ART 392 •Curatorial Studio Course Proposal
Prerequisites:
Art and Design Majors: completion of Foundations.
Non-Art and Design Majors: Junior Standing and permission of instructor.
10. Rationale for adding this course to the curriculum:
- 10 a. Explain how this course will strengthen and improve the curriculum.
This proposal is part of a larger Program Change Request for a new emphasis in the Department of Art and Design called
Visual Studies. The change in program addresses two broad areas: 1. the incorporation of new technologies into contemporary visual art studio, 2. expanded contexts for studio practice. These areas are described more fully in the
Visual Studies Proposal sections: Description, Justification/Need, and Explanation of Comparable Areas.
Curatorial Studio increases the curriculum’s capacity to represent established practices in contemporary art exploring presentational practice and the theoretical discourse specific to such practice within a studio context. Increasingly art and design exists in contexts that are other than those of the traditional studio or professional practice. Museums and Galleries are no longer the sole sites of the presentation of visual art. The separation of roles is increasingly blurred between the creation of art by studio artists and the institution of art by gallerists and curators. Artists often become curators or organize and institute the creation and presentation of art in varied contexts. New media (dvd, web, cd, ipod, mobile phone) make possible new, inexpensive, self-organized contexts for the curation of visual art.
These understandings transfer back to studio work by articulating the process of encounter and engagement with audience in distinct ways. Current practice in art involves artists serving in the roles of curator, critic, and the administration of organizations. In a letter supporting this proposal the staff at UICA state:
“The curation and criticism of art are viable ways students can contribute to and even become employed in the arts. In particular the local community lacks people who are able to effectively curate exhibitions or write art criticism. Adding this course contributes to the development of a richer culture of visual arts.” –Meeuwsen and Tuenis (see UICA support letter in the support materials for the Visual Studies Emphasis proposal)
Projects in the course may include:
- the curation and presentation of existing collections of cultural items.
- the collection, organization, and presentation of a set of artifacts/images
- collaborations with artists in the creation of an exhibition or project
- collaborations with organizations (such as UICA) on the curation and presentation of exhibitions. (see letter of support from UICA)
- 10 b. Which student population(s) is this course designed to serve ? Explain how and where this course fits into the unit’s existing curriculum.
1. Art and Design students
2. Students from other majors. In particular students whose course of study involves the consideration and criticism of culture and the organization of public events.
Most studio courses are organized by discipline (medium) and focused primarily on the production of art objects. Curatorial Studio is organized around the creative practice of constructing exhibitions and presentations of visual art. The course would involve the study and creation of visual presentation in exhibitions or projects. This would focus on the techniques, challenges and opportunities inherent in the generation and structuring of visual curations and display in various contexts. This would include the selection and contextualization of existing works as well as collaborative or directorial relationships with artists. The course would also include a criticism component. This approach complements the existing curriculum by focusing on important considerations of art practice not primary in other studios.
The course may be repeated once for credit. The nature and pedagogy of studio learning is student-centered. It is standard pedagogy and practice to structure a studio course to accommodate a range of students engaged in a range of projects. The course is structured to facilitate and assess this. Each implementation of a studio course has the same framework, but the primary "content" is not prescribed by the curriculum. Within contexts of historic and contemporary history and practice the student develops their studio work. There are technical and production aspects to every project. These too are largely variable and determined by the nature of the studio inquiry. It is standard pedagogical practice in studio courses to require students to not repeat work (content and form) that they've already done. However, we encourage students to progress work in beneficial ways and to see and extend connections among their various courses. Ambition, risk-taking, and progress in studio learning are encouraged, supported and evaluated favorably as are the quality and completeness of the finished product.
In particular with Curatorial Studio the project situation is different each time. It is variable in the way that a theater course is variable because of a different play and different roles the student can take up in the project.
- 10 c. Explain the reasons the proposed prerequisites are necessary. If the proposed course duplicates material covered in existing courses in the unit, specify the nature and degree of the overlap, and explain why it is necessary to add this course rather than to reconfigure existing program offerings.
Prerequisites assure that students enroll in Curatorial Studio at an appropriate point in their studies. Because the Art and Design Department requires completion of foundations (6 courses and a portfolio review) prior to enrolling in any 200 or higher level studio course, enrolling in this course follows that policy. Non-majors are not subject to this departmental policy. Permission of instructor is granted after completion of an interview with instructor in which the student is informed of the unique expectations and challenges of the course. The dual prerequisite is consistent with current practices in Art and Design.
The course does not overlap other courses in the department. This is substantiated by the support of this proposal by the department faculty. It was supported with a 12-3 vote and signed off on by the Department Chair.
Curatorial Studio connects with some aspects of the Senior Project in which students essentially curate themselves in an exhibition. The focus of Senior Project and the preparations that lead up to it are primarily on the artist as producer of the work itself and not necessarily attendant to the curatorial opportunities. Presentation issues are also addressed in Senior Seminar, but these are broad and include a wide range of professional practices focusing on the artist; slides, resume, graduate school application, and some issues in presentation. Neither Senior Project nor Senior Seminar are able to take on the full range of issues involved in curatorial studio. The study of Art History connects many curatorial ways of working.
Even with the curricular connections, the Curatorial Studio remains a unique offering in that it involves the practice of creating and implementing visual art presentations.
- 10 d. Will this course increase the total number of credits required for students in any major or minor? If so, explain why that is both necessary. Could existing required courses be dropped or modified to accommodate the addition of this material?
The course will not increase total credits required. It is however part of a new emphasis proposed in Art and Design. No existing course could be modified to adequately accommodate this additional material.
11. Course / content overlap with other units:
- Identify any overlap between this course and courses offered by any programs or units. Indicate the degree of overlap and explain why your students should not take the existing course(s) instead. Submit a copy of this proposal to those units with a request that comments be sent promptly to you and to your C/SCC for consideration and attachment to this proposal. Copies of inter-departmental communication regarding this course must be attached to the proposal.
Curatorial Studio does not overlap courses in other programs or units.
12.
Syllabus of Record: •ART 392 Curatorial Studio -attached
13.
Curriculum Resource Statement: ART 392 Curatorial Studio -attached
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