Fine Arts (Archive 2018-2019)

Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings

3.00

Observational drawing is a fundamental way of understanding and communicating visual experience. This course stresses the development and mastery of traditional drawing skills, concepts, and vocabulary, and employs a variety of techniques and materials. Fundamental principles are introduced in structured lessons and exercises, which are supplemented by related outside assignments. Subject matter may include still life, portraiture, and the clothed and unclothed human figure.

ADF S101 or Instructor approval; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

This course will refine the basic visual skills developed in Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101). The elements of color and mixed media are introduced to expand technical possibilities, while more intensive work with the clothed and unclothed human figure provides exposure to gesture, structure and complex form. As students begin to develop a more sophisticated and personal approach, issues of expression and interpretation and varied subject matter will be explored, focusing on personal style and expression.

ADF S166; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

An understanding of form is critical to the development of the professional artist or designer. This course focuses on the hands-on use of line, plane, and volume in space. The role of scale, proportion, structure, surface, light, and display are addressed as students create objects that activate space and engage the viewer. The course proceeds from work with simple forms and techniques to more challenging and comprehensive problems that employ a variety of media and approaches.

Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

The study of color and design is supportive of every studio discipline and is vital to the understanding of all visual media. This course emphasizes the basic concepts and practices of two-dimensional design and color theory. Students employ an intensive, hands-on approach as they explore and master the elements of design (including line, shape, and value) and the three fundamental properties of color (hue, value, and strength). These skills are used in the construction of formally cohesive compositions, the development of arresting images, and the communication of visual ideas.

Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

This cross-disciplinary course will integrate the ideas and practices of two-dimensional design, color and drawing emphasis will be placed on understanding the creative process, exploring concepts and developing research skills. Students will undertake individual and collaborative projects in three spaces; the studio classroom, the digital world and the city at large.

ADF S101; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

This course builds on the Integrated Studio 1 experience: synthesizing fundamental visual ideas. IS 2 investigates the construction, documentation, and transformation of volumetric form, environmental space, and time. Projects will explore narrative strategies and the creation of immersive experiences. Students will develop critical and analytical skills while employing a range of traditional and digital media as they explore the creative boundaries of the classroom studio, the city of Boston, and virtual space.

ADF S102

3.00

Explores how light can enhance, reveal and sometimes determine our understanding and appreciation of art. Topics include a historical overview of artists from Caravaggio to the present day who use theatrical and natural light and the human form to represent the human condition. The figure, clothed and unclothed, in isolation and in an environmental context, is the primary subject.

Take ADF-S152

3.00

Art is not just visual. Artists also "think with their hands", understanding that engagement with the physical world is vital to the creative process, and often gives rise to unexpected and fruitful ideas. In this course, students will explore traditional and experimental sculptural processes in a spirit of "directed play", focusing on both intuitive and critical responses to materials.

ADF-S102 and ADF-S166

3.00

Investigates how shifts in scale alter our perception of space. We live in a world of great contrasts in scale: hand held screens can download Google earth and nanotechnologies can change the lives of entire continents. Since evolving technologies have alter our understanding of our environment, artists need to incorporate this new knowledge to the art of Drawing. This figure-based course uses descriptive observation as the starting point for addressing visual invention. Working from a model, traditional techniques are combined with digital imaging and sequential genres such as graphic novels to develop an expanded experimental palette.

ADF-S166

3.00

Surveys the medium of painting as a mode of expression that embraces representation, abstraction and collage. Engages concepts and techniques of 20th and 21st century artistic practice. Students develop an individual approach to non-objective and objective painted space. Open-ended assignments, lectures, critiques and discussions will clarify and refine work. Substantial independent studio time allows students to focus on work that responds to contemporary issues in painting.

ADF S152

3.00

A focused study on the language of dimensionality in sculpture, students will explore traditional and non-traditional materials. Issues of craft, concept and context will aid students in developing work that responds to currents in contemporary sculpture. This class will also provide students with a substantial grounding in 20th and 21st century sculptural theory and practice.

3.00

Surveys the techniques and studio practice of contemporary printmaking techniques. Etching, Linocut, Transfers, Lithography and Screen Printing are incorporated in a fast-moving course focused on personal expression. Studio work utilizes non-toxic materials and a studio practice centered on creativity and sustainability. Topics include Portfolio development, experimentation and printed editions.

ADF S102 ADF S123, and ADF S152

3.00

Fine Arts Seminar is designed as a vehicle for students to develop a personal relationship to contemporary art theory and practice. Questions are posed as a point of departure for the students to generate work. Visiting artists and weekly gallery and museum visits aid in examining aspects of current art making in order to assist students in creating a strong vision for their work. Visiting artists and weekly gallery and museum visits aid in examining aspects of current art making in order to assist students in creating a strong vision for their work. Restricted to Fine Arts Majors only.

ADFA S271

3.00

A continuation of the first semester, this course aids students in recognizing the patterns and questions posed in their own studio practices. A large number of technical approaches to content will be explored.

Take ADF-S152; Intended for Majors only

3.00

Moves art theory into the studio and the studio out into the world. Students will look at the most significant artists and movements of the past 50 years while examining their social, cultural and political context. Canonized contemporary art categories (postmodernism, appropriation, anti-art and performance art are some examples) are assigned as group projects. Movements, strategy or style of art making is discussed as an expressive problem-solving experience, blurring the lines between media. This course conflates contemporary art history with contemporary art practices.

Take ADFA-S272;

3.00

An exploration of contemporary drawing with an emphasis on experimentation and personal growth. Traditional and non-traditional materials are employed in a rigorous studio environment. Topics include radical scale, drawing and installation and the ongoing conversation between ephemera and permanence in drawing.

ADF S123 AND ADFA S241

3.00

Designed to provide an in-depth study and practice of two-dimensional contemporary figuration. An in-depth exploration of the methodology and techniques of figurative painters from late-twentieth century through the present. Personal adaptation of traditional and contemporary modes of expression are seen as key elements in the development of each student's personal voice.

Take ADF-S152 ADFA-S361;

3.00

This sculpture course considers the figure in its importance both as a historical element and as a reflection and definition of self. Established an understanding of the figurative form in the space by relating gesture and structure through manipulated form. Weight, mass, plane and volume are considered while working directly from the model.

ADFA S271 and ADFA S272

3.00

Third semester of the Seminar sequence. Students are responsible for integrating their visual culture influences and references within an expanded body of work.

ADFA S271 and ADFA S272 and ADFA S371

3.00

The final Seminar semester is focused on the studio practices of its members. All work is channeled into the development of the final senior thesis exhibition.

Restricted to Juniors and Seniors

3.00- 6.00

Fine Arts majors are required to complete an internship where they will apply their studio and academic skills in a professional setting. Students enrich their perspective by sampling the career paths available in the art and culture economy. Work directly with established professional artists or with arts and cultural organizations such as museums, galleries, and arts councils, this experiential learning is critical for career preparation. Topics include personal growth, professional skill development, and networking opportunities. The internship experience is paired with a faculty-led seminar that will reinforce new skills and provide a venue for inquiry, sharing, and reflection.

Fine Arts Senior status required, or Instructor Approval.

3.00

Readies the student for the furtherance of their career as a creative artist. Course participants will begin to place themselves within the context of the contemporary art world. Though the development of a written artist's statement, presentations, electronic documentation and an exhibition which meets professional standards. senior students are prepared for post-graduate life. Normally offered Spring semester.

4.00

Surveys the art of Western civilization from prehistoric caves to medieval cathedrals. Considers works from the Ancient Near East, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece and Rome, the Byzantine Era, the Romanesque Period, and the Gothic Period in their historical contexts. Introduces students to formal analysis, iconography, and critical thinking.

4.00

Surveys the art of Europe and America from the Renaissance to the present. Considers work of painting, sculpture, and architecture from periods such as the Renaissance, the Baroque, the Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Impressionism, Abstract Impressionism, and Post-Modernism in their historical contexts. Introduces students to formal analysis, iconography, and critical thinking.

Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings

3.00

Observational drawing is a fundamental way of understanding and communicating visual experience. This course stresses the development and mastery of traditional drawing skills, concepts, and vocabulary, and employs a variety of techniques and materials. Fundamental principles are introduced in structured lessons and exercises, which are supplemented by related outside assignments. Subject matter may include still life, portraiture, and the clothed and unclothed human figure.

ADF S101 or Instructor approval; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

This course will refine the basic visual skills developed in Foundation Drawing I (ADF S101). The elements of color and mixed media are introduced to expand technical possibilities, while more intensive work with the clothed and unclothed human figure provides exposure to gesture, structure and complex form. As students begin to develop a more sophisticated and personal approach, issues of expression and interpretation and varied subject matter will be explored, focusing on personal style and expression.

ADF S102

3.00

Explores how light can enhance, reveal and sometimes determine our understanding and appreciation of art. Topics include a historical overview of artists from Caravaggio to the present day who use theatrical and natural light and the human form to represent the human condition. The figure, clothed and unclothed, in isolation and in an environmental context, is the primary subject.

3.00

Surveys the techniques and studio practice of contemporary printmaking techniques. Etching, Linocut, Transfers, Lithography and Screen Printing are incorporated in a fast-moving course focused on personal expression. Studio work utilizes non-toxic materials and a studio practice centered on creativity and sustainability. Topics include Portfolio development, experimentation and printed editions.

ADF-S102 and ADF-S166

3.00

Investigates how shifts in scale alter our perception of space. We live in a world of great contrasts in scale: hand held screens can download Google earth and nanotechnologies can change the lives of entire continents. Since evolving technologies have alter our understanding of our environment, artists need to incorporate this new knowledge to the art of Drawing. This figure-based course uses descriptive observation as the starting point for addressing visual invention. Working from a model, traditional techniques are combined with digital imaging and sequential genres such as graphic novels to develop an expanded experimental palette.

ADF S123 AND ADFA S241

3.00

Designed to provide an in-depth study and practice of two-dimensional contemporary figuration. An in-depth exploration of the methodology and techniques of figurative painters from late-twentieth century through the present. Personal adaptation of traditional and contemporary modes of expression are seen as key elements in the development of each student's personal voice.

3.00

This introductory course is designed to encourage students with little or no knowledge of the use of various painting processes. The basic elements of painting are introduced in exercises enhanced by demonstrations. Students work with acrylic paint and various painting mediums. Creative work is encouraged in a relaxed atmosphere where individual attention is given to students at various levels of ability.

ADF S166; Non-majors interesting in taking art and design courses for elective credit should refer to offerings under the ART course listings.

3.00

An understanding of form is critical to the development of the professional artist or designer. This course focuses on the hands-on use of line, plane, and volume in space. The role of scale, proportion, structure, surface, light, and display are addressed as students create objects that activate space and engage the viewer. The course proceeds from work with simple forms and techniques to more challenging and comprehensive problems that employ a variety of media and approaches.

Take ADF-S152

3.00

Art is not just visual. Artists also "think with their hands", understanding that engagement with the physical world is vital to the creative process, and often gives rise to unexpected and fruitful ideas. In this course, students will explore traditional and experimental sculptural processes in a spirit of "directed play", focusing on both intuitive and critical responses to materials.

ADF S152

3.00

A focused study on the language of dimensionality in sculpture, students will explore traditional and non-traditional materials. Issues of craft, concept and context will aid students in developing work that responds to currents in contemporary sculpture. This class will also provide students with a substantial grounding in 20th and 21st century sculptural theory and practice.

ADF-182 and the Fine Art Program Director's consent.

4.00

This course introduces the students to Italian Renaissance art, artists and culture from the first evidence in the Italian Gothic (around the 1260's) to the Early and High Renaissance, predominantly in Florence and Venice, up to the 1600's. The course will survey the history of painting, sculpture and architecture as we study the works individually, for their formal elements and visual importance, but also within their aesthetic, historic, political and cultural context. Class discussion and a visual analysis of works of art will encourage personal interpretation and critical thinking. A list of terms related to the Renaissances introduces the language of art. Normally offered during the summer. Offered in Italy only.

4.00

This course examines the Islamic influence in Spain through its art and architecture from its formative period in the eighth century through the fourteenth century and beyond to see the continuity and change of the Mozarabic style found locally in Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, and Granada. Students will use formal analytical skills to critically explore works of art and architecture and will cultivate a 'lens' through which they will facilitate their understanding of the classic and contemporary material culture and fabric of Spain. Class meetings will be supplemented with field trips. Offered as needed.

4.00

This course will examine the arts and architecture of the Silk Road, with particular attention to art of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Historically, Inner Asia was marked by trade routes (the 'Silk Route' or 'Silk Road') which crisscrossed this vast landscape of deserts and mountains between China, India, the Iranian Plateau and the Mediterranean world. In addition to the art of these cultures, we will also look at the records of early Chinese travelers through Central Asia. (Formerly HUM 346) Offered as needed.

Restricted to Juniors and Seniors

3.00- 6.00

Fine Arts majors are required to complete an internship where they will apply their studio and academic skills in a professional setting. Students enrich their perspective by sampling the career paths available in the art and culture economy. Work directly with established professional artists or with arts and cultural organizations such as museums, galleries, and arts councils, this experiential learning is critical for career preparation. Topics include personal growth, professional skill development, and networking opportunities. The internship experience is paired with a faculty-led seminar that will reinforce new skills and provide a venue for inquiry, sharing, and reflection.

An independent study form must be submitted to the CAS Dean's Office.

1.00- 3.00

Provides students with the opportunity to examine an issue of interest that falls outside the parameters of the existing curricula. Work one-on-one with a full-time faculty member, this outcome of this course of study is the realization of a specific and well-defined goal. All proposals for Independent Study must be approved by the Fine Art Program Director and Dean's Office in advance of the beginning of the semester during which the work will be completed. Normally available every semester.

ADF S102

3.00

Explores how light can enhance, reveal and sometimes determine our understanding and appreciation of art. Topics include a historical overview of artists from Caravaggio to the present day who use theatrical and natural light and the human form to represent the human condition. The figure, clothed and unclothed, in isolation and in an environmental context, is the primary subject.

Take ADF-S152

3.00

Art is not just visual. Artists also "think with their hands", understanding that engagement with the physical world is vital to the creative process, and often gives rise to unexpected and fruitful ideas. In this course, students will explore traditional and experimental sculptural processes in a spirit of "directed play", focusing on both intuitive and critical responses to materials.

ADF-S102 and ADF-S166

3.00

Investigates how shifts in scale alter our perception of space. We live in a world of great contrasts in scale: hand held screens can download Google earth and nanotechnologies can change the lives of entire continents. Since evolving technologies have alter our understanding of our environment, artists need to incorporate this new knowledge to the art of Drawing. This figure-based course uses descriptive observation as the starting point for addressing visual invention. Working from a model, traditional techniques are combined with digital imaging and sequential genres such as graphic novels to develop an expanded experimental palette.

ADF-S166

3.00

Surveys the medium of painting as a mode of expression that embraces representation, abstraction and collage. Engages concepts and techniques of 20th and 21st century artistic practice. Students develop an individual approach to non-objective and objective painted space. Open-ended assignments, lectures, critiques and discussions will clarify and refine work. Substantial independent studio time allows students to focus on work that responds to contemporary issues in painting.

ADF S152

3.00

A focused study on the language of dimensionality in sculpture, students will explore traditional and non-traditional materials. Issues of craft, concept and context will aid students in developing work that responds to currents in contemporary sculpture. This class will also provide students with a substantial grounding in 20th and 21st century sculptural theory and practice.

3.00

Surveys the techniques and studio practice of contemporary printmaking techniques. Etching, Linocut, Transfers, Lithography and Screen Printing are incorporated in a fast-moving course focused on personal expression. Studio work utilizes non-toxic materials and a studio practice centered on creativity and sustainability. Topics include Portfolio development, experimentation and printed editions.

ADF S102 ADF S123, and ADF S152

3.00

Fine Arts Seminar is designed as a vehicle for students to develop a personal relationship to contemporary art theory and practice. Questions are posed as a point of departure for the students to generate work. Visiting artists and weekly gallery and museum visits aid in examining aspects of current art making in order to assist students in creating a strong vision for their work. Visiting artists and weekly gallery and museum visits aid in examining aspects of current art making in order to assist students in creating a strong vision for their work. Restricted to Fine Arts Majors only.

ADFA S271

3.00

A continuation of the first semester, this course aids students in recognizing the patterns and questions posed in their own studio practices. A large number of technical approaches to content will be explored.

Take ADF-S152; Intended for Majors only

3.00

Moves art theory into the studio and the studio out into the world. Students will look at the most significant artists and movements of the past 50 years while examining their social, cultural and political context. Canonized contemporary art categories (postmodernism, appropriation, anti-art and performance art are some examples) are assigned as group projects. Movements, strategy or style of art making is discussed as an expressive problem-solving experience, blurring the lines between media. This course conflates contemporary art history with contemporary art practices.

ADFA S242

3.00

Surveys contemporary sculptural issues, using a variety of found and generated materials. Topics include installation, wall, floor, self-supported pieces and environmental works.

Take ADFA-S272;

3.00

An exploration of contemporary drawing with an emphasis on experimentation and personal growth. Traditional and non-traditional materials are employed in a rigorous studio environment. Topics include radical scale, drawing and installation and the ongoing conversation between ephemera and permanence in drawing.

ADFA S251 or instructor permission

3.00

An advanced exploration of technique, scale and multiple press runs. Students focus on a chosen area of traditional or contemporary print media, ranging from etching, digital imaging, lithography, relief and screen printing. Through the use of theory and developed skill, print-based works of an increasingly professional standard are developed in both two and three dimensions. Projects focus on discrete objects and multi-layered collaborative exercises. Encourages an individual, creative and professional approach to printmaking in the context of contemporary art practice.

ADF S123 AND ADFA S241

3.00

Designed to provide an in-depth study and practice of two-dimensional contemporary figuration. An in-depth exploration of the methodology and techniques of figurative painters from late-twentieth century through the present. Personal adaptation of traditional and contemporary modes of expression are seen as key elements in the development of each student's personal voice.

Take ADF-S152 ADFA-S361;

3.00

This sculpture course considers the figure in its importance both as a historical element and as a reflection and definition of self. Established an understanding of the figurative form in the space by relating gesture and structure through manipulated form. Weight, mass, plane and volume are considered while working directly from the model.

3.00

An extension of Figure Studio 2D & 3D courses. Focuses on advanced figuration in relation to contemporary and historical works. Students will work in any media that pertains to their exploration of depiction and content. Participants are expected to work in consultation with the professor in class and in their individual studios.

ADFA S271 and ADFA S272

3.00

Third semester of the Seminar sequence. Students are responsible for integrating their visual culture influences and references within an expanded body of work.

ADFA S271 and ADFA S272 and ADFA S371

3.00

The final Seminar semester is focused on the studio practices of its members. All work is channeled into the development of the final senior thesis exhibition.

Take ADFA-S272;

3.00- 6.00

Functions as a bridge between the undergraduate processes of Fine Arts Seminar and the postgraduate environment of the visual arts. Particular attention will be paid to the contexts used by students to define their work in relation to feed back of professional outside reviewers. Individual contracts between faculty and student will be developed at the beginning of each semester. Contracts will assess the priorities for the work and adapt studio practices for the creation of new work. A research component will be attached when awarding 4-6 credits.

Fine Arts Senior status required, or Instructor Approval.

3.00

Readies the student for the furtherance of their career as a creative artist. Course participants will begin to place themselves within the context of the contemporary art world. Though the development of a written artist's statement, presentations, electronic documentation and an exhibition which meets professional standards. senior students are prepared for post-graduate life. Normally offered Spring semester.

Fine Art Program Director Approval needed

1.00- 6.00

The student completes a directed study project, either studio (ADFA S500) or non-studio (ADFA 500) under the supervision of a full time fine arts faculty member. Please see "Directed Study" elsewhere in this catalog for details. Independent study forms are available from the Office of the Academic Dean and Registrar. All independent study projects must be approved by the individual faculty member, the Fine Arts Program Director, and the NESADSU Chairman. Normally available every semester.

Fine Art Program Director Approval needed

1.00- 6.00

A project, either studio or non-studio under the supervision of a fine arts faculty member. Please see Directed Study elsewhere in this catalog for details. Independent study forms are available from the Office of the Academic Dean and Registrar. All independent study projects must be approved by the individual faculty member, the Fine Arts Program Director, and the NESADSU Chairman.