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MFA in art advancement to candidacy (mid-way) exhibition

The MFA program requires a public exhibition of a cohesive body of work after 30 credit hours to confirm the student's eligibility for advancement to MFA candidacy (Midway Progress).

During the student’s third semester, the student is expected to develop and produce a significant, cohesive body of artwork for presentation in a public exhibition. The exhibition must be created, curated, installed/de-installed and publicized by the candidate. A written exhibition statement is required to accompany the exhibition. Visual documentation of the exhibition must be submitted to the MFA graduate director at the conclusion of the exhibition.

The Advancement to Candidacy (Mid-Way) exhibition should reveal the student’s progress toward contributing in a significant way to the area of inquiry, which the student has identified as his or her focus. Students are expected to exhibit sensitivity to and creativity with chosen medium(s), as well as present demonstrable technical skills, formal and conceptual awareness, and exemplary knowledge of the principles and theory that encompass the chosen area of concentration. The exhibition and written exhibition statement should speak with clarity and complexity to the area of investigation. The scope of the exhibition and caliber of artwork is expected to confirm the student’s readiness to pursue the thesis.

Requirements

• The candidate must present a written exhibition proposal to the Thesis Committee for review and the Thesis Chair for approval by the first week of the third semester (in the fall of the second year).
• The candidate must work with the Museum Director for the use of the gallery space, preparation for a show, and returning of the space. “Student Galleries South Policy and Procedures” handout is available on the Department of Art website.
• MFA Advancement to Candidacy (Mid-Way) exhibitions are to be presented on campus in Student Galleries South. Extenuating circumstances and/or alternative exhibition venues must be justifiable and pre-planned a year in advance in direct consultation with the Thesis Chair and MFA Graduate Director. In the case of an alternative exhibition venue, the student is required to write a one-page justification for why an off-campus venue is essential and the Thesis Chair must write a short letter of endorsement to be filed with the MFA Graduate Director. (Deadline for off campus exhibition notice: Prior to the conclusion of the spring semester, April of the first year).
• Candidates who exhibit in Student Galleries South must attend one of two workshops on gallery installation offered during the semester in order to exhibit in the student galleries.
• The student will work with the Director of University Galleries to understand exhibition announcement design and logo requirements, but will produce his or her own design. The design must be submitted to the Director of University Galleries for approval. All exhibition publicity materials must clearly state “ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ MFA in Art Advancement to Candidacy Exhibition” and must meet ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ printed and online publication standards.
• The candidate must write and present an exhibition statement to be presented with the gallery exhibition.
• The candidate must schedule formal critiques with each of the thesis committee members (including the Outside Member/Graduate School Representative) during the exhibition. The critiques may be scheduled with individual members, or the thesis committee may convene as a group for a single critique. Academic rigor and originality in research and creative activity will be assessed and evaluated at the time of the exhibition and formal critique. Pass/fail status of the completed exhibition, written exhibition statement is decided upon and stated by the Thesis Committee at the conclusion of the formal critiques. If the student fails to meet the Advancement to Candidacy requirements, the Thesis Chair will provide written notice to the student copied to the MFA Graduate Director no later than one week post the close of the exhibition.
• The Department of Art Advancement to Candidacy (Mid-Way) Exhibition Completion form must be completed, including required signatures, at the conclusion of the formal critiques.

Thesis exhibition

During the final spring semester of the third year, after the completion of 51 credit hours, the student is expected to develop and produce a significant, cohesive body of art work for presentation in a public solo exhibition. The exhibition must be created, curated, installed/de-installed and publicized by the candidate. The MFA in Art thesis requires four components: (1) Written thesis paper, (2) Thesis exhibition, (3) Public Artist lecture, and (4) Oral Defense. These components are considered “non-thesis” by the Graduate School and are fulfilled entirely in the Department of Art.

The thesis exhibition should contribute in a significant way to the area of inquiry which the student has identified as his or her focus. Students are expected to exhibit sensitivity to and creativity with chosen medium(s), as well as present demonstrable technical skills, formal and conceptual awareness, and exemplary knowledge of the principles and theory that encompass the chosen area of concentration. The thesis exhibition (and written thesis) should speak with clarity and complexity to the area of investigation. The scope of the exhibition and caliber of artwork is expected to be comparable to the work of professionals in the field.

Requirements

• The candidate must present a written exhibition proposal to the Thesis Committee for review and the Thesis Chair for approval in the fall of the third year.
• MFA thesis exhibitions are to be presented on campus in Student Galleries South. Extenuating circumstances and/or alternative exhibition venues must be justifiable and pre-planned a year in advance in direct consultation with the Thesis Chair and MFA Graduate Director. In the case of an alternative exhibition venue, the student is required to write a one-page justification for why an off-campus venue is essential and the Thesis Chair must write a short letter of endorsement to be filed with the MFA Graduate Director. (Deadline: Prior to the start of the fall semester, August of the third year).
• The candidate must work with the Museum Director for the use of the gallery space, preparation for a show, and returning of the space. “Student Galleries South Policy and Procedures” handout is available on the Department of Art website.
• Whether exhibiting in Student Galleries South or an alternative location, the committee approved thesis exhibition proposal must be submitted to the Director of University Galleries for scheduling purposes. (Deadline: October).
• Candidates who exhibit in Student Galleries South must attend one of two workshops on gallery installation offered during the semester in order to exhibit in the student galleries.
• The student will work with the Director of University Galleries to understand exhibition announcement design and logo requirements, but will produce his or her own design. The design must be submitted to the Director of University Galleries for approval. All thesis publicity materials must clearly state “ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ MFA in Art Thesis Exhibition” and must meet ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ printed and online publication standards. (Deadline: one month before the exhibition).
• The candidate must schedule and present a professional public artist lecture to be held on campus in conjunction with the thesis exhibition.
• The candidate must schedule an oral defense with the full Thesis Committee to be held during the run of the exhibition on site at the exhibition location. Academic rigor and originality in research and creative activity will be assessed and evaluated at the time of the exhibition and oral defense. Final review and pass/fail status of the completed thesis exhibition, written thesis paper, public artist lecture and oral defense is decided upon and stated by the Thesis Committee at the oral defense. If the student fails to meet full thesis requirements, the Thesis Chair will provide written notice to the student copied to the MFA Graduate Director no later than one week post the oral defense.
• The Department of Art Thesis Completion form and the Graduate School Notice of Completion form must be completed, including required signatures, at the oral defense.
• The final grade for ART 777 – Graduate Exhibition is determined by the full thesis committee and reported by the Thesis Committee Chair.

Thesis paper

The final thesis paper is a required, tandem component of the final thesis show. It is an opportunity for MFA candidates to express in written form the theoretical and conceptual basis of their work as well as to evaluate the evolution of their practice and production over the course of the MFA program. Candidates are expected to discuss their work within a larger historical context, to consider concrete relationships between their work and relevant antecedents as well as contemporary art practices. The written thesis should reflect topics pursued in the courses: Directed Readings, Seminar in the Visual Arts, and Theory and Criticism.

Public artist lecture and oral defense

The Public Artist Lecture and Oral Defense are required components of the final thesis exhibition and written thesis.

The Public Artist Lecture is an opportunity for the student to present to the public a professional artist lecture featuring their thesis research and creative activity. MFA candidates are required to present, in a one-hour visual image lecture format (concluding with a question and answer session), the theoretical and conceptual basis of their artwork as well as the evolution of their practice and production over the course of the MFA program. Candidates are expected to present their work within a larger historical context, to consider concrete relationships between their work and relevant antecedents as well as contemporary art practices.

Following the public artist lecture presentation, the student’s Thesis Committee will administer the Oral Defense of the candidate’s thesis that serves as an examination of the student’s knowledge and general understanding of the theoretical and conceptual basis of their artwork, the evolution of their practice, historical context, and relevant antecedents including contemporary art practices as articulated in the written thesis and presented in the public artist lecture.