STUDIO ART
Studio Art The guiding principal of the BFA program is to approach pedagogy through a variety of lenses, lived experiences, and embodied knowledge that celebrates and embraces equity, inclusion, and diversity. The McMaster Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) is an intensive program that prepares students for career success as artists while building skills in critical thinking, visual literacy, and entrepreneurial innovation. Our courses offer rigorous exploration of a wide range of media including sculpture, print-making, painting, drawing, ceramics, installation, digital technologies and hybrid practices. We are also one of only three teaching facilities in the province with an aluminum and bronze casting foundry. This material-based learning combines with courses in art history, contemporary art, studio research, professional practice and open electives. Students are encouraged to identify their personal interests and goals early in the program and work towards an individualized plan of study in their third and fourth years.
DEGREE OPTIONS • Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Meet Two of Our Faculty
Judy Major-Girardin is committed
to an art practice that identifies and investigates environmentally responsible approaches with a purpose to question, activate and inspire positive change in our relationship with nature. She works in a variety of media including printmaking, painting, book arts, and fiber-based arts. She has shown her work nationally and internationally.
Carmela Laganse’s practice is
engaged with the intersections between haptic/physical experience, perception and questioning assigned meanings to objects. Carmela has exhibited nationally and internationally since 2005. She has worked at various institutions across Canada teaching mainly in 3D and expanded practice.
Contact Us: School of the Arts Togo Salmon Hall 414 905.525.9140 ext. 27671 sota@mcmaster.ca | sota.humanities.mcmaster.ca Fall 2021
What to expect... Housed within the newly renovated Dr. Robert & Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Studios and Atrium, this intimate program allows for individualized learning and mentorship. Our unique focus on environmentally responsible practices gives students the opportunity to research and engage in hand on approaches that reduce negative impacts on health and the environment.
PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
Interviews are held at McMaster, the winter before classes start in September. Your portfolio should consist of about 20 pieces, derived both from first-hand observation and the imagination. Aim to include a wide range of work such as drawings, colour exploration, three-dimensional works, print media, photography, computer image-making, and design work. All students admitted into the program require steel toed shoes for sculpture and printmaking process.
ART 1DM3 Dimensional Material Investigations and Concepts
This course facilitates development of tacit knowledge, intuitive judgment, perception and theoretical understanding through direct material engagement with metals, plaster, clay, forest products, and use of fabrication technologies.
ART 1M13 Material Investigations and Concepts
This course facilitates development of tacit knowledge, intuitive judgment, perception and theoretical understanding through direct material engagement with metals, plaster, clay, forest products, and use of fabrication technologies.
Get involved... Make a difference EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Annual Exhibition Upper level independent studio courses help our students form personal, cohesive bodies of work that lead to SUMMA, their final degree exhibition. Students work with exhibition professionals in the field of Canadian contemporary art to present this group exhibit, featured in the main space of McMaster Museum of Art, one of the top educational institution-based museums in Canada. Check out one of our recent Studio Art Exhibitions Minor in Sustainability Addressing sustainability in our society poses interdisciplinary challenges that require interdisciplinary solutions. Sustainability is frequently taught in silos within individual Faculties, and most often within individual and isolated courses. Our students have opportunities to participate and engage with their communities on and off campus through collaborations and partnerships with artist run centres and galleries in Hamilton. Students learn to work with a variety of materials and processes such as 3D printing or using plaster to make moulds for casting sculptures in aluminum or bronze.
ART 3EA3 Social Practice and Community-Engaged Art
PRACTICING ARTIST
Curatorial work in museums and galleries
ART THERAPIST
Combine the creative process and psychotherapy to help others express thoughts and feelings through art The development of studio based skills that emphasize experiential learning and knowledge and multi-sensory experience. The development and practice of meaningful discussion through critique and dialogue
Where you could go... The Essential Skills that form the backbone of a Humanities education are the same qualities that make better leaders in our 21st century socioeconomic climate. No matter what discipline a Humanities student chooses to pursue, they will come away with a better understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS: • • •
ART 1SI3 Studio Investigations ART 2DP3 Digital Practices
This could be you...
Foundry Bronze Pour
Other Experiential Opportunities:
ART 3VA3 Video Art and Digital Cinema
ART 3CE3: Community Exhibitions
ART 4PR3 Professional Residency
ART 3FW3: Field Work: On-Site Explorations
ART 3CF3: Concentrated Study - Foundry ART 3W03/4W03: Applied Humanities
Development and practice of meaningful discussion through critque and dialogue Development of critical thinking, analytical and visual problem solving, cultivation of strong observational skills Students learn that their skills acquired in the studio program are transferable to various disciplines. They are able to apply their knowledge through creative perspectives which is valued in many jobs