Art

About the program

Each year, Studio Art majors' Senior Inquiry work becomes an exhibition at the Augustana Art Museum. See a slideshow from 2009.

• Classes are small; beginning classes have only 15-20 students, and upper-level courses are generally smaller. While small class sizes are desirable in any discipline, the close faculty-student relationship is especially important in hands on work such as studio art.
• Students in the department learn to express their ideas and emotions via the formal elements of art, while at the same time gaining an understanding of art's larger social and disciplinary contexts.
• There are four full-time, two adjunct,  and two part-time art faculty, all of whom have the M.F.A. The faculty artists show their work regionally and nationally and take on leadership positions in the Quad Cities art community.
• Augustana's international terms often include art classes in the curriculum. Students can study art in the context of a different culture, such as the course "Studio art of Africa" in Ghana.
• As a senior capstone experience, every studio art major completes a cohesive body of work to display in a spring exhibition in the Augustana College Art Museum. Working closely with a faculty member, students integrate learning from throughout their liberal arts education to complete their project, which includes a written essay and final public presentation. At the end of the capstone experience, students have a portfolio of work to use as they prepare for graduate school or employment.

Future goals

• Many studio art majors prepare for graduate work in a specific art genre or for a career in areas such as art administration or education, art therapy, medical illustration or museum work.
• Some students double major or minor in areas such as art history, psychology, biology, education or business. Art related internships are available to integrate these areas, and faculty advisors work with students to help them apply their talents to future goals.

Outside the classroom

• Throughout the academic year Augustana hosts visiting artists and scholars to speak on topics related to current exhibitions, demonstrate to art classes or give presentations to supplement the liberal studies curriculum.
• Augustana College is within an hour's drive from the University town of Iowa City, and three hours from Chicago. Groups from Augustana take field trips to galleries and museums in these cities each year.
• Augustana sponsors an on-campus community program called Kaleidoscope, offering short-term art classes and workshops for children.  Many art and art education students serve as teachers and aides for Kaleidoscope, strengthening community ties and gaining valuable experience for their future work.

Scholarships

Augustana offers talent-based scholarships in art. Awards up to $4000 are applied to tuition and renewed annually for students who declare a major or minor in art, or who complete two studio art courses each year. For more information, contact Megan Quinn, professor of art, at (309) 794-7158.

What students say

Andrea Heinz '07, studio art, art education and art history:
"The Augustana art department has outstanding faculty who are both educators and renowned artists. The art department acts like a family, pushing students to do their absolute best by hosting juried shows, senior portfolio shows and other career-building experiences. Dedicated and passionate, the faculty pushed me outside my comfort zones to become a more well-rounded person and a disciplined and driven artist. For example, one professor pushed me to do the most life-changing thing that I will probably ever do: go to Ghana, Africa and learn about Ghanaian culture and art. These teachers are not in the profession for themselves, but for us-the students."

Carolyn Krueger '07, studio art and religion:
"The art department at Augie has impressed me all along. The professors all are accomplished local artists and are always willing to give honest, professional opinions to help their students."

Christen Cleveland '08, art education:
"The art professors here have helped me to grow as an artist and realize what I love most about my medium. Everything I learn from them in my art and art history classes will help me to better plan my lessons when I am teaching."