SENIOR THESIS
ada 499 / afa 499
CLASS Links:
website assistance
Senior Thesis Blog: Art Thesis 10
Calendar & Assignment Blog
Equipment Registration website
Resources:
e-flux | Cabinet | Artkrush | artnet | Art Forum | ARTTHROB | art:21 | NYFA | Residencies
Digital Arts Focus:
Tech Art Blog | Neural | Rhizome |SIGGRAPH
Senior Thesis Blog: Art Thesis 10; Sign In
What does being an artist mean? What constitutes a body of work for your specific investigation and what does it mean to complete an open-ended inquiry versus a "realized project"? What are important concepts and dialogues in our present culture? Where are you in relationship to these dialogues? What motivates you? What interrupts your working process? How do you go about problem solving? What do you envision for the next three years of your life?
Course Description
Intensive research and study within a studio concentration that culminates in the public presentation of the senior exhibit. The student will be required to prepare and present this body of work, their visual thesis, for critical review to an Art Faculty Committee prior to its public presentation in the Senior Fine Arts Exhibition. Additionally, the student will be required to present a written component to the visual thesis that describes in full the processes and the outcomes of the senior research.
Course Objectives and Requirements
1. Course blog
5% of final grade
To be kept throughout the semester, Write/sketch all ideas. Evaluated at Mid-term and end of semester
2. Enter your work in a professional juried exhibition
Evidence of submission due by May Exam Meeting, 10% of final grade
Begin searching exhibition competitions as soon as possible. Research various options and pay close attention to their entry requirements ( fees, digital images or slides, etc. and deadline date). Keep a file with printed opportunities listed by deadline dates. Many exhibitions also request a resume, artist statement and bio.
New York Foundation for the Arts link to opportunities /services
Artshow
Creative Quarterly
Society for Photographic Education link to opportunities
ArtDeadlines (fee to use this site; 14$ for 20 days, 26$ for year)
3. Thesis Exhibition
50% of final grade;
Prepare and present a cohesive body of your art work to faculty and the public in the senior thesis exhibit.
4. Thesis Paper
(6 - 12 pages, single-spaced, 12 point text),
20% of final grade Detailed outline due March 18.
Final Thesis due on the date of our Final Exam and Gallery Review.
Download Suggested Thesis Outline
A. Present a historical framework for the type of work that you are doing. (For example, if you consider yourself primarily a computer animator, you would briefly begin by writing about the earsly history of animation using film. Then move onto the development of animation using the computer and include at least three individuals or a School/Movement that you are compelled by and feel a coherence with, and how it may parallel your own work.)
B. Discuss your current work and how you arrived to the work that you are doing, you may discribe past projects that led to your thesis work.
C. Finally, present a projection into the future.
1. Create a 5 or 10 year plan in which you identify a career goal.
2. In order to break down what steps you will need to do in order to reach this goal, you must contact someone in the field you envision working. This entails an interview. *Always send a thank you note for their time indicating how much you appreciate their personal attention and feedback.
3. Detail your interview and discuss how you will obtain your goals.
D. Present your research as an informal conversation with the class.
5. Self-promotion package: print format and electronic
10% of final grade
Printed packet is due for exhibition opening; electronic format due at Exhibition Review) Brief Biography (approximately 250 words), Digital Documentation of Work, Artist Statement, and Resume.
6. Establish a "Credential File" with Career Services
5% of final grade
Fill out the Career Services registration form and have faculty submit letter of recommendation on your behalf to Career Services. Career Services will hold 5 letters for 5 years following your graduation and will submit the letters upon your request.
COURSE WORK
that which you are driven to do.
READINGS & RESEARCH >
Readings assigned on individual basis. For each reading please write a 1-2 page analysis of the essay, keep summation to a minimum, discuss what you drew from it and how it may relate to art.
Required readings:
Press Releases:
Helpful suggestions about press
Artist Statements: do's and dont's
Examples of Artists Biographies
Fundraising
Career Planning
Graduate Schools
Organization and Record Keeping
January 21: Course Introduction: discuss exhibition location, press and promotional materials, budget, documentation, view examples of past BFA classes.
January 28: View works in Progress; Creating Portfolio websites workshop #1
February 4: Meet with Sarah Cunningham to discuss public relations; Portfolio website workshop #2
February 11: Career Presentation Tools: Cover Letters, Artists Biography, Artist Resume,Visual Packet; Portfolio website
February 18:Grant writing, locating funding, developing proposals and budgets Excellent resource for learning to assemble an artist proposal: Creative Capital
February 25: Organization and Record Keeping, Career Planning, Graduate Schools: Meet with Sarah Cunningham to discuss Gallery layout, presentation/framing methods
March 4: UPDATE on PRESS KIT FOR EXHIBITION
Small group critques
Best Presentation methods
ALUMNI discussions (postponed)
March 8-12: Spring Break
March 18: Due date of First version of Thesis as a detailed outline.
March 25: Portfolio websites due; Due date for digital file to be used in the Exhibit Catalog and Artist Statement.
March 31: SENIOR CRITIQUES
April 7: SENIOR CRITIQUES
April 22: Troubleshoot installation/hanging issue
April 28: 12pm FINAL Thesis Critique - Celebration of Student Achievement <Present Thesis Research >
April 30: BFA Opening
May, TBA: Exam period meeting;Final Thesis, Self Promotion Package in both electronic and print format: Resume, Brief Biography (approximately 250 words), Electronic Documentation of Work, Final Artist Statement; Proof of having submitted work to a professionally juried exhibition.
May 12: Exhibition Removal
May 14: Graduation