Art

Introduction

The Department of Art offers programs in four interrelated areas of study: art studio, design, art education and art history. The programs are designed to enhance artistic and intellectual inquiry across and within disciplines. The programs, classes and workshops combine practice in visual skills with rigorous critical analyses, providing an environment that fosters lively dialog and energetic engagement. Artists, designers, art historians and art educators, with innovative and well-established approaches to teaching, offer a variety of courses that include art education, art history, art theory and criticism, ceramics, design production, drawing, fibers/fabrics, graphic design, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. The faculty is dedicated to the preparation and sponsorship of students in their post-graduate careers as professional artists, designers, curators, art historians and educators.

The Department of Art offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in art studio, design and art history. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art is available in art studio and design. A Bachelor of Arts in Education degree is available through Woodring College.

Faculty

ELSI VASSDAL ELLIS (1977) Chair Design and Professor. BS, MEd, Western Washington State College; PhD, University of Washington.
GAYE LEIGH GREEN (1996) Chair Studio Professor. BA, California State University; MA, Stanford University; PhD, Pennsylvania State University.
GARTH AMUNDSON (2000) Associate Professor. BA, Central Washington University; MFA, Syracuse University.
SHARRON ANTHOLT (1996) Professor. BFA, California State University; MFA, San Francisco Art Institute.
CYNTHIA CAMLIN (2008) Assistant Professor, BA, Duke University; MA, The University of Virginia; Post BA, Yale University; MFA, The University of Texas at Austin.
CRISTINA de ALMEIDA (1997) Professor. BFA, Escola Superior de Desenho Industrial, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; MFA, University of Massachusetts.
MADGE GLEESON (1983) Chair and Professor. BA, MAT, Brown University; MFA, Washington State University.
CAROL JANSON, (1989). Professor. BA, MA, PhD, University of Minnesota
CARA JAYE (1997) Associate Professor. BFA, Parsons School of Design; MFA, University of Colorado.
PATRICK F. McCORMlCK (1969) Professor. BFA, BA, University of Washington; MFA, Cranbrook Academy of Art.
SEBASTIAN MENDES (2001) Associate Professor. BA, University of California‑Santa Cruz; MFA, Stanford University.
BARBARA MILLER (2000) Associate Professor. BA, Simon Fraser University; MA, PhD, University of Rochester.
KACEY MORROW (2008) Assistant Professor, BA, University of Iowa, School of Art and Art History; MFA, University of Illinois, School of Art and Design.
SEIKO ATSUTA PURDUE (2002) Associate Professor. BFA, Kyoto Seika University; MA, Montclair University; MFA, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
JULIA SAPIN (2003) Associate Professor. BA, University of Texas; MA, PhD, University of Washington.
KENTON D. SMITH (1993) Associate Professor. BFA, MA, Fort Hays State University; MFA, Kent State University.

Gallery Director
SARAH CLARK-LANGAGER (1988). BA, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College; MA, University of Washington; PhD, Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Adjunct Faculty
SARAH CLARK-LANGAGER (1988). BA, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College; MA, University of Washington; PhD, Graduate Center, City University of New York.

Declaration Process

Most classes in the Design and Studio areas are restricted to majors only. To access classes in these areas, a formal application to the Department of Art is required. For students in art studio, design, or art education, application for the major is made with a portfolio of work. The portfolio will be reviewed by Department of Art faculty and evaluated on the basis of a demonstrated understanding of the elements of visual art, technical proficiency and originality. Application deadlines for currently enrolled Western students are October 15 and January 31. Application deadlines for new transfer students are October 15 (for students starting winter and spring quarters) and April 1 (for students starting at Western fall quarter). Application deadline for new freshman is January 31. Portfolios must be received by the deadline, not postmarked by the deadlines.

Design and Studio majors must complete a plan of study with a department advisor before enrolling in any 200-level course.

Other Departmental Information

Application Requirements: Art Studio, Design, and Art Education

All applicants of Art Studio, Design and Art Education majors must submit a portfolio of 12 works. It is recommended that the portfolio include only recent pieces. Artwork can be in any media and must demonstrate the following criteria:

Understanding of formal principles
Technical skills
Ability to use visual language to communicate ideas
Originality and risk taking

An accompanying list should briefly describe the rationale behind each piece. Macintosh-compatible CD-ROMs; slides and online portfolios are acceptable. Digital portfolios must be presented in an easily accessible format. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure proper functioning of the presentation.

Application Requirements: Art History

To apply to the art history major, students must have taken A/HI 275 and two 200-level art history surveys or pre-approved equivalent courses. Students must have a B average or higher in these classes to be considered for the art history program. Application deadlines for the art history major are October 15 and January 15 and completed forms must be received in the Department of Art by those dates.

Scholarships

The Department of Art offers a limited number of scholarships to recognize individual talents, promise, and meritorious achievement. The Scholtz Family Memorial Scholarship, J. Ruth Kelsey Scholarship, McIntyre Gorrell Scholarship, Thomas O. Vassdal Scholarship and Berit Siren Vassdal scholarships are among other scholarships offered in the Department of Art. Please consult the scholarship brochure available through Student Financial Resources for information on other scholarships.

100-level courses

One hundred-level courses provide an introduction to contemporary issues and practices in art.

ART 109 : Required for Art Education, Art Studio
ART 110 : Required for Art Education, Art Studio and Design
ART 120 : Required for Art Education, Art Studio and Design
ART 130 : or ART 140 : Required for Art Studio
ART 130 : Required for Art Education
Art History: 6 credits of 100-level courses

Western Gallery and Outdoor Sculpture Collection

The internationally known Outdoor Sculpture Collection includes works by international, national and regional artists, such as Magdalena Abakanowicz, Alice Aycock, Anthony Caro, Mark di Suvero, Nancy Holt, Donald Judd, Robert Morris, Bruce Nauman, Isamu Noguchi, Tom Otterness, Beverly Pepper, and Richard Serra.

The Western Gallery provides diverse experiences in the visual arts for its constituencies, encompassing the University community and region while providing a point of reference to the national and international art scene. Through historical, contemporary and experimental art exhibitions, through the outdoor collection of contemporary sculpture, through the publications and through interpretative interdisciplinary programs, the Western Gallery is committed to creating an environment for learning. The gallery acts as a center for discussion and exchange of ideas on critical issues in contemporary art. The Western Gallery recognizes its role in expanding its audience’s awareness of the visual arts as central to the dynamic and pluralistic nature of our society. Individuals interested in supervised work in the gallery are encouraged to volunteer their services.

Undergraduate Degrees and Programs

Art, BA

Art, BFA

Art — Elementary, BAE

Art Department Courses

Click here to view a list of courses.