For Current Students
Important links and resources for current students in in Visual Arts and New Media Programs.
Important Dates
Portfolio and Essay Submission due
Wednesday, February 28th
In-Person Faculty Committee Reviews
Wednesday–Friday, March 6, 7, and 8
One of the requirements for completing a major in Visual Arts + New Media at Fredonia is participation in the 24 Credit-Hour Review. Its purpose is to provide Visual Arts + New Media students an opportunity to have their work critiqued by a faculty group, some of whom may be outside your chosen area of study. It also presents students with an opportunity to think, write, speak about their creative work and professional goals, and get faculty feedback. This review is an essential exercise in preparing students for the 3rd and 4th years of college and career expectations beyond Fredonia. Participation in the 24 Credit-Hour Review is a graduation requirement and is part of evaluating student progress. It is also used to award the Chautauqua Craft Alliance and Marano/Gnirke Scholarships.
Students who have completed, or are in the process of completing, 24 credit hours of Visual Arts + New Media courses, including art history and studio classes, and studio transfer credit hours, but excluding VAP, must participate in this review. Each student will meet with a committee consisting of three faculty assigned by the department.
All communications and submissions for 24 Credit-Hour Review must be done through the FredLearn webpage: VA+NM 24 Credit-Hour Review: Spring 2024.
To fulfill the requirements of this review, students must do the following:
- Prepare a personal essay about your artwork and interests. Questions to address in your essay appear on the following pages.
- Upload 5-10 examples of your strongest work to FredLearn so faculty can PREVIEW your academic development. You will need to provide examples of all work done in college-level classes for your In-person Committee Review.
- Prepare your work for In-person Faculty Committee Reviews to take place in Rockefeller Arts Center and/or Igoe classrooms on March 6, 7, and 8, as scheduled.
In-Person Faculty Committee Reviews
You will be asked to speak about your work and experiences in the VA+NM department during the review. Faculty reviewers will evaluate your ability to express your thoughts clearly and effectively, your ability to describe self-interests, goals, and skills, as well as the level of critical thinking and research evidence you apply towards creative projects. Reviews will last 30 minutes and are held in person. See the Meeting Schedule to find the day and time for your in-person review. You will need to provide examples of all work done in college-level classes for your In-person Committee Review.
Studio Art Majors (BA and BFA)
Essay Requirements
Prepare a personal essay incorporating the topics listed below. These topics will open the dialogue between you and your committee and should be clearly, professionally written, and carefully proofread. The topics should be addressed in narrative form, not in a numbered list. This essay should be approximately 500-1000 words (3-page maximum). Upload your essay on or before February 28th.
Your statement should address the following questions:
- Discuss your creative process: Where do you find inspiration? How do you develop ideas and move towards finished work? Which materials, methods, and studio disciplines do you enjoy most?
- Discuss your work’s content: What are the formal and thematic ideas that interest you most? How do you research creative ideas?
- Discuss your technical skills: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Discuss your career goals: How do you hope to use your art degree?
Portfolio Requirements for Studio Art majors
How to prepare your professional portfolio of art to be reviewed:
- Select 5-10 examples of your strongest artwork. Create digital files of your selected work and upload your digital files to FredLearn. These preview examples will introduce your work to faculty. Upload your 5-10 digital examples with your personal essay on or before February 28th.
- In addition to the digital files and essay, you must prepare representative artwork from all studio courses taken at Fredonia (or previous colleges) for your In-person Faculty Committee Review. This comprehensive collection of art will fully represent your creative interests and skills development during college-level study. Arrange your artwork for in-person viewing in your assigned room, on the day and time scheduled for you.
- Label each submission with semester and year, course name, and project title.
- Include process work and samples from sketchbooks/journals, thumbnails, roughs, storyboards, character studies, etc.
- Consider submitting work done outside of VA+NM classes.
Art History Majors (BA)
Essay Requirements
Prepare a personal essay incorporating the topics listed below. These topics will open the dialogue between you and your committee and should be clearly, professionally written, and carefully proofread. Address these topics in narrative form (not in a numbered list). Your essay must be approximately 500-1000 words (three-page maximum). Upload your essay on or before February 28th.
Your personal essay should address the following themes:
- Discuss your research interests: What areas of study (e.g., timeframe, culture, thematic issues, material objects, etc.) do you find the most compelling and why?
- Discuss your research process: What publications, authors, methodologies, academic disciplines, and/or venues do you favor when viewing art and generating interpretive understanding?
- Discuss your skills: What are your strengths and weaknesses regarding the study and practice of art historical research and writing?
- Discuss your career goals: How do you hope to use your art history degree? How will you acquire professional experience before graduation?
Portfolio of written work
Your portfolio of written work for the faculty committee review should include examples from the following categories:
- A short introductory level paper (2-3 pages) or event survey produced for a 100-level art history course such as ARTH 101 or ARTH 102.
- A medium length analytical, position, or research paper (4-8 pages) produced for an art history course at the 200, 300, or 400 level.
- Any art historical writings, notebooks, or journal entries that describe potential research projects generated on your own, outside of regular class assignments.
[Note: If you have completed a 10-to-15-page research paper for an upper-level art history course, you may submit this in place of the medium length paper if you feel it is a strong example of your work. Transfer students may submit writing samples from courses taken at another institution, but please include information about when the course was taken and where.]
Portfolio Requirements for Art History majors
How to prepare your portfolio of writing to be reviewed:
- Select examples of your strongest art historical writing from the three categories listed above. Create PDF files of your selected work and upload these files to FredLearn. Your writing samples will introduce your work to faculty.
- Label each submission with your name, the semester and year completed, and the course name for which your writing was done.
- Your selected writings and personal essay must be uploaded to FredLearn on or before February 28th. This will give faculty time to read your materials before your In-person Faculty Committee Review.
The Emmitt Christian Gallery is on the second floor of the Rockefeller Arts Center. This small gallery is devoted to the exhibition of student works. Each semester a series of week-long shows feature the works of advanced art students in all media. Occasional group shows of work done for a specific course are included in the sequence. Students must prepare the space, design the installation, hang the show, create publicity, and host their own reception. This experience serves as preparation for professional exhibitions after graduation.
Students interested in exhibiting their work are encouraged to schedule the gallery through their faculty sponsor. For more information contact Professor Tim Frerichs.
