Fine Arts

Program Director: Eileen Sullivan

The Art History, Music, and Studio Arts programs provide opportunities for students to obtain a sound knowledge of the visual and performing arts. We offer dynamic and engaging coursework for all undergraduate students as well as those who wish to pursue minors in music, studio arts, and art history. These programs enable students to receive training for professional careers in the areas of music performance and a variety of positions in cultural institutions The program's central objective is to encourage students to explore the arts for their own personal development, as well as to enhance their careers in other fields.

Many Music students are involved in one of the three dynamic student ensembles, Chamber Orchestra, Chorale, and Jazz Ensemble. They perform in on and off-campus venues as they continue their creative practices as musicians. These ensembles provide a vital connection to the arts community in western New York. Studio Arts students have the opportunities to to learn from lectures by contemporary artists on and off campus, to visit art exhibits at local galleries and museums, and are invited to exhibit their work both on and off campus in special events, such as Ignatian Scholarship Day, as well as in gallery spaces on campus.

Art History students study the development and use of visual culture, allowing them to understand cultures from the past as well as our current global community. Art History minors can prepare students for careers in the visual arts, but are also applicable to any career or life path that entails observation, curiosity, critical thinking skills, and communication.

Our Art History and Music students also have opportunities to complete internships in area cultural spaces. In the past, students have completed internships at the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formally known as the Albright-Knox Art Gallery), the Darwin D. Martin House Complex, the Western New York Book Arts Center, among many others.

Additional activities geared towards the interests of Fine Arts students include guest speakers, Makerspace activities, and events supported by ArtsCanisius and the Borders and Migration Initiative.

Minors

Courses

Fine Arts - Art History (FAH)

FAH 101 Cave Paintings, the Colosseum & Cathedrals 3 Credits

Introduction to visual and cultural analysis of major works of art from prehistory through the Middle Ages. Covers prehistoric through Gothic art.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall, spring, & summer.

FAH 102 Altarpieces, Academies & the Avant-Garde 3 Credits

Introduction to visual and cultural analysis of major works of Western art from the Renaissance through the contemporary moment.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall, spring, & summer.

FAH 103 Survey of Pre-Columbian and Native American Art 3 Credits

The artistic achievements of native peoples from the Americas. Toltec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations of Central America, and culture groups from the Woodlands, Plains, Southwest, and Northwest in North America prior to and after contact with Europe.

Fulfills College Core: Diversity, Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall.

FAH 109 History of Architecture 3 Credits

Visual and cultural analysis of major monuments of global architecture from antiquity to the present.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall.

FAH 110 History of Photography 3 Credits

Introduction to artistic and technical origins and subsequent developments of photographic processes from their invention in 1839 to global contemporary practices.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall.

FAH 159 Gender, Identity, and Art 3 Credits

Gender, Identity, and Art encourages critical conversations around gender, race, sexuality, and class and the articulation of the intersectional nexuses among these issues in art, preparing students to negotiate the contemporary social and cultural landscape with a greater awareness. These ideas and their visualization in art throughout history will be analyzed as they relate to the formulation of featured artists’ identities as well as how their art addresses an increasingly diverse and inclusive audience in the contemporary era. This course will feature a visit to the exhibition "We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85," on view at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery from February 17 to May 27, 2018, and will tie in with special programs at the museum associated with the exhibition.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall.

FAH 210 Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art 3 Credits

Introduction to visual and cultural analysis and interpretation of the painting, sculpture, and architecture of ancient Egypt and the ancient Near East.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness, Oral Communication

Offered: spring.

FAH 213 Greek and Roman Art 3 Credits

Visual and cultural analysis of the painting, sculpture, and architecture of Greece and Rome.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Oral Communication

Offered: spring.

FAH 224 Medieval Art 3 Credits

Visual analysis, cultural analysis, and interpretation of major works of art and architecture from Early Christian, Byzantine, Islamic, Carolingian, Ottonian, Romanesque, and Gothic periods.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall or spring.

FAH 245 Renaissance Art 3 Credits

Visual, cultural, and iconographic analysis of painting, sculpture, architecture, and art theory in Europe from the fourteenth through the sixteenth centuries.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall.

FAH 248 Baroque Art 3 Credits

Visual, cultural and iconographic analysis of painting, sculpture and architecture during the 17th and 18th centuries in France, Italy, England, Spain and the Netherlands.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall.

FAH 265 Contemporary Art 3 Credits

Visual and cultural analysis of major works from the United States and Western Europe from 1945 to the present.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: spring.

FAH 267 Frank Lloyd Wright 3 Credits

An introduction to the influential and iconic work of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. This course presents his major works and considers American and Modern architecture as a whole. A visit to the Darwin D. Martin House Complex is a vital component to this course.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

FAH 271 Art in Buffalo 3 Credits

Examination of the artistic and historical resources in the Greater Buffalo region, including prominent examples of architecture, museum collections, and artists in Western New York. Course is taught completely online.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: summer and occasionally in the spring.

FAH 272 Animals in Art 3 Credits

Thematic analysis of the use of animal imagery and animals in art.

Fulfills College Core: Advanced Writing-Intensive, Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: spring of odd-numbered years.

FAH 273 Field Excursion: Connections between Museum and Zoo Exhibitry Practices 1 Credit

Spring Break trip to Explore the portrayal of animals in museums and zoos. Students will compare and contrast the exhibitry practices in multiple museums and zoos in Amsterdam. Students will complete readings and final project while in the field. Additional fee required and varies with location (generally about $3000), which covers all travel costs. Please contact the course instructor for current fees. The course is open to students in any major. ABEC students should note that while this course will count towards the zoo biology minor, it will not count towards the ABEC major.

Offered: occasionally.

FAH 460 Museum Internship 3 Credits

Research, curatorial, and administrative internship at selected Buffalo area art galleries.

Prerequisite: junior or senior standing. Restriction: art history majors and minors (or by permission of internship director).

Offered: fall, spring, & summer.

FAH 481 The Art of the Selfie 3 Credits

An overview of the artistic expressions of portraiture limited to those identified as self-portraits. Beginning with the earliest known self-portraits onward, we will discuss the roles ascribed to self-portraits by artists, their patrons, and the 21st century connoisseur.

Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone

FAH 483 The World of Color 3 Credits

Throughout history, color has represented feelings, thoughts, religious symbolism, scientific classifications, self- and societal identification, psychological states, and cultural relations. This class will provide a definition of color, and an understanding of how color is apprehended by the eye and organized by the brain. It will provide a survey of the uses of color through history and discuss the dual nature of progress in art and progress in color. We will analyze art in the forms of painting, sculpture, photography, filmmaking, and contemporary multi-media creations.

Prerequisite: none. Corequisite: none.

Fulfills College Core: Core Capstone

Offered: every spring.

FAH 499 Independent Study in Art History 3 Credits

Independent studies allow in-depth study of a specific topic and are most often reserved for seniors who cannot otherwise fulfill a graduation requirement. Independent studies require an application and approval by the associate dean.

Prerequisite: permission of the instructor, department chair, & associate dean.

Fine Arts - Music (FAM)

FAM 115 Fundamentals of Music 3 Credits

Basic elements of music, its terms, and its notation including pitch, rhythm, chords, dynamics, tempo, and other aspects. Students will gain familiarity with the piano keyboard.

Prerequisite: none.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall, spring & summer.

FAM 119 Masterpieces of Music 3 Credits

A survey of Western art music from medieval Gregorian chant to the present, including the study of musical elements, historical background, musical style, and masterworks of various periods.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 122 History of Rock and Roll 3 Credits

A survey of the history of rock and roll and its impact on American and world culture. The musical and cultural roots of rock and roll and the evolution of the style over several decades will be examined.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: Occasionally.

FAM 123 World Musics 3 Credits

Survey course, including folk, traditional, and art music of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North and South America. Classes include listening and videos with the study of instruments, dances, songs, and rhythms of these cultures.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 124 America's Music 3 Credits

Music made or continuously used by Americans up to the present: sacred congregational music, vernacular music, African-American music, and cultivated traditions. Historical and sociological development of folk, jazz, and popular music as uniquely American.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: spring & summer.

FAM 126 Music Performance 1 Credit

Half-hour private lessons designed for all levels of experience are offered in piano, organ, harp, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass, strings, percussion, and conducting. For music majors, music minors, education majors with a music concentration, and music scholarship winners (no fee).

Prerequisite: permission of department chair; limited to music majors, music minors, music scholarship students, & music education students with a concentration in music.

FAM 130 America's Music 3 Credits

This course introduces students to music made or continuously used by Americans up to the present: sacred congregational music, vernacular music, African-American music, and cultivated traditions. The historical and sociological development of folk, jazz, and popular music as uniquely American music will also be studied. This course is 100% online. (Field 3)

Offered: every fall, spring, & summer.

FAM 171 Chorale 0 Credits

A mixed-voice singing group that performs repertoire in both the classical and popular styles (Same as FAM 181 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 172 Jazz Ensemble 0 Credits

Jazz ensemble that plays a wide range of music from Count Basie to Maynard Ferguson and everything in between (Same as FAM 182 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 174 Chamber Orchestra 0 Credits

Chamber orchestra that performs a wide range of orchestral literature from the Baroque period through the 20th century. Concert programs provide students with wide experiences in the orchestral arts (Same as FAM 184 except for 0 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 181 Chorale 1 Credit

A mixed-voice singing group that performs repertoire in both the classical and popular styles (Same as FAM 171 except for 1 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 182 Jazz Ensemble 1 Credit

Jazz ensemble that plays a wide range of music from Count Basie to Maynard Ferguson and everything in between (Same as FAM 172 except for 1 credit).

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 184 Chamber Orchestra 1 Credit

Offered: fall & spring.

FAM 212 Canisius and the BPO Experience 3 Credits

Classes meet at both Canisius University and Kleinhans Music Hall as students study music on stage, behind the scenes, and in the orchestral repertory with Canisius University faculty, BPO conductors, soloists, and managers.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 213 Women in Music 3 Credits

Roles of women composers and performers in art music from the time of ancient Greece through the present as they struggle to break the confines of traditional gender roles to gain equal representation and recognition.

Fulfills College Core: Diversity, Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 217 Music of the Baroque Period 3 Credits

A study of Western art music of the Baroque period (1600-1750) beginning with the early operatic works of Monteverdi and concluding with the mature masterpieces of Bach and Handel. Many different instrumental and vocal genres are covered in this course, including concerto, sonata, suite, opera, cantata, and oratorio.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 219 19th Century Music 3 Credits

Great composers of the Romantic period, including their lives, selected works, musical style, and influence.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts), Global Awareness

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 220 Art Music from 1900 to the Present 3 Credits

Covers impressionism in music, which ushers in the twentieth century, European music 1910-1945, American music, and new music since 1945.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 223 The World of Music Theater 3 Credits

The course covers basic elements of the history of musical theater: its beginnings, how it has evolved, comparison of past and current trends, performers – past and present, styles of music used, lyrics. It also explores how music theater mirrors, imitates, comments, or predicts current world affairs.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAM 226 Music Performance 2 Credits

Prerequisites: Music major, Creative and Performing Arts Interdisciplinary Studies major, music minor, music scholarship holder, Education major with a concentration in music.

Offered: every fall & spring.

FAM 250 Music for Children 3 Credits

Course provides the backgrounds, models, and skills necessary to create musical experiences for the pre-school and elementary-age child.

Offered: occasionally.

Fine Arts - Studio Arts (FAS)

FAS 110 Two-Dimensional Design 3 Credits

Investigation of the formal elements and principles of design in two dimensions. Hands-on studio environment with computer-based assignments will involve students in practical and creative solutions to design problems.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall, spring & summer.

FAS 120 Drawing I 3 Credits

Investigation of the formal, material, and historical fundamentals of drawing. Exercises with dry and wet media progress through perceptual rendering, collage, narrative, and imaginative drawing.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall, spring & summer.

FAS 130 Three-Dimensional Design 3 Credits

Investigation of the formal elements and principles of design in three dimensions and their relationship with the space they occupy. Particular emphasis is placed on material and presentation.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall & summer.

FAS 131 Sculpture I 3 Credits

Emphasis on traditional techniques. Assignments cover specific materials (plaster, wood, styrofoam, metal, paper) and particular techniques (armature construction, wood working, riveting, and mold making).

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 141 Digital Photography 3 Credits

Review basic photo skills as they relate to the operation of digital cameras. Students are introduced to the digital workflow using Photoshop to develop a personal style that is reflected in a printed and digital portfolio. No prior photo experience necessary.

Restriction: must have a D-SLR camera (digital single lens reflex camera).

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: fall, spring & summer; online.

FAS 142 Travel Photography 3 Credits

Learn how to navigate location shoots and capture the spirit of the specific culture in front of you. Find the right location shots, maximize the light situations regardless of climate or time of day and learn proper ethical behavior for photojournalists. Review basic camera operations for both film and digital picture taking. Additional travel fee required, please contact the instructor for more information. Fee covers travel, lodging, and meals.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: every spring.

FAS 150 Color 3 Credits

Combines in-depth color theory with design and composition making learned through traditional studio set- ups and contemporary computer applications.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 160 Printmaking I 3 Credits

Introduction to the history and processes of basic printmaking, including relief printing, monoprints, pronto plate lithography, "image-on" intaglio, and other photo- sensitive and non-toxic processes.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 170 Studio Painting I 3 Credits

Investigation of the formal, material, and historical fundamentals of painting. Exercises in watercolor and acrylic paint progress through grisaille, monochromatic, limited palette, and full palette treatments of subject matters.

Fulfills College Core: Field 3 (Literature and the Arts)

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 220 Comics Workshop 3 Credits

This course is intended to give students hands-on experience writing and drawing comics with an emphasis on storytelling techniques unique to the medium. We will explore a wide variety of examples from the comics canon in order to illustrate abstract techniques discussed in Scott McCloud's Making Comics. Students will be given drawing assignments in order to develop an understanding of the workflow and creative tools needed to make comics as well as the sense of storytelling flow and of symbolic shorthand necessary in order to become an efficient comic artist.

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 241 Intermediate Photography 3 Credits

For students with some experience with photography. Students should have a basic level understanding of camera function and an introductory level functionality in Photoshop.

Offered: occasionally.

FAS 496 Internship 3 Credits

Internships require an application and approval by the chair and the associate dean.

Prerequisite: permission of the chair & associate dean.

Offered: occasionally.