Visual Arts

Academic Advising
Major Program
Admission into the Major Program
Art Education
Special Opportunities
Student Organizations

Faculty

Professors

Dan Bailey
M.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1987

Mark Alice Durant
B.A., Massachusetts College of Art, 1981; M.F.A., San Francisco Art Institute, 1985

Ellen Handler-Spitz
A.B., Barnard College; M.A.T., Harvard University; Ph.D., Columbia University, 1983

James Smalls
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1981; M.A., 1986; Ph.D., 1991

John Sturgeon
B.F.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1968; M.F.A., Cornell University, 1970

Associate Professors

Guenet Abraham
B.A., Warren Wilson College, 1980; M.F.A., Yale University, 1996

Steve Bradley
B.F.A., University of South Florida, 1976; M.F.A., Florida State University, 1987

Lynn Cazabon
B.A., B.F.A., University of Michigan, 1987; M.F.A., Cranbrook Academy of Art, 1990

Irene Chan
B.Arch., California Polytechnic State University, 1989; M.F.A., San Francisco Art Institute, 1997

Cathy Cook
B.F.A., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 1984; B.F.A., 1984; M.F.A., 1988

Eric Dyer
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1994; M.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art, 2004

Vin Grabill
B.A., Oberlin College, 1971; M.S.Vis.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1981

Preminda Jacob
B.A., Stella Maris College (India), 1979; M.A., Majaraja Sayaji Rao University (India), 1981; M.A., State University of New York at Binghamton, 1988; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1994

Lisa Moren
B.F.A., Syracuse University, 1985; M.F.A., Cranbrook Academy of Art, 1991

Timothy Nohe
B.F.A., Maryland Institute, College of Art, 1989; M.F.A., University of California, San Diego, 1995

Kathy O’Dell
B.A., Colby College, 1973; M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1982; Ph.D., City University of New York Graduate Center, 1992

Peggy Re
B.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University, 1985; M.F.A., University of Michigan, 1993

Eric Smallwood
B.A., M.F.A, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Calla Thompson
B.F.A., University of Ottawa, 1996; M.F.A., Syracuse University, 1999

Fred Worden
B.F.A., Colorado College, 1971; M.F.A., California Institute of the Arts, 1973

Assistant Professors

Kathryn Bell
B.F.A., Pratt Institute, 1993; M.F.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2006

Vivana Cordova
B.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art, 2006; M.F.A., 2008

David Neal McDonald
B.A., B.S., Texas A&M University, 1992; M.S., The Ohio State University, 1995; M.F.A., 1998

Program Specialists

Melanie Berry
B.F.A., Virginia Commonwealth University; M.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Calvin Custen
B.S., Frostburg State University; M.F.A., University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Charles Myers
B.S., Towson University; M.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Christopher Peregoy
B.A., M.F.A, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Christian Valiente
B.A., M.F.A, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture

Sandra Abbott
B.S., Towson University; M.A., Northern Illinois University; C.M.S., Harvard University

Maurice Berger
B.A., Hunter College; Ph.D., City University of New York

Symmes Gardner
B.F.A., Philadelphia College of Art, 1979; M.F.A., Temple University, 1981

William-John Tudor
B.A., M.F.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Imaging Research Center

Dan Bailey
M.F.A., School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1987

Lee Boot
B.F.A., Syracuse University; M.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art

Tyler Chase
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Mark Jarzynski
B.S., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Kevin (KAL) Kallaugher
B.A. Harvard College

Abbey Salvo
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Ryan Zuber
B.A., M.F.A, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Affiliate Faculty

Thomas E. Beck
B.A. & M.F.A. University of Maryland, College Park; M.F.A. Maryland Institute College of Art

Lee Boot
B.F.A., Syracuse University; M.F.A., Maryland Institute College of Art

Symmes Gardner
B.F.A., Philadelphia College of Art, 1979; M.F.A., Temple University, 1981

The Lecturer

Steven Silberg
B.F.A., Pratt Institute, 1993; M.F.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2006

Courses in this program are listed under ART.

UMBC’s visual arts department stresses the teaching of both traditional techniques and new technologies for making images. The faculty and professional associate staff have a diverse background in the fine and applied arts, spanning art history and museum studies, animation, interactivity, cinematic arts, graphic design, photography, printmaking, drawing and book arts. Faculty research and creative endeavors center on the interdisciplinary aspect of the late 20th century digital and time-based art forms. From this unique perspective, the visual arts department incorporates these evolving technologies into the educational process to realize creative applications, ideas and concepts. As a result of this commitment to the interdisciplinary approach, the faculty is active in both national and international forums of exhibitions and publications. The visual arts department provides an engaging environment where students pursue the interrelationship between aesthetics and techniques in the context of past and present concerns within the visual arts.

Students are encouraged to explore a variety of courses to gain a thorough preparation and understanding of the various imaging processes and media available today. As a complement to these studio techniques, the program also provides a strong foundation in art history, theory and criticism. The visual arts department has a range of visual tools and facilities in place that provide students with in-depth, hands-on experience. The opportunity to explore art-making with these tools and to collaborate with other artists in making aesthetic decisions provides students with a rich background for the pursuit of both creative and production-oriented endeavors.

Career and Academic Paths

Graduates typically take professional positions in both the art and production communities, and a significant percentage continue their education at graduate school. Since 1993, the Department of Visual Arts has offered the M.F.A. degree in Imaging and Digital Arts (IMDA). Undergraduate visual arts majors benefit from close association with graduate program students.

Academic Advising

Visual arts studio majors who have passed the portfolio review and majors declaring a concentration in Art History and Museum Studies (who are not required to submit a portfolio) meet with the program director for initial academic advising. Students are assigned to faculty advisors once they declare a visual arts concentration and make sufficient progress in their selected area. Faculty advisors meet regularly with advisees to assist in structuring a program of study and to track academic progress toward graduation.

Major Program

Students majoring in visual arts can choose between a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree in Visual Arts. B.A. Visual Arts majors select a program of study in one of six concentrations: animation/interactive media, art history and museum studies, cinematic arts, graphic design, photography or print media. Each concentration requires a total of 60 credits in visual arts. B.F.A. Visual Arts majors select from one of four concentrations: animation/interactive media, cinematic arts, photography or print media. Each concentration requires a total of 72 credits in visual arts. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable for credit toward any major requirement.

Admission into the Major Program

UMBC applicants and current students who plan to major in any studio concentration in Visual Arts must submit a portfolio application in addition to the standard UMBC Undergraduate Admission Application. Majors declaring the Art History and Museum Studies concentration are not required to submit a portfolio application. The portfolio application includes an itemization of portfolio contents, an artist’s statement of intent, two recommendations and a portfolio including two required assignments and six to eight additional pieces of the applicant’s choice. All portfolios are submitted on-line. For complete instructions, use the link provided on the department website: art.umbc.edu/undergraduate/admissions/admissions.php

Art Education

UMBC’s Department of Education offers a teacher education program for students interested in teaching art at the K-12 level. There are three program paths: teacher certification at the undergraduate level, an accelerated Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Master of Arts in Teaching. For further information please see the Department of Education website: http://www.umbc.edu/education/

Special Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to enhance their education by taking part in the visual arts department Visiting Artist Program. Throughout the year, a mix of prominent and emerging artists visit the department to present their work, attend classes, etc. Presentations are open to the public. Past artists include Vito Acconi, Carolee Schneeman, Fred Wilson and Janine Antoni. The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture exhibits contemporary art by nationally known artists. Students have the opportunity to exhibit their works in an annual exhibition. The Imaging Research Center (IRC) is a state-of-the-art facility combining research, education and professional training in animation and computer visualization. The IRC’s student internship program provides advanced students with opportunities to work on actual 3-D animation projects and develop a portfolio of work. In coordination with the Shriver Center’s cooperative education and internship program, advanced-level visual arts majors may obtain internships at area firms and companies in design and production disciplines related to the student’s field of study. Student Organizations Filmmakers Anonymous is a student-run group providing an open forum for cinematic arts students, as well as others interested in the field of cinema. Filmmakers Anonymous offers the opportunity to share ideas and experiences and to show work in a critical, yet supportive, environment. American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Baltimore Student Chapter is a student-run organization which fosters a community for graphic design students in the visual arts department. It organizes programs relevant to design and visual communications issues. The Visual Arts Council of Majors (ARTCOM) meets on a regular basis to discuss issues and develop programs relevant to visual arts majors.

Student Organizations

AIGA Student Chapter

American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Baltimore Student Chapter is a student-run organization that fosters a community for graphic design students in the department. It organizes programs relevant to design and visual communications issues.

Filmmakers Anonymous

Filmmakers Anonymous is a student-run group providing an open forum for cinematic arts students, as well as others interested in the field of cinema. Filmmakers Anonymous offers the opportunity to share ideas and experiences and to show work in a critical, yet supportive, environment.

Print Media Collaborative

Print Media Collaborative (PMC) is a student-run organization of Visual Arts Print Media majors, minors, and other students interested in working collaboratively with multi-disciplinary applications of Print Media.

Visual Arts Council of Majors

The Visual Arts Council of Majors (ARTCOM) meets on a regular basis to discuss issues and develop programs relevant to visual arts majors.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Non-Degree

Courses

Art