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Art

The goal of the Art Department is to raise students to a level of self-sufficiency, independent critical thinking, and proficiency in the creation and discussion of works of art in order that they might sustain a lively, generative, and relevant practice outside of the College environment.

About the Major

At Hamilton, art students create, learn, and display their talents in the new Kennedy Center for Theatre and the Studio Arts. Across the street is the Wellin Museum, another acclaimed facility that hosts professional exhibits. As part of this exciting, rigorous, interdisciplinary art-making community, students explore the meaning art holds in their own lives and how art communicates ideas to others.

Students Will Learn To:

  • Construct meaning using visual information
  • Demonstrate a knowledge of the basic tools and techniques of new and traditional media
  • Analyze their studio processes by diagramming the stages in creative thinking
  • Use critique to formulate and build personal direction
  • Generate a public exhibition

A Sampling of Courses

Pottery

Introduction to Ceramics

Handbuilding techniques will be employed to explore the sculptural possibilities of clay. A developed visual and conceptual vocabulary will accompany the technical aspects of ceramics through studio practice and class critique.

Explore these select courses:

An introduction to the history, tools and language of basic animation styles. This course will trace the history of experiments in animated imagery from 19th Century photography through 20th Century film into 21st Century digital works. The class will cover basic techniques in Photoshop, Adobe Premier, and illustration and animation software interfaces.

Study of advanced elements in imaginative and representational drawing with emphasis on color and mixed media.

Advanced study of photography through the investigation of alternative processes. Emphasis on the use of various historic and non-traditional processes, including photograms, pinhole cameras, cyanotype printing, and polaroid transfers, as well as emerging digital techniques including digital negatives and solarplate photogravure printing. Continued exploration of personal vision. Normally offered every 3rd year.

Advanced study of materials such as clay, wood, plaster, steel, and plastic utilizing processes such as moulding, casting, fabrication, carving and construction. May repeat for credit at increasingly advanced levels with permission of the professor.

Exploration of the process and theory of museum exhibition curating, taught in conjunction with the preparation of an exhibition in the Wellin Museum. Emphasis on the history of photography and the role of western art institutions in the appropriation and repurposing of archival imagery. Studio-based artistic response required based on materials presented. Students will work collaboratively on exhibition materials, including image selection and layout, catalog and wall text production, and multimedia materials such as podcasts.
All Courses Requirements

Meet Our Faculty

William Salzillo

Chair, the Kevin W. Kennedy Professor of Art

wsalzill@hamilton.edu

most recent works explore the landscapes of California, the American Southwest, and Italy

Amy Brener

Assistant Professor of Art

abrener@hamilton.edu

sculpture, drawing, and digital media

Santiago Forero

Visiting Assistant Professor of Art

sforeror@hamilton.edu

art, photography, and video

Laurie (Ella) Gant

Professor of Art

egant@hamilton.edu

video, performance, installation, photography, electronic media, and history and contemporary practices in each of those areas

Robert Knight

Associate Professor of Art

rbknight@hamilton.edu

photography, history of photography, video capture and editing, Adobe premiere, art foundations curriculum, and 2D and 4D fundamentals

Katharine Kuharic

Professor of Art

kkuharic@hamilton.edu

painting and drawing

Rebecca Murtaugh

John and Anne Fischer Professor of the Fine Arts

rmurtaug@hamilton.edu

sculpture, ceramics

Bruce Muirhead

Professor of Art Emeritus (retired)

rmuirhea@hamilton.edu

painting, drawing, two-dimensional design and intaglio printmaking

Bob Palusky

John and Anne Fischer Professor of the Fine Arts Emeritus (retired)

Explore Hamilton Stories

Yashua Klos mural Wellin

Rare Opportunity for Students at the Wellin

Jane Taylor ’22, an art history and biology double-major, was among students who worked with artist Yashua Klos on his upcoming exhibition at the Wellin Museum. See what she has to say about the experience.

Emma Berry '22

Berry ’22 Will Head to Taiwan as Fulbright Teaching Fellow

“My work at the Wellin Museum has been one of the most enriching, encouraging, and fulfilling parts of my Hamilton career. I think that my time designing art education programs for kids in the area will be a big help as I transition to teaching language, and I’m hoping to incorporate some of the art-based activities I used at the Wellin in my teaching abroad.”

Mass MoCA exhibit

“Exploring MASS MoCA Felt Like a Playground for Adults”

The Junior Seminar in Art, led by Professor Rebecca Murtaugh, visited Mass MoCA in North Adams, Mass., on Oct. 21. Olivia Holbrook ’23, a member of the class, shares her impressions and photos from the trip.

Careers After Hamilton

Hamilton graduates who concentrated in art are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:

  • Editorial Assistant, Random House
  • Director, High Museum of Art
  • Visual Designer, Fidelity Investment
  • Director, Credit Suisse
  • Landscape Design, Living Green
  • Technical Director, Pixar Animation Studios
  • Photographer, United Nations
  • Major Gifts Officer, Grand Teton National Park Foundation
  • Owner/Founder, Vermont Glass Workshop

Contact

Department Name

Art Department

Office Location
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323
Phone
315-859-4269
URL
Department-Maintained Website

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