bu sva undergraduate viewbook

IT ALLSTARTS HERE

Dean ad interim, College of Fine Arts, Professor of Art: Lynne AllenDirector, School of Visual Arts: Jeannette Guillemin

855 Commonwealth AvenueBoston, MA 02215bu.edu/cfa

Promotional Material Designed by:BU CFA Design Lab (All Students)

Publication: Brittany MartinVideo: Bryan Fountain & Max SchwearAdministrative: Brad FarrellAdvisor: Associate Professor Kristen Coogan

Special Thanks to:Photographer: Justin AnfusoPrinter: Kirkwood Press

BOSTON IS A CITY BUILT ON REVOLUTION

At Boston University School of Visual Arts we continue to push the limits, test the boundaries of creative potential, and strive for revolutionary leaps in artistic achievement. Instilling a well-rounded visual art education, we teach you the rules—so you can break them.

WE STRIVE TO REVOLUTIONIZE THE ART WORLD

A Cross-Disciplinary Education

Set within the College of Fine Arts (CFA), Boston University School of Visual Arts is a small art school nestled within a big University. Students enjoy all the advantages of an intimate, tight-knit creative community, as well as everything the University at-large has to offer. At a world-class research institution, there are no limits to what you can explore, study, and discover. Our students can choose from the full range of BU’s offerings for double majors and minors, as well as a wide selection of student organizations, clubs and other amenities available across campus.

A Bustling Metropolis with a Thriving Art Community

Boston is one of the world’s great cities and a time-honored haven for higher education. We share our home with dozens of other colleges and universities, as well as some of the country’s most highly regarded art museums. With a robust gallery scene and a dense population of emerging and professional artists, this where you can truly immerse yourself in art, culture, and city life from the very center of the action.

Award-Winning Faculty, instructing from a Real World Perspective

Our faculty aren’t just tireless educators, they’re successful practicing artists and designers as well. Their work can be found in the collections of major museums across the country, they are the recipients of major awards and fellowships, and they show their work actively across the country and the globe.

The reason I came to BU School of Visual Arts (SVA) was that I knew that being creative and visual was something I could never let go of, but that in order to do my best work, I needed a broader education.

As a component of a much larger BU, entering the SVA program also means being able to take classes in anything from 3D printing in the College of Engineering at the Engineering Product Innovation Center, to the politics of education in the College of Arts and Sciences.

With BU’s help, I was able to fund the creation of two murals totaling over 1,800 sq. ft.

What’s more is that the strong studio art education we receive in class allows us to take advantage of the many resources available to us. We begin with a strong foundation, learning about art history and developing skills in painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking so

CHOOSING BUMULTI-DISCIPLINARY EDUCATION, VIBRANT CITY, AND ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

What makes the SVA program unique are three things: the resources, the quality of the instruction, and the location.

Pictured: BU Painting Studios

CHOOSING BUthat by the time we reach junior year, we have the tools to begin developing our own sense of what it means to create art.

Boston is an amazing city with a wealth of art institutions, great food, and opportunities for those who seek them out. This city and the surrounding area has a huge number of large education institutions and corporations as well as one of the most vibrant innovation economies in the country so that if you have an idea, there are always people and organizations you can go to in order to make it happen. Oh, and did I mention you can walk, bike, and take public transportation everywhere?

Alexander Golob BFA Painting

FOUNDATION YEAR

The Foundation Program is at the core of the BU SVA experience. Required courses offer an intensive foundation in the studio disciplines of drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. This broad base of experience provides students with a solid introduction to the visual arts disciplines before they select major areas of specialization. Courses at the Foundation level emphasize observational skill-building, providing a launching pad from which to develop a personal creative voice.

“We begin with a strong foundation—we then have the tools to begin developing our own sense of what it means to create art.”

Alexander Golob BFA Painting

LEARN THE RULES

THEN BREAK THEM

WE BEGIN WITH BASICS

PAINTING

TRADITION AND INNOVATION COME TOGETHER

Painting students learn to translate the world around them—then create their own.

fundamentals

PAINTINGThough there have been profound changes in the art world, the Painting program continues to promote painting in its varied manifestations as a fundamental form of visual and artistic expression.

Drawing and painting are fundamental facets of a visual arts education and are a major portion of the foundation program.

Students first study perspective and spatial relationships through geometric forms, including the cube, the cone, the sphere, and the cylinder, and work with more complex variations of these forms as they relate to the human figure—one of the most fascinating and challenging artistic themes—in anatomy and drawing classes.

The principal component of the program is studio activity, with students exploring various forms of painting to develop an individual vision. The program is intended to provide a solid base for postgraduate involvement in the larger art world.Painting majors also explore painting’s elements

of color, light, space, volume, tone, texture, and composition through still-life, landscape, and invented motifs. In addition, instructors place emphasis on composing from memory and vision, allowing art students to give personal expression to what they have learned. Everything they learn in their formative years at BU can be applied to more complex, conceptual endeavors as they progress.

“I think that BU’s program is, at its heart, about visual literacy, which makes engaging content and content that much more accessible.”

BU’s Painting Program highlights the strengths of making art within a university — teach fundementals, think creatively, and use the world as your inspiration.

Samuel Guerin, Painting BFA

“It is the height of ambition, it seems to me, to be a painter. How do you do this: turn it into air, or a piece of silk, or a piece of flesh? How does Cézanne tap, tap, tap this thing, and turn it into this? It is a magical thing

— it is alchemy. And it is your hands that do it.”

—John Walker

Professor Emeritus of Painting (from interview with Jennifer Samet for Hyperallergic, May, 2013)

Benjamin Swanson

Tyler Sorgman

Dina Martinelli

Fiona Buchanon

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Amanda Lee Dunham

FINDING BEAUTIFUL MOMENTSAn Interview with Samuel Guerin, Painting BFA

Portrait by Amal Chandaria

FINDING BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS

Was the Foundation year important to your education?

Definitely, as I said above, it’s that core element of knowing the language of painting and drawing that makes BU’s program so strong. You have to walk before you can run, and you have to learn how to draw boxes before you can create the the next poignant expression of the human condition.

How has it made you a better painter?

The Foundation program really does make you a better painter; it demands a clearing away of your previous conceptions of what painting is. That’s not to say it’s a kind of indoctrination of anything, just a way of drawing attention to the most fundamental aspects.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from a faculty member?

Professor Richard Ryan told me that it’s easier to start out with something chaotic and impose order than it is to start with something ordered and artificially impose chaos. It was a little thing, but it really gave me the mental license that I needed to embrace a sense of process, freedom, and the malleability of paint as material.

What made you choose BU over other schools?

I was interested in BU because it had a reputation as a training ground for perceptual painting which, at the time, was my artistic focus. I also really wanted the opportunity to have a strong liberal arts education as well, something that a lot of fine art-specific schools weren’t as strong in.

What has your experience been like living in Boston?

It’s a young city with a lot of colleges—that gives the city a very unique feeling and energy to it.

What do you think makes the Painting program unique?

I think that BU trains you to have competency with your material. I think that BU’s program is, at its heart, about visual literacy, which makes engaging content that much more accessible.

MASTERING COLOR, FORM, & EXPRESSION

A conversation with Samuel Guerin about his experience in BU College of Fine Arts Painting Program.

Right: Undergraduate Painting Studios

“Richard Ryan told me that it’s easier to start out with something chaotic and impose order than it is to start with something ordered and artificially impose chaos.”

Samuel Guerin, Painting BFA

DESIGN IS EVERYWHERE

GRAPHIC DESIGN

GOOD DESIGNERS STRIVE TO MAKE ART THAT PUSHES BOUNDARIES

Graphic designers have abundant career options both in the arts and in business, and learn how to merge the two worlds.

fundamentals

GRAPHICDESIGN

Graphic design is the art of giving meaningful form to information. In an era when information comes from every imaginable source, the graphic designer’s role in modern communication can’t be overvalued. Graphic design influences everything from hand-painted signs to corporate images.

The Graphic Design program is traditionally based with a modern orientation, and is supported by a stellar faculty. Graphic design students learn photography from the darkroom to critical evaluation of the print, study typography as an element of design, and learn to relate 3-D graphics to architectural and package design.

Students can experiment with print production and other graphic imagery as well as explore the latest technology in the School’s print center, wood shop, and computer labs.

Seniors may choose a directed study project in order to pursue their own design ideas. Design students have the opportunity to pursue individual interests as well, both in the College of Fine Arts

and the University’s other schools and colleges. The Graphic Design program at Boston University aims to merge artistic creativity with practical application—encouraging students to experiment with different materials and test the limits of their concepts on

and off the computer. As working professionals, the program’s accomplished faculty provides honest real world insight, countless avenues for creative inspiration, and insider knowledge of design studios, thoroughly preparing each student for post-collegiate life.

“BU Graphic Design is fluid and symbiotic: our curriculum emphasizes exploration and examination; our faculty create frameworks for each investigation; our students bring the process to life.”

Kristen Coogan, Assistant Professor

“We believe in leveraging our experiences and influences of our lives to act as a filter of perspective through which we view the world. “

—Nick Rock

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design and Founder of Station, a Providence-, Boston-based Design Studio

Laura Grey, Faculty

Emily Feng Sarah Bassett

Brittany Martin

Calvin Chin

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DESIGN ISEVERYWHERE

UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICING ART TO INSPIRE CREATIVE MINDS

A conversation with Sarah Bassett and Amal Chandaria about their experience in BU College of Fine Arts’ Graphic Design Program.


Sarah: I originally went to another school in Boston to pursue a degree in Fine Arts, and I knew I needed something more. I fell in love with Boston and knew I didn’t want to leave. I favored the idea of going to a larger university with an art school tucked into it, allowing me to get involved in not only the smaller community of the College of Fine Arts, but also the greater BU community as well.


Sarah: I am 100% happy with my decision to go to school in Boston, and I can’t imagine it any other way. It’s such a college-town nestled into a large city and filled with opportunities. I love being able to access everything by walking or by the MBTA, and I feel like there is so much to explore. It’s a city that has really become a home away from home, and I definitely see myself staying here long after I graduate from Boston University.

campus as “the loofah girl” and it was awesome to do something so outgoing my first semester at BU. Definitely a bucket list moment for sure!

Amal: The partnership between the new Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC) and CFA allowed me and a friend to create a poster with moving components outside of class.

This would not have been possible had it not been for the collaboration with the engineering students that work there, as well as the amazing facilities and equipment that EPIC offers to BU students.

Who has been your favorite professor and why?

Sarah: I am so pleased with the entire Graphic Design program and its faculty. I really feel a strong connection with every professor, and have learned something unique from each of them.

Laura Grey, a professor in the Graphic Design department, is a really special professor in that she was hired with the students in mind. We were able to provide our opinion on which professor we thought would mesh with our program the best, and Laura was a standout to me.

Part of the reason why it is so amazing being in the classroom with her, is knowing that we had a say in her being here. It is such an empowering experience being able to curate your educational experience in such a profound way.

What do you see yourself doing with your Graphic Design degree and skills?

Sarah: Most importantly, doing what I love to do. I have all of the tools and skills needed to be a successful designer in the field, and what the CFA

Amal: I have had a very positive experience living in this city—it is small enough to be very easy to get around, but it’s still a proper city with so much art, music, and natural beauty (when it’s not buried under snow). I also always liked how BU’s campus is perfectly integrated into the city.

What besides the School of Visual Arts and your major has been your favorite thing about life at BU?

Sarah: Being able to take advantage of the larger BU community is something that really made me apply. I was Vice President of Colleges Against Cancer at BU, putting on the Relay For Life, raising over $115,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Through that group, I was given the opportunity to travel to Atlanta for a Relay For Life conference with students from all around the world, and then teach what I learned to students throughout New England.

I met so many amazing people outside of my major because of this club, and it was definitely the most rewarding part of my experience here.

Can you provide an example of how BU has enabled you to complete a project, a goal, or a “bucket list” item?

Sarah: Halloween is my favorite holiday, and my first semester after transferring to BU I decided to go to the BU Hockey game dressed as a loofah.

I was singled out in the crowd and got to dance on the ice in between periods in the annual BU costume contest. I got to be on the big screen and came in second place! People recognized me on

has taught me more than anything is find what your passion is and go for it. I have no doubt that my peers and myself will all land jobs doing something we love.

Amal: I would like to move to San Francisco and pursue graphic design there, either to work in a smaller studio or in a larger company as part of a small design team. I will also continue to pursue my interest in photography and film, which seem to find its way into my work more often than not!

What makes the program unique?

Sarah: Every professor in the Graphic Design department is a practicing designer, but they are all committed to your educational experience. A lot of the time at art schools, you find professors that are practicing artists who devote the majority of their time to their personal work, not their students. At BU, you know the professors you are interacting with are fully committed to you. The relationship between peers is filled with respect and comradery, we all look to each other for guidance and inspiration, instead of being overly competitive.

Amal: I think the close-knit relationship between all of the students and the professors is what makes the program so unique. The community of like-minded and talented individuals supporting each other is very evident in the incredible work that is produced year after year.

How have you applied your graphic design skills and education to other facets of your life?

Sarah: Graphic design is a lot about creative problem solving and learning to think on your feet. Being able to attack a problem or conflict with innovative and unique solutions is something that really sets me apart. We also learn a ton about public speaking and properly articulating your thoughts and opinions, which serves me well in both the job market as well as my day-to-day life.

Amal: I came to realize that a lot of what we were doing in our graphic design classes was not just figuring out the tools and software, but learning design thinking. Graphic design is, in essence, creative problem solving—something that is universally translatable and applicable. These skills are frequently drawn upon in my other classes in international relations, and also even in day-to-day decisions.


“Your future trajectory doesn’t always happen in a straight line.” —Laura Grey

“A page number is like a mosquito, you just don’t know what to do with them!” —Alston Purvis

“The relationship between peers is filled with respect and comradery. We all look to each other for guidance and inspiration, instead of being overly competitive.”

Sarah Bassett BFA Graphic Design

SHAPING THE WORLD

SCULPTURE

SCULPTUREUNDERSTANDING FORM AND SPACE IN 3 DIMENSIONS

Sculpture students can take electives in a variety of techniques, including glassblowing at the nearby Diablo Glass School.

fundamentals

Sculpture is a discipline that encompasses a wide variety of media and concerns. Working from the figure and through observation, the backbone of the Sculpture curriculum, students learn about medium, form, and content.

These foundations set the stage for coursework investigating materials, content development, time-based sculpture, and installation. Additional electives, including welding, ceramics, sculpture techniques, and glassblowing provide students the opportunity to focus more intensely on specific media and areas of the discipline.

Sculpture majors meet in small groups, working closely with faculty, peers, and visiting artists. Hours of concentrated work are equally divided between the development of personal imagery in a wide range of styles, experimentation with new materials, and observational study.

In addition to studio work, Contemporary Issues Seminars help students to articulate their vision.

“A sculptor is someone who takes ordinary things and transforms them into the extraordinary, into something new and meaningful. “

—Batu Siharulidze

Professor of Sculpture

Sculpture is unique in that these artists are able to construct forms and pieces that occupy our physical space. They expand opportunities for storytelling and concept clarity by providing a different experience from alternate perspectives. The Sculpture program at BU strives to expand creative thinking and allow

our students to explore more the experience of art, and how varying perspectives can communicate new meanings and inspire fresh interpretations of new and old ideas. The impressive faculty works to expand notions of tactility and three dimensionality and push the limits of 3-D design; utilizing new materials and contemporary processes add to the endlessly growing and progressive tradition of sculpture.

“You start to appreciate that you can build something, break it down if you don’t like it, and start again.”

Tanya Grueneberger Sculpture BFA

Sarah Carmody

Emma Scarvey Emma Hendry

Ashley Teamer

Mia Cross

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THINKING IN 3DIMENSIONS

Tanya Grueneberger Sculpture BFA

Portrait by Juliette Vandame

from all different fields of study. People studying for the MCATS, for their next law exam, or going through flashcards for Art History.

In a way, it felt like the entire city was going through all the same things that I was going through. Like generations of young adults united just by living in this city.


Oh wow, it’s so hard to choose because the Sculpture professors at BU are so open, supportive, and amazing. I have never had a more fun group of professors.

But my rock, my main motivator in the studio and my mentor has to be Professor Sachiko Akiyama.

She shaves her own studio hours to make sure that you’re not struggling with your work. She talks to you like a friend. She brings you books from her personal collection and relates to students as people. She even comes to class in a costume for Halloween! What is the best piece of advice you’ve received from a faculty member?

When I took classes with Rune Olsen, he would always use Tim Gunn’s staple phrase “Make it work!” from Project Runway. I think that’s solid advice for everything in life. Have to make 30 sculptures in 30 days? Make it work. Have to crank out 20 prints for your final critique by Monday? Make it work. Have to write two research papers, remind yourself to pay rent to


I chose BU because I wanted to study art but still wanted an immersive experience in a university setting. I just knew that art school wasn’t for me. I wanted a broader education than art electives so that I could tap into my other interests and BU’s curriculum allowed me to do just that.


Whenever I visit my friends in other cities, places like London, Sydney, and Chicago, I always come back to Boston more thankful than ever that I chose it. That may be because I had to make it my home—my comfort zone—but Boston is one of the biggest student towns I’ve ever experienced. I’d get onto the T to find people reading textbooks

DISCOVERING NEW NARRATIVES THROUGH NEW PERSPECTIVES

A conversation with Tanya Grueneberger about her experience in the Sculpture program at Boston University.

your landlord, and apply to different internships? Make it work. It reminded us that time was sensitive, and regardless of any disasters, we had to make it work!

What has been your favorite sculpture class and why?

My favorite sculpture class was Welding with Kitty Wales. Being a timid person in general, I don’t usually like fire and how aggressive of an element it can be. I don’t like the unknown or the unpredictable.

I like plans, order, predictability, so I came into the class completely scared. But when you get into the process of welding, you find out how fluid it is, how efficient and forgiving it can be. You start to appreciate that you can build something, break it down if you don’t like it, and start again.

Kitty was also extremely encouraging. She practically had to hold my working hand through the first class to guide the way I welded and by the time I had finished the class, I welded something that was bigger than me without even realizing it.

Steel instantly became my material of choice, a trademark in my thesis. I’m super glad I surprised myself by taking the chance to learn something I was apprehensive about.

How has working at EPIC changed the way you think about sculpture?

My sculptures were always static coming into the program so it was eye-opening to realize that

movement could add narrative, dynamics, and contrast. I was wide-eyed and absolutely intrigued that BU offered this class.

I think time-based sculpture is a relatively new idea, so the course was like an open door to what’s happening in contemporary sculpture.

A great question that we asked in class was how do we push contemporary sculpture by adding to the conversation? BU gave us a chance to develop our answers through EPIC and its resources.

EVERY LAYER MATTERS

PRINTMAKING

PRINT-MAKINGA CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON A VITAL,DYNAMIC MEDIUM

Printmaking students become fluent in all media, learning everything from screenprint and intaglio to digital media and bookmaking.

Majors explore contemporary perspectives through the unique Art of the Multiple Theory Seminar.

fundamentals

Printmaking is a vital contemporary art form, based on the transferred image and encompassing a variety of graphic processes and technologies, each with innate image qualities.

The program is housed in a brilliant new workshop with state-of-the-art facilities, and offers close work with expert faculty. Printmaking is a unique and flexible discipline, and supports study in intaglio, lithography, relief, silkscreen, book arts, and digital media, while encouraging combined applications with other disciplines. With the advent of dynamic new digital methods the role of printmaking in contemporary art practice has expanded into a major force in contemporary art.

The curriculum offers various entry points into the print media, followed by directed, intensive, and advanced study where students focus and refine their personal vision to create a cohesive body of work. Combining a strong foundation in visual skills and processes with the intellectual rigor offered by the University, this program prepares students to address the contemporary art world head-on.

“Printmaking has a unique artistic voice, a spectrum of media that merges new media technologies and magnificent tradition. The printed image is both art and inspiration, design and craft, hands-on problem solving and cross-disciplinary adventure! It’s communication—with a global community. Printmaking at BU shapes passion, purpose, and professionalism—and exploratory expertise!”

—Deborah Cornell

Associate Professor of Art and Chair of Printmaking

Besides professional studio training, the skills gained are applicable to positions in related art settings—teaching, print studio management, production, and entrepreneurship, digital printing companies, galleries, and arts administration, as well as being excellent preparation for postgrad study.

BU School of Visual Arts is prominent in the professional printmaking community as a vibrant center for print activity. Through international professional meetings and exhibitions on campus, student participation in print exhibitions, and national print conferences, as well as opportunities for travel and study abroad and community events, the program offers an excellent context for students to connect to the professional printmaking community.

“It’s also just generally a fascinating medium with never-ending facets and possibilities.”

Rebecca Tuohey Printmaking BFA

Various Students

Calvin Chin

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Kathie Zhang Jess van der Westhuizen


A HANDS ONAPPROACH

An inteview with Rebecca Tuohey, Printmaking BFA


Boston is a great city. It still holds as number one in my heart, despite having traveled to many others. Between the different sectors of Boston, Cambridge, and surrounding neighborhoods, there are always interesting things to do, things which I’m still discovering as I spend more time here. Since Boston is small, everything is within reach, and it’s really nice to be so close to the shore. I’ve been happy and lucky to live here.


I personally enjoy how BU’s campus is integrated within the city. Even when I was living on campus, I could look out my window and see a plethora of different kinds of people going about their days.

I never liked the idea of being part of a closed-campus school, and I feel that living at and going to BU has allowed me to be more open-minded to new experiences.


Deborah Cornell has pretty much been my guardian angel since I’ve declared my Printmaking major. I never dreamed of having so much individual attention and mentorship when I was applying to this school. Not only that, but she is a master of her craft, and I have learned so much in the three years that I have been taking her classes.


I’ve had a long history with BU; my mother is an alumna and my father is an employee. Part of my childhood was spending time on this campus, but the turning point in my mind which made me seriously consider coming to this school was spending the summer of 2009 at the Visual Arts Summer Institute (VASI) program here.

I felt like I gained more technical experience in that one month than I had in the six years I had been previously attending miscellaneous art classes. I wanted more of that.

I also wanted to have a more well-rounded college experience, which is why I took the liberal arts route instead of going to just an art school.

REINVIGORATING AND RENEWING AN OLD TRADITION & ADDING NEW LAYERS

A conversation with Rebecca Tuohey about her experience in the Visual Arts programs, and participating in CFA’s Printmaking major.

She is patient and kind, but won’t hesitate to push you. Anyone who has the opportunity to study under her would be crazy not to!


That’s a hard question. I get good advice all of the time. It’s mostly lots of interesting print tips and tricks I would’ve never known about. I have been told to take or apply for every opportunity that faces me, since there is nothing to lose and only possibilities to gain. That has helped my artistic mentality quite a bit.

Why did you choose to concentrate in Printmaking?

I had previously always considered myself a painter, and never imagined that I would veer from that medium, but it didn’t feel right during my sophomore year. I had taken my first printmaking class the previous semester, and just decided that it was a better fit for me.

I still love painting, but I was able to be more experimental and feel more comfortable with what I was doing in printmaking. It’s also just generally a fascinating medium with never-ending facets and possibilities. The collaborative nature of it was also really something that interested me.

How did you first discover the medium?

My first printmaking experience was a demo and short session during the VASI program. I learned

a bit about monotype there. At the time though, I didn’t realize how that was only a small percentage of what could be done in the medium, so it was during the intro course of my sophomore year that I became really compelled.

What are the facilities like?

The BU print facilities are top notch. It’s nicer than almost any print shop you will see, thanks to the print tech, Josh—who is really good at his job—and the other students and faculty who work here to keep it in good condition.

The ventilation system is awesome, all of the essential materials are supplied, and there is ample space to work, since it’s a relatively small program anyways.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

ART EDUCATION

ARTEDUCATIONPRACTICING ARTISTS BECOME PRACTICING TEACHERS

fundamentals

In the Art Education program, students concentrate on understanding the processes involved in art making and learning. Every student in the program has a studio practice, and is trained to think not just as an educator, but also as an artist. By studying art in context, Art Education students are prepared not only to teach, but also to inspire.

The Art Education Department offers several pathways to studio teaching licensure:

• A four-year undergraduate BFA degree in Art Education

• A five-year combined undergraduate and graduate BFA/MA degree in studio teaching, which offers a student an opportunity to major in one of the studio disciplines, complete all Art Education coursework during the BFA degree, and return for a fifth year to complete student teaching requirements.

Through several different learning tracks, the Art Education program trains artists to return to the classroom as working professionals.

Art Education students get the best of both worlds, developing a personal studio practice while working towards a position as an art teacher.

Students also gain hands-on experience and the chance to interact with the community through classroom placement, Drawing in the Galleries, programs and Portfolio Prep workshops.

“Our Art Education program encourages our students to teach young artists to think visually, rather than to simply create products without personal meaning.”

—Judith Simpson

Associate Professor Emeritus of Art Education

“We benefit greatly from taking such an intense studio course load at the same time as taking educational theory and process classes. Not only do we become very strong artists ourselves, but we learn how to translate that ability to others. “

Dina Martinelli Painting & Education BFA

INFLUENCINGGENERATIONS

Dina Martinelli, Painting BFA and Art Education MA


and educationally. I personally love attending a university that is so intertwined in the city—the train runs right through campus, and Kenmore and Fenway are both a stone’s throw from my apartment. There is never a shortage of things to do on the weekends. I feel like after four years of living here, I can really call Boston my home.


The people that I’ve met here have been so influential to my life at BU. The amazing thing about being in such a large university is that I have so many different groups of friends, from different interest areas or activities that I’ve partaken in on campus.

SVA is such a tight knit group of people, and I really consider us all a little family. I have had the same work study job all four years in FitRec, and they are my FitRec family. It’s amazing how many different people I’ve met here.

Can you provide an example of how BU has enabled you to complete a project, a goal, or a “bucket list” item?

BU has helped me achieve so much, but the most obvious one is CFA’s Venice Study Abroad program. I knew upon entering college that I wanted to study abroad, but I couldn’t have imagined how incredible the experience actually was. Traveling to Italy with great people doing what I loved was a dream.


I think the major factor that influenced my decision to come to BU was the fact that CFA is an art school within a university, and if at some point I decided I didn’t want to pursue an art career, I would have options without having to transfer. I also just had a good feeling about BU (and CFA more specifically) upon visiting for the first time. Everyone was so accommodating and friendly. I felt like I could eventually belong here.


Living in Boston is something that everyone should experience at some point, and I am lucky enough to be experiencing it at the college age. There are so many college students in Boston which makes it a great environment socially

UNDERSTANDING AND PRACTICING ART TO INSPIRE CREATIVE MINDS

A conversation with Dina Martinelli about her experience in the Painting and Art Education major programs at Boston University.


This is a very tough decision, and I’m having a tough time deciding between Richard Raiselis and Richard Ryan. Both have such different personalities and teaching styles, but are amazing at what they do. Raiselis is the first painting professor I had at BU, and was such a warm, welcoming mentor to all of us freshmen. He also emanates joy for teaching and a passion for paint and color.

I didn’t meet Richard Ryan until my junior year studio, but he was a huge influence on my work and the way I think about painting and drawing, especially after taking his Drawing and Concepts class. He isn’t afraid to push us out of our comfort zones, and he also provides comic relief.


“Everything is made up of accumulated nothing.” —Richard Ryan

“Painting is hard.”—Richard Ryan

“You are only as original as the obscurity of your source material.”—Richard Raiselis

“The meaning of life is dying very slowly with style.”—Richard Raiselis

How does the program guide you towards a career in art education?

The course load of the BU Art Education program (5 year BFA/MA) isn’t exactly easy, but I think that the fact that CFA offers the program makes

everything easier for art educators in the long run. We benefit greatly from taking such an intense studio course load at the same time as taking educational theory and process classes. Not only do we become very strong artists ourselves, but we learn how to translate that ability to others. Also, the guidance that we receive from the Art Ed faculty throughout the program and practica is amazing.

What skills has your BU education provided you that will in turn improve your ability to educate the next generation of young artists?

I think it is so important that art educators are practicing artists themselves, and BU has provided that opportunity with its Art Education program. There are so many connections that I make every day between my studio painting and drawing classes and my art education classes.

Not only does the art instruction benefit my understanding of how I teach, but the education classes allow me to look at my studio process in a whole new way. It is hard for me to imagine having one without the other. I am so glad that I discovered this program and BU, and that I am continuing on with a career in art education, and as a painter.

SVA & BU

Visual Arts students have the opportunity to major, minor, or simply enroll in classes outside of their creative studies. We believe forward-thinking artists should have knowledge and experience outside of visual arts. We encourage students to become broadly educated and to customize their experience.

Programs to Choose from at Boston University

250+

Schools and Collegesavailable for Dual Degree

10

Dual Degree/Double Major

You can earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Art and Sciences simultaneously through the Double Degree program. Students may also apply to the Double Degree program with any other school at BU in their sophomore year.

Cross-Disciplinary

All Visual Arts students are required to take courses in the larger University setting, giving them the opportunity to explore other disciplines and expand their worldview, ultimately improving their creative/critical thinking skills.

THE INSIDER’S LOOK EPIC

ENGINEERING PRODUCTINNOVATION CENTER

Art and engineering come together at EPIC, where SVA students have the opportunity to make and experiment with the latest technology, free of cost.

ePIC CReatIVItY Art and engineering come together. The Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC) is a 15,000 square-foot, $9 million facility on Commonwealth Avenue in the heart of BU’s Charles River Campus, just steps from the School of Visual Arts facilities. It is a pioneering facility that helps address a critical need in the US: bringing together engineers and creatives, providing the tools necessary to develop and manufacture innovative new products.

Boston University built EPIC to create a new generation of makers capable of understanding and leading the entire new product innovation process, from design through manufacturing, in a global environment. EPIC focuses on educating students in the range of relevant skill sets—from design to prototyping to manufacturing to lifecycle management—that are vital to product innovation.

School of Visual Arts students frequently utilize EPIC’s state of the art facilities, collaborating with engineering staff and students to see their projects through all stages of hands-on production. The opportunity to experiment with the latest in 3D printing, laser etching, and prototyping exposes student artists to a whole new range of tools—and a world of creative possibilities.

3D PRINTINGLASER CUTTINGMOLD MAKINGMANUFACTURING

STUDENT GROUPS.

Finding your voice is all about finding your tribe.

Boston University Visual Arts students disprove the myth of the lone artist. With more than 450 student groups on campus, it’s easy to find people who share your interests, no matter what they might be. And with the number of art and design initiatives and student groups in the mix with links to the professional world, there is no better way to plug in to the larger community.

AIGAAIGA of Boston University is a student-run association within the chapter of Boston, MA. AIGA, the professional association for design, is a community of designers who work together to increase awareness of graphic design around the world, focusing on execution of craft, exposure, and shaping the future for graphic design as both a profession and a practice.

By scheduling events and workshops on design ethics, professionalism, portfolio building, and creative vision, AIGA establishes an excellent foundation for students to consider, create, and inspire, engaging the community and raising awareness for graphic design as a powerful means of communication globally.

AdClubAdvertising has been recognized as one of the most potent forces in our culture today. Advertisers shape our perceptions, influence our decisions, and drive the economy. As future players and leaders of this industry, AdClub members are getting a head-start in understanding its workings.

As a member of this organization, you will have the opportunity to hear advertising professionals describe their experience in the field, visit some of

the leading agencies around Boston, and be able to learn and use the latest in design software to build a fantastic portfolio working for real clients.

BU BUZZThe BUZZ is a lifestyle magazine geared toward all Boston University students, published once every semester. The magazine focuses on news and happenings on the BU campus and in the city of Boston—the two communities to which all Boston University students belong. Photography, editorial, and design are all managed and created by Boston University students. The BUZZ is a terrific way to explore the print media industry, connect with Journalism and Communication students, and have your voice heard across the campus.

CFA Student GovernmentThe Student Government of the College of Fine Arts serves a community of musicians, actors, visual artists, and scholars, ensuring that CFA students maintain an active voice within the greater BU student body.

CFA Student Government plans social and community building events for the college, and serves as a liaison between students, faculty, and administration. Student Government organizes philanthropic events for its student body.

STUDY ABROAD IN VENICE, ITALY

History & Overview

For centuries, Venice, Italy has been one of the great destinations for traveling artists. Open to all School of Visual Arts students, the Venice Studio Arts Program offers both summer and semester-long study in a city whose museums, walkways, and canals form a truly unique classroom.

Boston University’s Venice campus is located near Campo Santa Margherita and includes studio space, classrooms, and common spaces. Students are placed nearby in apartment-style housing in central Venice.

Coursework is offered in graphic design, painting, printmaking, and sculpture, as well as art history lectures on-site in Venice’s grand museums and churches. Glassblowing is also offered on nearby Murano, an island famous for producing generations of master glass artisans. No background in Italian language is required and all courses are taught in English.

Photo by Dennis Jarvis

REACHING OUT & GIVING BACKBU Arts InitiativeThe Boston University Arts Initiative ensures that the arts are fundamental to the BU student experience both inside and outside the classroom. The Arts Initiative connects students with the arts across the campus, and offers grants to enterprising students to directly engage the community with the arts.

Pictured: CFA Mural by Alexander Golob, funded by the BU CFA Arts Initiative.

Prison Education Program Boston University offers classes at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Framingham, a medium security prison for women, and at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Norfolk, a medium security prison for men.

Despite a diversity of situations and backgrounds, very few of the students have had access to an arts education prior to their incarceration. Faculty and students have come together to bring art appreciation courses to prisoners, encouraging free expression and interpretation through visual art.

Roxbury Prep PartnershipThe Boston University School of Visual Arts and Roxbury Preparatory School at the Lucy Stone Campus have a partnership to create transformative arts experiences for students at the charter school and the School of Visual Arts.

The partnership allows Boston University and Roxbury Prep students to come together in meaningful ways, and provides arts programming not currently offered in the Roxbury Prep curriculum.

Through workshops that aim to expand students’ technical and conceptual artistic knowledge, BU students foster relationships with junior high school students and, in alignment with Roxbury Prep’s values and mission, inspire them to envision a college-bound track.

Laurie AndersonKiki SmithJerry Saltz & Roberta SmithFred WilsonNicole EisenmanMickalene ThomasWilliam Kentridge

ContemPoRaRYPeRsPeCtIVes

RECENT CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVE LECTURES

Each semester, the Contemporary Perspectives Lecture Series invites renowned professional artists, designers, and critics to engage with the community. Students benefit from full access to some of the most significant artists of their time, entering into dialogues about the art-making process through public lectures, individual studio visits and critiques, and group workshops.

Stefan SagmeisterMiranda JulyVik MunizDona NelsonJudy PfaffKerry James MarshallYvonne Rainer

Gallery 5A student-run exhibition space in the College of Fine Arts building, Gallery 5 provides undergraduate students in the School of Visual Arts the opportunity to submit proposals, curate exhibitions, and exhibit their work in solo and group shows.

Commonwealth GalleryThe Commonwealth Gallery is a dedicated setting for graduate students in the School of Visual Arts to show their work in a professional exhibition space. The gallery features solo and group exhibitions on a rotating basis throughout each academic year.

808 GalleryLocated on the first floor of the 808 building in a former car dealership showroom, 808 Gallery is a sprawling exhibition space and a premiere venue for contemporary art.

Alongside curated exhibitions of nationally and internationally recognized artists, the gallery hosts the annual Undergraduate Showcase of student work, as well as the Undergraduate and Graduate Thesis Exhibitions at the culmination of the Spring semester.

Sherman GalleryLocated in the George Sherman Union, the Sherman Gallery is a project space dedicated to solo and two-person shows, alumni exhibitions, and graduate student exhibitions.

BU Art Gallery at the Stone Gallery Boston University Art Gallery (or BUAG) at the Stone Gallery features exhibitions of dynamic contemporary art as well as historical exhibitions, with the aim of expanding students’ understanding of art and its contexts. BUAG is located in the heart of the College of Fine Arts on the first floor of the CFA building.

There’s always something to see at the School of Visual Arts.

The School of Visual Arts is home to five separate art galleries that range in scale and scope of programming, from student-run project spaces to professional-level exhibition venues hosting work by internationally renowned artists.

Students engage with art on view through special programs, including artist performances and workshops, public lectures, and more. Students gain professional experience by organizing shows and exhibiting their work across venues and contexts, from laboratory-style project spaces to professional-level exhibition venues.

GalleRIes on CamPus

Right: Painting by Molly Kafka

ARTISTIC STUDYNEEDS INSPIRATION

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An encyclopedic museum of epic proportions, the MFA Boston is one of the most comprehensive museums in the world, with a collection spanning from the ancient world to the present. And with free admission for BU students, you’re never far from your favorite masterpiece.

Admission | Students: Free with BU ID465 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA

museum of fIne aRts, boston

Located just outside of the city in Lincoln, Massachusetts, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum houses a sprawling outdoor sculpture collection, plus rotating exhibitions of contemporary art in all media.

Admission | Students: $1051 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

deCoRdoVa sCulPtuRe PaRK

The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston is the city’s premiere place for contemporary art, located on the city’s waterfront adjacent to the Fort Point artist community. This is the place to find challenging, cutting-edge art and ideas in Boston.

Admission | Students: $10100 Northern Ave, Boston, MA

InstItute of ContemPoRaRY aRt

One of the city’s hidden gems began as the private home of one unique woman. Dedicating her life to art, Isabella Stewart Gardner transformed her turn-of-the-century, Venetian-style palace into a sanctuary for art and art lovers. Step back in time, wander through brilliant courtyards, and experience first-hand an unrivaled collection of treasures from the ancient world, the Renaissance, and the Impressionist period.

Admission | Students: Free with BU ID25 Evans Way, Boston, MA

GaRdneR museum

Art doesn’t just live in museums. Boston has a thriving gallery scene, with dozens of commercial galleries and alternative spaces located on Newbury Street, in the historic South End, and in artist communities across the city. First Friday openings bring the city’s working artists together each month.

Admission | Students: Free

GalleRIes In boston

Boston cultivates an avid interest in the visual arts through the countless museums and gallery spaces across the city. The fact that I can visit the MFA and marvel at seventeenth-century Baroque paintings as well as experience interactive installations over at the ICA contributes to my well- rounded education and a far richer cultural experience as a student.

Alyssa McCallion, Graphic Design BFA

Pictured: Institute of Contemporary Art, BostonPhoto by Chase Elliott Clark

Artist Development Series

The Artist Development Series is an initiative aimed at providing support for emerging student artists, extending beyond the studio and classroom. The series comprises workshops, talks, and events that provide students insight into the realities of an artistic career, addressing both the practical and theoretical problems facing artists in the present day.

Arts Leadership MinorThe minor in Arts Leadership is designed to provide students with the practical and strategic skills to become leaders in the arts. Course selection is intentionally flexible in order to allow students to hone leadership and thinking skills in particular areas of interest, including arts entrepreneurship, arts administration, and arts activism.

The School of Visual Arts recognizes that artists and creative thinkers need practical preparation for a life in the arts. The Arts Leadership minor provides students with the tools and skills to put ideas into action.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTBeing an artist is about more than just making your work. Tomorrow’s arts professionals need to be flexible to adapt to a constantly changing landscape. Through professional development initiatives, we provide the tools to start you on your creative career.

TransCultural Exchange Conference

A partner of Boston University, TransCultural Exchange’s mission is to foster a greater understanding of world cultures through high-quality art exhibitions, cultural exchanges and, most notably, a biennale Conference on International Opportunities in the Arts. Hosted at the School of Visual Arts, the conference brings together hundreds of international artists, arts organizations, foundations, galleries, museums, and cultural centers to forge new partnerships and exchange ideas. Students can attend lecture events and work with TransCultural Exchange organizers to gain a firm understanding of the many nuances of the arts ecosystem and meet with arts professionals from across the world.

Internship Fair

Each year, the School of Visual Arts brings dozens of local arts organizations to campus to meet with students and discuss internship opportunities. Galleries, museums, art magazines, and more are on hand to answer students’ questions and review résumés.

Arts AdministratorIllustratorSocial Media SpecialistPrintmakerArts CriticFoundry OwnerCharacter DesignerAnimatorArt HandlerWindow Display ArtistProfessor of ArtProduct DesignerFilmmakerCurator

Graduates use their creative training in unique and exciting ways:

PhotographerTV Series ProducerMarketing DirectorStudio ManagerStory ArtistUX Visual DesignerArt DirectorPublication DesignerMaster PrinterWeb DesignerSet DesignerBrand ConsultantPattern designer

POST BU

Museum of Modern ArtMaryland Institute College of ArtPixarMassachusetts College of Art + DesignConverseLaikaMattelNew Hampshire Institute of ArtGood Housekeeping MagazineCity of Philadelphia Mural Arts ProgramSmithsonian InstitutionInStyle MagazineAppleMuseum of Contemporary Art, Los AngelesMicrosoftNikeIsabella Stewart Gardner Museum

WHERE OUR ALUMNI WORKOur professional training provides our students with the skills they need to acquire top-level and top-paying jobs. Here are a few of the companies that currently employ our multitalented alumni.

Left: Painting by Molly Kafka

NOW IT’S UP TO YOU.HERE’S HOW TO APPLY.

UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO REqUIREMENTS

Applicants to the undergraduate program in the School of Visual Arts at Boston University may either upload their portfolios online or attend an on-campus portfolio review day. Portfolios are to consist of at least fifteen (15) and not more than twenty (20) samples of work. The portfolio review committee is especially interested in seeing examples of applicants’ ability to work from observation.

PORTFOLIO COMPOSITION—SELECTED WORkS

There are three required samples of work:

• At least one portrait drawing (a self- portrait or portrait from life)• At least one still-life drawing (from actual objects)• At least one composition of recognizable objects (drawing/painting)

NOW IT’S UP TO YOU.HERE’S HOW TO APPLY.

FOR MORE ADMISSIONS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Please go to bu.edu/admissions for detailed information.If you have any questions about the application process, please contact BU Admissions at 617-353-2300 or email [email protected]. We look forward to receiving your application.

bu.edu/cfaTwitter: @buvisualartsInstagram: @bu_visualartsTumblr: buvisualarts.tumblr.com

APPLyING FOR ADMISSION TO BOSTON UNIVERSITy

We accept the Common Application (commonapp.org) exclusively and also require the Boston University Writing Supplement available on the Common Application website. Here are the steps to follow when applying for admission:

1. Read the application instructions carefully before completing your application. Freshman applicants, transfer applicants, and international applicants—it is important that you carefully review the program requirements for the BU school, college, and program to which you are applying.

2. Complete the Common Application and the Boston University Supplement.

bu sva undergraduate viewbook

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