Spring Break
Art majors choose theses over senior shows
Marieke van der Vaart
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Arts
Students interested in art history can't pursue an art history major at Hillsdale College.
Art majors can, however, substitute an art history thesis for a senior show, Barbara
Bushey, associate professor of art, said.
"We can't do an [art history] major because, well, we don't have enough classes and we don't have enough professors," Bushey said. "So this is a kind of way they can move in one direction or another.
Art majors are required to take art history and studio classes to graduate. Additionally, students usually present a portfolio of works in a senior show. The art department allows students with an art history penchant bent to replace an senior show with a thesis.
Until now, only one student had taken advantage of the written option. This year, however, students have written and will write the second and third art theses in Hillsdale history.
Mary Dell Strecker'08 presented her thesis on Oct. 21, and senior Mary Claire Andwood will present her thesis next semester.
Strecker, a part-time graphic artist at Hillsdale, said she decided to take on an art thesis halfway through her junior year. The German major realized she had taken enough classes to qualify as an art major, she said.
"I wish I would've started earlier," she said.
Her interest in art history, coupled with too little time to assemble a senior art show, influenced her decision to write a thesis, she said.
"I'm really glad I did the thesis," she said.
Continuing to create art since graduation, Strecker plans on presenting a senior show this spring in addition to her thesis.
Andwood will be Hillsdale's third student to write an art thesis.
For Andwood the opportunity to write a thesis was a step towards her desired career of historic preservation.
"It'll be great experience to work - the whole process of studying art and being able to synthesize material and present it in a way people have seen before," she said.
Art majors can, however, substitute an art history thesis for a senior show, Barbara
Bushey, associate professor of art, said.
"We can't do an [art history] major because, well, we don't have enough classes and we don't have enough professors," Bushey said. "So this is a kind of way they can move in one direction or another.
Art majors are required to take art history and studio classes to graduate. Additionally, students usually present a portfolio of works in a senior show. The art department allows students with an art history penchant bent to replace an senior show with a thesis.
Until now, only one student had taken advantage of the written option. This year, however, students have written and will write the second and third art theses in Hillsdale history.
Mary Dell Strecker'08 presented her thesis on Oct. 21, and senior Mary Claire Andwood will present her thesis next semester.
Strecker, a part-time graphic artist at Hillsdale, said she decided to take on an art thesis halfway through her junior year. The German major realized she had taken enough classes to qualify as an art major, she said.
"I wish I would've started earlier," she said.
Her interest in art history, coupled with too little time to assemble a senior art show, influenced her decision to write a thesis, she said.
"I'm really glad I did the thesis," she said.
Continuing to create art since graduation, Strecker plans on presenting a senior show this spring in addition to her thesis.
Andwood will be Hillsdale's third student to write an art thesis.
For Andwood the opportunity to write a thesis was a step towards her desired career of historic preservation.
"It'll be great experience to work - the whole process of studying art and being able to synthesize material and present it in a way people have seen before," she said.
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