Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition / Master of Arts Exhibition

We are pleased to present the works of Lisa B. Coulson, Warren MacMillan, and Bonnie J. Tatro as the Master of Fine Arts degree candidates for the fall semester of 2003. Their works approach, in different ways, the processes in new media and installation, as well as incorporate more traditional methods of art making. Please visit the University Art Museum to view this wonderful exhibition.

Each fall and spring semester, the Museum hosts the work of candidates who have prepared, over two years or more, exhibits that will complete their M.F.A. studies here at the University. In our minds, these exhibitions represent two things for the M.F.A. student:  the end of a long and laborious journey to self-discovery, and the beginning of a new life as an independent artist in the world.

For the Museum, the M.F.A. exhibition is an opportunity to partner with both the candidates and the Department of Art by exhibiting the high-quality work produced by the department’s students. The M.F.A. exhibition at the Museum has celebrated this tradition of collaboration since 1983.  The Museum shares in the accomplishment and hard work of the M.F.A. artists and offers them the opportunity to prepare for this most important exhibit. After the studio visits are made, the artists’ statements and résumés are reviewed and edited, and the brochures are sent to the printers, the Museum is ready to install the works in a way that best communicates to viewers their creators’ intent.  In turn, the exhibition reinforces the Museum’s central mission to pursue and advance new knowledge in contemporary art and culture.

We applaud the dedication of the Museum’s staff, in particular Zheng Hu and Jeffrey Wright-Sedam, who design and install the M.F.A. exhibition as a labor of love, and Corinna Schaming, who works closely with each artist to help turn his or her visual concept into a written artist’s statement. In addition, Naomi Lewis acts as registrar and outreach coordinator, and Shaw Fici and Nicholas Lue from the collections team help to install the exhibit and create its website. Without the dedication of these staff members, the M.F.A. exhibition would not be possible.

JoAnne Carson, Chair, Department of Art
Jason Stewart, Interim Director