Art & the History of Art 362 - Sustaining a Creative Practice

Why make art? How do we communicate what we do to ourselves and to others? How do we compose a life that keeps art at the center? How do we function professionally in the world as artists? How do we build holistic systems of support for ourselves and our work? What do we want as artists? What do we need? This course will focus on issues in contemporary art practice, such as the specificity of artistic research and process, the relationship between an individual's work and its discipline, the roles of poetic, political, symbolic, or action-oriented practices, and material meaning and vocabulary.  It will discuss, critique, and implement models to compose lives as artists by systematically analyzing contemporary and historical practices. We will have a range of presenters and visit exhibitions to identify and critically reflect on different practices, models, and networks. Arts majors across the college will define research within their practice and analyze its impact on their work, write and speak theoretically and critically about their practice, prepare a presentation of their work in a portfolio, research and understand different methods for disseminating artistic work, and generate strategies to support collective and individual art practices. To make the most of this class, students will reflect and respond to verbal and written critiques of assignments, participate fully in the class's collaborative learning/teaching environment, remain curious, and be generous with their ideas/questions/concerns/experiences.

Prerequisites: Three prior art courses in ARHA, THDA, or FAMS. Recommended: This is not an introductory art course. Students should have an understanding of what an art practice is, as well as a desire or curiosity about a life making art. Limited to 24 students.

Spring 2026: Professor Clark and Assistant Professor Monge.

How to handle overenrollment: Priority given to seniors and juniors or students who have taken three ARHA, TAPS, or FAMS classes

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: Written work, artistic work, oral presentations, group discussion and projects, readings, independent research, and field trip.