Art and Art History

Faculty

Ashley Feagin, chair and assistant professor.
B.A., McNeese State University; M.F.A., Louisiana Tech University. Appointed 2013.

Nancy Demerdash-Fatemi, assistant professor.
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison; M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Ph.D. Princton University. Appointed 2018.

Michael Dixon, professor.
B.F.A., Arizona State University; M.F.A., University of Colorado at Boulder. Appointed 2008.

Shuana Merriman, assistant professor.
B.F.A., Alfred University; M.F.A., The Ohio State University. Appointed 2020.

Emmeline Solomon, assistant professor.
B.F.A., Maine College of Art; M.F.A., Washington University. Appointed 2019.

Bille Wickre, professor.
B.S., Dakota State University; M.A., University of Iowa; Ph.D., University of Michigan. Appointed 1992.

Introduction

The visual arts are a vital part of human culture. Individual expression, the shaping of cultural values, intellectual history, integration of technology, and the creation of beauty have been among the traditional functions of art. Artists invest objects with meaning through processes that are themselves significant. When objects become part of the larger culture, artists and audiences interact with each other and with the world around them in ways that are aesthetically and intellectually enhanced. The arts ask us to see more clearly, think more deeply and respond with greater passion to the realities of human existence.

Integral to a liberal arts education, the study of the arts encourages critical thinking, self-reflection, personal growth, and the mastery of creative, intellectual, and technical skills. In both art and art history courses, students gain abilities and confidence to conceive, analyze, and understand works of art and to pursue lifelong learning in the arts. Art courses encourage individual creativity by providing foundational skills to enable artists to create works of lasting significance, and challenge students to new critical awareness. The study of art history provides the skills of analysis, critical thinking and writing, and a grounding in historical and cultural contexts. As an interdisciplinary study, art history draws upon archaeology, anthropology, religious studies, social history, critical theory, the sciences, media studies and other fields of knowledge. The combined study of studio art and art history helps students realize the relationships between art and life.

Majors choose either a bachelor of arts degree (B.A.) in art or art history or a bachelor of fine arts degree (B.F.A.) in art. The B.A. in art provides a broad grounding in major studio areas including drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, book art, video, multimedia and digitally aided art, and photography. Students who wish to do more intense and focused work in art may apply for the B.F.A. program. The B.F.A. is recommended for students who wish to deepen their artistic practice and pursue graduate work and a career in the arts. Students who pursue a B.A. in art history develop research, writing, verbal, and critical skills preparatory for graduate studies or careers in a variety of arenas. Art and art history majors regularly add a second major expanding their knowledge-base and skills to accommodate a wide array of careers. For example, students may combine majors in art and psychology as part of their preparation for careers in art therapy. Students often minor in either art or art history.

Career Opportunities

Albion graduates in both art and art history bring to their professional careers or graduate studies outstanding abilities in critical and creative thought, technical knowledge and skills, and a broad-based approach to problem-solving fostered by the liberal arts tradition. Recent graduates have pursued advanced studies in many art areas, art history, arts management and curation, art therapy, anatomical illustration, animation, graphic art and architecture. Many enjoy careers in design, communications, website design, advertising and marketing, museum and gallery positions, art therapy and education.

Special Features

The Bobbitt Visual Arts Center houses the Department of Art and Art History, a public auditorium and two galleries for exhibiting the college art collection, professional artists’ and student work. Its spacious and well-equipped facilities include: painting and drawing studios; an iMac computer lab with Wacom tablets, Adobe Creative Cloud, Epson large flatbed scanner, two small format Epson printer and a large format Epson printer, and vinyl cutter; a black and white / alternative darkroom with 35mm, 120, and 4x5 loan cameras: ; In the printmaking studio students explore relief, intaglio, screenprint, planographic, and letterpress printing. The printmaking studio houses a Charles Brand etching press, and American French Tool press, three Vandercook presses, a darkroom with a lawson expo-light #3248 exposure unit, and a large collection of type. The sculpture studios comprise a complete woodshop, welding equipment, plaster workspace, and casting. Students study ceramics in spacious studios for throwing, hand building and slip casting with Brent wheels, a Soldner mixer, a glaze laboratory, a slab roller, and a spray booth. Kilns include electric, raku, gas, and wood. Art students have 24-hour access to the studios. The Bobbitt Visual Arts Center galleries are home to twelve exhibitions each year: the Elsie Munro Gallery hosts rotating contemporary art exhibitions and also gives students the opportunity to exhibit their own work; and the Martha Dickinson Print Gallery highlights selections from the College’s worldclass, permanent collection of nearly 2,500 prints dating from the fifteenth century through the twenty-first century. Students acquire hands-on experience hanging, curating, promoting, and exhibiting shows in both gallery spaces. The Philip C. Curtis Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program enables the department to bring emerging contemporary artists to campus each semester. Students are involved in selecting the artists that are brought to campus through this program and given the opportunity to witness the artist-in-residence’s process during their time on campus.

Art and art history students have the option to participate in off-campus programs such as the New York Arts Program, in which they work as interns with art professionals, including architects, interior designers, graphic designers, painters, gallery owners, curators, sculptors, photographers, medical illustrators, video and performance artists, and art therapists. Numerous other internships, off-campus experiences and international study programs offer excellent opportunities for art and art history students.

Scholarships are awarded to prospective students who show promise in art or art history. These can be renewed each year. Additional scholarships are available to upper-level art and art history majors who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in their studies .

Departmental Diversity Statement

The Department of Art and Art History is committed to providing an open and welcoming environment to individuals of diverse ethnic, religious or racial backgrounds, geographic and cultural origins, class status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, neurodiversity and to those of all physical abilities. We believe that individual expression in the form of artistic creation, analysis and dialogue is essential to the maintenance of human life and the creation of a humane and just society. To this end we will:

Include within our curriculum broad and diverse perspectives;
Encourage artistic creation and analysis that reflects a myriad of viewpoints and individual experiences;
Exhibit and collect artwork that reflects the broadest spectrum of the human experience;
Provide opportunities for advanced study that explore issues of diversity;
Cooperate with other areas of the College to further the institution’s diversity efforts.

Student Learning Outcomes

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

Art

BFA Majors will be able to…

use appropriate vocabulary to discuss art
use and apply materials and methods to accomplish their work
generate innovative questions and ideas as the basis for their work
prepare for the next phase of their careers
synthesize ideas into entirely new forms/artistic creations and knowledge

MAJORS

Art

Art Majors will be able to…

appropriate vocabulary to discuss art
use and apply materials and methods to accomplish their work
generate innovative questions and ideas as the basis for their work
be prepared for the next phase of their careers
synthesize ideas into entirely new forms/artistic creations and knowledge

Art History

Art History Majors will be able to…

Identify important works of art.
Use appropriate vocabulary to discuss art.
Explain how works of art reflect, participate in, and construct the cultures in which they are created.
Analyze artworks using theory.
Advocate for the meanings of artworks.
Read and write at a level appropriate for professional settings in the field.

MINORS

Art Minors

Art Minors will be able to…

appropriate vocabulary to discuss art
use and apply materials and methods to accomplish their work
possess a broad understanding of multiple media

Art History Minors

Art History Minor will be able to…

Identify important works of art.
Use appropriate vocabulary to discuss art
Explain how works of art reflect, participate in, and construct the cultures in which they are created.

Programs

Major

Minor