3
VCUarts is a place of palpable energy
vibrant
a art school within a major university in a
thriving city
5
We are
world class and affordable
7
Welcome.
VCUarts is the
PUBLIC ARTS AND DESIGN SCHOOL IN THE U.S. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
#
91% 90% 83% 48%
OF POLLED SENIORS PARTICIPATED IN PRACTICUMS, INTERNSHIPS, ETC. DURING THEIR SENIOR YEAR N
OF ALUMNI WERE SATISFIED WITH THEIR INSTRUCTORS IN CLASSES, LABS AND STUDIOS S
93% 84% OF ALUMNI WERE SATISFIED WITH THEIR FREEDOM/ ENCOURAGEMENT TO TAKE RISKS S
93% 81% OF ALUMNI RATE THEIR VCUARTS EXPERIENCE AS EXCELLENT OR GOOD S
OF ALUMNI APPRECIATED THE ABILITY TO TAKE NON-ARTS CLASSES S
OF ALUMNI WERE HAPPY WITH THE CHANCES THEY HAD TO PERFORM, EXHIBIT OR PRESENT THEIR WORK AS STUDENTS S
S:2 013 Strategic National Arts Alumni Survey N:2 013 National Survey of Student Engagement
OF ALUMNI WOULD RECOMMEND VCUARTS TO OTHER STUDENTS S 11
FULLY ACCREDITED
BY THE N U MBE R S
OF FRESHMEN HAVE EXCELLENT OR GOOD EXPERIENCES N
VCUarts
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
2,885 16 STUDENTS AT VCUARTS, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
STUDENTS— AVERAGE ENROLLMENT IN STUDIO CLASSES
18
168
15
1928
BACHELOR’S DEGREES OFFERED ACROSS
ARTS DEPARTMENTS
167 FULL-TIME VCUARTS FACULTY
ARTS STUDENTS PURSUING A DOUBLE MAJOR
THE YEAR VCUARTS WAS FOUNDED
VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
VCUarts Qatar VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS QATAR CAMPUS
31,242 323 5 108 62 38 1 , 6 973 326 STUDENTS FROM
COUNTRIES
STUDENTS AT OUR BRANCH CAMPUS IN DOHA, QATAR
REPRESENTING
BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMS
COUNTRIES
ARTS STUDENTS PURSUING A MINOR AT THE UNIVERSITY
NUMBER OF MILES FROM RICHMOND TO DOHA
2,264 FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS
BACHELOR’S DEGREES OFFERED (Art History, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design and Painting + Printmaking)
MASTER’S DEGREE OFFERED (Design)
13 BY THE N U MBE R S
VCU
A STRONG FOUNDATION Art Foundation is an intensive one-year immersive program that provides an intellectually rigorous, studio-based experience in the fundamental issues of art and design. You’ll be exposed to a vast forum of ideas and concepts that will extend your skills, powers of observation and intellectual agility. You’ll be challenged to try new materials, strategies and ideas. You’ll benefit from a peer group of other first-year students who will go on to define the fields of art and design. The relationships forged in Art Foundation will remain with you throughout your life in the arts.
FALL SEMESTER ARTF 131 Drawing Studio ARTF 133 Space Research ARTF 139 Project ARTH 103 Survey of Art I UNIV 111 Focused Inquiry I
SPRING SEMESTER ARTF 132 Surface Research ARTF 134 Time Studio ARTF 139 Project ARTH 104 Survey of Art II UNIV 112 Focused Inquiry II
University Core Curriculum Course
University Core Curriculum Course
Art Foundation is required for students who want to study: Art Education, Communication Arts, Craft/Material Studies, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Kinetic Imaging, Painting and Printmaking, Photography and Film or Sculpture and Extended Media
15 A R T F O U N D ATI O N
The following is a sample course plan for the Art Foundation Program. You’ll work with your advisor to create a personalized schedule.
DRAWING STUDIO Drawing Studio provides an in-depth investigation of line, perspective, the figure, gesture, space, atmosphere and erasure. In this intensive course, you’ll refine your powers of observation and visualization skills. Each week, you’ll build upon your knowledge and learn the vocabulary of drawing and critique. And you’ll create an intense amount of work.
A R T F O U N D ATI O N
17
SURFACE RESEARCH In Surface Research, you’ll cultivate your ability to think, perceive, visualize and design in two dimensions. You’ll learn the basic principles of two-dimensional design, color and visual organization in traditional, digital and lens-based media. You’ll also learn about the context of imagery within the larger culture, as well as its potential use in contemporary art and design.
A R T F O U N D ATI O N
19
Image courtesy of Art Foundation Program
SPACE RESEARCH Space Research develops your ability to understand, envision and communicate in three dimensions. You will learn about space, objects, scale and the relationship of the body to the built environment. You’ll build, construct, fasten and shape as you are challenged to explore, try new things and step outside what is comfortable and familiar.
SELF-SYNTHESIS Krysta Meredith (B.F.A. ’19) Kinetic Imaging
A R T F O U N D ATI O N
21
STOCKING-CODE Dongeun Kim (B.F.A. ’18) Graphic Design
FAKOMOCHAVS Madelanne League (B.F.A. ’19) Craft/Material Studies
TIME STUDIO 23 A R T F O U N D ATI O N
In addition to 2D and 3D work, there are media that can be measured in time, like video, animation, sound, performance and ephemeral pieces. Time-based work is an important element of contemporary fine art and design. In Time Studio, you could end up creating any number of duration-based works like a performance, a book or a short film.
PROJECT This is your chance to search, reach, create and find out where your interests might take you. In these one-credit courses, you will learn about some of the issues, topics and skills essential to the department of your choice.
WHAT IT FELT LIKE Sana Masud (B.F.A. ’19) Sculpture + Extended Media
A R T F O U N D ATI O N
25
BURY Becky Bushnell (B.F.A ’18) Painting + Printmaking
55% OF ART FOUNDATION STUDENTS ENTER A DIFFERENT ART OR DESIGN MAJOR THAN THEY ORIGINALLY PLANNED AFTER A YEAR OF BEING INTRODUCED TO NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND LEARNING
A R T F O U N D ATI O N
27
“There is this unexpected bond that develops between students that spend every spare minute together in Art Foundation. It’s nice to know that when it’s 3 a.m. and you are trying desperately to finish a project, you are not alone.ˮ Dakota Becker (B.F.A. ’18)
1:30 p.m.
9:45 a.m.
Head to the first class of the day: weightlifting.
Check and prioritize emails.
10:30 a.m. 9:00 a.m. Wake up and lay in bed for half an hour.
Work on thumbnails for class and freelance projects. Right now, I’m working on flats for a comic novel.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
SHANNON WRIGHT Communication Arts major Shannon Wright (B.F.A. ’16) is an editorial illustrator and a cartoonist from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Inspired by Taiyo Matsumoto, Eleanor Davis and Sam Alden, Shannon’s style strongly utilizes line work and has been featured in national and international publications like the Guardian, the Response and Bitch magazine. Shannon was the Illustrations Editor at VCU’s school paper, the Commonwealth Times, and was the editor-in-chief of VCU’s Comics Anthology.
5:10 p.m. Next up, my elective: "Political Science; Race, Gender and Class."
7:00 p.m. Bike home for dinner. Hopefully the roommates started dinner, if not, I’ll cook something.
3:00 p.m. Come home and make lunch. I stuff my face because I’m famished from class. At the same time, I’m still working on any assignments or jobs.
8:15 p.m. Back to campus for a Commonwealth Times staff meeting.
Take care of yourself. Lack of sleep and staying up all night in the studio, it’s a little romanticized in the art community, but you shouldn’t romanticize being unhealthy.
A D AY I N T HE L I F E
29
9:00 p.m. Back home to prep for Senior Portfolio tomorrow, and to wrap up any more freelance work due.
2:00 a.m. Get in bed. Do I really get to sleep now? Depends on the day.
ART EDUCATION This is the major for those who want to teach art in schools, communities and museums. Art Education combines an immersion in art with teaching experiences in real K-12 classrooms. Once you graduate from this program, you’ll be eligible for teacher licensure in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, and you can apply for teaching positions across the country. You’ll take courses in painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and a variety of arts and design electives, rather than focusing on one studio area (though many students
double major or have minors). This breadth of experience will prepare you to teach multiple mediums in the classroom. For teacher preparation, you’ll have two semesters of practicum courses where you’ll visit local schools for teaching and observation. Then, you’ll have a semester-long clinical internship where you’re paired with both an elementary and a secondary school art teacher. With this art classroom internship, you’ll get full-time teaching experience while you prepare a teaching portfolio and a final exhibition— and start your job search.
arts.vcu.edu/arteducation Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., M.A.E., Ph.D. Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Foundations of Art in Education · Computer Technology in Art Education · Human Development and Learning · Photography in Art Education · Three-Dimensional Art Experiences
A R T E D U C ATI O N
31
ART HISTORY Art History majors appreciate that the world is filled with artworks that offer insight into various cultures, ideas and traditions. They have an ambition to refine their communication skills in order to interpret and describe what they see. As a student, you’ll complete courses in African, American, and European art and architecture, covering various time periods (from ancient to contemporary), and classes in Museum Studies. You’ll also select classes from other subjects relevant to art history: anthropology, history, foreign languages, religious studies, and gender and women’s studies.
By the time you complete your degree, you’ll have acquired knowledge of key monuments and the major styles and movements in the history of art. Art history provides the opportunity to develop highly transferable skills: reading critically, conducting visual analysis, formulating intriguing research questions, and writing carefully crafted and compelling texts. You can intern at museums, galleries, and cultural institutions in the city, and many students study abroad or participate in international travel as part of their education.
arts.vcu.edu/arthistory Portfolio required Writing samples required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Museums in the 21st Century · 19th-Century Art · African-American Art · Modern and Contemporary Art · Art and Architecture of Ancient North America
A R T HI S TO R Y
33
CRAFT/MATERIAL STUDIES When you major in Craft/Material Studies, you can specialize in ceramics, fiber art/textile design, glassworking, metalsmithing/jewelry or woodworking/furniture design. Within each of these areas of specialization, you’ll take courses that will help you develop concepts, and learn the skills and technical abilities you need to pursue a professional career or graduate study.
You’ll learn how to use materials wisely and skillfully to express ideas through objects and images. And you’ll also have the opportunity to interact regularly with top national and international artists, curators and critics, ranging from emerging craft artists to pillars in the art world. Along with an intense concentration in hands-on craft and materials studio, you’ll also take up to 45 credits in academic areas like art history, literature, math and social science.
C R A F T/ MATE R I A L S T U D I E S
35
arts.vcu.edu/craft Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.F.A., M.F.A.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Metalsmithing · Textiles: Tapestry/Weaving · Ceramics - Wheelthrowing · Intro to Glass Fabrication · Furniture Design
KINETIC IMAGING Kinetic Imaging is a combination of animation, video and sound art. Your work in this department might be an installation, an interactive environment, a performance or projected imagery.
virtual interactive worlds and sound production. You’ll also study the history and theory of these areas, and you’ll have the flexibility to pursue other studio and intellectual interests.
The curriculum gives you the opportunity to complete advanced work in all areas or to focus primarily on animation, video or sound. Coursework includes a range of animation processes and approaches, from 2D and 3D digital, to experimental video production, editing and compositing, motion graphics,
The program is designed so you’ll be professionally prepared for a wide variety of opportunities, which could include a career as a media artist, freelance producer, motion graphics artist, animator, video editor or director, sound technician, or game artist.
KI N E TI C I MA G I N G
37
arts.vcu.edu/kineticimaging Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., M.F.A. Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Introduction to Computer Techniques · Animation I · Sound Communications · Motion Graphics · Virtual Interactive Worlds
PAINTING + PRINTMAKING Painting + Printmaking is a large, diverse and vibrant community of artists, scholars and students. When you’re in this department, you’re part of an academic studio program that’s like a working lab, where you’ll investigate and redefine your personal visual culture. You’ll be able to adopt a specialized focus within the disciplines and use elective options to pursue other areas of interest. You’ll be challenged to become self-aware of your own aesthetic and technical choices and to better understand the issues and criteria informing art-making today.
You’ll develop skills in critical analysis, and you’ll learn how to articulate and justify your ideas both visually and verbally. This department has four state-of-the-art undergraduate printmaking studios: etching, lithography, screenprinting and digital. You’ll have access to leading figures in the contemporary art world, as they visit to discuss their work, visit studios and critique your work, conduct workshops and meet with students throughout the year.
PA I N TI N G + PR I N TMA KI N G
39
arts.vcu.edu/paintingprintmaking Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.F.A., M.F.A.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Painting from Observation · Print Media · Electronic Strategies · Color · Large Format Digital Printing
PHOTOGRAPHY + FILM
With this major, you can choose the photography track or the film track, or combine courses in both areas for a comprehensive mastery of digital still and moving image production, including lighting, sound, editing and public exhibition. This major is different from the cinema major, in that it focuses on photography as a fine art, while cinema follows more of a film industry model. You’ll be exposed to working photographers and filmmakers and to photographic and filmmaking issues through seminars, guest lectures and workshops. Your courses will include both theoretical study and hands-on experience in the fields of fine art, studio and location photography, or narrative, documentary and experimental filmmaking. You’ll work
individually and in small groups to create independent narrative shorts, documentaries and experimental films and videos. If you choose the photography track, you’ll gain technical and conceptual skills to begin a career as a professional artist or a commercial photographer. You’ll study industry standard working practices in both traditional darkroom techniques and the latest digital technology. If you choose the film track, you’ll graduate with a number of films that you’ve written, produced, shot, directed, edited and publicly screened. You’ll have access to the department’s Super 8mm, 16mm and premium digital cameras, lighting and sound equipment, and you can edit in our digital labs 24/7.
PHO T O G R A PHY + F I L M
41
arts.vcu.edu/photofilm Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., M.F.A. Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Darkroom · Digital Imaging · Writing for the Screen · Sound and Color · Professional Practice
SCULPTURE + EXTENDED MEDIA This major attracts challenging, talented and curious students from around the country and the world. If you become one of them, you’ll be introduced to myriad construction methods and techniques in addition to learning how to communicate ideas through artworks. Sculpture majors are offered studio space from day one, and they’re taught by the same faculty members that teach in our graduate program. The “Extended Media” in our name acknowledges the many non-traditional techniques that the department also embraces, such as video, performance, sound, installation, robotics, 3D digital modeling and more. So you’ll not only be exposed to traditional sculpture media, you’ll also be encouraged to explore technology’s parameters and to pursue interdisciplinary activity. Since this department encourages students to take a wide range of courses throughout the university, you’ll discover links between art, science, the humanities and the world. In turn, you’ll likely have rich, productive associations with professors in many fields.
S C U L PT U R E + E X T E N D E D ME D I A
43
arts.vcu.edu/sculpture Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.F.A., M.F.A.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Flexible Molds · MIG Welding and Plasma Cutting · Sewing · 3D Scanning · Rhino/CNC Router
About
50%
OF VCU’S ART EDUCATION STUDENTS ARE DOUBLE MAJORS OR HAVE A MINOR VCU IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE
41,000 SQUARE-FOOT INSTITUTE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, A SPACE THAT WILL BECOME AN ARTS INCUBATOR FOR THE ENTIRE UNIVERSITY
365
NUMBER OF DAYS A YEAR THE VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS IS OPEN—IT MAINTAINS AN INFORMAL PARTNERSHIP WITH VCUARTS’ ART HISTORY DEPARTMENT
900 FRAMES NEEDED TO CREATE A 30-SECOND STOP-MOTION ANIMATION
53
NUMBER OF MARKERS ON THE MOTION CAPTURE SUIT, AVAILABLE FOR STUDENT USE AT THE VCUARTS DEPOT BUILDING
3
SCULPTURE ALUMNI HAVE WON MACARTHUR FELLOWSHIPS, WORTH OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EACH
100+
UNDERGRAD MAJORS MAKE THE SCULPTURE DEPARTMENT ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE U.S.
PHOTO ENLARGERS IN OUR BLACK-ANDWHITE DARKROOM
4
DARKROOM, STUDIO AND COMPUTER LABS WITH THE LATEST PHOTO/FILM TECHNOLOGY OPEN 24/7
2,100
DEGREES—THE TEMPERATURE OF MOLTEN GLASS INSIDE OUR GLASS FURNACE
24
LOOMS IN OUR FIBER STUDIOS
7,000 SQUARE FEET OF WORKING SPACE IN THE FURNITURE/ WOOD STUDIO
$8.79 PRICE OF A 200ML TUBE OF WINSOR & NEWTON GALERIA ACRYLIC PAINT AT PLAZA ART, AN ART SUPPLY STORE ON GRACE STREET, SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMPUS
11 AM 6 PM and
BEST TIMES TO HIT THE SUN-FILLED PAINTING STUDIOS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT (DEPENDING ON WHICH SIDE OF THE BUILDING YOU’RE ON, OF COURSE)
45 BY THE N U MBE R S
18
IN THE REAL WORLD It might be hard to imagine what life after college will be like when you’ve just started thinking about life during college. Check out what some of our graduates are doing and get a sense of how many opportunities are out there once you get a degree from VCUarts. You can graduate with your B.F.A. and make a living as a full-time artist. Or you could take your skills and apply them in an environment outside the studio, with an in-house creative team. With a degree from VCUarts, the possibilities are limitless.
KEVIN DOYLE Art Education B.F.A. ’96 Experience Designer
PHILIP W. BRANCH Art Education B.F.A. ’80, M.F.A. ’86 Director of Cultural Programs, VCU Health
JESSICA FEREY Art History B.A. ’11 Deputy Director of the Global Cultural Districts Network and Communications Manager of AEA Consulting
COREY GUNEWALD Kinetic Imaging B.F.A. ’12 Senior User Interface Engineer, Netflix
CONOR BACKMAN Sculpture + Extended Media B.F.A. ’11 Artist
CAITIE SELLERS Craft/Material Studies B.F.A. ’07 Craftsperson, Owner, Caitie Sellers Metalsmith
MORGAN YACOE Sculpture + Extended Media B.F.A. ’11 Sculptor Adjunct Faculty, VCUarts
NASTASSJA SWIFT Painting + Printmaking B.F.A. ’15 Artist
MOLLY ANNE BISHOP Craft/Material Studies B.F.A. ’12 Studio Artist
MARK STRANDQUIST Photography + Film B.F.A. ’13 Artist, Advocate, Educator
47 A L U MN I
rtist; advocate
LAUREN PLEVEICH Painting + Printmaking B.F.A. ’10 UX Strategist IBM Interactive Experience
CINEMA This major is all about hands-on filmmaking, from scriptwriting to picture and sound editing. You’ll study film theory and collaborate on narrative short films, shooting on location using professional equipment. The program is designed to give you an intensive preparation for employment in the professional moviemaking industry.
shooting 35mm film at the undergraduate level. By working with film, you’ll get a physical and mechanical understanding of motion picture photography that is nearly impossible to replicate on a digital camera. And unlike other film schools, your tuition covers all of your filmmaking expenses, including anything and everything from film developing to actors’ fees.
VCUarts Cinema is one of 17 American film schools recognized by the International Association of Film and Television Schools. We’re also one of the only schools in the world
In addition to their cinema courses, students in the Cinema program are required to complete a second major or double minor.
C I N E MA
49
arts.vcu.edu/cinema Yes Portfolio required Writing samples required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.A. Minor offered
No
Some classes you might take in this major: · Visual Storytelling · Cinema Form and Concept I through IV · Digital Cinema Production Intensive I · Film Internship · Advanced Screenwriting Seminar
COMMUNICATION ARTS Communication Arts students learn how to “speak” through art. This could be the ideal major if you’d like to be an art director, book or magazine illustrator, 3D modeler, animator, interactive media designer, game designer, corporate illustrator, graphic novelist, children’s book illustrator, medical/scientific illustrator or any other field that combines art with communication. As with all majors at VCUarts, the curriculum is intense. You’ll go through Art Foundation your first year, then in your sophomore year continue to build your base with courses in communication theory and history, the figure, traditional drawing and painting media,
typography and communication arts-related software. As a junior, you’ll focus on the specifics of concept development, photography, sequencing and traditional/digital illustration projects. And when you’re a senior, you’ll take a required course in business practice and ethics, and complete a comprehensive portfolio project. Communication Arts also offers a concentration in scientific and preparatory medical illustration, where you’ll major in communication arts with a concentration in biology. Many of these students continue their education and get a graduate degree to become certified medical illustrators.
C O MMU N I C AT I O N A R T S
51
arts.vcu.edu/communicationarts Yes Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A. Minor offered
No
Some classes you might take in this major: · Visual Studies · Concept Drawing · Comics and Graphic Novels · Botanical Illustration · Game Design, Theory and Practice
Courtney Whitcomb (B.F.A. ’16) Fashion Design
FASHION DESIGN Fashion Design melds the creativity of the artist with the practical needs of the consumer to create objects where form meets function. You’ll learn both the creative and professional processes for concept development, fashion illustration, patternmaking, draping and garment construction—and how contemporary computer technology can help you fulfill your vision. You can also prepare yourself for the business side of fashion, with classes in merchandise planning, retail buying and fashion forecasting. All of the garments you produce will be critiqued at each step of the process, and they’ll be juried by a panel of outside industry professionals at the end of the academic year. Juried garments are spotlighted each spring in the department’s annual fashion show. Your junior year, you’ll be encouraged to complete an internship in New York City. When you graduate, you’ll be prepared for a career as a fashion designer, associate or assistant designer, technical designer, print designer, product developer or even a fashion historian.
FA S HI O N D E S I G N
53
arts.vcu.edu/fashion Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., B.A. in Fashion Merchandising Minor offered
MENSWEAR COLLECTION IN REACH 2016 Jennifer Kim (B.F.A. ’16) Fashion Design
Some classes you might take in this major: · Computers for Fashion I · Patternmaking · Design Theory and Illustration · Textiles for the Fashion Industry · Contemporary Fashion
FASHION MERCHANDISING Your courses in Fashion Merchandising will help shape your analytic abilities, creative problem solving skills and global perspective of the world of fashion. Many of the classes you’ll take will be based on simulations that replicate real-world experience. Since fashion changes by the minute, our faculty members stay at the forefront of the industry, and pass it on to their students. They conduct ongoing research in areas like fashion economics, advanced store product
development and consumer behavior. And they accompany students on fashion field trips to New York, Paris, Italy, Hong Kong and California. The major in fashion merchandising requires a strong background in marketing, business and specialized professional courses with an emphasis on globalism. Graduates find career opportunities in fashion forecasting, product development, advertising and promotion, retail management, buying and international marketing.
FA S HI O N ME R C HA N D I S I N G
55
arts.vcu.edu/fashion Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.A., B.F.A. in Fashion Design Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Fashion Promotion · Fashion Branding · Advanced Application in Store Development · Line Development · Importing and Exporting Fashion
GRAPHIC DESIGN The role of graphic designers has quickly changed from producing static visuals to collaborating in dynamic, interactive projects. The graphic design major at VCUarts keeps evolving, too, with a curriculum and opportunities that integrate modern form and information. As a graphic design major, you’ll go through Art Foundation, and then take courses in publication and print design, sequential and
motion design and interaction design, along with a series of related studio and seminar courses. You’ll come to understand and practice design as a dynamic process, addressing the needs of everyone involved and embracing technology as a vehicle of communication. You can also explore a range of production methods on site, including letterpress facilities, an in-house publishing bureau and a well-stocked resource center.
G R A PHI C D E S I G N
57
arts.vcu.edu/graphicdesign Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., M.F.A. Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Typography I · Web Design · Studio Management · Design Activism · Typeface Design
INTERIOR DESIGN This studio-based program is grounded in interior architecture. In this rigorous major, you’ll study and apply the principles of space, form, color and light, and you’ll investigate human factors, building codes, materials, and construction methods and documentation. You’ll also focus on the history of interior environments, design theory, business procedures and current trends in the profession. Thanks to the department’s active relationships with architectural and interior design firms across the country, you’ll have access to professional critiques, input from guest
designers, site visits and internships. Your project solutions will reflect environmentally friendly design and inclusive design, which means that the space is usable for a wide variety of people, especially those with physical limitations. To graduate, you’ll be required to complete an internship with an interior design or architecture firm. An overwhelming majority of students are working in interior design and architecture firms upon graduation. Others have been accepted into graduate programs such as architecture, graphic design and industrial design.
I N TE R I O R D E S I G N
59
arts.vcu.edu/interiordesign Yes No Portfolio required Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.F.A., M.F.A. Minor offered
Michael Hackett (B.F.A. ’15) Interior Design
Some classes you might take in this major: · Interior Design Studio · Interior Graphics I · Light and Color in Interior Environments · Construction Documents · Building Systems
VCUARTS CINEMA IS
1 17 of
AMERICAN FILM SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FILM AND TELEVISION SCHOOLS
3
CINEMA STUDENTS AND EIGHT CINEMA ALUMNI WORKED ON STEVEN SPIELBERG’S “LINCOLNˮ AND
10
STUDENTS INTERNED ON THE FILM
12
CINEMA ALUMNI AND STUDENTS WORKED ON “LOVING,ˮ THE ACCLAIMED MOVIE BY DIRECTOR JEFF NICHOLS
7
FASHION MERCHANDISING STUDENTS WON YMA-FSF SCHOLARSHIPS IN 2015
3
PLACES IN WHICH YOU’LL STUDY IF YOU TAKE THE JEANOLOGY COURSE WITH ALUMNUS DONWAN HARRELL: RICHMOND, NEW YORK AND PORTUGAL
BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS WHERE THE CLASSIC MOVIE “MY DINNER WITH ANDREˮ WAS FILMED
3,000 ONE-OF-A KIND ARTISTS’ BOOKS IN VCU’S CABELL LIBRARY
40,000 4,436 COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, EDITORIAL CARTOONS, COMIC STRIPS AND COMIC JOURNALS IN VCU’S COMIC ARTS COLLECTION
30
NUMBER OF BOOKS OUR GRAPHIC DESIGN FACULTY AND ALUMNI HAVE WRITTEN OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS
10
LANGUAGES IN WHICH THOSE BOOKS ARE PUBLISHED
MILES TO FLORENCE, ITALY, WHERE COMMUNICATION ARTS, GRAPHIC DESIGN, INTERIOR DESIGN AND FASHION HAVE STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
5
INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENTS AND ALUMNI WERE PUBLISHED IN INDUSTRY MAGAZINES DURING THE SUMMER OF 2016
61 BY THE N U MBE R S
2
THIS COULD BE YOU You have a career path you want to take, but selecting a major in college to get you there isn’t always crystal clear. That’s why we’ve pulled together some rock star alumni to show you the places you can go with a degree from VCUarts. Some are working in fields where they use their arts and design education on a daily basis, others are in fields outside of a traditional career path. VCUarts will prepare you for whichever path you take.
GREGORY GOLTER Cinema B.A. ’15 Grip and Electric Freelancer “Loving,ˮ “Imperiumˮ
JAMIE HARDESTY Cinema B.F.A. ’13 Production Assistant Freelancer, “Mercy Street,ˮ “TURN: Washington’s Spiesˮ
THEODORE TAYLOR Communication Arts B.F.A. ’08 Illustrator
SOPHIA LI Fashion Merchandising B.A. ’13 Entertainment Media Editor, Vogue.com
Interior Design B.F.A. ’13 Design Manager Hilton Worldwide
GLENANN GODDEN Communication Arts B.F.A. ’05 Art Director USA Today Network
MATT MILLER Interior Design B.F.A. ’11 Interior Designer J.D. Ireland Interior Architecture + Design
ALYSON AVERSA DONWAN HARRELL Fashion Design B.F.A. ’92 Founder and Creative Director, PRPS
Graphic Design B.F.A. ’11 Graphic Designer Victoria’s Secret Beauty
63 A L U MN I
BRITTNEY WEISS
DANCE + CHOREOGRAPHY Dance and Choreography is a pre-professional program that will fully prepare you for a career in the world of dance. You can work toward your degree with equal focus on performance and choreography, or get a B.F.A. with a ballet performance concentration. You’ll get a great deal of individual attention— and many chances to show your work and your talent on stage. And while your teachers will include nationally known dancers and educators, you’ll also meet and learn from performers and choreographers from across the country, thanks to the department’s very active guest artist program.
You’ll train in modern and contemporary dance forms, ballet techniques and take creativetrack courses as well, which include one semester of improvisation, and two semesters of both composition and choreography. The curriculum includes courses in dance history, music, anatomy, dance science and pedagogy. Electives in West African dance, jazz, tap and hip-hop, contact improvisation, video choreography, dance management and design for dancers are also part of the program.
D A N C E + C HO R E O G R A PHY
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arts.vcu.edu/dance Audition required to apply Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.F.A.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Dance Science · Video/Choreography Workshop · Body Imagery · Lighting Design for Dance · African American Presence in American Dance, Performance and Social Contexts
MUSIC As a music student, you can pursue either the Bachelor of Arts degree or the Bachelor of Music degree in performance or music education. You’ll be taught by faculty who are leaders in their fields, and have regular access to acclaimed visiting artists who come here for concerts, master classes and clinics each semester.
The Bachelor of Music in performance concentration focuses on the development of skills, concepts and sensitivities essential to the life of the professional musician. Included are courses in music theory, aural skills, music history, conducting and applied study in your principal performing medium.
The Bachelor of Arts in music is designed for students who want to combine music with other areas of study. Students work with advisors to create a series of classes that let them pursue their professional and educational goals. The degree program includes courses in music theory, aural skills, applied study of your primary instrument, music history and foreign language, as well as electives in an area of interest.
The Bachelor of Music in music education concentration focuses on developing personal musicality and practical classroom teaching experience through field experiences and student-teaching internships. The degree incorporates requirements necessary to qualify for the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Collegiate Professional Certificate to teach music in public schools.
MU S I C
67
arts.vcu.edu/music Audition required to apply Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered Minor offered
Yes
No
B.A., B.M., M.M.
Some classes you might take in this major: · Introduction to World Musical Styles · Acoustics · Marching Band Techniques · Orchestration · Duke Ellington
THEATRE We have two undergraduate theatre degree programs you can choose from: a Bachelor of Arts in theatre or a Bachelor of Fine Arts with areas of concentration in performance, costume design, scenic design, lighting design and stage management. You won’t need to decide immediately because all incoming students are admitted to the Theatre Foundation program. After you successfully complete the first two years of foundational coursework in your area of emphasis, you’ll audition or interview for the degree program you want to pursue. The B.F.A. degree program is an intensive preprofessional course of study. If you choose this program, along with training and study, you’ll
have many opportunities to perform on the Hodges Theatre mainstage, in Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre productions, or in Richmond’s regional theatre productions. If you’d like a broader experience, you may want to consider the B.A. program. This program has a strong emphasis in theatre, combined with exposure to other information and ideas in the liberal arts and a minor in an area other than theatre. With this degree you can also pursue a directed course of study and combine theatre coursework from various disciplines (i.e. directing, playwriting, theatre management, etc.)
arts.vcu.edu/theatre Yes No Audition required to apply Year one in Art Foundation Degrees offered B.A., B.F.A., M.F.A. Minor offered Some classes you might take in this major: · Introduction to Drama · Movement for the Actor · Costume Construction · Black Theatre · Audio Mixing for Theatre
THE ATR E
69
225
SEATS IN THE GRACE STREET THEATER, HOME TO ALL DANCE PERFORMANCES (AND MORE!)
5
AVERAGE NUMBER OF DANCE PRODUCTIONS EACH YEAR
200
SEATS IN THE SONIA VLAHCEVIC CONCERT HALL
10
AVERAGE NUMBER OF MASTER CLASSES OFFERED EACH YEAR TO DANCE MAJORS– FEATURING SOME OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST CHOREOGRAPHERS AND DANCERS
70+
FACULTY AND STAFF IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
40
PIANOS IN THE JAMES W. BLACK MUSIC CENTER
200
HOURS EACH YEAR SPENT TUNING THE PIANOS IN THE CONCERT HALL
AVERAGE NUMBER OF CAST, ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION STAFF MEMBERS IT TAKES TO PUT ON ONE MUSICAL PRODUCTION ON THE THEATRE VCU MAINSTAGE
220
AVERAGE NUMBER OF LIGHTS IN A THEATRE VCU PRODUCTION
42
PERFORMANCES OF FOUR THEATRE PRODUCTIONS THAT TAKE PLACE EACH YEAR
40
PRACTICE AREAS IN THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
$250
AVERAGE WIG BILL FOR OPERA PERFORMANCES
$7,000 ANNUAL BUDGET FOR COSTUMES AND ALTERATIONS FOR MUSIC PERFORMANCES
71 BY THE N U MBE R S
132
NETWORK TO SUCCESS VCUarts graduates are currently employed in professional careers around the world. Some are in non-profits, some are in large corporations, and others are doing what they love building sets and on stage. No matter where life takes you after graduation, the skills, network and support you have from your time at VCUarts will be an important factor in your success.
DONNA VAUGHN Dance + Choreography B.F.A. ’06 Ensemble Dancer “The Lion Kingˮ
JASON AKIRA SOMMA Dance + Choreography B.F.A. ’02 Multimedia/ Interdisciplinary Artist
JASON BUTLER HARNER Theatre B.F.A. ’92 Actor, “Non-Stopˮ Broadway’s “The Crucibleˮ
MICHAEL HARPER Music B.A. ’98 International Singer and Teacher
GLORIA YOUNG KIM
FRANK ALFANO JR.
JOHN BULLARD
Theatre B.F.A. ’08 Stunt performer on shows like “Daredevil,ˮ “Gothamˮ and “Orange is the New Blackˮ
Music B.M. ’05 Award-winning classical banjoist featured in DreamWorks’ “Rise of the Guardiansˮ
JACOB DEVOL Music B.M. ’16 Choir Director at Patrick Henry High School
SAMANTHA SPIES Dance + Choreography B.F.A. ’05 Associate Artistic Director and Dancer, Urban Bush Women, Inc.
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Theatre B.F.A. ’13 Costume Illustrator
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
BRANDON SHIELDS
7:30 a.m. The alarm goes off; hit snooze.
11:45 a.m. Head home for a quick bite to eat, with whatever’s in the fridge. Then, nap time. I need the nap.
1:00 p.m. 9–11:30 a.m. Go to the graphic design space on Broad Street for Print II class. We’re currently working on an unconventional book design project. My project is inspired by Dirk Vander Kooij.
Clock in at the Division of Student Affairs, talk to my boss for 20 minutes about life and things that happen, then get to the graphic design work.
4:00 p.m. Clock out and head to the library to work on homework with some friends.
Born in California, raised in Germany, Brandon Shields (B.F.A. ’17) called a lot of places home while his father served in the Air Force. Landing in Waldorf, Maryland, Brandon developed a passion for graphic design in high school. Under the guidance of one of his teachers, Ms. Bellamy, he became an Adobe Illustrator guru. After getting into his number one choice school, VCUarts, he made the decision during his time in the Art Foundation Program to head into graphic design as his major.
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8:00 p.m. Grab takeout and bring it back to the library.
10:00 p.m. Head back home and decompress by watching YouTube videos.
Midnight Get to sleep.
S TU D E N T W O R K
77
Mel Kobran (B.F.A. ’13) Photography + Film
(Above Left) YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL WHITE, BUT YOU’D BE BEAUTIFUL DARK (Above Right) HEARD SHE LIKED BLACK GUYS / HEARD SHE LIKES WHITE GUYS Cameron Spratley (B.F.A. ’16) Painting + Printmaking (Opposite) GRAPHIC, GRAPHIC, GRAPHIC SENIOR SHOW POSTER 2016 Miranda Leung (B.F.A. ’16) and Kerrie Harlow (B.F.A. ’16) Graphic Design
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S TU D E N T W O R K
81
JAZZ ORCHESTRA I IN CONCERT W.E. SINGLETON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
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83
(Opposite) WALK IN Soojin Choi (B.F.A. ’15) Craft/Material Studies, Painting + Printmaking (Above) SPINE Michael Martin (B.F.A. ’16) Craft/Material Studies
S TU D E N T W O R K
85
(Opposite Top) KANGA COMMUNICATIONS Leah Schmidt (B.F.A. ’15) Graphic Design (Opposite Bottom) Erin Gavin (B.F.A. ’16) Interior Design (Above) FALLEN Sarah Mattozzi (B.F.A. ’14) Photography + Film
(Above) IT ISN’T MUCH Ameorry Luo (B.F.A. ’16) Communication Arts
(Opposite page, clockwise from top) MAINE Lauren Rakes (B.F.A ’16) Communication Arts DANDELION REPRODUCTION Caroline Bivens (B.F.A. ’16) Communication Arts APPLICATION OF A CORONARY CATHETER” Dan Nacu (B.F.A. ’17) Communication Arts
S TU D E N T W O R K
87
Coronary Catheter Application of a
for Angioplasty
(Above) ASK ME HOW I FEEL Luke Miller (B.F.A. ’15) Kinetic Imaging (Bottom Right) VIRTUAL SURGERY Serin Chung (B.F.A. ’14) Ben Hewer (B.F.A. ’15) Addison Martz (B.F.A. ’15) Kinetic Imaging (Bottom Left) SELF EMBROIDER Kt Boehm (B.F.A. ’16) Sculpture + Extended Media
S TU D E N T W O R K
89
[I/O] COLLECTION IN REACH 2016 Carlos Ramirez (B.F.A. ’16) Fashion Design
S TU D E N T W O R K
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THE SCREAMS OF A THOUSAND WIDOWS Emmett Fleming (B.F.A. ’17) Painting + Printmaking
S TU D E N T W O R K
93
DEMOCRACY by Guest Choreographer Doug Varone Dance + Choreography
(Above) DAKOTA’S DAUGHTER Behind-the-Scene Photographs Director: Laura Zoellner (B.A. ’16) Director of Photography: Maurice Vellas (B.A. ’16) Camera Operator: Devonte Spurlock (B.A. ’17) Dolly Grip: Benjamin Lemons (B.A. ’17) Video Assistant: Scott Rateau (B.A. ’17) Cinema (Opposite) HERE AND NOT Emily Wicks (B.F.A. ’16) Craft/Material Studies
S TU D E N T W O R K
95
VCUARTS IS A GREAT VALUE. You can learn and thrive in the country’s #1 public university art school— and our tuition is lower than other top schools for art and design. #1 Yale University
$49,480
#2
$31,608 $13,076
(out-of-state)
(in-state)
(tie) University of California: Los Angeles
$39,489
#4 Rhode Island School of Design
$47,110
(tie) School of the Art Institute of Chicago
$45,750 $52,310
#6 Carnegie Mellon University
$55,161
(tie) Columbia University (tie) Cranbrook Academy of Art (Graduate only) #9 Alfred University
$31,070
(tie) California Institute of the Arts
$45,646
(tie) Maryland Institute College of Art
$45,400
· Rankings come from U.S. News & World Report, usnews.com/rankings · Out-of-state tuition from College Board’s posted college prices as of July 2016, collegeboard.org · Actual cost of attendance for any school may be different from the cost stated on collegeboard.org · Calculate your total cost of attending VCUarts at: accounting.vcu.edu
What makes this place
97 TU I T I O N
truly special is our people, our culture and our values.
This is what will
make your college experience exceptional.
David Leong is an internationally known movement director and fight choreographer—and for 20+ years, he’s been a theatre professor at VCU. Along with teaching classes, David invites his students to help workshop his projects. So VCU theatre majors constantly help David with fight and movement choreography for plays on Broadway, in London and on stages across the world. Like every faculty member here, David has an open door policy. And if you’re great at what you do, his contacts are your contacts. Your professors might be famous in their field. But they’re also readily available to you with advice on your work, insight on the profession and leads on new opportunities.
VCU theatre students workshop the fight scenes for “Romeo & Juliet,” which will be presented at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C.
99 ACCESS
ACCESS
Film partners Nathan and Alex at a shoot on Broad Street near campus. In the background, the mural "Float" by James Bullough.
COLLABORATION This is a place where great minds think together. Photography and Film major Alex Kreher (B.F.A. ’16) and Mass Communications major Nathan Nunnelly (B.S. ’15) met in a cupcake shop on Broad Street. Soon thereafter, they founded Help-Portrait RVA to support local people and families in need. Then, before they even graduated from VCU, they started their own film company, Ost Haus. That’s proof that students here don’t just learn from teachers. They learn from each other, in a culture of sharing. VCUarts majors are part of a dynamic, interactive community. You’ll learn from each other every day, and most likely make some lifelong connections.
C O L L A BO R AT I O N
101
C O MMU N I TY
103
COMMUNITY VCUarts students work with and in the Richmond community. In classes like mOb, students from fashion, interior and graphic design work with community partners on non-profit projects. They’ve redesigned abandoned apartments and created wayfinding signage for parks. At VCUarts, you can affect real change in your community.
DIVERSITY VCUarts means opportunity for all, in a school that embraces and celebrates diversity. For graphic design student Miranda Leung (B.F.A. ’16), that has meant having the guidance of a mentor who understands the challenges of being queer. Assistant Professor Nicole Killian has worked with Miranda on issues of graphic design—and outside of graphic design—guiding her on work, life and
professional goals. As Miranda says, “Nicole really helped me delve into my identity and navigate what it meant to be a queer Chinese American woman.ˮ Come here, and like Miranda, you’ll learn that nothing should hold you back as an artist.
DIVERSITY
105
INNOVATION + IDEAS Scientific and preparatory medical illustration students Lauren Rakes (B.F.A. ’16) and Emily Rueckert (B.F.A. ’16) wanted to explore the relationships between natural and artificial specimens on a microscopic level. After submitting their idea as an Undergraduate Research Grant, they were granted $2,550 to explore the topic. Using a digital dissecting microscope with a camera, they took hundreds of photos, comparing and contrasting the colors, textures and patterns of the objects. They used their images to create large paintings, which were given to VCU’s Biology department. VCUarts students can apply for research grants, even as undergraduates. They can take part in CoLab, working with students from different majors to complete a project. At the da Vinci Center, students earn a certificate by developing products. And the school’s Creative Entrepreneurship program prepares students to run creative-based businesses.
I N N O VAT I O N + I D E A S
107
EXPERIENCE In 2015, photography major Allison Bills interned in imagery acquisition at NASA. Among her assignments: shooting astronauts in zero gravity. After graduation, NASA brought Allison on full time. VCUarts has a lot of opportunities for you to get an internship, too. Do one (or more), and you’ll graduate with real experience in the working world. VCUarts helps connect students to internships in ad agencies, design firms, museums, arts organizations, performance groups and other arts businesses and ventures large and small, all over the world.
E X PE R I E N C E
109
INTERNSHIPS Internships are a vital part of your educational experience. Here is a sample of some of the places our students have interned while at VCUarts.
ART EDUCATION
PAINTING + PRINTMAKING
Art on Wheels ArtSmarts Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Visual Arts Center of Richmond Smithsonian Associates Stuff Redux
ADA Gallery Baltimore Museum of Art The Greater Richmond ARC New York Arts Practicum Reynolds Gallery Studio Two Three Vermont Studio Center Yale University Summer School of Art and Music
ART HISTORY 1708 Gallery Preservation Virginia Virginia Historical Society Virginia Holocaust Museum Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
CRAFT/MATERIAL STUDIES Anthropologie Quirk Gallery Visual Arts Center of Richmond
KINETIC IMAGING Cross Platform Design LLC Discovery Channel (Fit & Health) Hand Turkey Studio Media General (MGFX) Pixel Pirate Studio Shave FX WRIC
SCULPTURE + EXTENDED MEDIA Anthropologie Gallery 5 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
PHOTOGRAPHY + FILM Candela Gallery and Books Mad Box Post The Martin Agency NASA National Geographic People Magazine Pixel Factory, production house Richmond Magazine Science Museum of Virginia Smithsonian Institute Studio Two Three Time Inc.
CINEMA Anne Chapman, casting agent Dreams Factory Lucas Krost Production Company Steven Spielberg’s “Lincolnˮ Virginia Film Office
COMMUNICATION ARTS Communication Design, Inc. Media General Revolution Advertising The Travel Channel
Alexander McQueen BCBG Betsey Johnson Calvin Klein DKNY Jeans Isaac Mizrahi Lucky Magazine Marc Jacobs Ralph Lauren Oscar de la Renta Tommy Hilfiger Urban Outfitters
GRAPHIC DESIGN Library of Virginia Noah Scalin/ALR Design Pentagram Polygraph Proctor and Gamble PUNCH
INTERIOR DESIGN 3 North BBG-BBGM and Interior Design Management BCWH Baskervill KSA Luck Stone
MUSIC Richmond Symphony Orchestra
DANCE + CHOREOGRAPHY The Alvin School, The Official School of the Ailey American Dance Theater American Dance Festival, Duke University Urban Bush Women, Inc. The Yard - Dance
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THEATRE Arena Stage Broadway production of “Amazing Graceˮ Contemporary American Theatre Festival Public Theatre Studio Theatre Signature Theatre Theatre J Shakespeare Theatre Synetic Theatre Virginia Repertory Theatre
I N TE R N S HI PS
FASHION DESIGN + MERCHANDISING
FREEDOM + EXPLORATION Fashion Merchandising student Carmen Jones spent a month in Florence, Italy, studying with VCUarts at the prestigious Santa Reparata International School of Art. There, she took two classes, Italian Design and Branding, which included visits to shops like Fendi and Celine. Along with experiencing fashion firsthand, she also learned about herself in Italy. She says, “During my trip there were many experiences where I had to be the decision maker and put myself out there. I probably wouldn’t have grown as much as I did if I hadn’t gone to Italy.ˮ” The world really is your classroom at VCUarts. Through our study abroad programs, you could have the opportunity to learn in more than 50 countries around the world.
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113
Martia C. Simms-Beard and Carmen Jones in Florence, Italy, during a study abroad program led by VCUarts faculty.
STUDY ABROAD Studying abroad will change your perspective and influence your creative work. At VCUarts, you can take part in a program led by our faculty, participate in an exchange program with a school in another country, or get a travel grant and work with your advisor to create your own experience. VCU has a Global Education Office that can help you put this all together.
UNIVERSITY OF GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
VCU has a network of more than 300 universities in 50 countries in which you can study.
RICHMOND, VA
ST. PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY, ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
THE MAHARAJA SAYAJIRAO UNIVERSITY OF BARODA, INDIA
BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY, CHINA
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND, BRISTOL
UNIVERSITY OF MESSINA, ITALY
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF TECHNOLOGY, INDIA
FUDAN UNIVERSITY, SHANGHAI, CHINA
UNIVERSITY OF CÓRDOBA, SPAIN
SHENKAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, ISRAEL
CURTIN UNIVERSITY, PERTH, AUSTRALIA
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DOHA, QATAR
VCUARTS CAMPUSES PARTNER SCHOOLS
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
ANDREA HERNANDEZ Andrea Hernandez (B.F.A. ’17) is a fashion design major, getting her minor in media studies. The Chicago native is an active member of Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society and the Latino Student Association. She traveled to Doha through the semester exchange program at VCUarts Qatar during the fall semester of her junior year. Hernandez is a tour guide with the VCUarts Admissions Office, where she’s able to show off the campus she admires so much to the next generation of artists and performers.
10:30 a.m. Wake up and start getting ready for the day. Head over to the Residence Hall Dining Center for breakfast.
1–4:00 p.m. Class
5:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. Walk over to the VCUQatar building to see what’s going on today (sometimes there would be events, free food, artist lectures, etc.)
Work in the studio then grab food at the Student Center
7:00 p.m. Movie night in the residence hall with some yummy popcorn and snacks
Andrea’s garments on the runway during the VCUarts Qatar annual fashion show, 2016.
Studying abroad is truly a once in a lifetime experience. I met some of the most welcoming people in Doha and it really started to feel like home after a while.
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9:00 p.m. Work on homework in the common area
11:00 p.m. Plan outfit for the next day and get ready for bed!
VCUARTS QATAR Up to 10 juniors and seniors are selected from Richmond to study at our branch campus in Doha for a semester annually. Every other year, students participate in an international design and art conference called Tasmeem Doha.
119 VC U A R TS Q ATA R
Qatar is a small, flourishing country on the Persian Gulf. The Qatar Foundation chose VCUarts to represent the world’s “best of the bestˮ for education in the arts. VCUarts is neighbors with the Qatar campuses of Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, Georgetown, Northwestern, Texas A&M, HEC Paris and University College London.
A BIG SCHOOL THAT FEELS SMALL V IR G IN I A C O MMO N W E A LT H U N I V E R S I T Y
121
24,000 UNDERGRADS AT VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
13
SCHOOLS AND ONE COLLEGE MAKE UP THE UNIVERSITY
1
OF THE NATION’S LEADING ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS
500+
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
151
ARTS STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE VCU HONORS COLLEGE, WHICH OFFERS STUDENTS A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD A WELL-ROUNDED AND CHALLENGING ACADEMIC PROGRAM, INCLUDING ADVANCED HONORSONLY COURSES AND UNIQUE SEMINARS, AS WELL AS EARLY REGISTRATION
STUDENTS (+1 great idea)
NEEDED TO START YOUR OWN STUDENT ORGANIZATION
80% OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS LIVE ON CAMPUS
(Residence halls range from private singles to suite-style living with full kitchens. You can also live in the Artists’ Colony, a residential village for visual and performing arts majors.)
180
SQUARE FEET OF GYM SPACE, INCLUDING AN INDOOR TRACK
2
HEATED INDOOR POOLS AND
38
A FOOT ROCKCLIMBING WALL
17
DIVISION I SPORTS TEAMS
15
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS TEAMS
10
POOL TABLES IN THE STUDENT COMMONS
100+ 23 FITNESS CLASSES
(Plus intramural sports and an Outdoor Adventure Program with canoeing, kayaking, hiking, climbing, rafting, skiing and hang gliding trips.)
CAMPUS DINING LOCATIONS, INCLUDING THE AWARDWINNING SHAFER DINING HALL
123 V IR G IN I A C O MMO N W E A LT H U N I V E R S I T Y
4
RICHMOND: CAPITOL OF CREATIVITY
Welcome to Richmond, Virginia, where walls, businesses and warehouses are the canvases for murals. Gallery walks are packed. Ballet tickets are a hot commodity. And as for music, there’s everything from a huge (and free) folk festival to national name venues to a very cool underground hip-hop scene. VCU’s campus is at the edge of the Fan, an 85-block historic district with cobblestone alleys and restored turn-of-the-century homes. In the Museum District, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, or VMFA, is among the country’s top comprehensive museums, and it works regularly with VCUarts. And coming soon: VCU’s Institute for Contemporary Art, a cultural kingpin that will be an incubator for artistic experimentation for our school and the entire world.
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NEW YORK CITY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 2 hour drive
45
Richmond WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA BEACH
e ut in m
t gh fli
1
#
HAPPIEST CITY IN AMERICA U.S. NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH (2014)
1
#
MOST ARTISTIC MID-SIZED CITY IN AMERICA GOGOBOT STUDY (2015)
3
#
OF THE TOP 10 CITIES FOR MILLENNIAL ENTREPRENEURS THUMBTACK (2015)
1
#
OF THE WORLD’S TOP SIX DESTINATIONS FOR FOOD TRAVEL NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (2016)
3
#
ON THE INTERNATIONAL LIST OF BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL IN 2016 TRAVEL + LEISURE MAGAZINE (2015)
3
#
OF 10 BEST PLACES TO START A BUSINESS INC. MAGAZINE (2015)
4
#
OF TOP 10 MID-SIZED AMERICAN CITIES OF THE FUTURE FDI MAGAZINE’S NORTH AMERICAN CITIES OF THE FUTURE (2015)
1
#
BEST RIVER TOWN IN AMERICA OUTSIDE MAGAZINE (2012)
1
#
OF THE 10 BEST CITIES TO RELOCATE TO IN THE U.S HUFFINGTON POST (2015)
2
#
OF AMERICA’S TOP 5 CITIES TO KEEP ON YOUR RADAR HUFFINGTON POST (2014)
2
#
OF THE 10 TRENDIEST U.S. CITIES THAT YOU CAN STILL AFFORD TO BUY IN REALTOR.COM (2016)
1
#
OF THE TOP 20 FITTEST CITIES IN AMERICA ACSM’S AMERICAN FITNESS INDEX (2014)
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SEE IT. TOUR IT. KNOW IT’S RIGHT. VCUarts has several options for you to get to know the program and the city firsthand. INFORMATION SESSIONS AND TOURS 1 P.M. MONDAY–FRIDAY YEAR-ROUND (except university holidays) Every tour is led by current VCUarts students. They’ll tell you about their personal experiences while they show you around the studios, classrooms and campus. RSVP at arts.vcu.edu/visit EVENTS IN YOUR AREA If you can’t make it to Richmond, we may have a representative coming to your area. Find an event near you on our website. arts.vcu.edu/events-in-your-area OPEN HOUSES AND NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAY Visit the campus, tour the arts facilities, meet faculty and students, and find out what makes this place different. You can also visit the dorms, eat in our award-winning dining hall, and attend sessions on financial aid, studying abroad, transferring and the Honors College. arts.vcu.edu/visit VISUAL ARTISTS Bring your artwork with you. Faculty from the visual arts and design departments will be available during Open Houses and National Portfolio Days to review your portfolio. Keep in mind that portfolio reviewers won’t make admissions decisions; they give you feedback on the quality and range of your work and help you figure out what to include in your portfolio.
VISIT
129
VCUarts Admissions Office 325 N. Harrison St. Richmond, VA 23284-2519 804-828-2787 arts@vcu.edu
HOW TO APPLY
DEADLINES November 15 Application for scholarship consideration (portfolio due in December) January 15 Standard first-year application (portfolio due in February) January 15 Transfer applications to the performing arts April 1 Transfer applications to the visual arts and design (portfolio due in April)
ALL APPLICANTS SUBMIT
路 Application: First-year applicants use the Common Application 路 Transcripts 路 Test Scores 路 References arts.vcu.edu/apply
3.7
AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL GPA
26
AVERAGE ACT SCORE
1,147
AVERAGE SAT SCORE (MATH + ENGLISH)
APPLICANTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 600 FIRST– YEAR SEATS
VISUAL ARTS + DESIGN APPLICANTS Submit a portfolio of 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design. Present your strongest work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas should you be accepted into VCUarts. We prefer to see a diverse range of 2D and 3D media. After your application has been processed, you will receive an email with a link to the portfolio upload site.
CINEMA + ART HISTORY Additional writing samples required
40%
OF ACCEPTED STUDENTS OFFERED A MERIT-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
91%
OF FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS HAVE EXCELLENT OR GOOD EXPERIENCES N
PERFORMING ARTS Audition required Production prompt book and/or portfolio required for Theatre Stage Management or Design
N : 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement
131 HO W TO A PPLY
2,496
INDEX 2D 23, 36, 131 23, 36, 42, 43, 50, 131 3D 28-29, 74-75, 116-117 A Day in the Life 38, 40, 58, 66, 98-99 Access 11, 135 Accreditation 131 ACT 54, 110 Advertising 6 Affordable 11, 44, 46-47, 60, Alumni 61, 62-63, 72-73, 133 23, 36, 37, 44 Animation 30, 46, 58, 65, Apply 67, 69, 106, 130-131 32, 33, 58, 63 Architecture 15, 30-31, 44, Art Education 46, 110, 135 14-27, 31, 33, 35, 37, Art Foundation 39, 41, 43, 49, 50, 51, 53, 55, 56, 57, 59, 65, 67, 69, 75 13, 32-33, 34, 44, Art History 46, 110, 131, 135 66 Aural 64, 125 Ballet 34, 36, 40, 46-47, 52, Career 54, 62-63, 64, 72-73 30, 34, 35 Ceramics 64-65, 72, 73, Choreography 93, 99, 111, 135 40, 48-49, 60, 62 Cinema 94, 110, 131, 135 5, 32, 52, 124-125, 126-127,128 City 106 CoLab 100-101 Collaboration 96 College Board 28, 51, 61 Comic 28, 50-51, Communication Arts 61, 62, 86-87, 110, 135 29, 38, 100, 102-103 Community 68 Costume Design 15, 34-35, Craft/Material Studies 47, 82-83, 95, 110, 135 Dance and Choreography 64-65, 135 106 da Vinci Center 130-131 Deadlines 44 Depot (Building) 18, 36, 38, 39, 40, Digital 41, 42, 49, 50, 106 104-105 Diversity 40 Documentary 13, 115, 116-117, 118-119 Doha 52 Draping 15, 16, 50, 51 Drawing 36, 40, 49 Editing 106 Entrepreneurship 38 Etching 11, 14, 30, 31, 40, 46, Experience 47, 54, 66, 68, 97, 108-109, 110, 112, 114, 117, 128, 131 36, 40 Experimental 12, 13, 42, 47, 54, 61, Faculty 66, 70, 99, 113, 114, 128 13, 15, 52-53, 55, Fashion Design 63, 90-91, 111, 116 53, 54-55, Fashion Merchandising 60, 63, 112, 135 52, 117 Fashion show 34, 45 Fiber 15, 23, 40-41, 45, 47, 48-49, Film
60, 61, 76-77, 84-85, 100, 110,135 128 Financial aid 112-113 Freedom and exploration 34-35 Furniture design 50-51 Game design 34-35, 45 Glass 131 GPA 70 Grace Street Theatre 13, 15, 21, 56-57, Graphic Design 58, 61, 63, 74, 75, 79, 84, 103, 104, 111, 132, 135 13, 32-33, 34, 36, 44, 46, History 50, 58, 64, 66, 110, 131 116, 122, 128 Honors 28, 50, 51, 52, Illustrat(or/ation) 53, 62, 73, 75, 106 58 Industrial design 106-107 Innovation and ideas 36, 42 Installation(s) Institute for Contemporary Art, VCU 44, 125 50 Interactive media 42, 72 Interdisciplinary 13, 15, 58-59, Interior Design 61, 63, 85, 111, 135 11, 58, 66, Internships 108-109, 110-111 70 James W. Black Music Center 64, 80-81 Jazz 34 Jewelry 15, 20, 36-37, 47, Kinetic Imaging 88-89, 110, 135 56 Letterpress Library (James Branch Cabell Library) 61, 74 65, 68 Lighting design 38 Lithography 30-43, 48-59, 64-69, 135 Major(s) 50, 106 Medical illustration 34, 35, 47 Metalsmithing 102-103 Middle of Broad (mOb) 36, 37 Motion Graphics 64, 66-67, 70, 71, Music 73, 111, 125, 135 128 National Portfolio Day 42 Nontraditional 128 Open House 67 Orchestration 13, 15, 25, 30, 38-39, Painting 45, 47, 50, 78, 82, 92, 106, 110, 135 15, 25, Painting and Printmaking 38-39, 45, 47, 78, 82, 92, 110, 135 52, 53 Patternmaking 23, 36, 42, 64, 65, Performance(s) 66, 68 70, 71, 73, 108 15, 30, 31, 40-41, Photography 47, 49, 50, 76-77, 84-85, 94, 100, 108, 110, 135 15, 40-41, 47, Photography and Film 49, 50, 76-77, 84-85, 100, 108, 110, 135 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, Portfolio 37, 39, 41, 43, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59, 128, 130, 131 54 Product development 13, 115, Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) 116-117, 118-119
96-97 Rankings 12, 13, 60, 68, 103, Richmond 110-111, 114, 119, 124-125, 126-127, 128-129, 135 15, 18, 20, 32, 54, 106, 126 Research 123 Residence Halls 42 Robotics 131 SAT 68 Scenic design 38 Screenprinting 49 Scriptwriting 15, 24, 30, 42-43, 44, Sculpture 47, 88, 110, 133, 135 Sculpture and Extended Media 15, 24, 30, 42-43, 44, 47, 88, 110, 133, 135 60, 130-131 Scholarship 23, 36, 37, 40, 41, 42, 49 Sound 68, 131 Stage management 44 Stopmotion 122 Student organizations 76-95 Student Work 32, 61, 112-113, Study abroad 114-115, 116-117, 118-119 30 Teacher, Art 34, 35, 53 Textile 68-69, 71, 72, 73, Theatre 99, 111, 131, 135 116, 128-129 Tour 49, 96-97 Tuition 50, 51 Typography University (Virginia Commonwealth 5, 12-13, 15, 42, 44, 96, University) 120-121, 122-123, 128, 135 10, 96 U.S. News & World Report 96-97, 98-115 Value(s) 23, 36, 40, 42, 64, 65, 75, 94 Video Virginia Museum of Fine Art 44, 110, 125 36, 37, 88 Virtual 57 Web design 34 Woodworking
PHOTO CREDIT
Cover image SUBTERRAIN (YELLOW COLUMN FIELD), 2007 Kendall Buster Kendall Buster, professor in Sculpture + Extended Media at VCUarts, first studied microbiology and received a B.S. in Medical Technology before pursuing an education in art. She earned a B.F.A. from the Corcoran College of Art and Design and an M.F.A. in Sculpture from Yale University, as well as participating in the Whitney Museum’s Independent Study Studio Program in New York City.
133 INDEX
2p Photo by Graham Ohmer (B.F.A. ’14) 6p Photo by Raviv Cohen 14p Photo by Elissa Armstrong 16p Photo by Dana McElroy 26p Photo by Justin James Reed 28p Photo by Dana McElroy 30p Photo by Tim Chumley 32p Photo by Dan Currier (M.F.A. ’07). 36p Photo by Lee Bauer 38p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 40p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 42p Photo by Matt King 48p Photo by Tania Fernandez for VCUarts 50p Photo by Dan Currier (M.F.A. ’07) 52p Photo by Raviv Cohen 53p Photo provided by VCU School of the Arts in Qatar 54p Photos by Allen Jones 56p Photo by Dan Currier (M.F.A. ’07) 64p Photo by Lee Bauer 66p Photo by Dan Currier (M.F.A. ’07) 68p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 69p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 74p Photo by Dana McElroy 91p Photo by Raviv Cohen 93p Photo by Sarah Ferguson (B.F.A. ’05) 94p Photo by Nicole-Anne Keyton (B.A. ’16) 98p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 100p Photo by Dan Currier (M.F.A. ’07) 102p Photo by Terry Brown 104p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 106p Photos by Lauren Rakes (B.F.A. ’16) 108p Photo provided by Allison Bills (B.F.A. ’16) 112p Photo provided by Carmen Jones (B.A. ’16) 117p Photo provided by VCU School of the Arts in Qatar 118p Photo by Zach Stensen 129p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14) 130p Photo by Diego Valdez (B.F.A. ’14)
DESIGN Yaeyoung Emily Park (M.F.A. ’15) Graphic Designer VCUarts Communications Office
S : Statistic derived from VCUarts’ participation in the 2013 Strategic National Arts Alumni Survey. SNAAP is a nation-wide, collaborative effort of over 100 fine arts colleges and schools to develop a rigorous survey of alumni satisfaction and professional outcomes. N : Statistic derived from VCU’s participation in the 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Richmond, Virginia 325 N. Harrison St. Richmond, VA 23284-2519 (804) VCU ARTS (804-828-2787) arts@vcu.edu arts.vcu.edu facebook.com/vcuarts instagram.com/vcuarts twitter.com/vcuarts youtube.com/vcuarts
· Art Education · Art History · Cinema · Communication Arts · Craft/Material Studies · Dance and Choreography · Fashion Design · Fashion Merchandising · Graphic Design · Interior Design · Kinetic Imaging · Music · Painting and Printmaking · Photography and Film · Sculpture and Extended Media · Theatre
VCU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. VCUarts is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. NASAD is the national accrediting agency for art and design and art and design-related disciplines. VCUarts is also accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, National Association of Schools of Music, National Association of Schools of Theatre, Virginia Department of Education, Council for Interior Design Accreditation, and the National Council for Accreditation for Teacher Education.
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Office of the Dean PO Box 842519, Richmond, VA, 23284-2519
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