Fall 2017: INFORMED CURIOSITY
The Informed Curiosity curriculum was based on the prints of internationally renowned artist Martin Puryear and their role in informing his sculptural works as explored in The Print Center’s exhibition Martin Puryear: Prints, 1962 – 2016. The show offered an in-depth investigation of the printed works created from 1962 to 2016. Students were introduced to Puryear’s early figurative works, which were influenced by his time spent in Africa as a Peace Corp volunteer through his recently created, large abstractions. They were encouraged to explore themes of identity, African American history, symbolism and abstraction through printmaking, photography and three-dimensional design.
Spring 2018: OPEN BOOK
The Open Book curriculum celebrated the significance and versatility of handmade books and photobooks, as well as their role as a platform for personal narrative or commentary on visual culture. Open Book was inspired by the books and accompanying images exhibited in By the Book Vol. 2: New Photography Publications and Collaborative Histories: Dieu Donné at The Print Center. These shows provided limitless inspiration in terms of approach, content and form, and offered students an opportunity to integrate contemporary digital technologies with historical print, papermaking and photographic processes.