Features Reporter
Photo by: Whitney Kidd
Regardless of the hour or the day of the week, the art studios on campus will have one or two students working on a project. Whether making mugs for club fundraisers, creating a test strip for the different types of effects glazes have on the ceramics or even building a kiln, the art department studios are almost never empty.
“I probably spend 10 hours a week in here outside of class, minimum,” Art Education student Justine Benedict said. “You only have two hours in class. The more time you spend, the better it gets.”
The Fine Arts building has multiple studios with supplies for sculpting, ceramics, 3D design, printmaking, 2D design, and painting.
In addition to the numerous studios, behind the Fine Arts building there is an area that is home for metalworking.
Students usually find a kind of art to focus on while they are taking classes, much like different kinds of specialized doctors.
“We try to incorporate self-promotion practice into our classes,” ceramics professor Jake Allee said. “I have my students photograph their pieces so they can develop web presence. Everything is going the way of the Internet.”
The art department is trying to get a class that focuses on the business side of being an artist. It’s not only about creating great pieces of art, but also selling it, either online or in a gallery.
One of the big aspects of this part of art is networking with companies, potential buyers and other artists. The art department offers a field study class. In essence, the class studies abroad, which gives them outside experience and helps to build connections that they can use later in their career.
Another large part of the art department, which breaks away from the studio art degree, is the art education degree.
“I never liked the idea to sell my work to make rent, and still don’t,” Art Education major Drew Eckerling said.
As an art education major, the students will become certified to teach students as young as kindergarten and as old as high school.
“It’s important to have good art teachers,” Benedict said. “Not every kid wants to paint or draw. I’d like to include 2D or 3D art, all different kinds of medium.
jkirk@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
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