Art is offered as a degree program leading to the Bachelor of Arts in Art. The Art Program at Castleton, while being a strongly humanistic course of study in which students develop skills in creative and critical thinking along with aesthetic and historical appreciation, is structured to provide art majors the opportunity to prepare for careers in Studio Art, Art History, Graphic Design, Art Education, or Photography.
Departmental trips to New York City galleries and museums bring students in contact with original historic and contemporary works of art. Many galleries and museums, such as the Hood Museum, the Williams College Museum, the Clark Museum, Mass MOCA, the Middlebury College Museum, and the Fleming Museum are within easy reach of the campus. The Art Students League, a campus club, sponsors visiting artists, film series, studio visits, and collaborative projects as well as trips.
Graduates of the art program have worked in graphic design studios and started graphic design and other art production businesses, worked in museums and galleries, entered Master of Fine Arts and other degree programs and, in conjunction with coursework in education, gained licensure and taught art in elementary and secondary schools in Vermont and other states.
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Studio Art, students will be able to:
1. Develop an effective studio practice
- Set independent goals
- Manage time efficiently
- Solve problems through research and experimentation
- Persevere to bring work to fruition
2. Create visually expressive artwork
- Apply the fundamentals of design
- Apply technical skills
- Demonstrate competency with a range of media
- Demonstrate proficiency with at least one medium
3. Integrate conceptual knowledge into artwork
- Identify historical and contemporary art styles
- Articulate art historical connections to their own work
- Articulate conceptual connections to contemporary cultural issues
4. Critically analyze artwork
- Use appropriate formal vocabulary
- Think critically about formal and conceptual choices
- Articulate criticism through writing and speaking
5. Present artwork according to professional standards
- Design and install exhibition(s)
- Create digital portfolio(s)
- Write artist's statement(s)
- Apply for exhibitions, artist's residencies, internships, and/or graduate programs
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