Fine Arts (SFIN)

Students research and explore a vast array of contemporary creative directions and career opportunities that transcend traditional fine art constructs. Building upon their visual language, students discover the possibilities of creating art and design in anticipation of scientific and technological advances, viewer experiences and emerging materials of the 21st century.

Transformation of body and identity through elaborate costuming has occurred throughout various cultures for thousands of years. In this course, students research current trends of this phenomenon to create costuming pieces, such as props, garments, headdresses, prosthetics and facial elements. Competitive aspects of the cosplay convention circuit are examined as well as new career opportunities within and outside of this genre.

Fine artists use digital technologies to realize greater breadth and depth of creative expression. Through an exploration of advanced 2D and 3D digital applications, students enhance the complexity of their personal studio practice, and advance and expand the possibilities of their fine art.

By transforming space, installation artists create immersive, interactive experiences that alter the role of audience, from viewer to participant. Students engage in creative problem-solving to manipulate a space with physical and technological enhancements.

Fine art students gain an understanding of entrepreneurial strategies that are essential for a sustainable career as a visual artist. A digital art portfolio, website and marketing materials promoting a personal brand are produced to prepare students for career, exhibition and business opportunities. Additional business practices such as sales, expenses, record keeping, taxes and copyrights are examined.

To build a successful personal brand, artists must combine creative vision with business acumen and an entrepreneurial spirit. Through extensive exploration of current market opportunities, students define an intended brand position and establish a brand personality for a product, service or individual. Students engage in entrepreneurial strategies aligned with career aspirations to develop confidence and gain a competitive edge in creative industries.

The role art exhibitions in museums, galleries, art fairs, digital platforms and alternative venues play in the current art market are examined in this course. Students collaborate in the mounting of an exhibition, participating in every stage — from budgeting and venue selection to exhibition design, marketing and sales.

Students enhance their professional expertise by working in multidisciplinary teams on collaborative projects that extend their personal studio practice. Through efficient project management, effective communication and creative problem solving, students develop a final project from concept to completed product. Students connect directly with an industry organization or enterprise, generating experience and contacts that serve as a potential bridge from coursework to the profession.

Students from a variety of disciplines within the School of Fine Arts work as a team to research, conceptualize and develop creative solutions for current design challenges. Specific projects vary from quarter to quarter. [This course may be taken up to three times for credit.]

This course enlarges students’ critical vocabulary as well as their familiarity with current critical theory. Students increase their understanding of the reciprocal relationship between the theoretical structure of an artwork and the processes that constitute its form. Students begin to closely examine the theories and processes operating in their own work. All projects, critiques, writing assignments and discussions are designed to strengthen students’ respective work.

This course is designed to prepare M.A. students for fine art business practices. Class topics include building an exhibition record, dealing with the legal issues of art, preparing a professional portfolio and managing an online presence.

Expanding beyond the pictorial traditions within fine arts, students engage nontraditional media to inform their conceptual development. Emphasis is placed on extending beyond conventional and self-established forms of artmaking to consider space, sound, light and other media. Spatial and temporal strategies such as installation, performance and video are examined.

Utilizing new technology, this course takes advantage of the synthesis of media as a current and prevalent trend in the promotion and marketing of contemporary fine arts work. The course prepares students for the business aspects of a fine art career, including portfolio preparation, exhibition opportunities, Web-based and social media marketing and relevant business practices.