A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

Michael Barlow

Continuing Studies Instructor

Bio

Instructor, Continuing Studies (1988), Art Education (2007). BFA, 1985, Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Art, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; MFA 1987, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Exhibition: DuSable Museum of Africa American History, Chicago, IL; Noyes Cultural Art Center, Evanston, IL; Koehnline Museum of Art, Des Plaines, IL; Publications: Crow Woods Publication, “Living Artists”, AIMprint, New Relationships in the Arts and Learning, Center for Community Arts Partnerships, Columbia College Chicago; Collections: Indiana University Campus Art Collection, Bloomington, IN.

Experience at SAIC

Graduate School at SAIC in 1985 was very exciting! The opportunity to live in the city of Chicago and study at SAIC during the formative years of my professional career as a visual artist was challenging on my levels. The opportunity to engage in making and learning on multiple levels was unmatched and truly will be an experience and education that will last forever. The School of the Art Institute and the city of Chicago are iconic twins with similar looks and totally different personalities and has the ability to fool you or mislead you at the same time! These experiences and influences at SAIC formed the foundation of my teaching artist career. Being part of the SAIC community remains to be a vital component of my artistic imagination.

Personal Statement

As a creative person and Fine Arts Entrepreneur my praxis explores the intersection between arts advocacy, arts education, art consulting and making. My art work addresses multiple issues of concerning man’s inhumanity to man, spirituality, the Holy Bible, and the 4 persistent themes in the history of painting, i.e., the self, society, spirituality, and nature. My teaching philosophy addresses contemporary issues, arts integration, academic freedom, collaboration and community outreach. In the classroom/studio I strive to be a “game changer” in the lives of my students.

Current Interests

The Holy Bible, man’s inhumanity to man, fighting racism, the 4 persistent themes in the history of painting and answering the question: What do Paintings Want?

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

This class is designed for students with prior drawing experience interested in investigating new subjects and themes while developing technical and conceptual skills through experimentation with a variety of methods and materials. Creative exploration will include exercises addressing scale, mixed-media processes, drawing formats, and series. Individual and group critique and discussions will support each student's personal direction. Prerequisite(s): Introduction to Drawing or equivalent experience.

Class Number

2401

Credits

1

Description

This course will provoke students to convey a compelling narrative through painting. We will experiment with various acrylic paints, mediums, surfaces, and techniques to develop a personal approach to image making. Through individual dialogue, class discussions, and critiques, students will receive feedback and direction on how to challenge their practice. We will investigate the works of artists like Mickalene Thomas, David Hockney, Christina Ramberg, Alex Katz and many others. Basic drawing and/or painting skills are useful, and non-representational artists welcome.

Class Number

2426

Credits

1