Fall2012•SchoolofArtandDesign•QEPImpactReport
Theteachingmodelintheschoolofartanddesignembracesanumberof
approaches,butthecoreofourlearninginvolvesstudiopracticeaccompaniedby
critique,andassessedbyportfolio.ThisprocessisanaturalfitfortheQEP,involving
theintegrationofresearch(bothtraditionalandcreative,)hands‐onactivities,the
useoftoolsandmaterials,communicationskills,andtheconsiderationofaudience
andpointofview.Whileourdisciplineshavebeentaughtthiswayformanyyears,
theQEPhasencouragedustomakethemostofourmethodology,andtobringour
engagementoutofthestudioandintotheworld.
IntegratingInformationfromaVarietyofContexts
InterdisciplinaryworkacrosstheartswaspartoftheQEPfortheCollegeofFine
andPerformingArts.Aspartofthisinitiative,theSoADhascontinuedtoofferArt
191:IntegralArts,acourseforfirstyearstudentsthatinvolvesmusic,artand
theater.StudentsandfacultyfromtheSoADwerealsoheavilyinvolvedwiththe
CollegesponsoredDADAfestivalthisfall.Thehistoricalartmovementwas
discussedinclassesfromthefoundationtoadvancedlevels,withspecific
assignmentsinarthistory,studioartandgraphicdesigncoursesthatrelatedtoit.
Studentsinthevisualartsanddesignalsoattendedthemusic,theateranddance
performancesthatwerepartofthefestival,andtherelatedexhibitionintheFine
ArtMuseum.Duringthisperiodstudentworkwasdisplayedinthehallways,
relatingtotheinfluencesofDADAsuchascollage,photogramsandexperimental
typography.
Somefineexamplesofstudentworkthatinvolvesynthesisofinformation,
wouldbefromMaryAnnaLafratta’sMotionGraphicsclasses.Studentsnotonlygain
technicalskillsindigitalmedia,theyalsolearnhowtoresearch,organize,display
andcommunicateinformationeffectively.Afterlearningaboutcopyrightissues,
studentsinMotionGraphicshavecollaboratedwithmusicstudentsfromBruce
Frazier’selectronicmusicclasssothattheiranimationpiecesincludeoriginalmusic
andhighqualitysoundelements.Oneprojectinvolvedusinginformationanddata,
alongwithoriginalgraphicforms,toexplaintheTohukuearthquakeinJapan.Works
fromtheseclasseswerechosenfortheNationalConferenceonUndergraduate
Research,andfortheControlledChaosFilmFestival.
PracticingCivicEngagement
ThebestexamplesofthewaysinwhichtheSoADpracticecivicengagementwould
comefromourassociationwittheJacksonCountyGreenEnergyPark.Wehosted
theYouthArtFestivalthere,whichinvolvedundergraduateandgraduatestudents,
alongwithfacultyandalumnifromourprograms,offeringdemonstrationof
glassblowingandpotterymaking,alongwithhands‐onactivitiesforchildrenand
theirfamilies,suchasdrawing,facepainting,printingandthebuildingofamosaic
wall.InadditiontotheYAF,studentsundertheDirectionofProf.RichardTichich
competedintheSocialBusinessCompetitioninRaleigh,presentingtheworkofthe
SoADattheGreenEnergyParkasamodelofcollaborationthatcouldserveasa
businessincubatorforsmallbusinessventuresinartandfinecrafts.