In this yearlong rigorous trans-disciplinary thematic studio experience, students from a variety of majors investigate ways of being a creative person in today’s world. Topics include contemporary practice, social and global issues, personal and professional development, historical and theoretical perspectives, as well as MICA-specific initiatives. Through creative work, dialogue, the written word, research and presentations, students work individually and in groups to reflect critically on course content as they consider the rich array of possibilities for twenty-first century art and design. The course culminates in a self-reflective portfolio presentation integrating all first year courses.

In this yearlong rigorous trans-disciplinary thematic studio experience, students from a variety of majors investigate ways of being a creative person in today’s world. Topics include contemporary practice, social and global issues, personal and professional development, historical and theoretical perspectives, as well as MICA-specific initiatives. Through creative work, dialogue, the written word, research and presentations, students work individually and in groups to reflect critically on course content as they consider the rich array of possibilities for twenty-first century art and design. The course culminates in a self-reflective portfolio presentation integrating all first year courses.

Investigate visual organization principles and explore color theory. This introductory color and design course will teach both additive and subtractive color mixing, as well as composition in multiple dimensions. First year students will experiment in both analog and digital media, using paint, print, and light. This course is unique in its narrative methodology.

Examine the ubiquity and power of patterns while becoming conversant in color theory. This introductory color and design course will teach both additive and subtractive color mixing, as well as composition in multiple dimensions. An exploration of pattern design and application will provide structure to first year students’ immersive experience with both analog and digital media. This course uses patterns as a topical point of entry to investigate the way color informs meaning.

Discover a process-based approach to creating objects in space. This first-year fabrication course provides a comprehensive introduction to the creation of multi-dimensional works in a variety of media. Students will explore spatial reasoning, learn to select the appropriate tools and materials to suit their projects, and undertake a crucial primer on shop safety. This course is unique in its iterative methodology, following a project through several stages of development to its final form.

Unpack the intricate relationships between the human body, technology, and our material environment. This first-year fabrication course provides a comprehensive introduction to the creation of multi-dimensional works in a variety of media. In addition to discovering new ways to understand how our human bodies interface with built form and physical space, students will also undertake a crucial primer on how to use tools and materials safely. This course’s innovative conceptual framework scaffolds a holistic education in a wide range of technical skills.

Delve into the production of time- and lens-based works. This course offers a well-rounded introduction to the interaction between time, the lens, and the tactile world. First year students will experiment with an array of techniques, including video and audio production, as well as still photography and stop motion animation. This course is unique in its breadth of scope, with assignments designed to encourage experimentation and the cultivation of new ideas about systems and time.

Immerse yourself in innovative multimedia idea mapping. This course introduces first year students to novel methods of data visualization, contextualized by a larger inquiry into the possibilities of time-based art. Using both analog and digital techniques, students will learn to analyze and map patterns found in human behavior and daily life. This course is an exciting space for students looking for ways to integrate emerging technologies into their studio practice

In this course, Baltimore is not a place but a process of self discovery -- a “finding” of sorts that provides students with the opportunity to think critically about their place in the world. As a group, students will travel throughout the City; interact with a host of people from different walks of life; visit new, wonderful, and unusual places; and investigate the important issues and themes of the day. Students will keep a visual diary of their ideas, opinions and feelings about these interactions and make artwork in a wide variety of media. Students also have the opportunity to work with local elementary school children or senior citizens -- and produce small murals or other site specific artwork. This course emphasizes the importance of “being there,” present in the moment and fully cognizant of one’s own relationship to a real, living environment. The vast majority of class sessions will be held “somewhere” in Baltimore. Students will carpool. Guest speakers and community artists will visit with students throughout the semester.

Drawing is an active form of thinking and a cultivable skill that can be used to support a range of art and design disciplines. This studio intensive course explores the principles, techniques, media, and applications of drawing through analog-based perceptual drawing practice. Central to this course is the “Tradition and Innovation Research Project,” in which each student researches a historical tradition of drawing, presents on that chosen tradition, and, in a culminating sustained project, creates a drawing or set of drawings that innovates on that tradition.

Drawing in the twenty-first century is a dynamic field of inquiry characterized by a range of material and conceptual approaches. Building on analog and digital experiences from Drawing: Tradition and Innovation, this course provides students opportunities to enhance their drawing practice using a variety of media to: investigate the lens and the frame as formal and conceptual tools; articulate structural aspects of dimension and space; and explore aspects of time through sequential or iterative processes.