Welcome

The Department of Art at McMurry University develops strong conceptual and technical skills for artistic expression, creative problem solving, artistic appreciation, and historical perspectives in its students. In this hands-on program our students study numerous traditions in the creation of art.

Our students are also exposed to an extensive knowledge of the art of Western Civilization and non-European cultures in relationship to pluralistic contemporary world that enhances the education of art majors and other interested students.

Our successful students fully participate in:

• Classes
• Assignments
• Critiques
• Exhibitions
• Study Abroad

Our Students graduate with comprehensive knowledge of:

• Design
• Art media
• Expressive Possibilities
• Creative Solutions
• Professional Practices

Students study art in the classroom and then examine it firsthand through field trips to galleries and museums. Senior students develop a resume/portfolio for campus wide presentation and for post-graduation activities.

About the Majors

The Bachelors of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) students concentrate on multimedia and graphic design or studio art. The B.F.A. studio art graduate who excels attends graduate school or pursues a career in graphic design, illustration, museum education, art galleries, art education or establishes his or her own teaching or production studio.

The Bachelors of Art (B.A.) degree with a major in studio art is designed for students who wish to obtain a liberal arts degree with a major in studio art, multimedia and graphic design or all level art education; this degree requires a minor.

Department Honors and Awards

Awards

Entering freshmen art students may apply for the Perry Bentley Art Scholarship in February. Transfer students and current art majors may apply for other art scholarships in the spring. Recognition awards are presented to outstanding art students annually. The spring juried annual student art competition acknowledges artistic achievement. Students may apply in the spring for the work apprentice programs and studio space. Faculty assigns apprentices and studios based on productivity, grades, reliability, and participation in the art department.

Travel Courses in Art

The Department of Art tries to offer one travel course annually. Classes travel to regionally, nationally and internationally significant art exhibitions and archeological sites related to the students' course of study.

Art Honor Society

After completing 12 semester hours and having a 3.0 average or above in art courses, art students are eligible to be nominated by faculty to join the Epsilon Theta Chapter of the Kappa Pi International Collegiate Art Honorary Fraternity. Kappa Pi sponsors Homecoming and Christmas art sales, service projects and art related, educational and social activities.

More information about the Honors Program can be found on the Honors Program webpage.

Internships in Art

Art internships for junior and senior art majors, which occur in ART 3390 and ART 4390, give students meaningful practical experience by working in a gallery, museum or commercial setting to see how the theoretical concepts of art are put into practice.

Students have interned at:

• Abilene Reporter News
• Center of Contemporary Art
• Zachry Associates
• Grace Museum
• National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature
• Jody Klotz Gallery

Galleries

McMurry University’s Amy Graves Ryan Fine Arts Gallery has an active exhibition schedule with area and national art shows, as well as student and faculty exhibits. B.F.A. art majors have a senior exhibition of their work as part of their degree requirements. B.A. majors will have a group senior exhibition. Through the Brown Bag artists lecture series and artists workshops, students meet and study with exhibiting artists.

The Gypsy Ted Gallery has student exhibitions and studio space and offers shows to select area artists. A student director runs the gallery.

In the Classroom

The Art Department has a superior ceramic facility. The Noel and Anita Chapin building built in 2000, houses 14 potters wheels, a slab roller, four electric kilns, three gas kilns (Raku and highfire), clay mixing room, faculty studios, glaze mixing room, and large work spaces.

The photography dark room has eight enlargers and we offer classes in both film and digital.

The computer lab has 16 Macintosh computers. The painting, drawing and design rooms have northern lighting.

Beyond McMurry

Here are some of the professions in which you can find B.F.A. or B.A. degree graduates:

• Graduate school
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Museum education
• Art galleries
• Art education
• Teaching
• Production studio