学术和艺术选修课 are offered to students of all arts departments. They provide a chance to study a different discipline or view a specific art through an academic lens. Students are encouraged to explore these disciplines outside of their chosen department.
Academic and 艺术 Elective Courses
In 城市设计 students explore the creative and ongoing process of the city as an interdisciplinary art form we live in and navigate daily. Daniel Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago, the foundation and text of this class, illustrates the historical context of modern city planning. Non-European models of city design are explored along with master-planned, 乌托邦式的, and sustainable city models. Illustrated lectures and readings generate class discussions and art projects that culminate in an exhibition. Students research the current design methods and strategies of city planning and analyze how these practices may limit or cultivate spontaneity, 创新, and functionality in urban design. Students work individually and collaboratively on projects and presentations that analyze the key issues and problems that face cities and urban renewal and sustainability. Design professionals are brought in to work through questions with students. Students understand the aesthetic and economic impact the arts have on urban and civic design.
工作室艺术 is an elective course offered to students who are not Visual Art majors. This course is designed as a two-semester studio experience for students of all levels of ability. Beginning drawing and design exercises are complimented by an art history component. Students gain better 观察al and technical art-making skills through working with traditional materials such as graphite, 木炭, 和墨水, and are introduced to other two- and three-dimensional art forms such as painting, 版画, sculpture as well as digital mediums. Students practice the sequential steps in the process of making art. Through individual instruction and frequent group critiques, students gain experience analyzing and interpreting works of art. The course culminates in students creating and exhibiting a project of their own personal direction.
学习技巧 focuses on developing and improving the organizational skills and study habits that are necessary for academic success. Students are required to apply individualized strategies to current academic coursework and to develop new habits that foster better learning experiences. Time may also be devoted to specific tasks such as homework, test preparation, and writing.
数码艺术与媒体 introduces small-format digital video production to students who are not Media 艺术 majors. The material emphasizes proper cinematic technique and editing conventions in creating short videos. Students will explore the basics of traditional video expression and become familiar with the limitations and opportunities of the emerging digital technologies.
Students in Rhetoric, Discourse, Speech, and Debate will explore and develop skills in presenting their passions using their unique voice. A portion of the course is devoted to the use of TED-Talks and current events as a vehicle for discussion on accessing these passions. Through these segments we will encounter a variety of voices whose stories intersect with a broad audience of diverse listeners. 除了, this class recognizes that thoughtful discourse is an extremely important tool for nearly every facet of one’s life going forward. Whether tasked with a group project in college or at work, 在人际关系中, 或者在政治领域, the ability to communicate one’s ideas and perspective in a rational manner can have a profound impact on one’s life. Artists rely heavily on articulating their points of view with confidence. One can imagine a scenario in each of the arts disciplines where effective communication skills are vital. Students will also explore a variety of techniques for effective communication as well as spend significant amounts of time discussing rhetoric, 逻辑, 话语与辩论.
商业与艺术 focuses on several areas such as contracts, 个人理财, 商业计划, 版权, marketing and more as it applies to the arts world. Student’s learning is supplemented by analyzing case studies, 阅读文章, and taking part in robust classroom discussion. 商业与艺术 give students the chance to learn how to be busy savvy as an artist while also creating opportunities to connect with powerful and inspiring professionals in fields that align with their chosen arts discipline. Business in the 艺术 is an academic elective intended for upperclassmen.
参谋长
Emily is a seasoned professional with multiple years of teaching experience at the Denver Center Theatre Academy. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the University of Oklahoma.
椅子-舞蹈
兰迪·邓肯, 土生土长的芝加哥人, has the unique privilege to be a three-time recipient of Chicago’s prestigious Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreographer of the year. He teaches worldwide and for the past twenty-two years has been on the Academy faculty.
主席-媒体艺术
莎拉Hiatt is an artist and 教育家 born and raised in the Ozarks. She uses photography to explore the ideas of grief, innocence, and growing up. Her work has been shown in various locations throughout the United States and internationally. Hiatt currently resides in Chicago, IL.
椅子-音乐
雷切尔布朗 is a Chicago-based chamber musician, 独奏者, 管弦乐表现, 教育家, 艺术管理员. After three years as a regular member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, she is now the Associate Principal Second Violin of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra and also performs with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, American Music Festivals Orchestra, 和韦恩堡爱乐乐团.
Rachel also serves as the Classical Violin and Viola Instructor and Musicianship Instructor.
椅子-音乐剧
安德鲁•罗宾逊 earned his Bachelor of 艺术 in 英语 and Religion from Rhodes College, his Master of Divinity from Union Theo逻辑al Seminary at Columbia University, and his Master of 艺术 in Educational Theatre from New York University. he has been a creative associate with the Wagon Wheel Theatre for ten years where he has performed in and directed dozens of shows.
椅子-剧院
本迪克 holds a Master of Fine 艺术 in Theatre Performance from the Chicago College of Performing 艺术 at Roosevelt University as well as a Bachelor of 艺术 in Theatre Education from Sterling College. He has worked as a professional actor for twenty years in regional markets throughout the country.
椅子-视觉艺术
马吉·干草 has taught at The Academy since 2003 and has been Visual 艺术 Department Chair since 2008. She has a Bachelor of Fine 艺术 from Pratt Institute and Master of Fine 艺术 from SUNY Buffalo.
布伦达摩尔 is a Chicago based visual artist represented by Linda Warren Projects. She has taught at The Academy since 2003.
New Music Ensemble Director, Pop/Rock Ensemble Director, Classical Guitar Instructor
杰西Langen is a guitarist who specializes in new music. He works with living composers regularly and premieres dozens of pieces every season. Equally comfortable on classical and electric guitar, he seeks to push both the technical boundaries and the conceptual functions of the instrument. He has taught at The Academy since 2002.
Assistant Chair of the Dance Department
帕特里克Simoniello began his professional career as a dancer with The Joffrey II Dancers in New York City in 1993. He was soon promoted to the main company of The Joffrey in 1994.
From package design to parking garages to public housing to Peapod, this course will explore 和批判 design from the products and the devices we cannot live without, to the invisible networks and the built environments we rely on and navigate in our daily routines. Design is everywhere, however we only seem to notice it when it is “bad.” Through studio projects, this course will investigate what makes “good” and successful design.
什么是设计过程? What are the strategies designers use today? What are the cross-disciplinary methods from psychology to sociology, from marketing to architecture, that have expanded the concept of design and the application of the design process to disparate fields to generate innovative solutions to simple everyday nuisances to complex global issues? How are artists’ contributions invaluable to the creation of new products, services and technologies that result from this expanded interdisciplinary design field? Throughout this course students will practice an inquiry-based, 关心社会, and human-centered design process that combines fieldwork, 观察, and working through a “problem” through research, 模型建立, 和批判. This course will involve discussion, studio work, and presentations. Design professionals will be brought in to work through issues and projects with students.