Programs Vancouver Island School of Art
Mission Statement The Vancouver Island School of Art is a learning community dedicated to the advancement of art education through comprehensive programs and presentations for adults of all ages. The focus of the courses and workshops offered by the school is on technique, personal expression and contemporary context.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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About VISa
GOING TO ART SCHOOL
PRogramS of study
cERTIFICATE OF VISUAL ARTS
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dIPLOMA OF FINE ARTS
iNDEPENDENT STUDIO PROGRAM (ISP)
iNDIVIDUAL COURSES & WORKSHOPS
COURSES: ART FUNDAMENTALS, DRAWING
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COURSES: PAINTING, SCULPTURe
COURSES: PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO, ART HISTORY
COURSES: CRITICAL STUDIES, PRINTMAKING, DIRECTED STUDIES
FACULTY, SLIDE ROOM GALLERY
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FACTS ABOUT VISA
LIFE AFTER VISA
UNIVERSITY TRANSFER AGREEMENTS
about The Vancouver Island School of Art (VISA) is a private post secondary school founded by artist and instructor Wendy Welch in 2004. VISA students range in age from 18—80 and vary in experience from complete beginners to practicing artists. There is a place for everyone here. VISA follows the tradition of many art schools such as Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and more alternative art schools such as the Bauhaus and Black Mountain College. These institutions were all founded and directed by artists whose mandate was the personal artistic development of each student. Programs offered at VISA are the Certificate of Visual Arts, the Diploma of Fine Arts, and the Independent Studio Program; students can also take individual courses and workshops. The Certificate of Visual Arts program is transferable to Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver, and the Diploma of Fine Arts program is transferable to the University of Gloucestershire in the UK. VISA is centrally located in a heritage Arts & Crafts building in the heart of the Quadra Village neighbourhood, just a 15 minute walk from downtown Victoria. The school is close to many amenities and major bus routes. VISA has an excellent reference library, printmaking facilities, wood shop area, darkroom and an independently run art gallery, the Slide Room Gallery.
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GOING TO ART SCHOOL Vancouver Island School of Art offers a different environment than most colleges or universities with it’s small class sizes (usually 12—16 students) and a very friendly and accessible staff who are familiar with all students. The small size of the school and VISA’s strong presence in the local art scene allow students to quickly find a sense of community and belonging. Instructors at VISA are also practicing artists who convey their first hand knowledge of what it means to be an artist in the world today. Studio courses at VISA focus on teaching students the fundamental skills necessary to use and apply materials as well as how to think in a more conceptual way to develop a sense of personal style and expression. Art history and critical studies courses combine a lecture format with ample opportunity for discussion and debate.
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four programs of study
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Certificate of Visual Arts
(one year full time or maximum four years part time)
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Diploma of Fine Arts
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Independent Studio Program (ISP)
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(three years full time or maximum five years part time)
(one year full time)
Individual Courses and Workshops
(on-going, no application required)
Note: One year of study = two 13 week semesters
www.vancouverislandschoolart.com
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programs of study 1
certificate of visual arts The Certificate of Visual Arts provides students with an excellent grounding in the basics of art including drawing, painting, art fundamentals, sculpture, photography, critical studies and art history. This program culminates with a graduation exhibition in April. The Certificate of Visual Arts is transferable to the second year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Media Arts or Bachelor of Design degree at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design in Vancouver.
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diploma of fine arts The Diploma of Fine Arts is a three year program where students learn the basics of art (first year of Diploma is the same as the one year Certificate Program) and then go on to develop their own artistic direction. In the third year of the Diploma program students have work in their own studio space with 24 hour access. The focus in the final year is on developing a body of work to show in the graduation exhibition in June. The Diploma of Fine Arts program is transferable to the University of Gloucestershire in the UK. Students can complete a Bachelor of Art in Fine Arts in eight months with a VISA Diploma.
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independent studio program (ISP) The Independent Studio Program (ISP) provides 24 hour access to a studio space in one of our bright spacious classrooms. The ISP program includes regular one-on-one critique sessions with an advisor, and an informative weekly group seminar that consists of lively presentations and discussion about contemporary art. This program is for people who have a diploma or degree from an art school or art program at a university. It offers an arts community for students looking for feedback and who want to develop a professional practice or prepare an application for a Masters of Fine Arts degree. Over a period of two semesters (Fall and Winter), each ISP student works with an advisor who offers critical feedback, technical support and general guidance in the realm of becoming a professional artist. Activities such as individual and group critiques, guest lectures, and gallery visits are consistent features of the program. Students are also mentored in the submission processes for both public and private galleries, residencies, granting agencies and graduate schools.
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individual courses and workshops The Vancouver Island School of Art offers a series of 12-week courses in the fall semester (Sept—Dec) and winter semester (Jan—Apr), and 6-week courses in the spring (May—June). Weekend workshops are offered throughout the year; longer workshops, three, four and five-day, are offered during July and August. Students not enrolled in the Certificate, Diploma or ISP programs can request to be graded, ensuring that their courses will apply towards a program at a later date.
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courses art fundamentals Art Fundamentals courses at VISA include the principles and elements of design and colour theory These courses offer students a foundation that can be used the development of work that is based in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and graphic design.
drawing Drawing courses start with teaching basic skills such as how to use the materials, surface considerations as well as learning about line, negative space, shading, perspective and proportion. Second year level courses focus more on thematic approaches such as narrative, decoration, mapping, architecture and abstraction. In third year level drawing courses students work on a chosen theme for the entire semester.
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painting Painting courses include the use of acrylic, watercolour and oil. Students learn fundamental techniques such as brush handling, colour mixing, glazing and building a stretcher frame. Subject matter at the introductory level includes still life, portraits, figures and landscape. Second year painting courses focus on thematic approaches to painting that range from representational to abstract, with an emphasis on personal expression. In advanced painting courses students develop a personal theme and body of work over two semesters.
sculpture Sculpture introduces students to working with three-dimensional forms and to the ways in which contemporary artists use a range of materials including hand-made, purchased and found. The focus is on using materials to express formal and conceptual concerns, with an emphasis on understanding craftsmanship.
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photography and video Photography includes both digital and analog cameras, with a darkroom option for students who are interested. Students will gain practical knowledge on how to use a camera and photo editing software as well as how to see photography as a conceptual language. Video art courses include learning how to use a video camera, editing and working with sound.
art history Art History at VISA includes four separate courses that cover the period from the Baroque to end of the 20th Century: Baroque to Realism, 1600-1850, Impressionism to Early Modernism, 1850-1915, Dada to Pop, 1915-1965, Minimalism to End of Century, 1965-2000. Each course has a required textbook(s) along with supplemental readings.
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critical studies Critical Studies are courses that focus on how to analyze works of art in a contemporary cultural context. Course format includes lecture and seminar discussion. Critical Studies teaches students how to talk and write about works of art as well as to develop their critical thinking skills.
printmaking Printmaking courses and workshops offer an introduction to some basic methods including dry point, intaglio, woodblock, photo-etching, monoprints, collography and silk screen.
directed studies Students in their second year of the Diploma program, or artists with some previous experience, can enroll in Directed Studies. This course consists of independently developing a personal project over twelve weeks. Students meet with an advisor on a bi-weekly basis to discuss progress of project, ending with an invited guest instructor who participates in the last session.
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faculty VISA’s faculty are professional artists with teaching experience. Our regular faculty have graduate degrees in art. Many of our faculty members also teach at the University of Victoria. Most of the faculty at VISA are recipients of arts awards such as the Canada Council and BC Arts Council project grants. They also exhibit on a regular basis, both locally and nationally. Below is instructor Jeremy Herndl preparing for an exhibition at the Surrey Art Gallery in the Fall of 2013.
slide room gallery The Slide Room Gallery is located on the lower level of VISA and is a separate non-profit organization, with their own Board of Directors. The gallery is used to showcase the work of professional artists and to host student graduation exhibitions. The gallery’s mandate is to show group exhibitions (three person or more) of contemporary work created by local or national artists. The gallery is a compliment to the school’s mission statement with its focus on education (through curator’s talks and Curatorial Directed Studies) and contemporary art.
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facts about VISA • Age: 10 years old as of September 2014 • Individual students to date: 2500 + • Graduates from Certificate & Diploma programs to date: 105 + • Number of courses and workshops offered to date: 1391 + • Number of regular faculty members: 12 • Pop-Up Art: Twenty-three students participated in a Pop-Up Art project involving 40 works in empty Victoria store fronts during the summer of 2013; the project was sponsored by Downtown Victoria Business Association. • Crystal Pool Mural Project: Seventeen of our students participated in the mural that is currently installed at the Crystal Pool on Quadra Street. The mural is comprised of 28 panels and is a total of 222 feet long and 8 feet high. • Artist Talks: VISA hosts talks by well-known local and national artists including: Vancouver-based artists Landon MacKenzie and Ben Reeves, LA-based artist, Etienne Zack, Seattle-based artist, Whiting Tennis and Michelle Jacques (Chief Curator of the AGGV). A complete list can be found on the event page of the VISA website. • Art Events: Community-oriented free art events such as Collage Parties, Doodle Drawing and Movie Nights happen on a regular basis in the Slide Room Gallery. • Graffiti Art: VISA is home to an ever-changing graffiti murals in the back of the school. • The People’s Apothecary: A student-initiated garden project with over 50 kinds of medicinal and culinary hers was created on our property in 2011. • Community Collaborations: VISA students have done collaborative projects with the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and Open Space Arts Centre. • Exhibitions: VISA students and alumni have exhibited their work at the Jennifer Kostiuk Gallery (Vancouver), Xchanges, Open Space, Community Arts Council as well as in restaurants such as Mole, the Oswego Hotel, MLA offices and doctors offices. They have also been included in juried exhibitions such as the Sooke Art Show and the Sidney Art Show. • Scholarships: VISA students have received $5,000 BC Arts Council Scholarships, as well as The Victoria Arts Legacy Scholarship and scholarships to study at Metchosin International Summer School of the Arts; VISA Alumni have also received scholarships from the University of Gloucestershire in the UK.
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life after VISA Completion of a program at VISA prepares students to become professional artists who are ready to participate in group and solo exhibitions, attend artist residencies, pursue further education at a university level (either at the Bachelor or Masters level) as well as seek out employment in a variety of arts-related organizations.
Careers in the Arts • Professional exhibiting artist (selling work through galleries and/or on-line) • Teacher at community centres or private classes • Administrative or Curatorial Assistant in a gallery or museum • Administrative Assistant in arts organizations or governmental departments • Graphic Designer, the skills learned at VISA can be applied to graphic design • Book or magazine illustrator • Art supply business
The Vancouver Island School of Art has become an essential part of the cultural landscape of the city. Creating a cultural hub in the Quadra village through its classes in studio, cultural theory and art history, ongoing arts events, as well as the Slide Room Gallery, this small vibrant centre is a unique offering amongst local art institutions. Offering professionally trained faculty who are active in the field, this school gives students in the early stages of their training as well as mature students who wish to study part time, critical training in contemporary art practices. In a city the size of Victoria, arts offerings that create a sense of community within a credentialled environment which encourages both critically engaged and hands-on approaches to visual art, are crucial in building on the vibrancy of the city’s cultural production. Lisa Baldissera, Curator of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (1999-2009)
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university transfer AGREEMENTS Certificate of Visual Arts = First year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Media Arts, or Bachelor of Design at Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD), Vancouver, BC
Diploma of Fine Arts =
First three years of the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts at the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK
Vancouver Island School of Art 2549 Quadra Street Victoria, BC Canada V8T 4E1 250.380.3500
info@vancouverislandschoolart.com
www.vancouverislandschoolart.com
Program Design: Laura Lasby
Vancouver Island School of Art is accredited with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency (PCTIA). The Vancouver Island School of Art is a non-profit society registered in the Province of British Columbia and a Registered Charity with Revenue Canada: 86392 1433 RR0001.
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I loved every moment of art school. To this day, if friends with kids in trouble ask for advice, I tell them to send the kid to art school. A few times the advice has been taken, and it’s always worked out well.
Art, you are my jackhammer.
Art, you are my bulldozer.
Art, you are the force behind the hands
that allowed me to break out of jail. Douglas Coupland ‘High School Confidential’, The Walrus, July/August 2006
Vancouver Island School of Art 25 4 9 Q ua d r a S t r e e t, V i c t o r i a , B C C a n a da
V8T 4E1
250.380.3500 | info@vancouverislandschoolart.com | www.vancouverislandschoolart.com