Art and Art History

The Art Department offers a curriculum that combines theory and practice, well in keeping with Albright’s emphases on the liberal arts and experiential learning. This curriculum, which comprises both studio and lecture courses, has two aims:

• To education students who elect the Art major, combined major or minor options required for a professional degree
• To heighten the awareness and appreciation of the visual arts through expansion of your knowledge of art forms and artists, and their relation to society

Studio Art Major

• • ART 101 Drawing
  • ART 103 Design
  • ART 112 Painting I
  • ART 113 Sculpture I
  • ART 114 Printmaking
  • Two Art History courses
  • Two courses from among the following:
    • ART 102 Life Drawing
    • ART 216 Photography
    • ART 265 Computer Graphics
  • Concentration in either:
    • Painting (ART 212, 312 and 412)

OR

• • Sculpture (ART 213, 313 and 413)
  • ART 400 Advanced Studio Topics**

*One of these courses may also be used to satisfy the Foundations-Fine Arts requirement of the General Education Curriculum.
**Must be the same area as 200-level course. All sections of ART 400 Studio Topics need are restricted to junior-level or higher students

Combined Major in Studio Art

• ART 101 Drawing
• ART 103 Design
• One of the following:
  • ART 105 Art History I
  • ART 106 Art History II
  • ART 200+ Art History

• ART 112 Painting I
• ART 113 Sculpture I
• ART 212 Painting II or ART 213 Sculpture II
• ART 400 Advanced Studio Topics***

*One of these courses may also be used to satisfy the Foundations-Fine Arts requirement of the General Education Curriculum.
***All sections of ART 400 Studio Topics need are restricted to junior-level or higher students

Digital Studio Art

• ART 101 Drawing
• ART 103 Design
• ART 113 Sculpture I
• ART 216 Photography I or ART 112 Painting I
• ART 256 Modern Art and Design Concepts
• ART 265 Computer Graphics
• ART 400 Studio Topics*** (Painting, Sculpture or Digital Studio)
• DIG 265 Digital Literacy
• SYN 352 Aesthetic Rebels in Film and Art (formerly IDS252)
• Three courses from:
  • DIG 201 Digital Video
  • DIG 270 Digital Illustration and Design
  • DIG 315 Web Design or DIG 325 Visual Design for the Web
  • ART 212 Painting II or ART 213 Sculpture II
• DIG 420 Senior Seminar

One of the ART courses may also be used to satisfy the Foundations-Fine Arts requirement of the General Education Curriculum.
***All sections of ART 400 Studio Topics need are restricted to junior-level or higher students

Minors

Minor in Art History

• Two 100-level Art History courses
• Two 200-level Art History courses
• One 300-level Art History research course

Minor in Film/Video

• One 100-level Art History course
• One introductory studio course
• DIG 201 Digital Video I and DIG 301 Digital Video II
• ART400 Digital Studio Topics (Digital) or DIG420 Senior Seminar

Minor in Photography

• One Art History course
• One introductory studio course
• ART 216 and 316 (Photography I and II)
• One 400-level studio topics course

Minor in Painting

• One 100 level Art History Course
• Design (ART 103)
• Painting I (ART 112)
• Painting II ( ART 212)
• Studio Topics-Painting (ART 400)

Minor in Sculpture

• One 100 level Art History Course
• Design (ART 103)
• Sculpture I (ART 113)
• Sculpture II ( ART 213)
• Studio Topics-Sculpture (ART 400)

Art Education Certification

Art Majors preparing for a career in education take Art courses and a series of Education and other courses specified by the Education Department to meet Pennsylvania Department of Education regulations. As early as possible in their college experience, candidates for teacher certification in Art should consult the Requirements section of the Education website and the chair of Education regarding specific course requirements. The Art Education certification is a grades K-12 program.

Studio Art

ART 101
Drawing
This is a sequence of experiences and discussions intended to expand the student’s awareness of the visual world and of the special language of visual communication through drawing. The use of materials such as a brush and ink, pencil, and collage is stressed. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 102
Life Drawing
Students will draw from a variety of sources including the live model and biological specimens as fundamental experiences for developing hand-eye coordination. Various media and techniques are explored.

ART 103
Design
Design  is an introductory course dealing with the elements and principles involved with the visual organization of two- and three-dimensional space. Emphasis is placed on developing understanding and sensitivity to the components of works of art and creative approaches to composition and uses of color. Developing the ability to articulately critique the work of others as well as one’s own artwork is also emphasized. The course is designed to develop perceptual ability and increased application of creative thinking to the world around us and everyday experience. We will explore design possibilities through the use of observation, speculation and imagination. Increased understanding of use of computer programs in the innovative creation of design is also a primary objective. Conceptual explorations will be made regularly in a journal, which will then selectively be further developed in various media. Throughout the course, assignments will be presented that are involved with the creative employment of the principles of design: repetition, balance, emphasis, movement, rhythm, contrast, pattern and unity. This course will be team-taught.  General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 112
Painting I
This is a series of exercises and discussions exploring color relationships and acrylic painting practices. The principles of two-dimensional composition and design are emphasized. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 113
Sculpture I
A survey of spatial arrangement and expressive ideas, utilizing materials such as wood, clay, metal and non-traditional materials. Students will be exposed to associated historical topics, tools and artists pertaining to the practice of sculpture. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 114
Printmaking
This course consists of a sequence of exercises and discussions intended to expand the student’s awareness of visual expression through multiple graphic images. Various printing processes are introduced including intaglio and relief. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 212
Painting II
Students will continue their study of the principles of painting and design, and are encouraged to develop their own personal idiom while working in oil, acrylic and mixed media. Prerequisite: ART 112 or permission of department.

ART 213
Sculpture II
A continued exploration of sculptural practices ranging from further personal development of concept and process. Methods include: mold making, metal casting, carving and welding. Prerequisite: ART 113 or permission of department.

ART 216
Photography I
This is an introduction to film-based still photography; basic camera operation, developing film, as well as prints in the darkroom. The emphasis is on composition, technique, and experimental photography as a means of visual expression.

ART 220
Watercolor Painting: Global Imagery
An investigation into the historical evolution of style and techniques in watercolor painting with the intent of establishing a broad base of understanding of diverse cultural values as reflected in visual art throughout history. Stress is placed on the understanding and use of watercolor throughout the history of art for solving various problems of representation and abstraction.  A main objective of the course is to increase understanding of the role of imagery in communicating and representing universal concepts and ideas through the history of art and civilization. Class lectures, discussions, research and studio assignments will include the role of painting in the history of civilization and the diverse ways in which it reflects and affects culture. GENERAL STUDIES CONNECTIONS GLOBAL

ART 265
Computer Graphics, Art and Design
Computer Graphics is a combined studio/lecture course providing instruction in the use of industry-standard digital media tools. Students learn from the perspective of an artist and designer the essentials of digital still image creation, graphic design and digital animation. This course not only provides students with a strong technical foundation, but also introduces students to the concepts intrinsic to art and design in the digital age.  General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 312
Painting III
This is an advanced-level study of methods and materials, as well as aesthetic and conceptual issues, as they apply to painting. Prerequisite: ART 212 or permission of department.

ART 313
Sculpture III
A further study of various three-dimensional medias incorporating emerging technologies and practices in sculpture. Prerequisite: ART 213 or permission of department.

ART 316
Photography II
In this course, students concentrate on Digital Photography with a focus on making, editing, organizing, and printing images using industry standard software and equipment. Studio fee. Prerequisite: ART 216 or permission of department.

ART 400
Studio Topics
This is an individual study program, arranged in consultation with the instructor. Students will develop a cohesive body of work based upon an intensive exploration of thematic context, materials and techniques. This course emphasizes individual concept development, personal direction, originality and problem solving.

ART 412
Painting IV
This is an individual study program, arranged in consultation with the instructor, for continued development of a personal approach to painting and creative decision-making. Prerequisite: ART 312 or permission of department.

ART 413
Sculpture IV
This is an individual study program, arranged in consultation with the instructor, for continued development of a personal approach to sculpture and creative decision-making. Prerequisite: ART 313 or permission of department.

Art History

ART 105
Art History I: Prehistory to the 1300s
This course will introduce students to key artworks from the Western and Non-Western worlds created from Prehistory until the 1300s C.E. Art allows us to glean information about the past, but more than that, it continues to shape our understanding of history and contemporary events. This course is designed to have us think about art itself as a historical force. We will examine how artistic creations and their related networks have shaped and disseminated religious, political, and social ideas. A field trip is required. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 106
Art History II: 14th Century to the Present
This survey examines art from the early 14th century to the present. Students will learn about the broader historical contexts that saw the transformation of painting, sculpture, and architecture in the Western and non-Western worlds and examine how the definition of art has changed throughout history. A field trip is required. General Studies Foundations-Fine Arts

ART 207
Modern & Contemporary Art
What makes art “modern”? When and why was the shift toward “post-modern” art? How can the perspective-warping Cubist paintings be related to Surrealist notions of psychic liberation? And perhaps most importantly, how does today’s art represent our society? Throughout this course we will respond to these questions as we follow the development of art from the rise of Impressionism in France during the late nineteenth century to the globalized present. We will trace the avant-garde developments starting with Impressionism and learn about the state of art today. This class is designed for students who already have a background in art or art history. The course will help you develop conceptual and analytical tools necessary to understand the art made from the Impressionist period until today. A field trip is required. Prerequisite: One Art Department Course

ART 240
Latin American Art of the 20th Century
How do we define Latin American art? Can Latin American art be made in the United States? This course seeks to respond to these questions while we examine the rich and diverse Latin American and Latinx art produced throughout the twentieth century. Our aim is to explore a range of regions, with a special focus on the art of Brazil and Mexico. In our discussions, we will learn about different historical contexts to better understand how artists conceived of their work in relationship to both local and international aesthetics and political debates. Together, we will analyze the strategies artists used to respond to issues of identity, colonialism, urbanism, and globalization. General Studies Connections-Global-Humanities

ART 244
Gender in the Visual Arts
This course provides an overview of the relationship between gender and the visual arts in Western civilization from prehistory to the present. We will look at art patronage and academic institutions, and the other factors which impacted the lives of women artists.  The narrative of gender in contemporary culture will be examined, to question questions in aesthetic and the evolution of the global art marketplace. General Studies Connections-Humanities

ART 256
Modern Art and Design Concepts in the 20th Century
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of how the world looks and why.  The centerpiece of the course is the German Bauhaus [1918-1933], the most influential design school in the twentieth-century.  Modern architecture, which was developed in Europe and in the Chicago School, determined the “look” of the twentieth century and contemporary life.  With this modern architecture came new ideas in fashion, graphics, interior design, landscape architecture, and industrial design. GENERAL STUDIES CONNECTIONS

ART 300
Topics in Art History
In this course, students will study a topic or area of interest in art history. The course may focus on an area such as museum management or be a specialized course on, for example, Impressionism or Dutch Baroque art. The course offers the student the close intellectual scrutiny that accompanies scholarly readings not always tenable in a survey course.

ART 356
Portraying the Nation: Representation in American Art
This course examines representations of Americans and of the United States in order to understand the role of visual culture in the formation of American identity. Visual depictions are integral to how we understand ourselves and our environment. How did 18th Century citizens define and view themselves in relation to this nascent democracy? And what of the slaves, Native Americans, and women, who were omitted from “We the People”? How were they presented? And how did they make themselves present? Throughout the semester, we will analyze images of individuals, types, and historical episodes that participated in shaping, transforming, and challenging how “We the people” was and continues to be understood. Together, we will study how representations are constructed and how they shape our vision of the United States and our individual role as Americans. General Studies Connections-Humanities

ART 357
Issues in American Art from 1940 to the Present
Developments in painting, sculpture and related forms from abstract expressionism through postmodernism of the 1980s are examined in detail. Considerable attention is given to issues of mass culture. A field trip is required.

ART 358
The History of Photography
This course explores the early history of photography from its beginnings in the early decades of the 19th century until the present. Considerable attention is given to the question of how photography has impacted the aesthetic, intellectual, and spiritual values of modern civilization, a question that has preoccupied thinkers from Walter Benjamin to Susan Sontag.

Art Education

ART/EDU 337
Teaching Art in the Elementary School
This course engages art education candidates in developing an understanding of the philosophy and principles of art education in the elementary school curriculum. Each student will work with a variety of public school art materials as a basis for teaching, understanding and evaluating children’s artwork. This course is a pre-student teaching experience in which each student prepares lessons for N-7 instruction. Activities include field trips, observations and classroom presentations.

ART/EDU 338
Teaching Art in the Secondary School
This course engages art education candidates in the investigation of the concepts and values of art theory and practice as related to the secondary curriculum. Students study classroom problems and procedure in various teaching situations. Emphasis is placed upon application, observation and evaluation of teaching as related to the adolescent in the secondary school. This course is a pre-student teaching experience in which each student prepares lessons for secondary art instruction. Activities include field trips, observations and classroom presentations.