Art History and Art Studio Courses Spring 2025

ART HISTORY II
ARTH 102
M/W/F: 10:35 – 11:25 AM
E. Benay
An introductory course exploring the visual cultures of Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe from 1400 to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on visual analysis, historical and sociocultural contexts, and an introduction to issues in the study of art history and the institution of the museum. We will also focus on various methodological approaches to the history of art, such as gender, class, colonization & decolonization, and globalization as we trace the stories of art and its creation. We will look at a diverse range of objects and monuments, emphasizing their functions, forms, and historical and cultural contexts. Students will gain a deeper understanding not only of individual works of art but also of the cultures that produced them, and we will consider the relevance of the past to our own culture today. This class will take advantage of the rich collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art with weekly sessions in the galleries.

ART IN EARLY MODERN EUROPE
ARTH 260
M/W: 12:45 – 2:00 PM
E. Benay
A survey of European art in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, an era of rising nationalism, political aggrandizement, religious expansion and extravagant art patronage. The tensions between naturalism and idealization, court and city, public and private, church and secular patronage, grand commissions and an open air market, will provide themes of the course as we explore what characterized the arts of Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, and Spain.

NINETEENTH-CENTURY EUROPEAN ART
ARTH 274
M/W/F: 10:35 – 11:25 AM
A. Rager
This course will examine the development of European art across the tumultuous long nineteenth century, from the French Revolution in 1789 to the eve of the First World War in 1914. Adopting a thematic, as well as an international approach, this course will seek to interrogate the canonical understanding of this period of dramatic change across France, Britain, Germany, and Spain. We will explore issues of politics, economics, class, gender, imperialism, nationalism, and industrialization that surround the advent of artistic modernity. The class will also consider a range of artistic media, including painting, sculpture, photography, the decorative arts, and architecture, taking advantage of the rich collections of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY ART
ARTH 286
T/TH: 1:00 – 2:15 PM
B. Murphy
This course will explore contemporary art and visual culture since the 1960s with a focus on major artistic movements and artists. The first part of the course will focus on changes in artistic practices in the United States and Europe, through the study of Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptual Art, Institutional Critique, Performance Art, Feminist Art, and Activist Art. The second part of the course will investigate the global turn in contemporary art from the 1980s onward introducing art from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. This course will examine a set of issues related to postmodernism, postcolonialism, globalization, and transnationalism and trace cultural, social, and geopolitical shifts in contemporary art.

ISSUES IN THE ART OF JAPAN
ARTH 341
T/TH: 10:00 – 11:15 AM
B. Liu
This is a topics course. Each offering will focus on a specific topic within the area of Japanese art. Sample topics may include: Muromachi Hanging Scrolls, Ryoan-ji Temple Garden Architecture, Rimpa School Panel Screens, Buddhist Panting in the Edo Period. Lectures, discussions, and reports. Offered as ARTH 341 and ARTH 441.

CONTEMPORARY ART: CRITICAL DIRECTIONS
ARTH 393
M/W: 3:20 – 4:35 PM
K. Pavlenko
An examination of the directions taken by avant-garde American art and criticism in the aftermath of Abstract Expressionism. Includes the rise and fall of modernism in the 1960s and ’70s, as well as an investigation of Post-modern trends and theories. Offered as ARTH 393 and ARTH 493.

INTERNSHIP
ARTH 395
E. Benay
This course is designated for students seeking professional experience in art history. It focuses on the museum experience (registration, exhibition, interpretation, and administration) although students may also elect to conduct internships in museum-related environments such as art conservation. Students are encouraged to have gained significant experience in art history coursework before embarking on an internship. Students must identify an internship and supervisor as well as a campus internship supervisor the semester before enrolling in the internship. Recommended preparation: ARTH 101, ARTH 102, or ARTH 104, and consent.

INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ART HISTORY
ARTH 398
Individual research and reports on special topics.

CAPSTONE PROJECT
ARTH 399
Intensive study of a topic or problem leading to the preparation of a research project and public presentation. Students use what they have learned at CWRU to design an Art History project that responds meaningfully to a question, problem, or issue that matters in the discipline. The writing/communication focus of Capstone Projects includes “translating” specialized, disciplinary knowledge for a diverse general audience.

DESIGN AND COLOR I
ARTS 101
T/TH: 10:00 AM – 12:45 PM | 1:00 – 3:45 PM | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
G. Kozmon
Organizational and structural projects as a basis for the development of style. Studies in line, texture, shape, space, value, color, and two dimensional composition through studio problems, art studio media and techniques.

CREATIVE DRAWING I
ARTS 106
M/W: 2:15 – 5:00 PM
D. King
Development of graphic fluency in black and white through direct observation of nature and the model. Drawing as a means of enlarging visual sensitivity using a wide range of media and subject matter. Work from nude model.

INTRODUCTION TO NEW MEDIA ART
ARTS 150
M: 1:00-4:00 PM | T: 5:30 – 8:30 PM
J. Avina
This studio course explores the theories and practices of screen-based new media art. Students will manipulate video, audio, images and text to create new media artworks. The class will use free, open source tools as well as Adobe Creative Cloud apps. This class will examine the emerging culture of contemporary new media art and its historical antecedents. There are no prerequisites. Students will need to provide their own laptops and purchase access to Creative Cloud apps through UTech.

Introduction to Graphic Design
ARTS 200
M: 5:30-8:30 PM
J. Collins
This course introduces students to the principles and practices of graphic design. Students will explore visual communication and the elements of design through a series of projects for print and screen. Students will experiment with composition, apply color theory, explore typography and develop both vector and raster drawing skills. The course examines the history of graphic design and visual culture, as well as contemporary directions in the field. Students in the course use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign; software access is provided in the Art Studio lab.

DESIGN AND COLOR II
ARTS 201
T/TH: 10:00 AM – 12:45 PM | 1:00 – 3:45 PM | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
G. Kozmon
Continuation of ARTS 101. Composition: three-dimensional projects. Advanced work in the properties and uses of color and materials.

INTRODUCTION TO PRINTMAKING
ARTS 202
M/W: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
D. King
This course is an introduction to fine art printmaking. Students will learn the technical, conceptual, and formal skills required to produce artworks in the printmaking medium. They will explore a variety of fine art printmaking processes: relief printing, monotype, intaglio, planograph, and monoprinting. Through these explorations, students will gain a deeper understanding of how to convey concepts through the printmaking form. Class sessions will comprise independent and collaborative printing, and lecture, demonstrations, discussion, and critique. Students will be introduced to the work of artists and the history/tradition of fine art prints.

CREATIVE DRAWING II
ARTS 206
M/W: 2:15 PM – 5:00 PM
D. King
Continuation of ARTS 106. Advanced work in graphic representation. Development of visual acuity and a personal drawing style while working in color. Work from nude model.

WEAVING, FIBERS, AND TEXTILES I
ARTS 212
T/TH: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
A. Meyer
Learn basic concepts and methods for designing textile surfaces: fabric painting and dyeing. Construct textiles using off-loom weaving and interlacing techniques. Emphasis on development of technical skills, application of design concepts and personal expression.

WEAVING, FIBERS, AND TEXTILES I
ARTS 214
T/TH: 8:30 – 11:15 AM | 1:00 – 3:45 PM
M. Lois
The techniques of hand building in pinch, coil and slab methods. Development of sensitivity to design and form. Basic work in stoneware, earthenware, and glazing.

PAINTING I
ARTS 216
M/W: 9:30 AM – 12:20 PM
D. King
The creative, conceptual, visual, and technical aspects of painting. Style ranging from naturalism to abstraction. Work in acrylic and mixed media.

BLACK & WHITE DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY
ARTS 220
W: 2:15 – 5:15 PM | TH: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
J. Birchfield
This course will cover the fundamentals of film SLR cameras and black and white darkroom processes. Lectures, demonstrations, and assignments will address camera operation, optics, exposure, black and white film processing, basic darkroom printing techniques, principles of image composition and introduce concepts related to critically analyzing photographs. Students will complete multiple assignments in addition to developing a final portfolio over the course of the semester. Student work will be constructively critiqued in a group setting. Examples of historical and contemporary photographic works will be viewed and discussed. A 35mm film Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera with manual exposure controls, built-in light meter, and a 50mm lens is required.

INDIE AND ART GAME DESIGN
ARTS 286
W: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
K. Richardson
AAA video games are massive endeavors that require an enormous budget and an army of workers with highly specialized skills to produce. Despite the huge investment and the fierce competition for gamers — or perhaps because of it — many mainstream commercial games are uninspired, lacking distinctive artistic styles, engaging narratives or original gameplay. In contrast, indie and art games are much smaller affairs. One person or a small team develops the idea, creates the assets and programs the game, often designing it for a niche audience. The best indie and art games provide uniquely engaging experiences for players. They are personal expressions: compelling, thought-provoking and beautiful. In this course, students will work individually to create an original indie or art game using GameMaker Studio. Class discussions and demonstrations will help students build fluency in the conceptual frameworks, aesthetics and contemporary practices associated with indie and art games. Students will build skills in pixel art drawing and animation, “chiptune” audio composition, UI/UX design and programming. The course culminates in a completed game that is shared with the CWRU community in a custom arcade cabinet. Students with comparable student art experience (determined by the instructor) can request to override the requisite.

VIDEO ART: EXPERIMENTAL APPROACHES TO TIME-BASED MEANING-MAKING AND PERSONAL EXPRESSION
ARTS 301
W: 2:00 – 5:00 PM
K. Richardson
This course explores unconventional and experimental approaches to meaning-making through the medium of video. Since its introduction in the 1970s, artists have used video technology to push against and critique the constraints of traditional art mediums and narrative forms of cinema and television. The accessibility and low-cost of the video medium affords artists the freedom to express intimately personal views and lived experiences and to develop radical and unorthodox approaches to time-based art-making. Students will learn to use video as an experimental and expressive medium to explore personal experience and sociopolitical views. They will manipulate and play with space, time, and form. And most importantly, students will gain a greater understanding of the possibilities and potential of the moving image to respond to, comment upon and critique traditional media forms and texts. Offered as ARTS 301 and ARTS 401.

ARCHITECTURE AND CITY DESIGN II
ARTS 303
T/TH: 5:30 – 8:30 PM
S. Levine
The social, spatial, and aesthetic elements of the urban setting of architecture, the organizational components of the city, the path, the node, the edge, and the grid. Projects related to large-scale and public buildings and their relationship to the encompassing visual world. Lectures, field trips, studio experiences. Recommended ARTS 101 or ARTS 106 courses prior to enrollment. Offered as ARTS 303 and ARTS 403.

WEAVING, FIBERS, AND TEXTILES II
ARTS 312
T/TH: 5:30 – 8:30 PM
A. Meyer
Continuation of ARTS 212. Exploration of a selected area of textiles in surface design or constructed textiles. Development of a personal aesthetic through design and execution of a series of projects.

CERAMICS II
ARTS 314
T/TH: 8:30 – 11:15 AM || 1:00 – 3:45 PM
M. Lois
Continuation of ARTS 214. Problematic approach to technical aspects of ceramics; experience in wheel throwing and option of hand-building. Experimentation with glaze and clay body formulation available

PAINTING II
ARTS 316
M/W: 9:30 AM – 12:20 PM
D. King
The creative, conceptual, visual and technical aspects of painting. Styles ranging from expressionism, cubism, surrealism and abstraction. Work in acrylic and mixed media leading to the development of personal painting style.

BLACK & WHITE DARKROOM PHOTOGRAPHY II
ARTS 320
T: 2:30 – 5:30 PM
B. Taxel
This course builds on skills developed in ARTS 220 by presenting intermediate camera operation, gelatin silver printing techniques and deepening knowledge of the Zone System to fine tune B&W tonal control. Students will be exposed to a range of historical and contemporary photography-based artists and further the development of a personal aesthetic vision through a series of in-depth photography projects including developing a final portfolio. Work will be constructively critiqued in a group setting. A 35mm or medium format film cameras with manual exposure control is required. Students provide their own cameras, film and photographic paper. Darkroom facilities, photo chemicals, supplies for finishing portfolios and handcoloring are provided.

EXPERIMENTAL DARKROOM PROCESSES
ARTS 325
TH: 2:15 – 5:15 PM
J. Birchfield
This course builds on and expands fundamentals of black and white darkroom processes covered in ARTS 220 and ARTS 320. This course offers an opportunity to explore experimental photographic shooting and black and white darkroom printing processes while developing one’s personal aesthetic vision. In addition to experimental shooting and printing techniques, lectures, demonstrations, assignments and critiques will address principles of image composition and related formal issues and methods for critically analyzing photographic media. Students will complete multiple assignments in addition to developing a final portfolio over the course of the semester. Student work will be constructively critiqued in a group setting. Examples of historical and contemporary photographic works will be viewed and discussed. A film camera of your choosing is required. Medium, large and experimental format cameras are encouraged.

DESIGN AND COLOR
ARTS 365B
T/TH: 10:00 AM – 12:45 PM | 1:00 – 3:45 PM | 5:30 – 8:30 PM
J. Birchfield
Advanced design projects determined in consultation with instructor.

CERAMICS
ARTS 365G
T/TH: 8:30 – 11:15 AM | 1:00 – 3:45 PM
M. Lois
Advanced ceramics projects determined in consultation with instructor.

INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ART STUDIO
ARTS 399
Independent Study in Art Studio; by permit of Director only.