Conference Theme: Return to Center

REPORT ON THE JUNCTION CONFERENCE ON APRIL 6 - 8, 2006

Summary

Students participate in Rob Glover's jewelry workshop

The 2006 TASA Conference was sponsored by the Department of Art at Texas Tech University at their facilities at Junction, Texas. The Conference Committee Chair for the 2006 TASA Conference at Junction was Future Akins-Tillett, and the other committee members included Rebecca Riley and Linda Fawcett (TASA's President).

The conference committee for the 2006 Junction TASA Conference presented the theme of "Return to the Center," referring to the Junction Center and to our own centers as artists. The conference allowed participants time to think/exchange ideas and hands on art time. Andy Wilkerson, Texas singer songwriter will conduct one panel on creativity from oral histories and then entertained us one night. This was especially good for anyone who includes writing into their art work or anyone drawn to music. In addition the committee planned one session lead by students/for students. One session was on healing and recovery and the role of art in the process of life. Cathie Tyler led a roundtable discussion, "Re-thinking Texas Art Foundations? (see below)

The Keynote Address was "The View from the Top" A Visionary Dialog with Andrew Vernooy, Dean of Architecture, Texas Tech University, Helen Klebesadel, Director of Women's Studies, University of Wisconsin Consortium, and Rebecca Riley, Dean of Arts and Humanities, Kingwood College. These academic leaders and artists discussed creativity, vision, and determination. Workshops included were "Oral History as Creativity Source " lead by Andy Wilkenson, "Jewelry from Non-Traditional Materials" led by Rob Glover, and "Rethinking Art Education" An Interactive Experience with Undergraduate & Graduate Students led by Ed Check and Dennis Fehr. MFA Programs in Texas gave Texas universities an open forum to present their programs to the conference. Our Work allowed members (students included) up to five minutes to share their work with the conference.

There was a session on the state of art today (museums, galleries and shows). There was lots of good food, music and even some dancing. The entire conference was more casual and at ease.

One Cube Foot Exhibition

Elizabeth Yarosa-Ash, Instructions, mixed media, 2006 - participant in the TASA 2006 One Square Cube Show

Paul Hanna Lecture: Elizabeth Yarosz-Ash

Large Scale Paintings & Other Works by Elizabeth Yarosz-Ash, Professor or Art at Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Anchoring the exhibition is a group of 60" x 40" watercolor paintings done during a 2004 - 2005 Sabbatical leave.

"The content of these pieces are concerned with the collision, convergence and parallel paths of religious thought, secular philosophy, scientific evidence and theory. The Sacred Feminine viewpoint appears throughout."

Re-thinking Texas Art Foundations

“Transfer-of-Credit policies of the Coordinating Board have been developed in compliance with Section 61.051(g) of the Texas Education Code to facilitate the transfer of credit from a Texas Public junior (community) college to a university. The first transfer-of- credit policies were adopted by the Board in 1967. In 1979, a series of studies was initiated to bring the old policies up to date and develop new ones in those cases where there was a need.

“The extensive work carried out by the study committee for the Visual Arts resulted in a sound transfer policy under which students can transfer selected courses applicable to the bachelor's degree requirements in most institutions. The transfer curriculum also provides an excellent planning document for the first two years of the degree program.” *

* Forrest E. Ward, Program Director, Coordinating Board, Texas College and University.

The Transfer Curriculum in Visual Arts. Adopted by the Coordinating Board Texas College and University System, January 29, 1982 . Printed and distributed by TASA.

In keeping with the founding mandate from the Texas Coordinating Board, TASA has continued to review and revise the transfer curriculum for visual arts courses in Texas . The Common Course Numbering System On-Line Matrix, based on 2003-2004 Catalogues, was used to compile a roster of courses being taught in lower and upper division programs in Texas.**

It became evident to the TASA Curriculum Committee that some of the courses previously taught at the freshman and sophomore levels are now being taught at the junior and/or senior levels at some institutions. The Committee and guests will present information at the 2006 Conference in April through the presentation of answers to frequently asked questions about issues relating to:

1. The transfer of “foundation art” courses;

2. The impact of hypothetical recommendations for program revision for both lower and upper division programs;

3. Information relating to a national/international survey on Foundations in Art from the national organization Foundations in Art: Theory in Education (FATE);

4. The strategies for the dissemination of information about the issues.

5. Brief question and answer period from the conference participants.

Some questions to be addressed include:

What is meant by a foundation in art?

Is there an art foundation as initially presented through the TASA Transfer Curriculum in Art?

How has recent changes in courses moved from the lower division to the upper division impacted the students and programs in the lower division?

How would courses moved from the upper division to the lower division impact universities programs and students?

Is it possible to have a broad-based art foundation in Texas ?

Is adopting a Field of Study an answer?

Do studio courses meet the criteria set by the CB for the Visual/Performing Arts Core requirement?

The Committee welcomes further questions from TASA members. Please send questions to any of the following Committee members:

Eduardo Aguilar: EDUARDO.AGUILAR@tccd.edu