The Siena BA in Visual Art and Design, approved this week by the New York State Education Department, will invite students to exercise imaginative thinking, engage in critical discourse, and learn the technical skills needed to support their passion for the arts.
The College's newest major will fundamentally prepare students for careers as artists. Or, students will be able to leverage the degree to pursue jobs in design work. Or, students will be prepared for careers in entrepreneurship or further academic pursuits in the field of art and design. The Visual Art and Design program is built on a strong foundation in the practices of traditional and new media. Students will acquire a breadth of competencies and a depth of critical thinking that can be applied to a wide variety of professional opportunities.
The Foy Hall Gallery and Yates Gallery provide students with on-campus opportunities to exhibit work, curate shows, and work directly with professional artists.
The major begins with introductory courses in 2-D design, drawing, and digital photography. Further development of visual literacy and exposure to a diverse range of artists and art practices is supported by art history and upper level studio courses. The upper-class majors focus on professional development, portfolio development, and the acquisition of advanced technical, conceptual, and perceptual skills.
"The new Visual Art & Design major augments the existing creative arts program. Our students have been creating excellent visual art work. This new course of study gives them the opportunity to focus in depth on studio and digital media. Prof. Gatewood and I have been working on this addition to our curriculum for a few years, and we're excited to see how this will benefit our students over the years ahead."
Scott Foster, M.F.A., associate professor of studio art, chair of creative arts department
