Christine Tarkowski

This seminar introduces incoming first year FMS graduate students to each other and their respective work and interests, the School community and resources, and the larger Chicago community, arts community, and local resources. Relevant historical and contemporary issues and concerns will take different thematic forms each year. Emphasis is on deepening one?s understanding of their studio practice through critical discussion and evaluation, and deepening one?s engagement with fiber histories, materials, processes, cultures, and politics. The seminar is always developed in conjunction with visiting artists' presentations and critiques, as well as readings, discussions, field trips, lectures, student presentations, and in-depth studio visits and critiques.

Course work varies but typically includes presenting in-process and completed studio work for critique, student presentations, reading discussions, and research/investigation assignments.

Taken every semester, the Graduate Projects courses allow students to focus in private sessions on the development of their work. Students register for 6 hours of Graduate Project credit in each semester of study.