Studio Arts Minor

Introduction to Sculpture acquaints students with the basic concepts, materials and techniques associated with three-dimensional fabrication in the visual arts. Students will be exposed to the rich traditions and current trends in sculpture from various eras and cultures around the world, while simultaneously producing expressive work of their own invention. Classroom activities include lectures, demonstrations, worktime, and critiques. Emphasis is placed on the principles, elements, and practices of design. Media includes wood, paper, plaster, fabric and found objects.

Full course description for Introduction to Sculpture

This course offers an introduction to painting in a Studio Arts curriculum. Students will learn practical mechanics of painting while working from direct observation. Focus will be placed on technique, color mixing and critical theory in a range of painting projects while developing art vocabulary. Class lectures and discussions will highlight diverse professional artists who paint from direct observation. Water-soluble paints will be utilized in this class.

Full course description for Introduction to Painting

As students visit local museums and galleries, they become familiar with many of the Twin Cities' exhibition facilities and reflect on the experience of viewing art. This course offers an approach to understanding and appreciating the visual arts as one develops critical thinking skills. Emphasis is placed on the articulation of ideas through written and spoken words. Note: Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Full course description for Museums and Galleries

Current Topics is a course designation that is used to identify timely themes and various media that supplement and enrich a student's art education. Topics will change from semester to semester. If more than one topics course is taken in fulfillment of the major, they must be different course titles. Topics may include, but are not limited to: book arts, relief printmaking, mosaic sculptures, street photography and assemblage.

Full course description for Current Topics: Variable Subtitles

This internship is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about the basic functions and day to day operations of an educational art gallery. Students will assist in the installation and dismantling of various exhibitions, featuring numerous forms of art. In doing so, students will gather practical knowledge about handling and lighting artwork, creating didactics, generating and distributing publicity, working with artists and creating corresponding programming. This knowledge should qualify a student to apply for entry level positions at other exhibition facilities, create groundwork for additional coursework in Museum Studies, and/or prepare students to mount exhibitions of their own in a professional manner. Variable meeting times. Contact instructor for details prior to registering. S/N grading only.

Full course description for Exhibition Practices

This studio course explores historical and contemporary approaches to fiber arts as well as examination of significant figures and movements. Traditional techniques and contemporary applications of paper and fabric bridge the gap between crafts and fine arts. Students should consult the Class Schedule for particular topics (such as papermaking, wearable art and surface design.) Note: This course may be taken three times for credit as long as the topic is different.

Full course description for Topics in Fibers

In this class students further develop their hand-eye coordination skills, polish their techniques, deepen their understanding of artists or movements of the past and examine contemporary trends in drawing and painting. Emphasis is placed on drawing as a medium of self-expression.

Full course description for Intermediate Drawing

This course expands on techniques taught in Introduction to Painting. Students learn theory, principles and practices related to color, shading, volume, perspective and composition. The course emphasizes individual artistic growth and development while exploring a range of topics such as figure, landscape and still life. Class lectures and discussions will highlight diverse professional artists who create works based on figure, landscape and still life. Water-soluble paints will be utilized in this class.

Full course description for Intermediate Painting

This course presents a historical survey of photography within the context of scientific, cultural and artistic forces. From the camera obscura and daguerreotypes to Surrealism and Social Realism, this course addresses the broad and expressive nature of photographic imagery. In addition to exploring the technical history of the medium, the class is designed to promote formal articulation, genre identification and evaluation of meaning within diverse cultural contexts. Students will leave this course with a stronger sense of the ways in which photography has contributed to the global artistic landscape and our conception of reality. Activities include slide lectures, videos, visiting artist presentations and field trips to local collections and studios. No lab component.

Full course description for Photography: History of a Visual Artform

This course explores the fundamental principles and techniques associated with the medium of watercolor paints, The coursework includes color theory, application techniques, and traditional/contemporary trends in painting. Once rudimentary skills are established through representational compositions, students will have the opportunity to investigate the expressive nature of watercolors through abstract imagery. Two field trips are schedules outdoors.

Full course description for Watercolors

Intermediate photographic techniques and approaches to image making using digital cameras, editing, software, printers, and lighting equipment. Class projects and discussions include image manipulation, composition, lighting, and film/analog photography, as well as artist movements of the past and contemporary trends in photography. Students explore photography as a creative form.

Full course description for Intermediate Photography

This is a hands-on course that explores traditional and experimental approaches to printmaking. Topics are offered on a rotational basis and include: relief, screen-printing, monotype and photo-based processes. A range of artists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds working in the field will be introduced. The topic will change from one offering to the next, and a particular offering¿s topic will be stated in the university¿s schedule of classes. Note: This course may be taken three times for credit as long as the topic is different.

Full course description for Topics in Printmaking

Topics in Clay is a course that explores the artistic possibilities of working with ceramics. Functional and sculptural approaches are addressed. These twelve-week, three credit courses are taught at Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis. Topics will change from semester to semester. If more than one topics course is taken in fulfillment of the major, they must be different course titles. Topics may include, but are not limited to: Wheel Throwing, Hand Building, Surface/Imagery Technique and Firing Methods.

Full course description for Topics in Clay: Variable Subtitles

This course offers intermediate level digital image making in a studio arts curriculum. The image-making techniques introduced in Introduction to Digital Arts will be developed significantly in two and three-dimensional projects focusing on theory, technology and studio practice. Students will develop research skills and practices needed to work independently and to create theme-based projects suitable for peer and instructor critique. Professional artists with a diverse range of backgrounds using these methods will be highlighted in the course.

Full course description for Intermediate Digital Arts

Student-designed independent studies give Metropolitan State students the opportunity to plan their own study. This type of learning strategy can be useful because it allows students to focus on particular media or techniques; to pursue a unique project that requires specialized study; refine skills and ideas that may not be covered in existing curriculum. Note: This course may be taken a number of times up to a total of 16 credits under the supervision of any CAS/CWA studio arts faculty member. Students should contact the instructor to make arrangements prior to registration.

Full course description for Studio Arts Student Designed Independent Study