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Sunday, November 22, 2009

UNDERGRADUATE | PRINTMAKING

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM


INTRODUCTION

The undergraduate printmaking program at the U of M exposes students to a concentrated fine art program of both practice and theory designed to provide the foundation for later independent exploration and artistic development. We believe that it is fundamentally important — intellectually, conceptually, and technically — that undergraduate students have a comprehensive educational experience. The size of the department guarantees an exposure to many ideas and stylistic approaches, while flexibility within our curriculum allows for personal direction and development. In-depth exploration in a variety of media and technical training enables students to become skilled in crafting and presenting work. Classroom discussions provide the opportunity to examine a range of contemporary, theoretical, and historical issues that enable the understanding of artwork with a broad context.

The printmaking studios are well equipped for specialized and cross-disciplinary focus in all of the traditional processes including woodcut, metal-plate intaglio, screen printing, lithography, and alternative process photo methods. Hand-worked and photographically-developed approaches are instructed in all media and digitally-produced images are fully explored. Intermediate classes explore these processes in-depth with an emphasis on understanding the relationship of technique and concept.

Advanced courses in printmaking focus on new technology as it relates to traditional print processes. In addition, students are encouraged to combine and interchange the various printmaking processes.