfolio Review Day in March, Scarlet and Grey Day in April (for students admitted to the University), select National Portfolio Review Days each fall, and select days during the summer. Specific dates and Instructions for scheduling a Portfolio Review are listed on the website.
In the portfolio review, faculty look for both an interest in and commitment to art. This is important since students will be contemplating a professional career in art if they pursue the B.F.A. degree.
The type of work that could constitute a portfolio might include the following:
- Design and color studies
- Drawings from observation (still-life, landscape, figure, etc.)
- Self-portrait (any medium)
- Prints (blockprints, screenprints, etchings, etc.)
- Paintings
- Reproductions, or examples of any designs or illustrations done for high school publications or other organizations
- Architectural renderings or drawings
- Photographs
- Images of sculpture
- Examples or slides of ceramics or metals and jewelry
Portfolios should consist of 15-20 pieces, and must include some examples of drawing from observation.
It is not necessary to have all the items listed above in a portfolio, but students should include those that best represent their abilities and talents. All art programs look for evidence and skill in drawing from observation, a sense of color and design, and evidence of other creative abilities and creative thinking.
When works are small and can fit into a portfolio, then the originals are desirable. Matted works are acceptable without acetate coverings. Large, fragile, or complex works can be presented digitally.
Online Portfolio Submission
If you are unable to complete an in-person portfolio review, you can submit a digital portfolio online at https://arcadia.slideroom.com.
- Please upload 10 to 20 high quality images of different works. Be sure to include some examples of drawing from observation.
- In the “Additional Details” section for each piece, please indicate:
- If there is a title,
- What mediums were used, and
- The size of the original piece.
All applicants should also submit a short statement (250-500 words) which answers the following question:
Describe when and how you discovered that you were interested in art and/or design. Why have you decided to pursue it as a major at Arcadia University?
If you are applying to Arcadia University as a transfer student:
- Please also upload a copy of your college transcripts.
Pathways to Study Abroad in Art and Design
“The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep.” —Paul Strand
The Art and Design Department strongly encourages students to immerse themselves in the study abroad opportunities that Arcadia University offers. Art and Design majors have the opportunity to explore the world for a semester or more with excellent courses at some of the world’s most prestigious art programs in the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
You should meet with your adviser as freshmen to plan study abroad options. Almost all concentrations in Art and Design have sequenced courses, taken in a specific order, and certain concentrations only permit study abroad during a specific semester. You should meet with an adviser during your first year at Arcadia to discuss study abroad options. Careful planning is essential to avoid having to take an extra semester or year to complete your degree.
Below are some but not all of the schools at which you can study. In addition to formal classes, there are internship programs in England, Ireland, Scotland and Australia.
Programs and Courses Abroad
Specific Art Programs Abroad
- The Burren College of Art (Ireland)
- The Glasgow School of Art (Scotland)
- The Slade School of Fine Arts (England)
- The Queensland College of Art (Australia)
- Victorian College of Art (Australia)
Studio Art/Design Courses Abroad
- Westminster University (United Kingdom)
- Lancaster University (United Kingdom)
- Manchester University (United Kingdom)
- Australian National University (Australia)
- James Cook University (Australia)
- Queensland University of Technology (Australia)
- University of Queensland (Australia)
- Victoria University (New Zealand)
- Goldsmiths College (United Kingdom)
- Middlesex University (United Kingdom)
- University of New South Wales (Australia)
- Wollongong University (Australia)
- Monash University (Australia)
- The Accademia Italiana in Florence (Italy)
- The Umbra Institute in Perugia (Italy)
About Art and Design Faculty
Art and Design faculty bring expertise, passion, and pedagogic creativity to all their teaching activities. Faculty members provide students with one-on-one attention in the development of their creative voice and professional research practices. Department faculty create connections between traditional classroom learning and the world beyond campus by making extensive use of the culturally rich Philadelphia area and by leading international Global Field Study and other research trips. In recent years, department faculty have traveled with our students to Florence, Rome, Perugia, and Sicily, Italy; Seoul, South Korea; Paris, France; and Eleuthera Island, Bahamas.
Several department faculty members have received University-wide awards: In 2012, Professor Robert Mauro won Professor of the Year; Professor Gregg Moore received the Steinbrucker Award in 2010; the Adjunct Faculty Award was awarded to Professor Michael Deluca in 2007; and Professor Abbey Ryanwas awarded the Norman Johnston Faculty Fellowship in 2016.
Advising and Mentoring
Personal attention is a cornerstone in the Department of Art and Design. Students get to know their professors and academic advisors (who are full-time department faculty members) and meet with them often—to plan their course of study, to explore study abroad options, to discuss apprenticeship, internship, and other professional practice opportunities, and to get advice about applying for jobs and graduate school. In addition, our Apprenticeship Program allows students to do one-on-one research with expert faculty mentors who are artists, designers, gallery owners, art historians, and curators.
Research
Art and Design faculty members are widely respected artists and scholars engaged in pursuing ambitious research that contributes to a rich academic environment in the department. For example, recent highlights include:
Professor Robert Mauro won two PA Congressional Technology Grants. Professor Betsey Batchelorexhibited her abstract paintings in Havana, Cuba, as part of a collaborative project with Cuban and Philadelphia artists. Scientific illustrations by Professor Scott Rawlins were exhibited at the Dorr Museum and Philadelphia Flower show. Metals work by Professor Karen Misher was exhibited at the Museum of Art and Design in New York City and acquired by the Smithsonian Institution for their permanent collection. Professor Gregg Moore mounted a solo exhibition of his ceramic work at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, PA. Professor Carole Loeffler mounted solo fiber sculpture exhibitions at Abington Art Center and Holy Family University. A poster design by Professor David Copestakes was selected for the “Nelson Mandela Poster Project” and his work will be part of the permanent collection of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, South Africa. Still life painting work by Professor Abbey Ryan was exhibited at and acquired by the John F. Peto Museum for their permanent collection. California Institute of Integral Studies published an artist’s monograph of Professor June Yong Lee’s photographic work. Professor Jill Pederson won a prestigious Ahmanson Research Fellowship from the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at UCLA that allowed her to complete research for her book project, Circles of Friendship: Leonardo da Vinci and the Academy in Fifteenth-Century Milan. Professor Michael DeLuca had drawings published in New American Paintings and was awarded a Center for Emerging Visual Artists Fellowship. And Professor Elizabeth Ferrell received a distinguished post-doctoral fellowship from the Georgia O’Keeffe Research Center.
ProgramsMajor- Art History, B.A.
- Art, B.A.
- Art, B.A. or B.F.A., Pre-Art Therapy Concentration
- Art, B.F.A.
- Art, B.F.A., Art K-12 Certification
- Scientific Illustration, B.A.
- Scientific Illustration, Emphasis in Premedical Illustration, B.A.
MinorCoursesArt History
NOTE: Studio courses require a combination of scheduled class time and independent work that averages at least 12 hours a week.
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