CReAtIvitY
thrives in UM Art Department By Kathy Dean Art is everywhere, from the image that appears when you turn on a cell phone to the billboard you see through your car window. It’s in the magazine you read, the packaging you open, the photos you share and the design of the mug that holds your coffee. Every piece of art communicates something, says University of Mobile art professor Phillip Counselman '01, chair of the art department at the Christ-centered university. “Art is the most powerful form of communication, because it’s a direct form of communication,” Counselman said. “I always tell students, if you’re going to read a book, then you have to get that book, you have to open that book, and you have to look inside it. With art, you don’t have to do that. It’s constantly in our face on a daily basis.” UM’s growing art department is preparing graduates to thrive in a competitive field, with expanding course offerings and real-world experiences. Sophie Eberhard '21 says she is ready, and she has the portfolio to prove it. “Honestly, I feel equipped to do almost anything in the creative industry,” said Eberhard, who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design. The program also offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art, a Bachelor of Arts in art, and a graphic design certificate that can be added to any major throughout the university. Eberhard explained: “I’ve learned so much about film and photography, and I’ve also learned how to paint and draw, and the basics of ceramics and building things. I’ve learned how to create anything in print and how to create packaging. I’ve learned really just so many things that could cover an array even outside of
36
TORCHLIGHT | Spring 2022
design…learning everything that goes into each project. There’s so much more than you originally think, but I feel equipped to do all these things from start to finish now.” Graphic design professor Megan Cary said Eberhard’s wide range of experience and confidence is the result of an art program where faculty know and build longlasting relationships with their students while providing real-word experiences and internships that produce jobready graduates. “Because we’re a small university, we’re able to pivot,” Cary said. “That means if the industry changes or what’s popular in the design industry or studio art world changes, we are able to make quick changes. We can introduce new technologies and integrate old technologies and give students a wide variety of learning experiences.” A Dickerson Combination Press recently donated by local artist Conroy Hudlow is a prime example of an old technology that is popular in the creative industry right now. UM students will be able to learn how to print using traditional methods such as linocuts and woodblock prints, and etching and dry point prints. Students also learn new technologies such as email marketing, creative app design and making working prototypes in the UI/UX field, which has the number one employment rate for designers these days, Cary said. In the near future, the professors want to add equipment and programs to teach 3-D printing and virtual reality; add space for classrooms, exhibits and art studios for students; add master’s degrees; and seek accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Art and Design.
