As new technologies and new social configurations erode long-established hierarchies, artists increasingly navigate a space between traditional categories of high and low culture, public broadcast and private vision, fine and popular art. But how do we define these distinctions and their residual effects, and more importantly, what opportunities does this new cross-stitched terrain offer the contemporary artist engaging painting? A class for committed and experienced painters and those interested in the discourse, materials and techniques of the discipline, this course challenges students to chart a path through the many debates ensnaring painting and contemporary art. What effect has photography, the Internet, social media, and alternate forms of distribution had on painting? How have artists in the past grappled with the seismic technological and social shifts that define Spectacle and mass society? What kinds of models for painting-centered practice can emerge from the new visual and conceptual spaces created today, and how can painting operate within new image economies as well as traditional exhibition structures? Through a series of discrete projects, theoretical and art historical readings, field trips, critiques and discussions, this class will offer students rigorous material instruction while situating their projects within a context as riven with high-low polarities as opportunities to dismantle them.

Clay has a quiet power. Delicately precious, yet incredibly strong, it enlivens our sense of touch, yet heightens our sense of caution. This everyday material is a part of our collective consciousness. It holds our coffee in the morning today just as it held food and water in ancient Mesopotamia. Ceramic decorates our homes and our bodies. This rich history provides a backdrop to frame contemporary investigations into ritual, objecthood and artistic expression. This course emphasizes the unique sculptural processes and materiality of clay. Techniques will include hand building, slip casting, image transfers and wheel throwing. Students are encouraged to experiment with different strategies, including installation work, mixed-media projects, and a variety of experimental ceramic techniques.