VIEWBOOK
DESIGNER + TYPOGRAPHER + USER INTERFACE ENGINEER + VIDEOGAME DESIGNER
PA I N T E R + PA P E R M A K E R + P E R F O R M A N C E A R T I S T + P H OTO G R A P H E R + P R E PA R ATO R +
PRODUCTION FLORIST + PROFESSOR + PROGRAM MANAGER + PRODUCER + PROJECT MANAGER
MAKE. BUILD. CREATE.
SYSTEMS ANALYST + TATTOO ARTIST + TECHNICIAN + TEXTILE DESIGNER + TOY
DESIGNER + GOLDSMITH + GRAPHIC DESIGNER + ILLUSTRATOR + INNOVATION TECHNOLOGIST + INSTALLATION
+ WEB DESIGNER + WEBCOMIC ARTIST + WRITER + ANYTHING YOU WANT...
LIBRARIAN + MASTER PRINTER + MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR + MODELMAKER + MURALIST + NOVELIST +
+ PUBLIC ARTIST + PUZZLE DESIGNER + SCREENPRINTER + SCULPTOR + SEWING TEACHER
+ SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST + STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER + STUDIO MANAGER + STYLIST +
+ EXPERIENCE DESIGNER + FABRICATOR + FILMMAKER + FURNITURE MAKER + GALLERY MANAGER + GAME
+ B R A N D ST R AT E G I ST + CA B I N E T M A K E R + CA RTO O N I ST + C E O + C E R A M I C I ST + C I T Y P L A N N E R + C O L L E C T I O N S A N D
EXHIBITIONS COORDINATOR + COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER + COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST + COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
ARTIST + JEWELERY DESIGNER + JOB THAT HAS YET TO BE CREATED + LEAD DRAFTER + LECTURER +
OF PROGRAMMING + EDITOR + EFFECTS ANIMATOR + ENTREPRENEUR + EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EXHIBITION DESIGNER
DIRECTOR + COSTUME SEAMSTRESS + CREATIVE DIRECTOR + CRITIC + CURATOR + DESIGN RESEARCHER + DIRECTOR
ART DIRECTOR + ART TEACHER + ART THERAPIST + ARTIST + ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE + ARTS INTEGRATION SPECIALIST + BLACKSMITH
ANIMATOR + APP DESIGNER + ARCHITECTURAL AND DECORATIVE FABRICATOR + ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER + ARCHIVIST +
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO?
USE YOUR HEAD, HEART, AND HANDS.
INNOVATE, IMPROVISE, AND SYNTHESIZE YOURPASSION. ABILITIES. BE BRAVE. TAKE RISKS. FOLLOW YOUR
Thesis work by Lydia Andersen ’13
LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT MODELS OF ARTISTIC PRACTICE.
DEVELOP A RIGOROUS STUDIO PRACTICE AND BECOME…
AN ARTIST AT WORK.
CONTENTS
08 Educational Philosophy 09 Welcome from the President 10 Sense of Place 16 Artists at Work 18 Public Engagement 20 Alumni Success 22 Faculty Excellence 24 Visiting Artists 26 Academics
+ FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR (FY-IN)
+ FOUNDATION
+ LIBERAL ARTS
+ ART HISTORY
36 BFA Majors
+ ILLUSTRATION
+ GRAPHIC DESIGN
+ NEW MEDIA
+ PHOTOGRAPHY
+ PRINTMAKING
+ SCULPTURE
+ PAINTING
+ CERAMICS
+ METALSMITHING & JEWELRY
+ W OODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN
+ TEXTILE & FASHION DESIGN
80 Minors 82 Art Education 84 Master of Fine Arts 86 Pre-College 87 Continuing Studies 88 Facilities, Resources, and Space 90 Institute of Contemporary Art 91 The Joanne Waxman Library 92 Campus Life 94 Student Engagement 96 Financial Aid 98 Transferring to MECA 99 Study Abroad & Exchange Opportunities 100 How to Apply 101 Planning Your Visit
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Educational Philosphy
AT MAINE COLLEGE OF ART WE BELIEVE AN ARTIST’S LIFE CENTERS ON STUDIO PRACTICE. For us, the studio is a public as well as a private place where the artist undertakes research, experimentation, reflection, collaboration, and problem-solving, all in preparation for creating and presenting meaningful artwork. Students learn that a lively and enduring studio practice will allow them to become creative agents in the world. Our curriculum supports the creative spirit of our students, empowering them to become artists, citizens, and entrepreneurs. A structured and sequenced program in visual language, academic studies and public engagement, with a wide range of choices, prepares students to transition into fulfilling and successful careers.
A Message from the President 9
WELCOME
TO MAINE COLLEGE OF ART.
Since 1882, MECA has been a premier destination for artists in pursuit of a transformative learning experience in the areas of artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Today, the vitality of our mission is clearly exemplified by our expanding facilities and resources, highly engaged and prolific student body, growing network of successful alumni, impressive caliber of visiting artists and guest lecturers, and supportive team of faculty and staff. MECA’s well-rounded educational experience will prepare you for a multitude of creative pursuits while giving you the necessary tools to succeed in your chosen path. Our interdisciplinary curriculum emphasizes multiple models of creative practice, ensuring that you will graduate with a solid understanding of how to most effectively use your passions, talents, and education to make a living as a professional artist. Located in the heart of Portland, Maine’s thriving Downtown Arts District, MECA is perfectly situated at the core of one of America’s most livable cities. Portland is a place of true cultural distinction that celebrates creative expression, individuality, and originality. Renowned for its awe-inspiring natural beauty, historic architecture, and edgy urban pulse, a brief stroll around the city reveals how easily one can fall in love with this great destination that MECA proudly calls home. At MECA, we strongly believe that art inherently makes communities better. We are committed to empowering a new generation of creative problem-solving artists at work. I invite you to plan a visit, explore the campus culture, and discover for yourself how MECA provides an incomparable, individualized foundation for a successful career in the arts. We look forward to welcoming you as part of our tightly knit and highly supportive community. In the MECA spirit,
Donald Tuski, Ph.D. President, MECA
There’s a feeling that, yes, you’re seeing something that’s happening momentarily, but it’s also a symbol of what has always happened in Maine. The eternity of a moment. —ANDREW WYETH // PAINTER
MA
AINE A DESTINATION FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION Winslow Homer’s studio is 20 minutes from Portland, on Maine’s rocky coast. The lighthouses painted by Edward Hopper are also a short ride by car or bike from Portland’s downtown. On the first Friday evening of every month, 17 cities across the state host Art Walks, when all galleries and museums are open and welcome the public to experience art from Maine and around the world. The number of famous American artists who have Maine ties far exceeds coincidence. A few examples include: + Winslow Homer
+ Todd Webb
+ Edward Hopper
+ Georgia O’Keeffe
+ Andrew, N.C., and Jamie Wyeth
+ Lois Dodd
+ Alex Katz
+ Steve Mumford
+ Neil Welliver
+ Inka Essenhigh
+ Thomas Cole
+ Robert Indiana
+ John Marin
+ Dahlov Ipcar
+ Eliot Porter
+ Will Barnet
+ Fairfield Porter
+ Rockwell Kent
+ Robert McCloskey + William Wegman + William Pope.L + Berenice Abbott + Bernard Langlais
BOWDOIN COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART, BRUNSWICK, MAINE, G I FT O F THE HO MER FAMI LY
A PLACE OF INSPIRING NATURAL BEAUTY
For more than two centuries, artists have chosen Maine as a place to gather and work. Drawn by Maine’s rugged beauty, stunning illumination, and reputation for fierce individualism, artists here are still pushing the boundaries of aesthetics, social engagement, and individual practice. At MECA we take pride in Maine’s unique culture as a site for inspiration and inquiry as our students and faculty continue to advance this heritage.
+ Marsden Hartley
+ Margaret Wise Brown + Robert Henri + Louise Nevelson + Milton Avery Photograph by Unknown Artist: Winslow Homer with “The Gulf Stream” in his studio at Prout’s Neck, Maine, circa 1900. BCMA Accession #: 1964.69.179.9
Recognized as “America’s Most Livable City” (Forbes) and “The Top City for Creative People” (Kiplinger’s), Portland’s expanding list of superlatives captures the city’s gravitational pull as a destination for art, music, culture, commerce, and cuisine. Portland is often described as a perfectly sized city that seamlessly blends historic charm with all the personality of a creative urban center. CONNECT WITH A VIBRANT CREATIVE COMMUNITY Portland boasts world-class art institutions like the Portland Museum of Art and cutting-edge creative firms—many owned and operated by MECA alums—that provide easy access to exceptional internships, hands-on experience, and professional opportunities. MECA is deeply embedded in Portland’s thriving art and design community. EXPLORE UNPARALLELED NATURAL BEAUTY
Stunning beaches, state parks, and nature preserves are minutes away. Portland enjoys four distinct seasons, crisp ocean air, and easy access to virtually any outdoor recreational activity. GETTING AROUND
+ With hourly round-trip bus service to Boston, including Logan Airport, Portland is just two hours away by car, bus or train. Amtrak departs to and from Boston five times a day. + Also easily accessible via car, bus, or train, Portland is six hours from NYC. + Portland International Jetport provides provides world-wide service and connections. + Portland Metro (local public transportation) discounted tickets are available through MECA’s Student Affairs office.
PORTLAND, MAINE: A GREAT PLACE TO...
+B est Places for Business and Careers in the U.S. (Forbes)
LIVE, STUDY, AND WORK WHILE ENJOYING THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE
+H ottest Cities for Entrepreneurs (Inc. Magazine)
+ Coolest Small City in America (GQ)
+T op 10 Metropolitan Areas in the Country for Job Hunting (Forbes)
+ Most Livable City (Partners for Livable Communities) + One of North America’s 10 Dream Towns (Outside) + Top College City (American Institute for Economic Research) + One of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations (National Trust for Historic Preservation)
BE YOURSELF
+T op ten safest, culturally most fascinating U.S. cities (TravelSmart Consumer Newsletter) +A merica’s Hippest Hipster Neighborhoods (Forbes) +T op 10 Destinations for Gay Travellers (TravelNerd.com)
+ Best Town in the East (Outside)
STAY HEALTHY
+ Top Fun Cities in the Country (Bon Appetit)
+B ike Town U.S.A (Bicycling) + Top Healthiest Cities for Women (Self)
+ Top 10: New England’s Best Cities (GoLocal)
+ Top Green City (Organic Gardening)
+ Most Blissful City to Visit (self.com)
+ Best City in America for the Young at Heart (Kiplinger’s)
+ Foodiest Small Town in America (Bon Appetit) + One of the lowest crime rates in the nation (State rankings)
+ 7th Greenest City in the United States (Travel & Leisure)
LAUNCH YOUR CAREER
+ One of the 10 Great Adventure Towns (National Geographic Adventure)
+ Top 10 Art Towns in the Country (America’s Best Art Towns)
+ Top 10 Farmers’ Markets in the Country (Travel & Leisure)
+ #1 Top Market in Small Business Vitality (American City Business Journals)
SABRINA VOLANTE ’14 // GRAPHIC DESIGN // SUDBURY, MA
QEUBEC MONTREAL
PHOTO BY GREGORY REC, COURTESY OF THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
MECA is right in the center of Portland. This is where you want to be. Everything is a five-minute walk.
MAINE COLLEGE OF ART
PORTLAND
BOSTON
NEW YORK
WASHINGTON D.C.
DISCOVER THE BRILLIANCE OF MAINE’S LARGEST CITY.
Portland is a very welcoming place for artists. This past semester I organized and curated my own exhibition featuring one work from each of the members of my major. A lot of people come to Portland for the art community. It’s awesome to have your work up at the school or local galleries because you can get a lot of exposure really easily. RANGELEY MORTON ’14 // WOODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN // CHELMSFORD, MA 3
JOIN A
CREATIVE COMMUNITY.
The Arts District 15
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Teeming with art galleries, music venues, coffee shops, restaurants, independently owned boutiques, museums, theaters, and street performances, Portland’s Downtown Arts District offers top-notch people-watching and plenty of opportunities to engage. Situated in the center of the burgeoning city of Portland, MECA is at the epicenter of Maine’s creative arts scene. During the First Friday Art Walk each month, local galleries, museums, alternative art venues, and many local businesses open their doors to the public for a glimpse of everything that is going on in the arts community. MECA and its students are an integral part of the Art Walk. Opportunities are offered for students to share their craft and sell their work. Thousands of patrons enjoy exhibits at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at MECA and the June Fitzpatrick Gallery. The Art Walk serves to connect a wider audience with the local arts, promoting Portland’s unique vitality as a center for the arts while demonstrating the importance of arts and community through diversity and celebration.
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1 First Friday Artwalk Exhibition at SPACE Gallery. 2 Projection by Jenny Holzer on the Portland Museum of Art, 2010. 3 SPACE Gallery front window.
In Portland, artists don’t “do” art—they live, breathe and practice it, supported by an open, engaged community. Today the Downtown Arts District, with more than 65 participating gallery exhibition and performance spaces, effortlessly reflects this legacy and presents the work of artists from across Maine and beyond.
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Artists at Work
BUILD YOUR RÉSUMÉ AS A STUDENT
DAVID TWISS ’14 // PRINTMAKING
+ Shop technician at Pickwick Independent Press where he hand-built an etching press + Included in 12 juried exhibitions throughout Maine + Studio assistant for public artist + Featured on Printeresting.org 1
+ Commissioned by Portland Museum of Art NICOLE HOLMES ’14 // GRAPHIC DESIGN
At MECA, we want you to make art and make a living. Through our Artists at Work initiative, we provide students with the skills, opportunities and experiences to be creative professionals for life. Whether you want to be a studio artist, a commercial designer, an educator, or an arts administrator, you’ll take away a set of skills that translate into a variety of career choices. Leadership, critical-thinking, and risk-taking are learned through, but not limited to, the arts. MECA’s Artists at Work initiative connects students and alumni with professional development opportunities including internships, commissions, residencies, community partnerships, and jobs. RELATED COURSE OFFERINGS
Illustrators at Work | Entrepreneurship and the Arts | The Art of Collaboration and Participation | The Art of Business | Public Art | Professional Studio INTERNSHIPS
American Eagle | American Natural History Museum | Anderson Ranch | Angela Adams | Carol Wilson Architecture | Children’s Museum of Maine | Christie’s Auction House | Idexx Laboratories | Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA | King Middle School | L.L.Bean | Maine Magazine | Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia | Portland Public Library | Provincetown Fine Arts Work Center | Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium | Sotheby’s | VIA Advertising Agency PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
+ Student blogger for MECA + MECA Advancement Office Assistant for two years + Design intern for Northcross Group, hired after internship completion + Freelance designer for Agile Therapeutics, where she designed a birth control cellphone app + Part of collaborative design team for MECA Logo Charrette + Design intern at Portland-based firm, Pulp+Wire + Design student worker for MECA’s Office of Marketing and Communications + Semi-finalist for 2013 Adobe’s Design Achievement Awards Competition RANGELEY MORTON ’14 // WOODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN
“ I really enjoyed the process associated with my internship and can see myself continuing on to work in design and production— particularly heading in an industrial design direction.” + Work-study position as the CNC Router Technician + Internship in design production for MECA Fashion Show + Internship with Associate Professor Matt Hutton of Studio 24b, a design and fabrication studio
MECA’s Holiday Sale features the work of students and alumni, generating $100,000 in sales in two days. MECA’s Art Sale provides an opportunity for students and alumni to sell their work for a 50% commission while supporting financial aid and new programs at the College. Last year, the Art Sale generated over $80,000 in revenue. Portfolio Day, hosted in connjunction with AIGA Maine (the professional association for design), brings employers, internship providers, and mentors on campus to review student portfolios. Workshops on resumé writing, public speaking, and networking. Grants for professional development and creative entrepreneurship. In addition to providing traditional career support services, MECA is uniquely positioned to make personalized connections for students. With approximately 400 students, we connect students’ skills to the real world. From a $5,000 package-design competition only open to MECA studentsto commissioned artwork, we create opportunities.
1 Lobster claw necklace by Natalie Reed ’13.
A native of Vinalhaven, Maine, Natalie makes work inspired by the textures of the ocean. In her senior year, Natalie interned with a goldsmith which transitioned into a job after graduation. 2 After graduating with a Sculpture degree from MECA in 2001, alum Olan Boardman ’01 studied textile design at the Fashion Institute of Technology, worked in product development for Mulberry House, and then launched her own line, Ktaadn. She is pictured here at the MECA Holiday Sale.
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DISCOVER WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ARTIST
AT WORK.
CREATIVELY PROBLEM
SOLVE ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.
Public Engagement minors are required to complete an internship with a local community partner of their choice. The Public Engagement Capstone is the culminating experience for seniors in the minor. Students work independently with a community partner and develop a project that solves a complex design problem and meets a real community need. HANNAH MERCHANT ’13 // WOODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN GROWING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES
As a senior, Hannah Merchant worked with the local organization Cultivating Community in Portland. Hannah designed and created a series of products, including a cookbook, signage and The Grow Cart, a mobile farm stand. Hannah worked closely with Portland area youth in the Youth Grower Program, and also collaborated with staff on product design. KYLE DIMARE ’13 // SCULPTURE DESIGNED TO PLAY
As a senior, Kyle DiMare worked with the local organization Youth Build Alternatives in Portland. Kyle designed and led a series of workshops on design process and sculptural building. Using a co-creation teaching model, students worked collaboratively on sculptural forms as a platform for building social relationships, and developed critical communication, problem-solving, and creative skills.
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Public Engagement 19
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Public Engagement is about propelling you into real-world situations that tap your creative potential. Utilizing project planning and best practice collaborative leadership models, you’ll take action as citizens, artists, and designers. As a result, you’ll gain the entrepreneurial skills and confidence to positively impact your community—and yourself. Considered one of the first programs of its kind in an art school, MECA has been weaving this interdisciplinary pedagogy into its curriculum for more than 25 years. Additionally, you can easily minor in Public Engagement as a complement to your major studio choice. Learn and apply the skills of co-creating, designing, building, and activating our world to make it better for all.
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1 Sculpture by Jose Escobido-Winkle from Kyle
Dimare’s Public Engagement Minor capstone project with LearningWorks Youth Build Alternatives Program. 2 Students in Printmaking, Graphic Design, and Illustration partnered with The League of Young Voters to Provoke the Vote during the 2012 election. Public Engagement Vote Project poster by Shelby Newsted ’15. 3 Hannah Merchant ’13. 4 Nicole Warren ’12 5 MECA alumna Adriana Warner ’12 curated the exhibition The Other Side of Shade and worked with MECA Public Engagement minors to lead a community partnership project. MECA students and area high school students from the MLK Fellows youth leadership program of the NAACP explored issues of race, oppression, and power through a hands-on art-making collaboration.
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A few examples of Public Engagement internships include: + The Art Department + Cultivating Community + Frannie Peabody Center + Portland Public Library + Roots and Fruits School + Space Gallery
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Alumni
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For more than a hundred years, MECA’s alumni have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields. In the 21st century, they continue to bring qualities of creative problemsolving and artistic excellence, blended with an entrepreneurial spirit, to advance MECA’s legacy of achievement. WHAT DO OUR ALUMNI DO? STATISTICS FROM THE 2012 STRATEGIC NATIONAL ARTS ALUMNI PROJECT (SNAAP)
67% 19% 23% WORK AS PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS*
PURSUED AN MFA AFTER GRADUATION
WORK FOR A NONPROFIT
25% 35% 24% WORK AS ART TEACHERS
WORK AS FINE ARTISTS
WORK AS GRAPHIC DESIGNERS, ILLUSTRATORS OR ART DIRECTORS
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1 Chasing hammer by Seth Gould ’09 2 Color still by
David Hutchins ’87 from Walt Disney Animation Studio’s animated feature Wreck-it Ralph. 3 Tony Bragg ’07 4 Jack Mauch ’06. 5 Phoenix Zoellick ’06
91% 61% 21% MAKE ART IN THEIR PERSONAL TIME
ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR FREELANCE WORKERS**
WORK AS CRAFT ARTISTS
* 56% is the national average for arts alumni // ** 45% is the national average for arts alumni
© WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIO
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ALUMNI EXCELLENCE IN ACTION FELICE BOUCHER ’84 was named Maine Photographer of the Year at the Maine Professional Photographers Annual Convention in 2012. She is also the recipient of the Master Degree and Certification by the Professional Photographers of America, in recognition of her success, education, and service to her field. TONY BRAGG ’07 references stories hidden in the American landscape, depicting how we use myth and imagination to manage and understand what we experience. Based out of Brooklyn, New York, he has had solo exhibitions at William Blizard Gallery, Red Mill Gallery, and Gallery 263, and recent awards include a fellowship at the Vermont Studio Center and a MECA Artist Residency at the Pace House in Stonington, Maine. BENJAMIN CARPENTER ’01 is the lead artist and owner of Backbone Design & Fabrication in Oakland, California. His company produces a range of architectural metalwork and has expanded to include the production of sculptural, kinetic and installation work. Ben is also part of the collaborative group “5 Ton Crane” and has worked on two projects at SFMOMA.
spent two years in the Ukraine teaching English and creative writing as part of the Peace Corps, and is now the art and design teacher at Portland’s first charter school, Baxter Academy for Technology & Science. He has also taught in Tokyo and Jerusalem.
LAWRENCE KUMPF ’04 is a curator and Artistic Director at ISSUE Project Room, a pioneering venue for time-based performance that supports the work of emerging and established experimental artists in Brooklyn, New York. Their board of directors includes actor Steve Buscemi and artist Tony Conrad. Yoko Ono serves as honorary chair of the Artistic Advisory Board. JACK MAUCH ’06,
whose work ranges from fine furniture to pewter tankards, received a highly selective Core Fellowship from the Penland School of Crafts and has worked as an exhibition designer and fabricator for the Harvard Graduate School of Design. His work was featured in the April/May issue of American Craft magazine. In October 2013 he will begin a one-year Studio Fellowship at the Maine Center for Furniture Craftsmanship.
SARAH MCNEIL ’98 won the Henry Walters Traveling Fellowship, a $10,000 prize given to a graduating MFA student at the Maryland Institute College of Art which allows them to travel anywhere in the world to inspire their practice. Sarah traveled to Prague, where she studied traditional Czech puppets. She also received a MICA fellowship which provided her with free studio space for one year, and was a recent Artist-in-Residence at the Pacific Northwest College of Art.
NATHANIEL EDMUNDS ’05
recently traveled to Japan to visit the studios of traditional Japanese craftsmen, and purchased a new power hammer for his shop studio where he specializes in toolmaking. Currently based out of Cleveland, Ohio, Seth studied at Penland School of Crafts through a highly selective Core Fellowship.
SETH GOULD ’09
DAVID HUTCHINS ’87 is an Effects
Animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios who has worked on many major films. He was an Effects Supervisor on Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph, an animated feature nominated for an Oscar in 2013.
TODD NOEL ’92 is a Los Angeles artist who works in traditional and digital media. Over the last 18 years he has worked on hundreds of initiatives as project manager, creative lead and artist, doing scenic painting, special effects painting, murals, miniatures, costumes, stop motion, and more. His credits include work for films, commercials, videos, photos shoots, stage, and trade shows. His most recent work can be seen in the films Hugo, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises, as well as in Elton John’s stage show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
LISA PIXLEY ’07 is the founder and managing director of Pickwick Independent Press (PIP), a membership-based collaborative print studio in downtown Portland. In 2010, she organized a community event for SPACE Gallery’s “Block Party!” in which printmakers carved giant woodblocks, which were printed onto bed-sheet sized canvases using a 6,000-lb steamroller. JOE ROSSHIRT ’11 is the founder and art director of FortHouse Studios (forthousestudios.com), an illustration, sculpture, and design studio with a focus on children’s media. He recently released Super Dust Bunny, his first IOS game for the iphone, iPad and iPod touch. KAREN SIATRAS ’91,
Publications Designer at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is the designer and art director of the book 40 Under 40: Craft Futures, which accompanied an exhibit that investigated evolving notions of craft. The book was awarded Best in Show at the Washington Book Publishers design competition in 2013. BRIAN WILK ’95 is Vice President of Design and Development at Hasbro Inc.’s preschool division. Over the years, he has worked on brands such as Transformers, Star Wars, and Marvel Properties. He currently works on the Playskool, Sesame Street, Mr. Potato Head, and Play-Doh lines.
is the founder of BeastWares, a whimsy-punk apparel line embodying quality, functionality, and wild abandon. She works in materials ranging from glitter to leather and makes clothes for the weird kids, the space-rockers, and those not afraid to live boldly while having a good laugh.
PHOENIX ZOELLICK ’06
earned her MBA from MIT’s Sloane School of Management after receiving her BFA in Photography at MECA. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer for United Way of Greater Portland and a board member of Women Standing Together, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women leaders and entrepreneurs. CARRIE ZEISSE ’92
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Faculty
TEACHERS, MENTORS, AND WORKING ARTISTS
MECA’s exceptional faculty are invested in your growth— creatively, personally, and professionally. The accomplished artists, designers, scholars, and educators who teach at MECA are dedicated to the success of their students—in the classroom, in the community, and beyond. Faculty at MECA thrive on inspiring, challenging, and establishing a culture that values artistic excellence, creative entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Many of our faculty are leaders in their field who have exhibited work at prestigious galleries and museums around the world, including the Smithsonian and the Farnsworth, published books through MIT Press and Candlewick Press, and have represented internationally known clients including Disney, Nickelodeon, MTV, Sotheby’s, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, New York Public Library, and Timberland. Our small class sizes (10 is average) foster a uniquely personalized, responsive learning environment that equips students to fulfill their lifetime ambitions. Our faculty understand and respect diverse ways of learning and teaching. Both students and professors forge strong personal bonds that transcend time and studio discipline.
It’s a real sense of community here. All of the professors are extremely interested in helping you build your skill set... You actually get to build relationships with professors and other professionals in your field. EMILY BOURNE ’14 // CERAMICS // EAST DUMMERSTON, VT
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SOME RECENT VISITING ARTISTS AND GUEST LECTURERS INCLUDE + Laylah Ali
+ Michelle Grabner
+ Ahmed Alsoudani ’05 + Robert Hobbs + Radcliffe Bailey
+ David Humphrey
+ Jonathan Borofsky
+ Amelia Jones
+ Sarah Charlesworth
+ Michael Kimmelman
+ Diana Cooper
+ Denise Markonish
+ Spencer Finch
+ Sam Messer
+ Hamish Fulton
+ Helen Molesworth
+ Jennifer Gross
+ William Wegman
MFA SUMMER LECTURE SERIES Each summer the MFA program brings at least eight nationally and internationally known artists to lecture, teach, curate, and critique with students during an interdisciplinary summer intensive.
EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. BROADEN YOUR
PERSPECTIVES. GET INSPIRED.
Visiting Artists 25
MECA’s Visiting Artist and Guest Lecturer Series invites professional artists, educators, curators, thought leaders, experts, and creative entrepreneurs to present on topics of interest and importance to the MECA community.
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From critically acclaimed painters to film producers, visiting artists play an important role in the overall educational experience here at MECA. 3
1 Ander Mikalson 2 Jim Drain 3 Kate Gilmore
EXPECT
TO WORK HARDER THAN YOU’VE EVER WORKED BEFORE. EXPECT TO BE PUSHED OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE. EXPECT TO DO THINGS YOU NEVER IMAGINED. FINALLY, EXPECT
THE UNEXPECTED. MAJORS + Illustration + Graphic Design + New Media + Photography + Printmaking + Sculpture + Painting + Ceramics + Metalsmithing & Jewelry + Woodworking & Furniture Design + Textile & Fashion Design
MINORS + Art History + Drawing + Public Engagement
Academics 27
MECA’s immersive, rigorous, interdisciplinary approach is informed by a strong foundation in the liberal arts and a deep commitment to studio practice. We believe in holistic education. We will help you crystallize your passion into a transformative learning experience. Experts in their respective fields, our faculty constantly review, evaluate, and update the curriculum to ensure it is aligned with best practices and newly emerging ideas. Courses are designed to give you the knowledge base and expertise to excel in your chosen field of creative practice. Learning comes through a blend of practice, theory, and self-directed study. Since its founding in 1882, MECA has been an active leader in the fields of art, craft, and design. This role is amplified through our intimate city campus which engenders close relationships, both inside and outside of the College. These relationships provide students with networks for communication, collaboration, and professional development. At MECA we believe art is a lifestyle choice. Art is vital to communities. Art is one of the hardest and best disciplines an individual can choose to pursue, practice, and live.
INVOLVE. INFUSE. INSPIRE.
First-Year Seminar (FY-In) 29
FY-In, our innovative first-year seminar, allows you to build vital connections while reinforcing the fundamental skills, vocabulary, and principles of art-making. Required of all first-year students, this program provides the opportunity to engage in a collaborative, creative, and community-based project in Portland. Balancing studio work, academic research, and public engagement, FY-In fully immerses you in art and design by creating opportunities to connect with the MECA and Portland communities and by placing your creative efforts into a real-world context. In their first week at school, nearly 40 first-year students participated in a mural project on the construction site for Preble Street’s new Joe Kreisler Teen Shelter in downtown Portland. A local construction company presented the students with individual panels and the students chose the theme. Each square honors a different nationality from the diverse population at nearby Portland High School. Selected panels will hang permanently on the inside of the renovated space for teens. This is one example of how students partner with the community in their first days at MECA.
BUILD
A STRO FOUNDATION AND DREAM
Foundation 31
ONG BIG. Foundation is where it all begins. You will start to think differently. In your first year, along with your choice of a section of FY-In from a range of thematic offerings, you will tailor our Foundation program to your own needs, taking advantage of our flexible course sequencing while cultivating your skills in composition and design. In fall, you might opt for 2D Design, Drawing, and a studio elective. Spring will see you in Digital Imaging, 3D, and another studio elective. Courses in Liberal Arts and Art History solidify the foundation of your MECA education. Foundation gives you the fundamental skills necessary to see an idea through all stages of design, from ideation to completion. You will learn discipline, focus, persistence, and patience while amassing a vocabulary of design principles crucial to all fields of artistic production. Most importantly, you will learn to express yourself with intention and precision. Â The skills you acquire in Foundation will serve you for the rest of your life, whatever path you choose.
Foundation’s curriculum immerses you in the languages of design and composition. It is a period of radical growth where you will explore new ways of thinking and making. In this sense, I believe Foundation’s chief aim is to teach students to design and compose themselves. PHILIP BROU // ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PAINTING & CHAIR OF FOUNDATION
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FIRST YEAR: IMMERSION FALL
SPRING
+ First-Year Seminar
+ Three-Dimensional Design
+ Two-Dimensional Design + Studio Elective
+ Introduction to Digital Imaging (Choose Basics, Painting and Drawing, or Photography)
+ English Composition
+ Studio Elective
+ Introduction to Drawing
+ Introduction to Literature + Art History Survey I
SECOND YEAR: EXPANSION
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In your second year, you will choose a section of our interdisciplinary Second Year Lab. This course allows you to combine and advance everything you learned in your first year while continuing to develop your own voice. Each class informs the others: Printmaking and Painting inform Textile and Fashion Design, New Media informs Illustration, Art History informs Sculpture, World History informs Woodworking. We make sure you never get lost, even as you explore uncharted territory in the form of different disciplines, ways of thinking, and your own identity. Are you confident enough to identify yourself as an artist? You will be, as the cohesion of professional practice skills and self-direction take shape.
Foundation 33
1 Niki Taylor ’14 2 Tabitha Barnard ’16 3 Group project of a scale model creation
of an imaginary town in Muncie, Indiana. 4 Danielle Camillo ’17
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3
ENGAGE
YOUR INTELLECTUAL CURIO
E
OSITY.
Art History 35
To get better at what you do, it’s always a good idea to understand what others did before you. Studying art history will broaden your knowledge of the historical and social contexts of your own work. There’s an emphasis on writing and critical thinking— important skills for success after MECA. Art History faculty represent diverse areas of scholarly sepcialization, including Medieval, Renaissance, Asian, African, modern, and contemporary.
Liberal Arts
At MECA, you won’t just study. Our faculty will help you learn and understand how to make meaning. You will create an intellectual foundation that will fuel your creative practice and prepare you to be an engaged global citizen. The Liberal Arts program at MECA offers courses in creative writing, the business of art, anthropology, psychology, history, philosophy, literature, sociology, creative nonfiction, drama, film, archaeology, biology, coastal ecosystems, entrepreneurship, and more. You will build a diverse cultural knowledge base, sharpen critical thinking skills, advance reading and writing skills, and explore ideologies, philosophical perspectives and ethical issues. Our Liberal Arts program will excite, nourish, and empower you while preparing you to direct your own lifelong learning.
FIND YOUR OWN VOICE.
ILLUMINA
COMPLEX VISUAL NARRATIV
ATE
VES.
Illustration 37
Majoring in Illustration at MECA is an intimate and intensive course of study that combines artistic rigor with real work experience. Majors in the Illustration department at MECA benefit from a low student to faculty ratio and guidance of award-winning professionals in the field. This makes for an intimate and intensive course of study that combines artistic rigor with real work experience. Our professors are distinguished professional illustrators and artists who bring their daily practice of business, craft, and aesthetics to their teaching. As an Illustration major, you will develop technical abilities solidly rooted in drawing skills. From this base, you will learn to invent concepts, think critically, and develop a unique and personal style. In addition, you will study illustration history, theory, and professional practices: the business of illustration. Being able to express thoughts and ideas through drawing is the greatest skill of an illustrator. At the core of every illustration lives context and narrative. Whether in books or comics, magazines or advertising, animation or games, when there is a story to be told, a problem to be solved, or a point of view to be expressed, the illustrator provides the vision.
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Illustration
I’m constantly surprised at our professors when I realize that they are as big as they are. It validates what I’m learning here because I feel like I’m really getting the best that the art world can offer. PETER RIMKUNAS ’13 // ILLUSTRATION // GORHAM, ME
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1 Peter Rimkunas ’13 2 Devon Johnson ’13 3 Daelyne Bell ’13 4 Hanah Rosengren 5 Daelyne Bell ’13
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REFACING THE CLOCK Public engagement is an integral part of being an illustrator. At MECA we seek opportunities for our students to work with businesses and civic organizations throughout the world. A project called “Refacing The Clock” was a prime example of this, bringing Illustration majors together with Rotary International in a creative collaboration that raised $25,000 to pay for repairs to a prominent and historic municipal clock in Portland.
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MASTER
THE ART OF VISUAL COMMU PRESENT IDEAS TO THE WO
R
UNICATION. ORLD.
Graphic Design 41
Before you begin to sketch or sit down at a computer, there are two essentials of graphic design you need to know: how to turn an idea into a visual message, and what you can bring to it as an artist. As a Graphic Design major at MECA, you’ll learn how to hone concepts down to their most critical and compelling elements, how to analyze and understand your audience, and how to best communicate using visual language. Our renowned faculty believe that experience with other forms of art and design makes for a stronger, more versatile graphic designer. The curriculum emphasizes design as an interdisciplinary field and provides you with adaptable methods across many forms of media—from traditional to digital. You’ll explore letterforms and typography, develop effective design strategies, and keep your skills broad— delving into interactivity, websites, video, narratives, publications, and information design. During your studies at MECA, your techniques and design processes will evolve into an individual approach that will form the foundation of your professional practice.
MECA MAKES ITS MARK: CREATING A VISUAL IDENTITY Our new logo is the result of an inspiring collaboration between our talented faculty, dedicated students, and internationally recognized design professionals. The dynamic process consisted of a three-day charrette hosted by MECA faculty and Eddie Opara of Pentagram Design. It serves as testimony to what can be accomplished when expertise, passion for one’s craft, and professional experience converge in the studio classroom. LEARN MORE ABOUT MECA’S LOGO REDESIGN PROCESS: MECA.EDU/LOGO
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Graphic Design 43
Having the opportunity to work with professional designers and faculty members on a project that had never been done before was truly amazing. As a student, being part of the collaboration that rebranded the school we represent was an experience that is irreplaceable. It was an experience that none of us will ever forget and all will be proud of for years to come. I’m very honored to have been a part of it all.
1 Sarah Mohammadi ’13 2 Celia Packard ’14 3 Annie Mora ’13 4 Hannah Sherwood ’13
S ARAH MOHAMMADI ’13 // GRAPHIC DESIGN // CAMDEN, ME
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EXPLORE THE INTERSECTION OF ART, MEDIA, AND TECHN
COMBIN
FORMS OF ART THAT YOU’R PASSIONATE ABOUT.
N NOLOGY.
NE
RE
New Media 45
New Media majors at MECA are versatile, technologically savvy, and capable of solving complex visual challenges. You’ll be given the tools, guidance, and expertise to define your own career within a rapidly expanding industry. Create, explore, and manipulate real and imagined worlds. New Media majors at MECA blend the lines of traditional media with cutting-edge technologies to create video games, digital art installations, web environments, animated and live-action films, and anything else imaginable in our increasingly virtual age. Our interdisciplinary curriculum integrates drawing, 2D and 3D design, digital imaging, and video, providing the experience needed to build a portfolio that sets you apart. If the exploration of new realms like transmedia storytelling, game art, interactive comics, mobile app design, and multi-media installation is your dream, then pursuing a degree in New Media is the right path for you.
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NEW MEDIA MAJORS MAKING MAGIC AT MECA Enjoy access to a wealth of departmental resources including: + iPads, computers, and Android devices + 3D printers + Digital SLRs, video cameras, and audio gear + Data projectors and lighting equipment + Industry-standard programs including Maya 3D, Stencyl and Unity Game Engines, Dragon Stop Motion, Flash, After Effects, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack, Motion, Compressor, and Adobe Premium Suite 1
SED UT PERSPICIATIS UNDE OMNIS ISTE NATUS ERROR SIT VOLUPTATE At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. 6
CALL TO ACTION OR ATTRIBUTE AT VERO EOS ET ACCUSAMUS ET IUSTO ODIO DIGNISSIMOS.
Before coming to MECA I was a traditional painter. Even though I’ve always been fascinated with video and animation, I never thought that I could be the person making them. I’ve been able to explore all kinds of ways to ‘make art.’ New Media is a very self-driven major, we literally do whatever we want to do. Our professors are very supportive of what we make, whether it’s games, animations, sounds, installations or even zombie movies. CHUN-HUA CHANG ’14 // NEW MEDIA // TAIPEI, TAIWAN
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New Media 47 3
1. Jessica Carey ’14 2. Chun-Hua Chang ’14 3. Megan Ouellette ’16 4. New Media film
still by Morgan Kiser ’14 Brook Sinclair ’14 5. Brook Sinclair ’14 6. Megan Ouellette ’16
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ESTABLI
YOUR OWN VISION AND TEC
NOBIS SAM RENATUS AUT
VOUPTIA ENDISQU
ALIQUI ODI DERFIBUSA MOS
ISH
Photography 49
CHNIQUE.
A UE
S QUE.
As artists, observers, and imagemakers, photographers play an influential role in society that profoundly impacts the way we understand the world around us. Photography at MECA emphasizes the importance of visual literacy, composition, process, and light. In addition to learning the techniques of image-making, you’ll also understand the historical and contemporary context from which they are created. This understanding is part of a transformation you’ll experience at MECA as you grow from a casual photographer into an artist. As a Photography major at MECA, you’ll learn how a body of work or a series engages your audience beyond a single image. You’ll experiment with technical and conceptual elements of traditional and contemporary processes, including 35mm, medium-format, large-format, and digital capture. Before you graduate, you’ll possess the skills to create a professional fine arts portfolio, develop an artist statement and resume, establish your own web presence, and create a final thesis exhibition.
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Photography
Studying art is an intrinsically complex process. The photography faculty at MECA make it simple by allowing and encouraging my work to dictate my process, not some formula. The criticism given is meant to guide me towards my goals and is therefore invaluable. Experimentation is provoked and the discoveries I make are my own. VIVIAN EWING ’15 // PHOTOGRAPHY // MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA
ACCESS TO ALL THE PROFESSIONAL TOOLS YOU’LL NEED + Advanced and beginner darkrooms for black-and-white processing + Large and medium-format film cameras + Digital SLRs + Portable lighting kits + Full artificial lighting studio + Archival digital printers for 44-, 24-, and 17-inch formats + Film scanners + Dedicated iMac lab for digital output + Weekly equipment checkout opportunities
1 Natalie Jones ’13 2 Vivian Ewing ’15
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2
CREATE
LASTING IMPRESSIONS. DISC NEW TECHNIQUES. GET YOU HANDS DIRTY—POSSIBLY S FOR WEEKS AT A TIME.
COVER UR STAINED
Printmaking 53
Make spectacular art that blends cutting-edge technology with centuries-old printmaking techniques. Grow your technical skills, develop your design sensibility, and study the history of print and its relationship to contemporary practice. Printmaking majors at MECA master a physical process that demands patience, skill, and limitless creativity. You’ll work with alternative forms of print including installation, multiples, collaborative projects, and public art. As a Printmaking major you’ll have the opportunity to work with screen printing, relief printing, lithography, etching, and photo and digital print processes. Graduate with a strong professional foundation and the confidence to convert your passion for printmaking into a broad range of career pathways.
54
Printmaking
Professors in the Printmaking department are especially resourceful—every one of them is still developing their own practice: making work, collaborating, and showing. They aren’t timid about bringing their own failures and successes into the classroom. The facilities themselves have developed in just the two years I’ve been in school, and it’s exciting to have that room to play and explore without ever running out of new processes. KRISTINA BUCKLEY ’15 // PRINTMAKING // HOLLIS, NH
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ALL THE RIGHT TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND RESOURCES + Lithography area with two presses and large selection of litho stones + Intaglio and relief area with three etching presses + Screen print facility with exposure unit and darkroom for photo processes + Two large iron hand presses for relief printing + Digital workstation, software, and scanner for photo print processes + Color and B & W archival digital printing equipment + Etching facilities for copper and zinc + Traditional stone lithography and photo-litho processes + Large, spacious studios with incredible natural light overlooking Casco Bay + Non-toxic materials and methods + Strong network of community partners, alumni, and artists for professional development opportunities including internships, exhibitions, and special projects
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1 Joanne Gravelin ’13 2 Emmeline Solomon ’13 3 Shayna Blumert ’13 4 Gabriel Heckman ’13
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NOBIS SAM RENATUS AUT
VOUPTIA EXPLOR ENDISQU
NEW DIMENSIONS. GET INSP ALIQUI ODI DERFIBUSA MOS TO CREATE MEANINGFUL AR
PIRED SRT. QUE.
Sculpture 57 GRAPHIC DESIGN 00
Atidit MECA, is broadly Ut aliquisculpture odi derferibusa definedaliqui and ever-expanding. dolores aut re sim aliquis ad It’s material, three-dimensional, mos untusae nobis sam re natus spatial, and sometimes even aut que voluptia pa endis eosame ephemeral or four-dimensional. acercitati vendis eum im dellamus volliquo earis. In the Sculpture program at MECA, you will challenge yourself in new ways—technically, creatively, Alit autconceptually. et recum hitatatus nonsece and An emphasis onpudiore critical dolorro thinking minum et delendem hit invel is velendebis evelliaspero and writing will help you learn to communicate etur, ipicianti aut gaining facilloritinsight pa ditis autthe utdiscipline eum quam withcullab confidence while into nonsequ iderehenia eumqui nullaborrum volupid of sculpture from a historical and contemporaryestenis denis sinus, untOur autdiverse officat. faculty will guide you along perspective. as you explore the relationships between technique, Millaut volore nullorecte vent rest, aut quam, vernam, tes process, scale, and context. aspiti num quatiatem quuntis accusapel eos exernatem que mohave est inthe ped molor audit quuntem escimusmediums nobit You’ll opportunity to work in traditional audam consequid excerum dolorunt ipsam id event vel like stone, clay, wood andametal—but your materials eamay quisalso doluptae ommo eostis siminim nosam exerem come from the grocery store, the beach, or natur conesti umquate que so non evena the dumpster. Youmolorroria may even doluptisit blur the lines much con rene nulparum fuga. Neque nonet, ut ut poritatis that your sculpture becomes a way of engaging with explace arciate velloreped eost utstory. at est, sedigenethe community or telling aquis complex The exchange tur? of ideas with your peers, faculty, visiting artists, and the local arts community will challenge you to advance Eque Nam ut aut ratint aut pori totatentia yourrerecabo. journey towards becoming a professional artist. voluptate re pedipicatum atus si nectas dolorectatur rem quidell acepell uptatur? Quiae velestios dolupta tionsecae optas que consentet a nem il issint quam, tetum invenemporum volorib usanture nihitis quid quam es audani
Amber Murphy ’13
A RE UE
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Sculpture 1
EXAMPLES OF SCULPTURE ELECTIVE COURSES + Wood Sculpture + Stone Sculpture + Expressive Figure + Defining Gravity + Metal Sculpture: Welding + Metal Sculpture: Bronze Casting + Sculpture: Form and Content + Color in Form & Space + Kinetic Sculpture + Performance Art + Temporal Structures: Time-Based Installation + Public Art 7
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It’s about building relationships and networks and getting feedback from people you respect. That’s what’s most important here. M ADELINE GANTOS ’13 // SCULPTURE // BOSTON, MA
2 1 Isabel Kelley ’13 2 Joshua Yurges ’15 3 Kyle Sikora ’13 4 Jeremiah Ray ’13 5 Madeline Gantos ’13 6 Stephen Fisk ’13 7 Robert Doane ’13
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NOBIS SAM RENATUS AUT
VOUPTIA CHALLEN ENDISQU
CONCEPTUAL BOUNDARIES AND LEARN ABOUT CONTEM ALIQUI ODIAPPROACHES. DERFIBUSA MOS PAINTING
A NGE UE
MPORARY S QUE.
Painting 61 GRAPHIC DESIGN 00
Asidit a Painting at MECA, Ut aliqui odimajor derferibusa you willaliqui discover and give voice dolores aut re sim aliquis ad to what inspires you in an mos untusae nobis sam re natus environment thatpasupports your aut que voluptia endis eosame creative process andim ideas. acercitati vendis eum dellamus volliquo earis. You will master fundamentals and alternative techniques using light, space, form, and color to translate what Alit autsee et recum hitatatus nonsece pudiore dolorro you and understand about your surroundings. minum et delendem hit invel is velendebis evelliaspero The curriculum is designed to strengthen your ability etur, cullab as ipicianti pa ditis aut ut speak eum quam to make, well asaut to facillorit read, write, think, and nonsequ iderehenia eumqui nullaborrum volupid estenis about your work. denis sinus, unt aut officat. Our experienced Painting faculty will help you establish Millaut volore nullorecte vent rest, quam, vernam, an aesthetic voice, approach, andaut perspective that istes aspiti num quatiatem accusapel eos best exernatem uniquely yours. Theyquuntis will teach you about practices que mo est in ped molor audit quuntem escimus nobit when it comes to marketing yourself as a professional audam a dolorunt ipsam id event artist consequid and sellingexcerum your work. When you graduate withvel eaaquis doluptae ommo eostis siminim nosam exerem BFA degree from MECA, you will have all the tools natur conesti umquate molorroria doluptisit que non you aneed to make painting the center of your career con rene nulparum fuga. Neque nonet, ut ut poritatis and your life. explace arciate velloreped quis eost ut at est, sedigenetur? Eque rerecabo. Nam ut aut ratint aut pori totatentia voluptate re pedipicatum atus si nectas dolorectatur rem quidell acepell uptatur? Quiae velestios dolupta tionsecae optas que consentet a nem il issint quam, tetum invenemporum volorib usanture nihitis quid quam es audani
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Painting
1
What impresses me about MECA is the focus on interdisciplinary connections across mediums, and the give-andtake between techniques and concepts. My scholarship has provided me with the opportunity to turn my artistic aspirations into attainable reality. VICTORIA STATSENKO ’14 // PAINTING // NIKOPOL, UKRAINE
1 Madeline Ray ’13 2 Elizabeth Hook ’13
2
SHAPE
AF FUTURE. ENGAGE YOUR PAS FOR CLAY. LEARN ABOUT M PROCESS, AND INSPIRATION
Ceramics 65
MECA’s Ceramics department offers a broad curriculum that features introductory classes in throwing and handbuilding, as well as a range of advanced ceramics electives that includes raku, soda, porcelain, slip casting, tableware, sculptural ceramics, experimental surfaces, and mixed materials. Clay is an intimate and impressionable material. Ceramics is a diverse medium that includes a range of possibilities, from the functional vessel to large scale sculpture. At MECA, the ceramics faculty deeply engage students in the creative process, from making clay to formalizing glazes to building and firing kilns. Courses like Clay and Glaze Chemistry, Intro to the Discipline (ceramics art history), and Professional Practices augment the studio classes and provide an in-depth, well-rounded education geared toward a professional career.
Victoria Koronkiewicz ’13
FULFILLING SSION MATERIAL, N.
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Ceramics
1
FABULOUS STUDIO FACILITIES Ceramics majors have 24/7 access to individual spaces in a separate studio area that affords both privacy and space to develop a focused body of artwork. From ancient tools to cutting-edge applications, our studios and equipment are designed to encourage exploration of both sculptural and functional ceramics. MECA students have access to a range of potter’s wheels, clay mixing machinery, and an innovative indoor kiln room that houses electric, gas reduction, soda vapor, and raku kilns. Our students also enjoy a fully stocked glaze room with large-capacity spray booth and a separate room for mold making and slip casting. 2
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We are a really tight-knit group here in Ceramics. In addition to one-onone critiques that happen every day, we also do group critiques regularly throughout the semester. I NGE HERTZOG ’13 // CERAMICS // JONESPORT, ME
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3 1 Marian Baker, Ceramics Faculty 2 Miles Spadone ’13 3 Samuel Thompson ’13 4 Inge Herzog ’13 5 Janessa Letendre ’13
JOIN
A TRADITI OF PRESTIGIOUS ALUMNI.
NOBIS SAM RENATUS AUT
VOUPTIA ENDISQU
ALIQUI ODI DERFIBUSA MOS
Metalsmithing & Jewelry 69 GRAPHIC DESIGN 00
ION
A UE
S QUE.
MECA’s Metalsmithing and Ut idit aliqui odi derferibusa Jewelryaliqui program rivals others. dolores aut re sim all aliquis ad You will be challenged, supported, mos untusae nobis sam re natus and driven by artist-educators aut que voluptia pa endis eosame who are as passionate acercitati vendis eum imabout dellamus teaching as they are about their volliquo earis. own studio practice. Alit aut et recum hitatatus nonsece pudiore dolorro From et your very first jewelry class, you minum delendem hitmetals invel isand velendebis evelliaspero willcullab beginipicianti to develop a grounding in traditional etur, aut facillorit pa ditis aut ut eum quam craftsmanship and eumqui visual sensitivity, andvolupid a workestenis ethic nonsequ iderehenia nullaborrum you sinus, never unt imagined. denis aut officat. Your studio—your own vent bench—will your home. Millaut volore nullorecte rest, autbequam, vernam, tes Master thequatiatem technical skills of soldering, forming, aspiti num quuntis accusapelfabrication, eos exernatem raising, finishing, stoneaudit setting, and fine goldsmithing que mo est in ped molor quuntem escimus nobit in non-ferrous metals. Learn the art of enameling audam consequid excerum a dolorunt ipsam id event vel andommo the language of the multiple. eaand quiscasting, doluptae eostis siminim nosam Translate exerem traditional skills into unexpected natur a conesti umquate molorroriamaterials doluptisitlike quewood, non marble, plastics, and resin. Continue tradition con rene nulparum fuga. Neque nonet, the ut ut poritatis of holloware. unparalleled professional explace arciate Get velloreped quis eost ut at est, training. sedigeneTake your technical skills to an entirely new level tur? by grappling with theory and entering the dialogue Eque rerecabo. Nam ut aut on craft as both noun andratint verb.aut pori totatentia voluptate re pedipicatum atus si nectas dolorectatur rem quidell acepell uptatur? Quiae velestios dolupta tionsecae optas que consentet a nem il issint quam, tetum invenemporum volorib usanture nihitis quid quam es audani
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UNPARALELLED ACCESS TO FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND SPACE Facilities are equipped for jewelry making and traditional holloware. Each major will have their own bench and full access to studio equipment that includes casting, enameling, forming, and raising facilities, a small-scale lathe, desktop 3-D printer, and a CNC router.
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Metalsmithing & Jewelry 71
24/7 access is why I came to MECA. Being able to structure your studio practice however you want is important. It’s really nice to be encouraged to explore any material or idea that you’re interested in. EMILY ROGSTADT ’13 // METALSMITHING & JEWELRY // EAST CALAIS, VT 3
5 1 Matt Rand ’12 2 Amalia Guettinger ’12 3 Natalie Reed ’13 4 Emily Rogstad ’13 5 Chloe Darke ’11 6 Nicholas Downing 7 Courtney Klimowicz ’13
4
LEARN
THE PROCESSES, TECHNIQU AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF FURNITURE AND CRAFT.
UES,
Woodworking & Furniture Design 73
Discover a practice steeped in New England history—transforming Maine-grown timber and other raw materials into functional artwork. Our accomplished faculty will push you to explore different approaches while imparting design principles ranging from basic to complex. You will learn all about the expressive nature of three-dimensional form and how to take an idea full circle from conception to completion. At MECA, we encourage you to investigate a wide range of materials and processes, including wood in all forms and species, as well as casting in plastics, aluminum, bronze, and steel, fabrication and welding, upholstery, and various fibers. The majority of materials and products used in MECA’s Woodworking and Furniture Design department promote environmental sustainability. Core coursework makes you responsible for obtaining and preparing your lumber or raw materials before getting creative with steaming, bending, planing, and joinery, using both hand tools and specialized machinery. Our curriculum focuses on a balance between traditional and contemporary approaches. The knowledge and connections you make here will prepare you for a career in wood design and craftsmanship as part of the next generation of talented New Englandtrained artists.
We are extremely diverse... some of us are working very traditionally, and others are making sculptures. Just because we are the Woodworking department doesn’t mean we are only using wood as our medium. RANGELEY MORTON ’13 // WOODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN // CHLEMSFORD, MA
ENJOY ACCESS TO EXCEPTIONAL TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND EXPERTISE + Two Sawstop table saws
+ 16” Mini Max jointer
+ Powermatic panel saw
+ 8” Delta jointer
+ Shopbot CNC router
+ Router table
+ Two Mini Max bandsaws
+ Drill press
+ Delta bandsaw
+ Laguna horizontal mortiser
+ SCMI planer
+ Delta disc sanders
+ SCMI thickness sander
+ Wide range of highest quality traditional hand tools
+ Steam bending station + Festool systems (sanding/ cutting tools and vacuums) + High-quality wooden workbenches
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+ 24/7 access to individual major’s studio space and bench
1
1 Rangeley Morton ’14 2 Abby Mechanic ’13
EXPRESS
YOUR PERSONAL STYLE. STU TEXTILES AND FASHION AS THE CONTEMPORARY RESPO
S
Textile & Fashion Design 77
UDY
ONSE.
The only program of its kind in America, Textile and Fashion Design at MECA imparts a deep understanding of the design and fabrication of textiles, extensive study of the field of apparel, and exploration of creative expression through the omnipresent medium of fashion. Receive specialized instruction from top industry professionals, contemporary designers, and textile artists while becoming familiar with the vocabulary of technique, material, color, pattern, texture, form, and silhouette. Acquire the skills and experience to become a confident textile and fashion designer. Delve into material exploration, surface design, fabric manipulation and embellishment, machine knitting, silk screen printing, pattern drafting and draping, garment construction, concept development, and fashion sketching. A strong emphasis is placed on balancing hand processes with supporting technology. Textile and Fashion Design students at MECA are engaged in the process of designing collections, building portfolios, and preparing for the future through internships, sponsored studios, and guided entrepreneurship.
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Textile & Fashion Design
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Textile practices are flourishing in Maine right now and attracting attention worldwide for great design, use of beautiful local materials, and conscientious making practices that reflect the local/global movement the world is embracing. It’s the perfect moment for Textile and Fashion Design at MECA as our students respond to the traditional, innovative, edgy, independent, practical, and creative spirit of this special place. ANNE EMLEIN // ASSISTANT PROFESSOR & PROGRAM CHAIR OF TEXTILE & FASHION DESIGN
ACCESS TO MATERIALS, RESOURCES, EQUIPMENT + Industrial sewing machines + Knitting machines + Print facilities + Industry dress forms + Felting machine + Dye lab + Weaving looms
PHOTO BY SARAH BEARD BUCKLEY, MAINE MAGAZINE
1 Dresses by Allen West ’10 2 Kate Lizotte ’13 3 Kelly Brophy ’05
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Minors
1 Sam Chabot ’14
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Do you want to expand your skill set? Gain an advantage in a niche field? Demonstrate your passion in a discipline you intend to incorporate into your art, career, and life? A minor in Public Engagement, Art History, or Drawing is a great ways to expand your MECA experience. And, with just a little planning, you can embed it into your course of study. CUSTOMIZE YOUR COURSE OF STUDY. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
ART HISTORY
DRAWING
The PE minor is an extraordinary pre-professional program that exposes you to skills for a variety of careers in non-profit and educational organizations, art institutions, graduate study, and expanded notions of entrepreneurial studio practice.
The Art History minor is a natural complement to studio practice for those interested in pursuing academic investigation of a specific topic, developing research and writing skills, and demonstrating academic rigor to potential employers.
Drawing is a way of seeing.
It’s a four-year curricular pathway that integrates art, real world problems, and community partners. This course culminates in a capstone experience with a community partner. Through the PE minor, professional and interpersonal skills seamlessly flow from work at MECA to work continued out in the world as a creative and social agent.
Five upper-level courses foster critical thinking, reading, and writing. This course of study culminates in the independent investigation of a topic of your choice and a thesis paper.
The Drawing minor was designed to recognize students who have invested significant time and energy into the practice of drawing. Flexible enough to allow students in all artistic disciplines to enjoy a cumulative and substantial experience, the Drawing minor can be tailored to major areas of interest. The capstone experience requires you to use drawing in a self-directed way, so that you fully understand how you might use drawing as a tool in your work.
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100% JOB PLACEMENT: ALL OUR 2012 AND 2013 GRADUATES WERE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN THEIR CHOSEN FIELD.
TEACH WHAT YOU LOVE.
When I searched for graduate programs, I was looking for a small-sized class and a fierce course of study which emphasized an artisteducator philosophy, educational theory, and hands-on experience. MECA’s program stresses the critical practice of self-reflection and as a result, I know myself better now than I did when I first arrived. This new depth of understanding has made me better prepared to become the teacher I most want to be. I have realized that learning occurs when we reflect on the connection of information learned in the classroom to our experiences in the field. When we contextualize knowledge into our unique experiences we become more grounded and emphathetic educators. An emphasis on student-centered teaching in MECA’s art education program revealed to me that my artwork is not only a visual response to the contemporary society in which we live, but also a culmination of my experiences reflected through the lens of my identity. My work is an embodiment of my struggle to identify my position in the technologically driven and amnesiac environment we experience today. It is important to understand and empathize with each of our student’s identities for only when we know that their artwork is a reflection of their world and unique experience have we effectively taught. ASHLEIGH BURSKEY ’13 // BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI // ARTS ENRICHMENT COORDINATOR AT THE BREAKWATER SCHOOL
Art Education
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Teaching candidates from MECA design and implement a curriculum in a variety of learning environments. Pictured here, MECA students engage with Breakwater School’s middle school students at fieldwork sites around the city of Portland.
MECA’s intensive 10-month graduate-level program sets a new standard for PK-12 artist/teacher education in both practice and theory. Our dedicated faculty are artist-educators who have lived the challenges and rewards of creativity and teaching. Prepare to be innovative. Learn the dynamic art of teaching. The Art Education program at MECA prepares artists to become effective art educators who use their acquired knowledge, skills, and dispositions to creatively serve children and youth in PK-12 schools, museums, community-based and alternative settings, and virtual learning environments. As a college of art and design, MECA’s studio environment fosters the development of skills and encourages self-directed learning within a collaborative environment. TEN MONTHS TO TEACHING AUGUST INTENSIVE + The Artist as Educator Experience + Creativity and Cognition in the Arts + Frameworks for Teaching and Learning in Multicultural Environments
Both individualized and collaborative, this graduate-level program prepares you to recognize how your own personal characteristics and attributes enhance and strengthen the learning environment. As a teacher candidate, you’ll gain the tools necessary to be a reflective, successful, and culturally aware practitioner. As an artist, you will also learn innovative ways to apply or adapt these tools, and create new tools when necessary.
FALL + Exceptionality in the Art Classroom + Alternative Settings for Art Education + The Artist as Educator Experience: Art Studio + K-12 Curriculum Design, Development and Assessment SPRING + K-12 Student Teaching + Professional Practices Seminar
MECA’s interdisciplinary Art Ed program blends theory and research with practical, action-based learning in hands-on settings that enrich both creativity and critical thinking. Fieldwork, which is an essential component of the curriculum, turns theory into practice.
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Master of Fine Arts
From the first moment of your first eight-week summer intensive, you experience a truly individualized education. Studio-based, with our renowned Visiting Artist Series and a Non-Resident Studio Advisor (NRSA) chosen specifically for you, wherever you decide to base your home studio—whether it’s Portland, Maine; Portland, Oregon; or São Paolo, Brazil. Work, critique, and network with artists around the world and in your home studio. Whether you want to teach, write a book, talk about your work—and of course, keep making—this low-residency program is grounded in a studio practice that culminates in a final thesis residency. We prepare you for the Thesis Defense that enables you to pursue a rewarding career as a professional artist. The MFA in Studio Art at MECA is built upon a vibrant and rigorous studio practice. Our unique interdisciplinary approach asks students to think across traditional boundaries, challenge themselves in new ways, and focus on becoming inventive, skilled, self-disciplined, engaged makers in the world and in their own communities. MORE INFO: MFA@MECA.EDU // 800.699.1509
The concentrated focus required during the 8-week summer session showed me what I was capable of, and was a time of intense inspiration. The challenging program and truly fantastic faculty helped set a new benchmark for me in productivity and exploration of new ideas. JARRETT MELLENBRUCH // MFA ’14 // KANSAS CITY, KANSAS
LOW-RESIDENCY MFA IN STUDIO ART
1 Adam Robertson MFA ’13 2 Marina Eckler MFA ’13
1
2
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Pre-College
Discover your future as an artist or entrepreneur. A threeweek immersion experience, Pre-College is the first step to finding creative freedom while living life as a college student. Study Graphic Design, Illustration, Painting, Photography or other media. Build a portfolio that articulates your ideas and reveals your technical and critical skills—and helps you get into the college of your choice.
I’ve learned that it’s okay to try new things. Although working with new mediums and thinking more creatively may be scary, taking those risks made me a better artist. ALEXA KANTOR // PLEASANTVILLE, NY
Make new friends. Have fun. Be part of a small artistic community of like-minded, creative young adults. Start expressing yourself—and begin to find your voice as an artist in the process. Students who complete the Pre-College program earn three academic credits. All Pre-College students who apply and are admitted into MECA’s BFA program automatically receive a $1,500/year grant, renewable for four years. All rising seniors also receive an undergraduate fee waiver from the Office of Admissions upon completion of the Pre-College program. Get grounded in MECA’s Foundation Core Curriculum. A unique blend of traditional and cutting-edge, Foundation courses in drawing and design prepare you for your future as an artist. If you are considering a career in art, design, or craft, Pre-College at MECA is a great place to start.
Continuing Studies 87
ADULT PROGRAMS ARTIST RETREAT SERIES (SUMMER) A series of workshops and week-long intensives provide creative rejuvenation for summer visitors and yearround locals. Escape to an island where you make your own basket or explore sketchbook techniques. CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS A variety of courses support professional development at all career stages. Faculty members bring real-world experience into our studios. Learn the basics of design software, experience an intensive critique, or get the practical, personalized information you need to grow a small business. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ART EDUCATORS Courses, workshops, and week-long intensives provide opportunities for art educators to reinvigorate creative and artistic skills to bring back to the classroom. Art teachers are also eligible for a special CS discount. NON-DEGREE PROGRAM We serve individuals not currently seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree but who wish to further their education in the arts, liberal arts or art history by taking courses in MECA’s BFA program. Students in the Non-Degree Program accumulate college credit for the courses in which they are enrolled.
YOUTH PROGRAMS ART ACADEMY (AGES 9-12) Art education helps develop a child’s creativity, imagination, cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, and much more. Art Academy classes are designed to provide a creative outlet for children that can play a major role in their development. STUDIO SCHOOL (AGES 13-17) Studio School offers half-day courses in a variety of mediums for high school students on Saturdays during the academic year. Week-long intensives are offered in the summer.
Give yourself or someone else the gift of profound personal enrichment and/or professional development. Whether you want to pursue a creative passion, learn a practical skill, or experiment with a new medium, the Continuing Studies department at MECA has a class for you. Choose from a variety of disciplines, including textile and fashion design, printmaking, new media, and creative writing. Select the format that’s right for you, whether it’s one day, one weekend, or four to twelve weeks. Three terms per year— fall, winter, and summer— give you more chances to pursue your dreams. Full-time MECA students may take one CS course each semester tuition-free. Some restrictions may apply. CS faculty are a combination of practicing artists active in the community, alumni of the college, and professors in the BFA and MFA programs who are committed to providing an enriching education in an intimate learning environment for students at all levels of experience.
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The Porteous Building
The facilities at MECA are incredible. We are really lucky to have such a vertical campus all under one roof and 24/7 access. The building is always alive, especially since every student has a key to the front door. JERRICA DEMERS ’13 // METALSMITHING & JEWELRY // DOVER, NH
Located in the historic five-floor Porteous Building in the heart of downtown Portland’s vibrant Arts District, the MECA community thrives within 200,000 square feet of studio facilities, academic classrooms, computer labs, and administrative services. Every BFA major has 24/7 access to individual studio space and/or specialized labs.
DINING: MADE TO ORDER Our newly renovated student café offers versatile space for students to enjoy meals, hang out, and make themselves at home. Our dedicated kitchen staff use the freshest local ingredients and are always willing to customize a meal to suit your tastes and dietary preferences.
TECHNOLOGY FOR MAKERS AND CREATORS MECA students enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi throughout the entire campus. Tech support is available to help out with any needs, from software installation to computer diagnostic issues. Access to color printing, large format color printing, CNC routers, and 3D printers support the creative process.
EXPLORE EXCEPTIONAL FACILITIES, RESOURCES, AND
SPACE.
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The Institute of Contemporary Art
This exquisite space is where gallery, theater, classroom, workplace, and studio collide. Take in a cutting-edge show. Curate an exhibition. Attend a lecture. Install work—perhaps even your own. The Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at MECA features innovative exhibitions and public programs that showcase new perspectives and trends in contemporary art. A lively schedule of public programming includes lectures, workshops, and performances. Located in stunning galleries in our landmark Porteous Building, the ICA at MECA presents innovative work by local, national, and international artists. A unique resource to the MECA community, the ICA offers insight into the practices of the professional field and firsthand experiences with renowned visiting artists. Internships and work-study positions are also available, providing handson museum experiences ranging from the research and development of exhibitions to teaching to museum management. 1
THE ICA AT MECA: MORE THAN A MUSEUM
2 1 Whales and Nails exhibit by Dan DenDanto 2 “Return to
Forever,” HD video loop by Michael Bell-Smith
The Joanne Waxman Library 91
WHERE THE CLASSROOM AND STUDIO CONVERGE
Read. Write. Draw. Think. Natural light bathes reading and study areas. Enormous Chicago-style windows and restored ceilings overlook Portland’s bustling Congress Street. A variety of study environments accommodate different learning styles. Wireless internet access keeps you connected. Tables and carrels, designed and built by Jamie Johnston, faculty member and founder of MECA’s Woodworking and Furniture Design program, provide study, meeting, and class space to suit all user needs. At MECA’s library, form meets function, beautifully.
LIBRARY AT A GLANCE + One of the largest independent libraries in Northern New England with over 40,000 volumes + Unique and extensive materials in the art and design fields + Growing collection of artist books and zines + Special collection of 19th and 20th century rare and historical publications + A major art research resource for the region + Online art and design resources, including digital image collections and full-text articles + Reciprocal borrowing privileges through GPACU (Greater Portland Alliance of Colleges and Universities) libraries and through the state-wide library consortium + The Portland Museum of Art donated their complete library of over 5,000 items to the Joanne Waxman Library in 2013
TAP YOUR CREATIVITY AND
UNLOCK
YOUR FULL POTENTIAL. SO MUCH TO DO. SO LITTLE TIME. TAKE A STROLL… + First Friday Art Walk + Eastern & Western Promenades + Scenic Back Cove + Soak in the waterfront and historic Old Port
EXTRA- AND CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES
ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
+ Alternative Spring Break (partnership with Public Engagement)
+ Hiking trips
+ Stress relief massages + BBQs
+ MECA Family Weekend
+ Community service opportunities
+ MECA Film Fest (Collaboration with New Media)
+ Holiday celebrations + Karaoke nights
+ Orientation
+ Late night L.L. Bean trips
+ Portland Area Resource Fair
+ Midnight movie premieres
+ Local Film Festivals
+ Senior Week
+ On-campus dances
+ Alive at Five Concert Series
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS ADDRESSED VIA ACTIVE AND PASSIVE PROGRAMMING
+ Open mic nights
+ Merrill Auditorium
+ Dating and Relationship Violence Prevention
+ Super Bowl Party
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY...
+ Living Off-Campus
+ Video game tournaments
+ Too many coffee shops to list
+ Safer Sex
+ Marcy’s Diner
+ Safety in the City
+ Mr. Bagel
+ Spirituality
+ Portland Public Market
+ Stress Relief
+ Otto’s Pizza
+ Voter Engagement
+ Special events @ SPACE
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT POSITIONS
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
+ Beaches and lighthouses galore
BE ENTERTAINED... + $5 Tuesdays, Nickelodeon Theater + SPACE Gallery
+ State Theatre + Port City Music Hall + Portland Stage Co.
+ Hundreds of incredible restaurants, most within walking distance
CREATE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE...
+ Multiculturalism and Diversity
+ Portland Pirates hockey games + Pop-up photobooths + Spirit week + Apple picking
MECA DISCOUNTS + Gym memberships + METRO passes + Movie tickets
Students are always encouraged to form new groups
+ Orientation Leaders
+ Running Club + Cycling Club
+ Stargaze at the Observatory
+ Resident Assistants (for the BFA year & Pre College)
+ Surf Higgins Beach
+ Programming Assistants
+ Futbol Club (Soccer Team)
+ Kayak off East End Beach
+ Student Affairs Graduate Assistantship
+ Gaming Group
+ Take the sunrise ferry to Peaks Island
+ Catch a Portland Sea Dogs game + Bowl a string at Bayside Bowl + Explore one of the Farmers’ Markets within walking distance from campus + Get lost in the stacks at Longfellow Books, the Portland Public Library, or any number of used bookstores
+ Summer Orientation Assistant
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES + Event planning + Marketing + Executive board positions in clubs and organizations
+ Fiber Arts Group
+ Gardening Club + Maine Type Lab (Graphic Design group) + MECA C.A.R.E (Celebrating All Realms of Ethnicity) + MECA H.O.P.E (Helping Our People to Equality, our LGBTQ & Allied group) + Non-Traditional Student Group + Student Senate + Theater Arts Club
Campus Life 93
This is home. It’s where you will find a sense of camaraderie, mindfulness, and mutual respect. It’s where you will build friendships that last a lifetime. You have chosen a way of life. Whether you want to be an artist, entrepreneur, designer, or craftsperson, a graphic designer, costume designer, multi-media artist, or furniture maker, we understand this is personal. Just as there’s no one quite like you, there’s no place quite like MECA, either. MECA helps you live, breathe, and dream true the things that mean the most to you.
HOUSING AT MECA Each of our three residence halls has its own character, and each is a tight-knit community. Choose from a lively social atmosphere of mostly first-year students in single and double rooms with shared bathrooms at Oak Street. Share a two-or four-person apartment at the somewhat more mellow Shepley with mostly second-and third-year students. Or, enjoy a great sense of independent living with the benefits of on-campus living by sharing a two-person apartment in Miles Standish.
From your first day of orientation, you will feel you’ve arrived. There’s a lot of talk out there in the world about community. We are community. We value individuals. Maybe that is one of the reasons so many of our alumni choose to stay in Portland. As part of the MECA immersion experience, all first-year students are required to live on campus in one of our three residence halls.* Many students choose to return to the residence halls year after year. Each one has its own character. Social, recreational, and educational events are studentdriven. Gender-neutral housing is available by request. *Exceptions may be made for commuters and transfer students.
A VIBRANT AND SAFE COMMUNITY
24/7
STUDENT RESOURCES LEARNING STUDIO
The Learning Studio is based on the premise that collaborative one-on-one sessions addressing writing, reading, and study skills are among the most effective ways to support learning. By helping students mobilize their reading, writing, and thinking skills we support them in their quest to become better equipped, life-long learners. Our philosophy is that writing, as a creative and intellectual activity, can inform and enrich an artist’s studio practice. The ability to communicate about your work, whether in an artist’s statement, a grant proposal, or a post-graduation residency application is critical. Writing can also foster self-expression, individuality, independent thinking, and listening skills. We work with students at all levels to develop strategies that work for the individual. There is no one way to write a paper, study for a test, or manage your time. The Learning Studio will give you the tools to find your way, or just kick it up a notch. LEARNING ACCOMMODATIONS
MECA is committed to providing access, accommodations, and services to students with disabilities. We strive to ensure that students with disabilities have the necessary tools to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. Our small size ensures that faculty are genuinely able to work one-on-one with students in the implementation of reasonable accommodations. These partnerships between students and faculty, and between students and the Office of Student Affairs, are essential to student success. COUNSELING & WELLNESS
MECA’s licensed counselors are committed to assisting students achieve both personal and academic success. We strive to help students reach their goals, increase their self-understanding, resolve problems, and enhance coping skills. We provide support and encouragement in a non-judgmental setting where diversity is respected and celebrated. Students are welcome to seek counseling for any reason. Counselors are available on-site to provide free and confidential clinical counseling, crisis intervention, and outreach. MECA counselors are also available to assist with referrals to appropriate outpatient resources and providers. Crisis support is available 24 hours/7 days a week.
Student Engagement 95
You need never try to cope with issues alone at MECA. We know the unexpected can happen when you least expect it, and we are ready and able to help you manage those moments. Our full-time Director of Residential Education and Housing lives in Shepley and is dedicated to supporting students’ personal development. The Director is supported by a team of Resident Advisors (RAs), each one of whom is responsible for a specific floor and/or building. Available to residents as needed, whether in the capacity of mentor, role model, student leader, event planner, student affairs support staff, upholder of policy, or friendly peer with answers, RAs serve on a rotating schedule that ensures at least one of them is available daily from 9 pm to 9 am. We take every aspect of your MECA experience seriously, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep. Our full-time Director of Student Involvement reinforces our commitment to your holistic development and has a presence that is tangible from the moment you arrive for orientation. The Office of Campus Engagement, which is supported by a team of well-trained student workers, is a key resource for student advocacy, student activities, and personal growth. Whether you are interested in starting a club, becoming a student leader, or expanding upon the College’s extraor intra-curricular offerings, support is at hand. We don’t stand in the way of obstacles—we help you overcome them.
It’s the first place I’ve ever been where I could be myself. NICK LEGERE ’14 // CERAMICS // ACTON, ME
MECA IS COMMITTED
to making our exceptional educational experience affordable. Welcoming students of all income levels is at the heart of who we are. When financial aid is factored in, many students are surprised to find that the cost of attending MECA is comparable to or less than that of a state school. —PRESIDENT DONALD TUSKI, PH.D.
INVEST IN YOUR FUTURE. MECA’s Financial Aid staff is available to assist you with the application process. Email finaid@MECA.edu or telephone 1.800.639.4808 ext. 5074. SCHOLARSHIP & GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
+ MECA Merit Awards + MECA Scholarships + MECA Grants + Federal Pell Grants + Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants + National Scholastic Art Award Scholarships + Portland Area School Scholarships + MECA Endowed/Restricted Scholarships for Returning Students + State Grants
To apply for aid, including loans: Free Application for Federal Student Aid Site at fafsa.ed.gov (MECA’s FAFSA code is 011673) For detailed info on how to finance your MECA education, visit meca.edu/finaid.
Financing Your Education 97
Financial aid programs and services assist students and families with paying for college. Over 90% of Maine College of Art’s BFA degree students receive some type of financial assistance. Students at MECA receive more than $4 million annually in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Consistent with our Artists at Work Program, MECA provides a variety of on-campus job opportunities as well as support to find off-campus employment.
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Transferring to MECA
I came from a very large university and it just wasn’t for me. I’ve always loved Portland. It’s right by the ocean and there’s always something to do. I’m never bored here. MELISSA BATTOE ’15 // NEW MEDIA // CAMBRIDGE, VT
TAKE YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARD CREATIVE FREEDOM.
Maine College of Art welcomes the diversity and range of experiences transfer students bring to our learning community. Members of our admissions staff are available to meet with you to review your transcripts and determine how your previously earned credits will apply to MECA’s curricular requirements.
TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS MECA has scholarship funds designated specifically for transfer students ranging from $8,000 to $14,000 per year. These scholarships are renewable each semester of enrollment provided the student maintains good academic standing. All admissions requirements must be completed prior to receiving notification of the level of scholarship funding.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS The application procedure for transfer students (anyone who has previously matriculated at another college or university) requires submission of all college transcripts in addition to items listed on page 100. We recommend that course descriptions for any studio and/or art history courses be included for review. If you have earned at least 60 credits, a bachelor’s or an associate’s degree at an accredited institution, no high school transcript is required.
Study Abroad & Exchange Opportunities 99
Invest yourself in the experience, and your time at MECA will transform your life. And yet, as much as we love having you here, we are committed to helping you shape the ideal experience for you. STUDY ABROAD
CHINA ACADEMY OF ART, the Province
Would you like to experience the world from an entirely different perspective? Immerse yourself in an entirely different culture? Be more independent and form new relationships? Increase employment prospects and networking reach? Enrich your personal development? Study abroad can change your life. Unlike many other colleges, we don’t give you a choice of several international programs to consider—instead, we work with you to identify the right international experience for you, based on your professional and personal goals.
of Zhejiang, P.R. China
MECA also has pre-existing agreements with several international schools including: STUDIO ART CENTERS INTERNATIONAL
(SACI) Florence, Italy saci-florence.org CORTONA, ITALY through the University of Georgia franklin.uga.edu/cortona/ BURREN COLLEGE OF ART
Burren, Ireland burrencollege.ie
ACADEMY OF VISUAL ARTS, HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
Hong Kong ava.hkbu.edu.hk Questions regarding study abroad and exchange programs should be directed to the Office of Registration and Academic Advising. Your faculty mentor can also help you identify ideal opportunities. AICAD MOBILITY PROGRAM MECA participates in the mobility program of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). This program allows full-time MECA students to study for one semester of their junior year at one of the participating art and design colleges throughout the United States and Canada. It offers the experience and benefit of studying at a different school and living in a different geographic area with the ease of reciprocal credits. Note that the host school retains the right to accept or decline an application.
Also through the AICAD mobility program, MECA students have the opportunity to study at the NEW YORK STUDIO SCHOOL. The AICAD/New York Studio Residency Program (NYSRP) is located in DUMBO, Brooklyn, New York. Participating students benefit from individual studio spaces at the NYSRP, weekly critique sessions, and a diverse seminar/visiting artist program, which includes a comprehensive introduction to the New York art world. Students earn sixteen credits and a letter grade toward their undergraduate or graduate degree. An application is required and must be approved by both MECA and NYSRP. nysrp.aicad.org GREATER PORTLAND ALLIANCE OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (GPACU) Cross-registration at the five participating Greater Portland institutions, including the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE and the UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND, expands the number and type of courses available to MECA students.
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Applying to MECA
MECA’s community is as diverse and unique as each individual student. Each new student adds immeasurably to the vibrancy of our community. 4. Official high school transcripts or official scored report of the General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Transcripts will be considered official if they arrive at MECA in an envelope that is stamped and sealed by the issuing institution. The applicant can deliver transcripts as long as they are in an unopened envelope, stamped and sealed by the issuing institution. 5. Two letters of recommendation, preferably from two of the following: art teacher, guidance counselor, current academic teacher, and/or employer.
BFA ADMISSIONS Applications are evaluated individually, with consideration given to the strength of an individual’s portfolio as well as academic achievement. MECA invites applications from individuals, including traditional, non-traditional, veteran, international, and transfer students, who will contribute to the diversity of its student body. MECA encourages students to apply by the priority application deadline. Each applicant is considered for merit-based scholarships upon completion. APPLICATION PROCESS BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS
To apply for admission as a fullor part-time Bachelor of Fine Arts degree-seeking student, the following items must be submitted: 1. A completed application form. 2. A non-refundable $40 application fee ($60 for international applicants). 3. A personal statement. The ability to write effectively and communicate clearly is essential to success in college. All applicants must submit a typed 500-word essay on the following: Why art? Why MECA?
6. A portfolio of 15-20 pieces of recent artwork. Ideally, a selection of these pieces should be done from direct observation. Official portfolio reviews can be conducted in person with the actual artwork during campus visits, open houses, portfolio days, and high school visits. Work can also be submitted digitally. Please visit our website for details. 7. SAT/ACT or other test scores are optional. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Maine College of Art welcomes applications from international students. All of the above-mentioned materials must be submitted in English. If English is a second language, English proficiency exam results such as the TOEFL are required. Due to the time involved in fulfilling legal requirements, international applicants should begin the application process to MECA at least six months in advance of the planned entry date. The non-refundable application fee for international students living in or outside the US is $60 in U.S. currency. TRANSFER STUDENTS
If you are currently enrolled at another college or have previously earned college credit, you are welcome to apply and join our thriving population of transfer students. Please add official transcripts from each college or university attended.
BFA APPLICATION DEADLINES Maine College of Art has a priority deadline of March 1. MECA also recommends that each applicant complete the FAFSA application according to their guidelines and by March 1. DECEMBER 1
Early Action Deadline: if you complete your application by December 1, we will contact you with the decision by the third week in December. MARCH 1
Application Priority Deadline. This is also the recommended FAFSA priority deadline. Applications will be received and reviewed after March 1 on a space-available basis. NON-DEGREE SEEKING
Applicants not seeking a degree may apply for non-degree seeking student status and participate in selected BFA courses. BEING ACCEPTED
Once an application is complete, the applicant will receive an admissions decision within three weeks. When an offer has been extended, the accepted applicant will be informed of the Enrollment Process. APPLICATION CHECKLIST 1. A completed application form 2. A non-refundable $40 application fee ($60 for international applicants) 3. Essay: Why art? Why MECA? 4. Official high school transcripts or GED 7. Two letters of recommendation 6. Portfolio Interview 7. Optional: SAT/ACT scores TRANSFER STUDENTS
Include all official college transcripts.
Find out more at meca.edu
VISIT MECA To understand the special nature of the MECA community, we highly encourage you to visit campus either at an open house or individual campus visit. An on-campus visit will give you and your family the opportunity to see MECA’s amazing facilities, walk through our studios, talk with our students and faculty, and have a personal interview and portfolio review. Open Houses are scheduled for select Saturdays throughout the academic year and individual campus visits are typically available Monday to Friday. To schedule your visit, please contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@MECA.edu, or phone 800.699.1509. TO LEARN MORE about the application and enrollment processes
at Maine College of Art, please visit our website: meca.edu.
P R I M A RY PH OTOG R APH Y: GR E TA RYBU S, GABRIE LLA ST U RCHIO ’1 2 C O N T RIB U T IN G P HOTO GRAP HY: A A RO N FL AC K E , GRE GO RY RE C , E L L E N M A RIE S HE R WO O D, A N N A S C H WA RTZ, TONEE HA RBE RT (ART S D IST RICT ), DAVID MCLAN E / AU RO RA P H OTO S IL LU ST RAT IO N : M A RTY B RAU N & SA RA H M O H A M M A D I ’ 1 3 D E S I G N: S I MMO NS A R DE L L
BFA Majors
+ ILLUSTRATION
+ GRAPHIC DESIGN
+ NEW MEDIA
+ PHOTOGRAPHY
+ PRINTMAKING
+ SCULPTURE
+ PAINTING
+ CERAMICS
+ METALSMITHING & JEWELRY
+ W OODWORKING & FURNITURE DESIGN
+ TEXTILE & FASHION DESIGN
Master of Arts in Teaching
Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art
800.699.1509 | MECA.EDU 522 CONGRESS ST, PORTLAND, ME 04101