Visual Arts Studio Specialisations
Art Theory
The study of art theory and the practice of the visual arts are not seperate fields or areas of concern but are, to use a colloquialism, two sides of the same coin. The theory and practice of Visual arts have a strong historical, cultural and intellectual inter-dependancy and thus the teaching of the art theory units highlights the cohesivness and totality of such study.
The units offered in this area relate specifically to major areas of interest and debate within the contemporary cultural context and students are encouraged to pursue research areas that relate to their own sphere of practice.
Ceramics
The aim of the ceramics program is to foster an exploratory and analytical approach to ceramic practice, and to provide students with the skills and theoretical understandings that will allow them to continue to develop their work beyond graduation. Sculptural ceramics, mixed media, tableware, architectural work, and ephemereal works are all supported within the studio.
A questioning attitude to the role of ceramics in both contemporary culture and contemporary art practice is encouraged and craft theory, material culture, and other relevant theoretical areas are part of the studio discourse.
Instruction is provided in a range of areas including techniques of handbuilding, various casting and molding methods, and wheel throwing.
Clay technology and information on paper clays and other altered bodies, porcelains and castings slips is covered. Other areas taught include glaze and surfacing substances technology and techniques, woodfire, raku, sagger firing and kiln building. Woodfiring, including long fire anagama is a popular area of research for interested students.
Studio management and professional practice are an integral part of studio instruction.
Painting
The painting program provides a thorough grounding in both technical and conceptual matters relevant to contemporary visual arts practice.
Students are provided with instruction in a range of synthetic polymer and oil-based paints and also have the opportunity to broaden into such areas as encaustic, watercolours and various forms of mixed media. The performance characteristics of a range of painting supports such as canvas, paper, panel, handmade paper, etc. are studied and provide a solid platform for exploring innovative and creative uses of materials. Research and exploration are encouraged in the use of media, in the development of ideas and the study of contemporary issues in the field. Recent developments in the interface between digital and handmade art making processes are dealt with and students are provided with an introduction to the influence and characteristics of the digital potential within a painting studio context.
Students progressing through the program develop from structured exercises towards more self initiated approaches. The aim of the program is to provide students with the resources and instruction to enable them to develop a self-sustaining visual art practice that is both personally expressive and reflective of a range of broader social and cultural issues relevant to our times.
Although the main emphasis is placed upon students becoming practising artists, the painting units also provide students with an excellent grounding for further artistic and professional development in terms of the various career options such as teaching, arts administration and postgraduate research.
All academic and technical staff are practising artists with national profiles. They exhibit locally and in major cosmopolitan centres throughout Australia.
Best professional practice and occupational health and safety issues are given high priority.
The Printmaking studios at Southern Cross are large and well ventilated and full of energetic, dynamic people. We aim for a strong collegiate atmosphere. This encourages the best work and creates a sense of joint ownership and responsibility for the studio.
The Printmaking program centres around a series of projects which introduce students to concepts of contemporary printmaking practice and teach skills in specified printmaking processes. Projects are fairly directed in the early semesters and become progressively less so until the final semesters where students, in conjunction with their lecturer, design their own program of specialisation. Each project concludes with a group critique. Experimentation and mixed-media work are encouraged throughout the program. The program includes the following broad project areas, however the sequence and subject of projects may vary slightly from year to year, depending on the staff available.
Additionally, workshops in Papermaking and Artists Books are regularly conducted.
Sculpture
The sculpture program encourages an experimental and analytical approach to 3D studio practice. There is emphasis on developing both technical skills and theoretical understanding as students work through a challenging project based studio program.
Practical experience in welding, bronze and aluminium casting, carving and fabrication in wood and metal form a core of traditional media offered in the studio. Students are given extensive instruction in the various techniques and processes involved in these media including Occupational Health and Safety issues.
As well as working in these traditional sculptural media students are encouraged to make use of digital media by incorporating new technologies into their design processes. 3D design and CAD software are taught as part of the studio program and increasing numbers of students in the sculpture studio are utilizing elements of video, audio/sound and computer modelling and rendering into their studio practice.
Updated: 06 February 2012