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Courses

ART 101. Drawing Studio
4 credits $40
Exploration of graphic media with emphasis on developing drawing skills.
ART 111. Art History I
Q 4 credits $25
Survey of human artistic achievement from its earliest visual record to the Medieval Period.
ART 112. Art History II
Q 4 credits $25
Survey of art from the Renaissance to the 20th century.
ART 113. American Art and Design
Q 4 credits $25
Survey of the work of American artists, architects and craftsmen from Colonial times to the present day. Consideration will be given to the influences of technology, women and minority artists in the development of American art.
ART 121. Two Dimensional Design Studio
4 credits $75
Introduction to the elements and principles of design as the foundation needed to create conceptually and aesthetically resolved visual problems in the plastic, graphic and media arts.
ART 122. Tools and Materials (Studio)
4 credits $40
Introduction to studio work with emphasis on three-dimensional theory and the use of basic tools and techniques.
ART 180. Topics in Studio Art
4 credits TBA
Permission
Topics in studio art. Subject varies according to instructor's field. Course content and artist announced in advance. May be repeated for credit if course content covers a different topic.
ART *220. Sculpture Studio
4 credits $100
Exploration of sculptural form through the processes of modeling, carving and assemblage. Consideration of sculptural ideas and imagery from various times and cultures with emphasis on contemporary practices. Day trip to Meijer Sculpture Gardens, Grand Rapids.
ART *222. Printmaking Studio
4 credits $65
Exploration of relief, intaglio and planographic techniques with emphasis on works of art in multiples. Some attention to the history of the print as art, the craft of printing, and print preservation and connoisseurship.
ART *223. Ceramics Studio
4 credits $75
Introduction to direct forming processes; handbuilding and wheel-throwing. Investigation of the uses of slips, glazes and other methods of surface enrichment. Participation in class kiln firings. Fee for clay.
ART *224. Photography Studio
4 credits $125
Introduction to basic 35mm traditional and digital photography techniques. Students will develop and print using traditional black and white film. Scanning and Digital Asset Management techniques will be used as means to edit, manage and archive photographic work. Traditional 35mm SLR camera is required.
ART *226. Painting Studio
4 credits $40
Introduction to basic procedures, tools and materials for oil and acrylic painting. Emphasis on composition, form and color. Discussion of historical development of all painting media.
ART *227. Life Drawing Studio
4 credits $75
Introduction to expressive drawing of the human figure including some study of anatomy. Students are charged a fee to cover the cost of models.
ART *230. Graphic Design Studio
4 credits $100
ART 121 and/or ART 101 recommended
Development of communication skills through the organization of image and text to inform, persuade, identify, or clarify an idea to a specific audience. Students will design works for printed media and Web-based communications.
ART *231. Raku Ceramics
4 credits $200
ART 223 or Permission
An introduction to the history, aesthetics and techniques of raku-fired ceramics.
ART *232. Digital Imaging Studio
4 credits $100
Exploration of aesthetic and technical relationships between still images, montage, and mixed media as they are presented in the form of narratives, series, and video.
ART *241. Survey of Ancient Art
Q 4 credits $25
Introduction to the arts of ancient Greece and Rome with emphasis on the context in which they were produced. Survey of ancient history, literature and mythology are included to enrich students' comprehension of the artworks.
ART *243. Medieval and Renaissance Art
Q 4 credits $25
Examination of the shift in perception from the contemplative art of the Medieval period to the active art of the Renaissance. Individual works of art and architecture will be studied within the greater context of their religious, political and social environment.
ART *244. History of Architecture
Q 4 credits $25
Survey of architectural forms and technologies. Emphasis on the relation of historical and contemporary techniques and forms. The role of the architect and architecture in various cultures and periods of history also is considered.
ART *245. Survey of Non-Western Art
Q 4 credits $25
An introduction to the visual arts of India and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea, the Pacific, and the Americas with emphasis on the historical and cultural contexts in which they were created.
ART *248. International Film and Filmmakers
Q 4 credits $25
Survey of the art of film with emphasis on major genres and directors.
ART *249. Issues in Art Since 1945
Q 4 credits $25
Discussion of American art from 1945 to the present. Study includes such issues as the changing nature of the art object itself; the impact of technology; the influence of the women's movement; and the respective roles of the critic, the art magazine and the gallery structure.
ART *250. Contemporary Art in New York
Q 4 credits TBA
Permission
Introduction to the major artistic movements and critical theory in the last two decades. Students spend eight days in New York City exploring galleries, museums and artists' studios. Seminar includes readings, discussion and a research paper on a special topic.
ART *280. Topics in Art History
4 credits $20
Permission
Selected topics in the history of art. Subject varies according to instructor's field. Course content and instructor announced in advance. May be repeated for credit if course content covers a different topic. (Past courses include women in art, history of prints, art history in Rome, and world ceramics: London).
ART *290. Intermediate Directed Studio Projects
4 credits TBA
Permission
Exploration at the intermediate level through a studio project in a selected medium. Open to majors and non-majors. Utilizes a directed studio format. (Past courses included bookarts, jewelry, watercolor, wheel-thrown ceramics, etc.)
ART *299. Independent Studies
4 credits TBA
Permission
Individual study of a subject in Art or Art History.
ART *380. Topics in Studio Art
4 credits TBA
ART 101, 121, 122 or Permission
Selected topics in studio art. Subject varies according to instructor's field. Course content and artist announced in advance. May be repeated for credit if course content covers a different topic. (Past courses included advanced illustration, landscape photography and architectural ceramics.) Studio courses taught overseas during Spring Term.
ART *385. Practicum
4 credits
ART 101, 111, 112, 121, 122 or Permission
Designed to provide on-site working experiences in the student's area of interest. Examples of typical practica include: apprenticeships with professional artists, internships with museums or art centers, internships with community art councils, or short-term employment in firms specializing in an art-related area. Practicum arranged with assistance of faculty advisor. Departmental approval is required.
ART *390-*490. Advanced Directed Studio Projects
4 credits each TBA
Permission
In-depth study in the student's area of interest under direction of a faculty member in that area. Designed for junior and senior Art and Design majors who have completed 12 credits of studio work. Exceptions to this policy made only with Departmental permission.
Subject matter arranged through close consultation with advisor according to individual needs or to specified curricula available. Advanced Directed Studio Projects have been offered in, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Ceramics: wheel-thrown ceramics, ceramic sculpture, glaze chemistry
  • Drawing: advanced drawing, life drawing, color media, scientific illustration
  • Graphic Design: corporate/visual identity, brochure design, digital prepress
  • Painting: advanced painting, color theory, airbrush painting, watercolor
  • Photography: small and large format camera techniques, color photography
  • Printmaking: intaglio, lithography, monotype, collagraphy, screenprinting
  • Sculpture: welded and constructed forms, casting media, carving media
  • Three-Dimensional Design: furniture design, jewelry, papermaking, fibers
  • Special Projects: performance art, bookarts, studio practices for teachers, liturgical art
Students may take up to six Advanced Directed Studio Project courses. Consult the Art Students' Miscellany for specific course offerings.
ART *399-*499. Independent Studies
4 credits TBA
Permission
Individual study of a subject in Art or Art History.
ART *400. Senior Thesis in Art History
Q 2-4 credits $25
Permission
Readings, discussion and research paper on special topics in Art History.
ART *500. Senior Show
2-4 credits $15
Permission
Participation in a Senior Exhibit with an emphasis on selection and presentation of creative work. Explores all aspects of show preparation, including publicity, gallery installation, reception, production of an electronic portfolio, and Advisory Board Critique. Total of four credits required for senior Art and Design majors.


 

Alma's "green" residence hall, Wright Hall, was completed in January 2005. The modern, 60-bed apartment-style hall features a number of environmentally friendly features, including geothermal heating and cooling, recycled-content ceiling tiles and carpeting, energy-efficient windows, rooftop solar heating panels, energy-efficient showers and washing machines, and a computerized energy monitoring system.

 

Faculty Profile

Prof. Sandy Lopez-Isnardi

Prof. Sandy Lopez-Isnardi
Departments: Art and Design

In the print “Sands of Time” dark shadows and textures come together with silver and grey tones to form an almost surreal beach setting. Sandy Lopez-Isnardi, associate professor of art and design, has been making traditional gelatin prints like this for over 20 years. Her work also includes non-silver and chromogenic prints and most recently has focused on the Midwestern landscape in photography. Her digital work is experimental, including two-dimensional and installation works.