Art

The UW-Whitewater Art Department provides students with the opportunity to develop skills in the visual arts in preparation for a variety of careers in art. All students move through a general studies program. In art, the general studies are linked to coursework in art foundations. This preparatory work is followed by course offerings in traditional studios and/or technology-based digital imaging. Each track is intended to develop skills and expertise that ready a student for a career in art. The Art Department offers a Bachelor of Arts in studio fine art, graphic design emphasis, or multimedia design, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio fine art or graphic design emphasis and a Bachelor of Science in education teaching certification K-12. The Bachelor of Arts degree requires an accredited minor; students can choose from an array of programs offered by the university. Selecting a minor enhances career opportunities and student interests. Other minors that students enter include art history, multimedia design, arts management, marketing, advertising, and public relations. The program also regularly hosts a variety of nationally known visiting artists that offer on-campus workshops, lectures and critique sessions for students.

The College of Arts and Communication is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The Art Department has also been reviewed by NASAD (the National Association of Schools of Art and Design) for professional accreditation.

Career opportunities are extensive and diverse in the arts. While teaching, commercial art and fine art careers quickly come to mind, the visual arts serve as preparation for literally hundreds of jobs over a wide spectrum of fields. Positions that need visual arts training include product design, landscaping, interior design, law enforcement, museum and display, greeting card industry, television and media, animation and technology information services.

Potential career opportunities include:

• Web designer
• Motion graphics designer
• University fine arts or design professor
• Interactive media designer
• Fine arts and/or graphic design business owner/operator
• Digital video editor
• Multimedia designer
• Display artist
• Public school teacher
• Illustrator
• Graphic designer
• Jeweler
• Freelance photographer
• Art director
• Exhibit designer
• Printmaker
• Foundry technician
• Production/studio ceramist
• Gallery assistant/curator

The placement rate for art graduates remains competitive. Responses received from an alumni survey indicated a placement rate of 66 percent for recent graduates earning either a BFA degree or a degree in Art Education and more than 85 percent for graduates with a BA degree in Graphic Design.

A partial list of employers include:

• Warner Brothers
• Elmhurst School District 205 (Illinois)
• QuadGraphics
• Valdosta University (Georgia)
• The Gessert Group
• Bergamot Brass Works
• The International Institute of Wisconsin Rinehart Inc.
• Menasha Corporation, Art & Design Center
• Channel One Inc.
• Harley-Davidson Co.
• Stark Images Internet Services
• WTMJ-TV
• Chicago Tribune
• (The) Waukesha Freeman
• GE Marquette Medical Systems
• Madison Newspapers Inc.
• Custom Publications Inc.
• Sears
• Four Front Communications
• Edinboro State University, Pennsylvania
• Madison Area Technical College
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• AM/PM Digital Graphics
• Marketing Images
• STIR LLC Advertising/Integrated Marketing
• Bri Motorsports
• Mikkelsen Graphic Engineering
• Hiebing Group Inc.
• C3i3 Interactive San Francisco

To major in art is a four-year program, and the Art Department recommends that students meet with an advisor all four years. Every attempt should be made to begin studio coursework during the freshman year. All Art majors are required to organize a senior show at the culmination of their studies.

Sample freshman year, Studio Art Majors

SEMESTER 1
2D Design
Drawing I
Renaissance to Present Art History
World of the Arts
Freshman English

SEMESTER 2
3D Design
Ceramics I or Metals/Jewelry I
Ancient to Medieval Art History
Mathematics 140
Individual and Society

All members of the Art Department hold the highest degrees awarded in their area of expertise, which includes doctorates in art history and Master of Fine Arts degrees for studio faculty. No classes are taught by teaching assistants. Generally, class size is restricted to 18 to 20 students, which provides faculty the ability to work closely with students. As part of their professional activities, faculty pursue active exhibition and research careers and bring a high degree of expertise to the classroom. Faculty involvement in art making and research provides students with multiple benefits, giving students strong role models as they develop skills for their own art production and keeping faculty current with the ever-changing art world. Art faculty possess specializations in art history, ceramics, digital imaging, drawing, foundations, graphic design, multimedia design, metals and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.

Internships and field practica are available to students in the fine arts. Through these work place experiences, students have the opportunity to be involved with area businesses, agencies and organizations. An internship placement lets students gain onthe- job work skills while they earn university credits. Internships also provide students with the opportunity to focus their studies on the studio experiences that will be of greatest value to them in their careers following their academic studies.

A partial list of internship sponsors include:

• Autumn Hill Creative LLC, Kimberly, Wisconsin
• Richmond Illustration Inc., Burnsville, Minnesota
• Walt Disney World College Program
• Cygnus Business Media, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
• Shadoeworks, Watertown, Wisconsin
• Charter Media, Madison, Wisconsin
• Gannon Graphics, Oregon, Wisconsin
• Sanford Business to Business, Janesville, Wisconsin
• Madison Advertising and Publishing, Madison, Wisconsin
• Patch Products Worldwide, Beloit, Wisconsin
• Exodus, Apple Valley, Minnesota

The Student Design Association (SDA) offers students the opportunity to be involved in activities that will assist them in future career planning. This organization plans events, emphasizing graphic design, that are meant to enhance students understanding of what is needed to become a professional designer. Activities include fund raising, field trips, guest speakers and community service. The Student Art Association (SAA) provides both professional and social activities for its members and is open to all students enrolled in art or art education programs. Both the Ceramics Club and the Metals club (ALLOY) host visiting artists and workshops, field trips, and annual sales events.

The Art Department faculty have been recognized with honors and awards for their creative and scholarly productions. Department members exhibit their art across the nation, as well as internationally and regularly receive acclamation for their creative work in the form of awards and honors. Ceramist Charles Olson has work represented in the Renwick Gallery and the Smithsonian and sculptor Dan McGuire has developed a revolutionary and patented mold making material for fine art and commercial sculptural casting that has received international attention.

The Art Department uses two dedicated laboratories plus an additional College lab that give students the chance to develop digital images through sophisticated technological means, and all students in graphic design work extensively with technological media. The ceramics and sculpture studios complement these facilities with an extensive array of three-dimensional tools and equipment. The Crossman Gallery features regular exhibits of state, regional, national and internationally known artists. All art studios are spacious and well equipped to permit creative exploration by students.

It is recommended that students begin their art studies in high school, but this is not a requirement for entry into foundation-level courses.

The Art Department offers several portfolio-based scholarships dedicated specifically for incoming students.

These include the DeWind Scholarship, the Grinstead Scholarship(s) and the Greenhill Scholarship (which is renewable beyond the freshman year).

Submission of scholarship portfolios occurs during the spring term. Information on specific application dates and portfolio requirements can be obtained by contacting the Art Department.