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The Master of Fine Arts Exhibition
Preparation for the MFA exhibition begins during the semester
in which the candidate is completing the last required hours of
studio work. At this time, the candidate must obtain the consent
of three graduate art faculty members to serve as an advisory committee
which will review and guide the candidate’s progress in producing
the exhibition and its documentation. The sequences of steps to
be taken in the preparation of the exhibition are as follows:
- Exhibition Advisory Committee
The Exhibition Advisory Committee is to be composed of a chair
and at least three other Full, Associate, or Adjunct Members of
the Graduate Faculty: two are selected by the student in consultation with the committee chair and approved by the
Department Chair. The third is from outside the department and appointed by the department chair. The candidate should exercise particular
care in the selection of the advisory committee chair, because
this person will be working most closely with the candidate in
all phases of the project.
- Duties of the Exhibition Committee Chair
The committee chair is responsible for guiding the student through
the process of completing both the exhibition and documentation
of purpose and technique. The committee chair must be thoroughly
familiar with all requirements, procedures, schedules, and deadlines
contained in both the Graduate Bulletin and the Exhibition Guide.
The committee chair actively participates as the student’s
mentor in every aspect of the exhibition requirement. The committee
chair is the student’s primary contact with the Exhibition
Committee and is responsible for the overall conduct of the committee.
The committee chair is the primary reader and editor of the written
documentation of purpose and technique. The committee chair is
responsible for conducting a thorough, fair, and equitable exhibition
defense. The committee chair is also responsible for turning in
a final grade for the exhibition class.
- Duties of Exhibition Committee Members
Exhibition Committee Members are responsible for knowing all of
the requirements, procedures, schedules, and deadlines, published
in the Exhibition Guide and the Graduate Bulletin. Committee members
provide advice and counsel regarding the production of works included
in the exhibition and the writing of documentation of the purpose
and technique. Committee Members must be available for regular
committee meetings and should consult individually with the student
as required.
- Responsibilities of the Student
The student is responsible for knowing all of the requirements,
procedures, and deadlines detailed in the Graduate Bulletin and
in the Exhibition Guide. The student is responsible for completing
the art work, the written documentation of purpose and technique,
the scheduling and mounting of the exhibition and all other requirements
included in the Exhibition Guide and the Graduate Bulletin.
- Exhibition Proposal
As soon as possible and with the advice and approval of the exhibition
committee chair, the student must define the broad parameters
of the exhibition. An exhibition proposal is then prepared and
submitted to the advisory committee for approval (See instructions
for Preparation of Exhibition Proposal).
After obtaining each committee member’s signature on the
Exhbition
Proposal Approval Form, the proposal is submitted by the student
to the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research
for approval.
- Registration for the MFA Exhibition Course, Art 591
After receiving the department chair ’s approval
of the exhibitions proposal, but not before, the student may register
for the MFA Exhibition course, Art 591. A student must be enrolled
in Art 591 during the semester or summer session in which the
documentation examination/defense is conducted. Enrollment in
Art 591 is not required for the semester or summer session in
which the student graduates unless it is the same one during which
the exhibition is defended. Following the initial enrollment in
Art 591, a student must continue to register for Art 591 each
fall and spring semester and each summer session until the exhibition
is successfully defended.
- Preparation of the Exhibition
The candidate may register for Art 591 and begin work on the exhibition
after the advisory committee is established and the exhibition
proposal is approved. The candidate should meet regularly with
the advisory committee chair and schedule periodic meetings with
the whole advisory committee.
- Preparation of the Written Documentation of Purpose
and Technique
The documentation of the candidate’s purpose must provide
the information necessary for a visually and verbally literate
person to grasp the intent of the work. In short, the candidate
should provide information which leads to an understanding of
what the work is intended to do or mean.
The documentation of technique must demonstrate a thorough awareness
of the source, inspiration, and tradition relevant to the work,
as well as the particular methods employed in the use of materials
and principles that determined the form of the completed work.
The candidate, in preparing the required documentation of purpose
and technique, should take care to provide documentation which
can be related directly to the art works, because inconsistency
between the candidate’s purpose and technique and the work
may be grounds for rejection of the exhibition. Though it is common
and quite acceptable for an artist’s purpose to deviate
in the course of the creative process, the exhibition of the work
establishes the artist’s purpose. Thus the work as presented
and the documentation of purpose and technique will be the basis
upon which the exhibition examination committee will make its
recommendation to certify or not certify the candidate’s
ability to produce viable art works and to understand and articulate
the intellectual, technical, and creative processes involved.
Questions to test the effectiveness of the MFA exhibition written
documentation include:
- Does the text address the following:
- What principles govern the form of the work?
- What methods were employed in the use of materials?
- Does the text provide sufficient information to lead a
knowledgeable spectator to an understanding of what the work
is intended to do or mean?
- Does the paper demonstrate a thorough awareness of the
source, inspiration, and tradition relevant to the work?
- Can the substance of the text be directly correlated to
the art work? Is what is written consistent with what can
be observed in the work?
- Is the text well written? Does the text conform to standard
English usage and to the form required by this guide?
- Exhibition Defense – Draft Manuscript
A final draft or final manuscript of the exhibit document will
serve as a basis for the exhibition examination/defense. A final
draft must meet the following requirements:
- Be complete in all aspects.
- Be clearly readable in letter-quality print or better,
but on inexpensive paper, such as used in word processors
and copy machines.
- Be mechanically correct. (See items 3 through 8 under Preparation
of the Written Document of Purpose and Technique).
- Include photographs or slides of the work.
- Have been approved for content by all members of the Exhibition
Advisory Committee.
- Exhibition Defense – Application
Application for the exhibition examination is filed in the Graduate
Office at least one week prior to graduation. Application cannot
be made until the draft has been received by the Graduate Office.
Copies of the final draft must be in the hands of the examining
committee at least
one week prior to the defense. Final draft copies, which are provided
for external committee members, must include a photographic record
of the work. The actual art work may not be publicly exhibited
until after the work is successfully defended.
- Exhibition Report
Following the defense, the chair of the Exhibition Advisory Committee
submits a report of the examination to the Associate Vice President
for Graduate Studies and Research (See Report
of Exhibition Form).
- Public Exhibition
Arrangement for the exhibition of the approved work must be made
with the committee and the secretary of the Department of Art.
- Submit Exhibition Documentation to Graduate Office
Following the exhibition defense, the final manuscript, incorporating
changes and corrections required by the examining committee and
bearing the signatures of all three members of the advisory committee
is submitted to the Graduate Office for approval. The final manuscripts
(original plus four copies) must all be signed by each member
of the Exhibition Advisory Committee. The final manuscript must
meet all specification of this guide before multiple copies are
made.
- Binding, Shipping, and Microfilming Fees
After the final manuscript has been signed by the Exhibition Advisory
Committee and approved by the Graduate Office, one copy must be
taken to the Technical Services Office of the Steen Library for
payment of fees for binding, shipping, and microfilming. The graduate
student obtains a receipt for payment of fees.
- Submission of Final Copies of Written Document of Purpose
and Technique
The graduate student takes the original manuscript and all copies,
along with the fee receipt, to the Graduate Office to obtain the
signature of the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies
and Research. The Graduate Office then sends all copies to the
Library for binding. After binding, two copies will be retained
by the Library, one copy will be sent to the chair of the Exhibition
Advisory Committee, one copy will be sent to the Department of
Art, and the original bound manuscript is sent to the graduate
student.
- Grade for Art 591
When the exhibition defense form has been signed by the Exhibition
Advisory Committee and the Department Chair, it is the responsibility of the Committee
to report grades for Art 591 to the Registrar.
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