The School of Art The School of Art at Illinois Wesleyan University provides a creative and challenging atmosphere for the student who seeks the opportunity to investigate the many facets of the visual arts. The faculty of the School of Art is proud of the long history of strong individual attention given to each student during their study and the excellence the student carries with them after graduation. While at Illinois Wesleyan, students have opportunities for international study, supervised internships and to pursue a minor in a wide variety of subjects in the College of Liberal Arts. The Program At the School of Art a student may choose to concentrate in one of the following areas of studio art: drawing, ceramics, glass, graphic design, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture. A student may also elect to take additional courses in a related studio area. The School of Art is dedicated to the student who not only wishes to grow visually, but who seeks to acquire a historical reference to their visual language. The art history program provides strong support to the studio areas by offering courses ranging from basic survey to advanced period and topics studies.
T h e Fa c i l i t i e s The School of Art is housed in a modern facility that includes studio classrooms, semi-private student studios and the Merwin and Wakeley Galleries. The classrooms provide the student with the necessary equipment to achieve their creative endeavors. The facilities include three darkrooms and photographic studio, a foundry for aluminum and bronze casting, glass casting facility, gas and electric kilns for a variety of firing possibilities, two etching presses, a lithography press with approximately sixty lithography stones and an in-house computer lab. Students also have access to the Illinois Wesleyan Interactive Learning Center which is state-of-the-art for both Macintosh and IBM. Each School of Art student has a semi-private studio in their junior and senior years. These studios, for the upper division student, affords each student the required space for the development of their work.
The Merwin and Wakeley Galleries provide exhibition schedules that support our curriculum, the University community and the general public. These exhibitions range from late 19th and 20th Century Posters to Japanese prints, but typically feature more contemporary artworks in a variety of media. Student exhibitions include the Annual Juried School of Art Student Exhibition, the Sophomore Exhibition, and the B.F.A. and B.A. Degree Exhibition. The School also supports a visiting artist program that enriches the instruction offered by a highly qualified faculty. Recent visitors include artists from Germany, Thailand, Russia and the People’s Republic of China, in addition to many American artists with international reputations. Visiting artists give lectures on their work or aspects of their experiences; they also meet with individual students in their studios for one-on-one critiques.
Co u r s e s o f S t u dy The Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art The professional degree focuses on concentrated studio experience. The Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art A degree for the student who wishes to focus on the visual arts and the strong liberal arts program offered at Illinois Wesleyan University. Students selecting the B.F.A. and B.A. degree programs can minor in any field represented at the University. The arts management minor is an especially popular choice. Those
students who choose the B.A. degree program can combine study in art with a major in another field. Both art major programs provide the student with the flexibility essential to take full advantage of the entire Illinois Wesleyan curriculum.
A n d A f t e r G r a d u at i o n Some graduates choose to continue their concentration in studio art in Master of Fine Arts Programs. Others decide to pursue a degree in Art History at the Master or Doctoral level. We have graduates exploring their creativity beyond the academic circle as well. Most of our recent graduates have careers as graphic designers at corporate art departments and design studios. Employment at a gallery or museum is another popular option. Many of our graduates are self-employed artists and designers. Illinois Wesleyan University affords each student breadth in learning and experience; at the School of Art we encourage each student to find their own direction, to explore their world and to thoughtfully care about making a difference.
Guidelines for Portfolio P r e pa r at i o n Overview A portfolio is required by most universities and art schools that offer professional programs. At Illinois Wesleyan University, a portfolio review is a necessity for admission into the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program and to qualify for art scholarships. The portfolio tells the School of Art faculty about skills, attitudes, work habits and about commitments and desires. Along with academic credentials, the portfolio will be reviewed to determine potential and suitability for the B.F.A. program. Requirements We accept portfolios in slide or photographic form on occasions when students cannot easily visit the University. You are advised to ask your art instructor for assistance with photographing and labeling the work. You should use a 35mm single lens reflex camera or a high quality digital camera. Digital prints should indicate the actual color of the original. The resolution should be sufficiently high to identify the smallest details of the original work of art. We prefer to view artwork on CDs or Web sites only when it is originally produced with electronic media to be viewed as electronic media. Portfolio Review A portfolio review is required for admission into the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program and to qualify for art scholarships. The portfolio tells the School of Art faculty about skills, attitudes and work habits, and about commitments and desires. Along with academic credentials, the portfolio will be reviewed to determine potential and suitability for the B.F.A. program. The portfolio should consist of 15 to 20 examples of your best and most recent work. No attempt should be made to show works that span a number of years. Students presenting drawings are encouraged to submit works that are drawn from a source other than copying photographs or reproductions. We prefer to see the actual work. The works included in your portfolio should be mounted or matted. Fine art photographs may be
submitted unmatted in a photo album. All fine art photographs should be developed by the applicant. The photographic work included should show strength rather than one of everything. If you are photographing your work for the portfolio, it should be placed against a neutral background. Exposures should be bracketed allowing you to select the best exposure to include in the portfolio. Slides are to be submitted in a plastic slide sheet. Slides or photographs should be labeled with your name, the year the work was completed, media and dimensions. Sculpture and ceramic work is difficult to transport and should not be shipped. We are happy to look at three-dimensional pieces that are hand-delivered. Large-scale work should typically be presented in slide or photographic form. Students applying for the B. A. degree in art are not required to submit a portfolio.
Scheduling a Portfolio Review A review is easily scheduled in advance by phoning the Office of Admissions 309-556-3031 or 1-800-332-2498. Foreign students and students living a great distance from the Illinois Wesleyan campus can mail portfolios prepaid to the Office of Admissions. Every precaution will be taken to protect portfolios; however, the University cannot be responsible for loss or damage.
S c h o l a r s h i ps a n d F i n a n c i a l A i d The School of Art at Illinois Wesleyan University offers Alumni Talent Scholarships in Art to deserving students. These renewable scholarships currently ranging in value from $7,000 to $11,000, are awarded on the basis of a portfolio review and academic background to candidates for admission to the school. In addition, Illinois Wesleyan University helps students obtain grants, campus employment and loans based on financial need. Families must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and an Illinois Wesleyan University Financial Aid Application or CSS Profile. Two-thirds of Illinois Wesleyan students typically receive some kind of need-based financial aid. On the average, this aid covers more than two-thirds of the cost of their attendance at the University.
Visit our website!!! http://www2.iwu.edu/art
F o r f u r t h e r i n f o r m at i o n , write or call: The Office of Admissions Illinois Wesleyan University P.O. Box 2900, Bloomington, IL 61702-2900 Telephone: 309-556-3031 or 1-800-332-2498 www address: http://www.iwu.edu/admissions
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