Dordt College (Department of Art)

Art Program

If the eye is the portal to the soul, a visit to the campus of Dordt College illuminates the importance this campus community places on art, its creation, and the cultivation of God's gifts to his people. Two galleries and a variety of campus art acquisitions displayed in every public space contribute to a richer, fuller atmosphere for the entire campus community.

The campus art collection features student, faculty, and alumni art, along with the work of visiting artists, ranging from local to internationally known. The Dordt College Campus Center Art Gallery showcases new exhibits by professional artists, students, or alumni nearly every month, and is open every day of the year. The Classroom Complex Art Gallery offers a second venue for art appreciation, education, and occasionally the sale of work by talented students.

Students pursuing an art degree at Dordt College can choose from five career tracks: fine arts studio, graphic design, art history, teaching art, or pre-architecture. Students interested in architecture should request the pre-architecture information sheet.

Whatever the focus, your program will train you for life-long service in applied or fine art. You will learn the technical skills you need to be a competent participant in the art world, and, through your general education courses and interaction with professors, you will also be prepared to live richly in your family, church, and community life.

Dordt's art faculty emphasizes the importance of Christians actively taking part in culture rather than retreating from it. They will encourage you to use your art as a response of praise to God and service to people around you.


Art Program Options

The fine art studio emphasis offers you the flexibility of working in a number of different areas. Your art professors will encourage you to explore different media relevant to the development of your skills, including design, drawing, sculpture, painting, ceramics, printmaking, photography, and graphic design. Studio work areas allow hands-on learning of foundational techniques that will help you develop as an artist. Small classes, personal attention from professionals, and access to art supplies and equipment make Dordt College a place to grow in the visual arts. Surrounded by people who are most fully engaged when they are creating art, you'll find your God-given gifts stretched to their fullest potential.

"Before we even touch the mouse or the keyboard on the computer, pictures are drawn and ideas are formed with a pencil and paper. That's how projects are started at work, and that foundation in the fine arts is found at Dordt College," says Steve Van Wyk, who graduated from Dordt College in 2000 with an emphasis in graphic design. "The art programs at Dordt stressed the fine arts, the basics of art, painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, etc. These programs pushed the creativity, the possibility of creating almost anything out of nothing. When my art director hands me a blank sheet of paper and tells me to make [the customer's product] look good, I can because of the fine art and graphic design programs at Dordt."

Graphic design is a popular career choice for young artists. Dordt's graphic arts courses are taught by David Versluis, who has worked as both a studio artist and a graphic designer. "Graphic designers are visual communicators first and then technicians," he says, adding, "A fine arts background will allow you to become a better, more thoughtful designer." Students at Dordt College learn elements of design not only through design courses, but also by drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography.

Our graphic design emphasis offers fine arts-based training in visual communication applications. You will learn advanced layout skills using current computer hardware and software in Dordt's state-of-the-art multi-media computer lab, with eight Mac G5 work stations and eight dual monitor PC's using the Windows platform. Image scanners allow you to digitize and import photographs and artwork directly into graphic layouts. Software programs are available to draw, manipulate photos, generate images, and produce animation within layout programs. With this technology, students can create an infinite variety of images and combine hand-drawn art and logos with typography and color manipulation.

As a graphic design student, you will design real-life projects for actual clients, including t-shirt designs, lecture and performance bills, identity systems, and activity posters. You will take on more complex work in advanced graphics classes, with many of these production pieces printed on campus in the well-equipped college copy center. Art You will be involved with computer output to gain critical understanding of the printing process.

Art history provides a good background for all media. It opens up a world of ideas and techniques and helps you formulate your ideas about what is "good" art or "Christian" art. More broadly, it helps you understand the aesthetic dimension of life.

An education emphasis allows you to teach in elementary and/or high school. For more information, ask for that information sheet.

A pre-architecture program information sheet is also available.


Art Facilities
If you are interested in ceramics, you can use our large gas kiln or our raku kiln to fire your pieces. A darkroom and studios for printmaking, painting, sculpture, and ceramics provide the environment you will need to do your work. An attractive gallery in the new Campus Center displays the work of visiting artists, faculty, and students. Several display areas, including the Classroom Complex Art Gallery, feature current student work throughout the school year.


Art Internship and Placement Opportunities
Students at Dordt can be placed at local companies and production firms or engage in an internship in the Chicago area through the Chicago Semester Program. These opportunities are valuable since students work on the job with professionals in the field and often have access to the latest in equipment, programs, and technical support. Many students are given work opportunities beyond the intern experience.

Our art professors are interested in opening up as wide a range of career options as possible for you. Teaching continues to be an important career for our graduates. Some have set up their own studios. While making a living as a studio artist is often difficult, many students find positions in graphic art, publishing, and commercial printing. Our faculty will also encourage you to think about combining art with other areas. A background in art and psychology could lead to a career in art therapy; art and journalism could open the door to art advocacy; art and business or communication could lead to marketing or art director positions.

---

Department of Art Art School Location

Other art schools in Iowa

Briar Cliff University (Art Department) Art Department About Art is more than a four-year program of study at Briar Cliff University. It is the beginning of a lifetime of experiences, gr... Address: 3303 Rebecca Street

University of Northern Iowa (UNI Department of Art) The UNI Department of Art has a current student enrollment of more than 300 majors, and a young, energetic faculty of 16 full-time teachers of ... Address: 104 Kamerick Art Building

Northwestern College-Iowa Art Art understands. Artists are insightful, expressive, open and accepting of other people, cultures and ideas. They can be some of the best at e... Address: 101 Seventh Street, SW

Back to: » Art schools in Iowa » Art schools in Sioux Center

More information: » Marinas » Boats for sale