Art 691: MFA Seminar
Tuesday 6:00-8:45pm ADC 333
Professor Samantha Fields
Office Hours: T 4:30-6:00pm. Call advisement to make an appointment.
email: Samantha.fields@csun.edu
SP14
ART 691A-Z. M.F.A. Seminar (3-3-3-3)
Prerequisites: M.F.A.; Classified status. Orientation to the procedures and requirements of the
MFA professional degree programs in Studio or Visual communication Arts. Exploration into
career development, professional issues and writing about art. Philosophies pertaining to
disciplines in the visual arts are examined through a series of guest lectures. 3 hours per week.
Art Department goals met in this course:
5. Develop an appreciation and tolerance of diverse perspectives dealing with art, culture,
teaching and learning.
6. Become involved in both individual and collaborative art experiences with other students,
faculty, and community.
7. Develop a career path for an art profession or an art-related field; develop an understanding
of the demands and expectations of that area of art profession or art field.
Description: This course will focus on the following student learning outcomes:
Students will learn professional practices in relation to the planning and execution of a show.
Students will develop an artist statement.
Students will photograph and prep photographs of their work for print.
Students will learn to proof catalog copy, proofread thesis, and edit their work.
Student will draft a written thesis as a requirement for graduation.
Students will consult with gallery staff in the planning of their thesis installation.
The course calendar for Art 691 will mirror the gallery schedule for Thesis Show. You will have
set deadlines to meet your thesis show requirements. We will also cover other issues relating to
showing your work, and will work on your written thesis as well. This class is required for
graduation.
Grading:
Grading will be determined based on your ability to supply required materials on time, both to
myself and to the gallery when requested. Professionalism will count as part of your grade.
Attendance:
This class only meets once per week. 2 absences will result in a lowered letter grade.
Grade Breakdown:
Digital Packet for Catalog:
Digital Packet for catalog:
Thesis Draft:
100
100
100
Consultation with Jim & Sam:
Check in with Sam:
Delivery of Work/Install:
TOTAL:
50
50
100
500
Course Calendar
SP 2014 / 691 Fields
Class Deadlines are in BOLD, Gallery Deadlines are in GREY
Week 1
1/21 Lecture: Introduction/syllabus, Professionalism, Dropbox
Assign Digital Packet: List of work, Photographs, Statement.
Assign Thesis Draft, go over guidelines via grad students site
Jan 21- Feb. 18: Photos of all artwork taken preferably by the same photographer for
consistency.
Week 2
1/28 Gallery meeting with Jim Sweeters. Meet at the gallery at 6pm.
Week 3
2/4
Artist Statement for catalog is due in class, we will critique and revise as a group.
Week 4
2/11 Choose Images for catalog, everyone bring your images to class on a jump drive or in
dropbox.
Week 5
2/18 Thesis Drafts are Due in class / partner critique. Digital Packets: are DUE.
2/19: Digital Packets are DUE to the Gallery via Dropbox.
Week 6
2/25 Thesis draft revisions due to Sam via email.
Individual Meetings with Sam (3)
If you are not meeting with me, you should be working on Thesis.
Week 7
3/4
Individual Meetings with Sam (3)
If you are not meeting with me, you should be working on Thesis.
Week 8
3/11 Review of catalog cover/ invitation design by Jim, Michelle, Sam and grad students
Thesis Planning form (if not already filed) is due to grad studies by March 14.
Individual meetings with Sam (2)
Week 9
3/18 In Class: Make final decision for cover and invitation.
Thesis drafts due to your committee Chairs
Week 10
3/25 Group Critique: Thesis Work
Week 11
4/1
Group Critique: Thesis Work
Week 12
4/8
SPRING BREAK
Notice: April 11 is the graduate studies deadline for preliminary formatting of your thesis
Week 13
4/15 Group Critique: Thesis Work
Final thesis draft is due to remaining committee members
Week of April 15: If haven’t done already, contact Jim to discuss your work and installation
needs.
Week 14
4/22 Group Critique: Thesis Work
List of works for thesis show are due to sam via email
Week 15
4/29 Short consultations with Sam
May 1: Sam to email list of works including artist name, title and medium to Michelle
Week 16
5/6
Short consultations with Sam
Week 17: Finals week
INSTALLATION
Important Post Class Deadlines:
May 13:
Faculty Walkthrough
May 9:
Final deadline for thesis submittal to grad studies (with signatures)
May 17- June 7:
Run of Show
June 9 & 10:
Artwork Pickup NO EXCEPTIONS
Assignments
Digital Packet for the Catalog
Due: 2/18
You will be assembling a digital packet of information for Michelle at the gallery, which will be
used by the designer for the catalog. You will be delivering the packet via Dropbox. The packet
will consist of the following:
Artist Statement:
This should be between 200-250 words, and encompass the work you are presenting for thesis
show. This statement can also serve as the introduction paragraph for your thesis abstract.
Images:
You will include 4-5 digital images of your work. Digital images should be 8.75” on the longest
side at 300 dpi. File names should begin with a number, followed by the title. This will
correspond with your image list. (For example: 1. Doorway) The designer will choose which
images are used in the final layout, so make sure you select work that you want to represent
your thesis in the catalog. Most of you will not have images of the work that will actually be in
the thesis show before the catalog deadline. In that case, you should choose images that best
represent your work as a whole. For instance, if you did a shed show installation, and you are
also planning an installation for thesis, those images would be appropriate. Likewise,
photographs or paintings from a similar body of work.
Image List:
This list will detail the images in your packet. Please use this format and number the list so that
it corresponds with the file names of your images.
1. ← (this number corresponds with the image file name) Title of artwork ← (italicize), Media,
size ← (always H x W x D), year completed
Example:
1. Doorway, acrylic on canvas, 48” X 48”, 2013
Thesis Drafts
Due dates are listed below
Some of you will have already begun your written thesis. For those who have not, begin your
draft NOW! Information regarding thesis/deadlines: YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS
INFORMATION:
http://www.csun.edu/grip/graduatestudies/thesis/
Download the thesis format guide at the link above.
As you write your thesis, keep track of your sources via a bibliography. This a good resource for
MLS or APA styles:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_bibliography.shtml
We will be proofreading your first draft in class. The proofed draft will be due to your committee
chair on 3/18.
If you have difficulty writing, or if English is your second language, please use the writing center
on campus to assist you before you bring your draft to class
http://www.csun.edu/lrc/writing.html
If you have serious trouble writing in English, please hire an editor.
2/18
2/25
3/18
4/11
4/15
5/9
First thesis draft is due in class
This draft will be read by your peers, corrections and suggestions will be noted.
Second thesis draft is due to Sam
I will read for content and structure. Please make sure your grammar, spelling and
punctuation usage is correct. I will not correct grammar, spelling and punctuation, but I
will note when they are incorrect. Incorporate my suggestions and correct errors before
submitting to your chair.
Third thesis draft is due to your committee chair
This draft should be pretty clean and nearly finished. You chair will read for content and
structure.
Preliminary formatting deadline (graduate studies)
Final thesis draft is due to remaining committee members
At this point, your thesis should be complete.
Final Thesis due to graduate studies, with signatures
Appointment: Consultation with Jim
You are to make an individual appointment with Jim Sweeters to talk about any special needs or
arrangements as we approach thesis installation.