As today’s society becomes more visual, the visual arts play an increasingly important role in contemporary life. At Virginia Wesleyan, studio art courses offer students the opportunity to explore art meaningfully by learning about its many aspects and having the enriching experience of creating it. Courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, crafts, computer art, photography, printmaking, and other media offer opportunities for building technical skills and aesthetic awareness. The study of the History of Art, both of the Western and non-Western traditions, is an integral part of the art program. Classroom learning is supported by a program of art exhibitions, which include changing art exhibitions in the Hofheimer Library Gallery, the display of the Sheaks Collection in the Barclay Sheaks Gallery of Godwin Hall, and the campus-wide display of the over two-hundred piece Collection of Outstanding Student Art. Occasionally the art faculty select student artworks for purchase; these become part of the College’s permanent collection. The art department sponsors numerous field trips to museums and galleries in Hampton Roads, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.
For the art major, our program provides a broad technical and art historical background, plus an in-depth experience in either two- or three-dimensional media electives. In addition to study with the college art faculty, there are opportunities for internships. In their senior year, art majors learn practical professional skills through required activities such as exhibitions, portfolio preparation, and workshops with visiting artists. The major program provides students with the background, experience, and discipline for becoming a practicing artist, working in the art field, or, in conjunction with certification by the education department, an art teacher.
Major(s): Art
Minor(s): Art History, Studio Art