Joe Madrigal (department head)

The Art major at Luther College encourages art making in the context of a liberal arts community. Studio work complements the language of other disciplines, enriching and strengthening artistic goals and perspectives. The Art major is designed to build and sustain life-long pursuits of creative problem solving, individual expression, and aesthetic appreciation. Introductory art courses provide both traditional and contemporary ways of art making through a variety of mediums including painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, graphic design, and printmaking. Advanced courses synthesize multiple interests and experiences further developing technical and conceptual skills in the context of individual creative practice within the greater global community.

Required for a major: Totaling 38 credit hours across these four areas: Foundations, Studio Core, Art History: Context and Theory, and Studio Synthesis. All areas are detailed below. Students are advised to plan ahead as Foundations and some Studio Core courses are required before ART-391 Studio Workshop, and ART-485 Advance Studio.

Foundations (4-credits): ART 103 Foundations: Circa NOW

Studio Core: Image, Object, Digital (20-credits) At least one course from each of the 3 studio core areas Image, Object, Digital; plus any Two elective courses across any of the studio areas; totaling 20 Credits within the Studio Core. See course options below listed in each studio area:

Image: courses emphasizing the creation and manipulation of the image through various 2D media.

ART 108 Drawing

ART 200 Painting I

ART 208 Life Drawing

ART 214 Graphic Novel

ART 216 Printmaking I

ART 300 Painting II

ART 316 Printmaking II

Object: courses emphasizing material, form, and process in the creation of physical objects

ART 210 Ceramics I

ART 217 Wheel Throwing I

ART 310 Ceramics II

ART 317 Wheel Throwing II

Digital: courses emphasizing the creation and manipulation of digital formats.

ART 206 Graphic Design I

ART 207 3D Modeling and Animation I

ART 218 Photography I

ART 306 Graphic Design II

ART 307 3D Modeling and Animation II

ART 318 Photography II

Context: Art History (8-credits): ARTH 252 (W) fulfills writing in the major, plus one additional course at 200-level or higher in ARTH or a course taught outside of ARTH at 200-level or higher from the following list:

CLAS 270, 275, or 330

DAN 264

FREN 220

HIST 226

IDS 260 or 264

PHIL/IDS 300

Studio Synthesis (8-credits): ART 391 Creative Practice and Critique (ART 103 plus at least 3 courses of Studio Core are required before taking ART 391), and ART 485 Advance Studio (ART 391 is required before taking ART 485).

Professional Development: Majors are required to attend a minimum of 8 art colloquia. Art colloquia events occur approximately 10 times during the academic year, and include lectures, discussions, and workshops led by visiting scholars, faculty, and student researchers. Students should plan on attending colloquia events regularly over their four years at Luther. Art majors are expected and encouraged to attend as often as possible beyond the minimum 8 requirements.

Required for a (Studio) Art minor: 24 credit hours in ART including: ART-103, and Four courses across at least Two of the Studio Core areas; completed with a capstone experience in ART 391. It is important to plan accordingly as some courses have prerequisites.

Art Management Concentration: To complete the art management concentration a student is required to complete a major in art and a minor in management, or a major in management and a minor in art or art history.