News
On the way to the Windy City
October 18, 2016
Every fall, senior students enrolled in ART 401-Senior Seminar have the opportunity to get acquainted with the various ways artists can be active participants of the community and the world. This is a group that is either about to enter graduate school or is ready to pursue an art career on their own. The course provides the students technical, professional, and artistic skills needed to succeed as an artist.
Besides learning how to prepare their resumes, approach galleries, and preparing for interviews, the annual cohort embarks on a three-day high impact learning experience to Chicago. During the latest trip, students visited seven locations, and talked to a diverse group of arts professionals.
The course is taught by Associate Professor Bill Hosterman who facilitated the trip. The class took a 15-seat passenger van from Calder Arts Center in the early morning of October 13th and headed west to the Windy City. After an approximate three-hour drive, students arrived in Chicago and had a very active and busy weekend. Their trip itinerary includes stops at the University of Chicago Arts Incubator, the Defibrillator Gallery, The Conservation Center, Lillstreet Art Center and Spudnik Press printmaking studio. The trip also included a visit to the Onion, where the class met with GVSU art department alumni, Jimmy Hasse, who is an art director at the online magazine.
A traditional activity of the Senior Seminar curriculum, the Chicago trip brings the arts community to the students to assist the latter in making connections and understanding that art education can also be practiced outside of the formal, white cubic gallery space. It can be an instrument for change, social justice and professional success.