2009 Summer Academy in Visual Arts Studies
July 5-August 1, 2009
Kathleen Hancock, Director, KHancock@rwu.edu
The Summer Academy in Visual Arts Studies is an intensive 4-week program designed for high-school students who have successfully completed their junior year and may have an interest in pursuing an arts-based experience at the college level. The Academy provides students with an experience in a unique, interdisciplinary program for college credit. Basic Art-making skills using a range of media offered at RWU are introduced while at the same time creating conduits for interaction amongst those media. The elements and principles found in today’s Art are explored in both studio and seminar settings. A personal evolution through the language of visual art is encouraged.
Studio courses in Foundations of Drawing and Media Exploration are complemented by seminar courses in Art Today and Portfolio development. Field Trips, lectures and demonstrations that seek to promote the idea of crosscurrents and interactions in the Arts are an integral part of the Academy experience. The program culminates in an exhibition or installation as a group project. Interaction with the Architecture Summer Academy through extracurricular events and field trips gives participants in both programs a better understanding of the interactive possibilities in the School of Architecture, Art and Historic Preservation. Students are advised on college admission processes in the Arts and portfolio development in preparation for college applications.
The Summer Academy in Visual Arts Studies is taught by faculty of the Roger Williams University School of Architecture, Art, and Historic Preservation, led by Michelle Benoit, Director. Supervised dormitory life, with student activities programming on evenings and weekends, is included in the program.
The 2009 Summer Academy will be held from July 5-August 1, 2009. The 2009 Comprehensive Fee to attend the academy is $3900 inclusive of tuition, housing and meals. Application with non-refundable $300 deposit due by May 15th, 2009. Balance of comprehensive program fees due by June 15th, 2009.
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Coursework Information
Foundations of Drawing
The cornerstone of the Summer Academy in Visual Art is the Drawing program. Students work from observation in nature, from the still life, the figure and their imagination building fundamental skills while exploring materials and content in drawing. Based on the degree program’s “Foundations of Drawing” course, this intensive class is the credit-bearing portion of the program.
(3 credits)
Media Explorations
In this class, students explore a wide range of media and methods from collage and painting to sculpture and the digital arts based on the expertise and interest of the instructor. Students work on projects both individual and collaborative that seek to encourage a deep exploration of the ideas that interest the student and expand the student’s knowledge of techniques and materials.
Art Today
With all of the varied directions which art today could take, this class has as its aim to begin to make sense of trends, issues and movements in contemporary art. This seminar class introduces the student to contemporary Visual Art through presentations, videos, artist talks and discussion. We will examine the artist’s role in the community, the power and poetics of the creative process in the contemporary world, and the changing nature of arts reception within a multi-cultural society.
Field Trips
On their weekly field trips, students will visit the nearby cities of Providence, Newport, Boston and may include visits to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The Institute of Contemporary Art, The DeCordova Museum, Mass MoCA and the Newport Art Museum. Gallery discussions, visits with curators and artists will be included in these off-campus experiences.
Portfolio Development
This workshop meets twice a week through the summer program to help the students develop a cohesive portfolio for admission to college art programs. Students will learn how to select, document and present their artwork.