ARCHIVE Imaging Arts: Beyond the Studio

Learning art is more than what’s learned in the traditional studio courses. Our courses are complemented with demonstrations, lectures, and critiques from faculty and visiting artists. Students can also join in the activities of the imaging arts student organization, interact with visiting artists, volunteer with the UM Museum, and intern with a relevant site.

The Clicks

The Clicks is a student-run organization formed by imaging arts students, who participate in workshops, lectures, museum trips, and group photo shoots. Our goal is to promote and support the photographic community within the imaging arts program.

For more information look them up on Facebook or follow their Instagram account.

Clicks Instagram post featuring students working with cyanotype.

Clicks Instagram post featuring woman setting up the space for a Pop Up Show.

Clicks Instagram post featuring a lighting demo with Robert Jordan.

Clicks Instagram post featuring one student posing while the other takes her image. They are learning how to work with light.

Art Talks

In addition to the artists who visit campus through The Clicks, the department also has a visiting artist program, Art Talks. This program creates access to artists in person and via webcam, and helps students and faculty to keep pace with contemporary artistic practice and emerging technology used in cultural production today. Students are able to extend their professional networks.

The list of visiting imaging artists includes

Jaime Aelavanthara – Assistant Professor, University of Tampa
Anne Massoni – Dean of Education, International Center of Photography, New York, New York
Jim Ramer – Director of Graduate Studies at Parsons the New School for Design in New York City

UM Museum

Four of the last five years our university museum has been named to EDsmart’s list of “51 Most Astounding University Museums”, with a recent ranking of 17—one spot ahead of Princeton University. Many art students intern or volunteer with the UM Museum where they might work with art education programs or curate an exhibit.

Internships/Residencies

Students and faculty work together to identify relevant residencies or internships to provide valuable work experience, professional networks, further application of skills learned at the university, and a stronger resume. For those planning different career paths, the UM Office of Outreach’s formal Internship Experience program also assists students with internship placements in any career area of interest in Atlanta, New York City, and Washington D.C.

“I interned with Dason Pettit [contract photographer for the UM College of Liberal Arts], and photographed many events happening on campus. It was really interesting because it made me photograph people more, because before that I used to avoid it at all costs! It was nice because now a lot of my work is photographing people so it indulged me in that and taught me a lot about commercial and event photography. Dason was a great teacher, easy to talk to, and easy to ask questions. If I didn’t know how to do something, he was there the whole time to mentor me.” – Blythe Summers

Study Abroad

Art majors have exciting opportunities to experience the art and architecture abroad. They can arrange their own study abroad experience through the Office of Study Abroad. Or, they can travel with UM faculty.

One possibility is the course titled Art on Location, where UM faculty can take a course of students to different locations around the US and abroad. For example, in the 2-week 2019 Winter Intersession, art historian Dr. Louise Arrizoli teamed up with a French professor to offer a study of art in Paris, France.