Undergraduate students can pursue three-dimensional study in sculpture at Â鶹ÊÓƵ through the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art with a Sculpture track.
Sculpture students develop an understanding of basic design principles, concepts, media and formats beginning with their foundation studies. Students are required to develop original solutions to aesthetic and design problems throughout the degree program.
Yaqeen Khawehir
Bride
Sculpture students develop knowledge and skills in the use of basic tools, techniques, and processes sufficient to work from concept to finished product including direct instruction in the basic materials and technical procedures used in:
Advanced students explore performance, installation and public art while developing a personal aesthetic based on individual strengths and interests. Â鶹ÊÓƵ sculpture students have monitored access to tools, equipment, and library resources related to the study of sculpture. The Sculpture area promotes communication between students in all levels with critiques, presentations, and mentorship.
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Sculpture are required to take introductory courses in Ceramics, Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, and Photography.
The undergraduate sculpture curriculum culminates in Lamar’s distinctive senior thesis program involving a series of original works produced by each Bachelor of Fine Arts degree candidate, exhibited in the Dishman Art Museum, and defended by the student in a formal written thesis.
The sculpture area includes five, fully equipped and well-maintained facilities for wood, metal fabrication, cast metal, ceramic shell, and 3d printing. Students learn how to safely operate equipment and to use a range of hand tools while creating their personal vision. Our sculpture faculty challenge students to build both a strong technical and conceptual understanding along with a working knowledge of contemporary art and issues from which to work.
Student engagement outside the classroom is encouraged through internships, participation in regional, national and international conferences, and opportunities for employment. Examples include the International Conference of Contemporary Cast Iron Art, the National Conference on Cast Iron Art and Practices, the Sculpture Network of Texas and numerous events coordinated by the Texas Atomic Iron Commission. Students also have opportunities to produce and exhibit sculpture coordinated by the professor in sculpture. Opportunities of this nature frequently take place every semester.
Students concentrating in sculpture also have the opportunity to participate in student-run organizations that include Artist Common and Sol Gallery.
There is no concentration in ceramics offered at this time. However, multiple course levels are offered in ceramics, offering the opportunity to enhance other concentrations in studio art and students may elect to include clay as a material in combination with other media in their senior thesis.
Ceramics courses allow students to investigate a variety of clay bodies, glaze chemistry, building techniques, wheel thrown forms, and various firing techniques. Ceramic courses are intended to encourage students to explore individual expression and critical thinking skills.
The ceramics facilities include a classroom, a glazing room and a kiln room. The classroom includes a number of ceramic wheels, a slab roller, table space for hand building, and exceptional storage space for drying purposes.
The kiln room includes a walk-in Alpine kiln, a salt fire kiln, and a number of smaller kilns. Utilizing a ceramic studio with large-capacity kilns allows for the firing of earthenware, stoneware and porcelain temperatures with raku, standard low fire, stoneware feldspathic glazes and sodium-vapor glazing.
Follow Â鶹ÊÓƵ Sculpture on Facebook at
Kurt Dyrhaug, Professor