Art & Technology Program

Overview
The Art & Technology Program at Stevens Institute of Technology spans several disciplines in the visual arts, including those associated with technical, scientific, entertainment, design, and fine arts communities. The program provides a setting for instruction, learning, experimentation, and creation in video, the internet, print, animation, and sculpture. Some students lean towards art and design while others focus on hybrid areas between the arts and the sciences. These two areas complement each other, leading to critical and creative thinking, the development of diverse cultural perspectives, and technological innovation.

The program offers an opportunity to select related courses in the engineering, science, and business programs as well as courses in the College of Arts & Letters. The program also offers computer graphics and visualization courses developed by the Department of Computer Science.

Program Mission
The Art & Technology Program has several distinct features:

1. The program concerns art in relation to technology, science, and the humanities. The curriculum draws on traditional as well as new and emerging art forms but is rooted in historical, theoretical, and critical inquiry.
2. The program shares the mission of the College of Arts & Letters in advancing the study of traditional humanities and arts in the context of science and technology. The program also provides a resource for the Institute in matters relating to the visual arts.
3. The program utilizes New York City's museums and galleries as well as artists and other art professionals based in the area. Although the curriculum is guided primarily by aesthetic criteria, it also fosters practical experience through internships and work in professional organizations in the metropolitan area. Additionally, opportunities to learn from visiting artists and artists in residence are provided.
4. The program provides a conduit for partnerships among artists, engineers, and scientists both within and beyond Stevens. Building on the university's efforts to promote cooperation between the technical and conceptual worlds, the program is a center for research, innovation and creativity across disciplines.
5. The program strengthens the reputation of Stevens and its faculty. The program includes internationally-recognized faculty, among whom are artists and researchers committed to the creation and dissemination of art at the highest level. A multitude of exhibitions, performances, publications, and invited talks are offered each year, and the program maintains partnerships with such institutions as the Harvestworks Media Arts Center and Granary Books.

Admission
The Art & Technology Program does not require a portfolio review for admission. Art education in most secondary schools is rooted in the early twentieth-century practice of drawing and painting. Correspondingly, students interested in less traditional modes of creative expression are not encouraged to nurture and develop their talents and interests. It is precisely these less traditional modes of creative expression that the Art & Technology Program fosters and encourages in its applicants.

Curriculum

Students in their first year are introduced to art and technology in general while concentrating on formal 2-D and 3-D foundations in art, coupled with courses in drawing, art history, mathematics, science, and the humanities. Second year students add digital imaging, 3-D animation, and video. In the third year, students are introduced to a transmedia approach to art production, harnessing a variety of media and methods. Each student in his/her final year is responsible for an exhibition of a significant body of his/her personal work or for a project that demonstrates his/her development within the program. The underlying ideas, methods of investigation, and execution of this capstone project are determined by the student with the guidance of a faculty advisor. Many students in the program minor or double major in computer science, business and technology, engineering, or a discipline within the humanities. A few complete an M.A. simultaneously with their undergraduate degree.

The Art & Technology curriculum is organized as follows: freshman/sophomore humanities (8 courses), the major concentration (10 courses), upper-level electives (9 courses), and a secondary concentration (5 courses). Additional requirements include six courses from mathematics, science, computer science, and economics or psychology, plus four semesters of physical education.

History

One of Stevens' most world-renowned alums is Alexander Calder ('19), who incorporated his training as an engineer into the arts and invented the mobile. Calder's contribution to the merging of art and technology plays a tremendous role in both the history of art and the history of Stevens. It was in 1969 that the first art class was offered at Stevens, and this was at the request of the humanities department, which thought that a non-text-based course should be offered as "an alternative to the written response." Under the guidance of artist-in-residence Paul Miller, art for engineers thrived. "Naturally, students asked their professors about materials, techniques, systems, and technical information, and just as naturally, the professors became involved, and so the interest spread." (Miller). A gallery on campus showcased student work, and opportunities for creative thinking enabled students to experiment with art and technology in ways that today we take for granted. In 1971, for example, an electrical engineering student proposed 'a digital computer' "digatone" which produces 16-note melodies whenever someone walked in front of a camera, and a mechanical engineering student - used his knowledge of gears and cams to develop a "kinetic mosaic" of transparent acetate flowers which revolve and move independently at various speeds.

In 2003, Erich Kunhardt, Dean of the Imperatore School of Science and Art, spearheaded the Department of Art, Music and Technology, under which the Art & Technology program was founded and is directed by Julie Harrison. We are currently housed within the newly formed College of Arts & Letters.

Visiting Artists

Every year leading artists in their fields are invited to work with our students. This aspect of the program enables students to go deeper into an area of interest, collaborate with the most cutting-edge thinkers and disciplines, and become involved with professionals as life-long mentors.

Facilities

• The Media Arts Center is available as a classroom and lab, which contains seventeen Macintosh workstations with state-of-the art audio, video, and animation software, assorted audio and video equipment, and an isolation booth.
• The Green Room is a multi-purpose studio with a green screen cyclorama and a sculpture area.
• The Print Room houses a large-scale Epson 9800 and is utilized for printing, cutting and mounting.
• Babbio Atrium is a glassed-in area overlooking the Manhattan skyline and is utilized for exhibitions, performances, and special functions.
• DeBaun Theatre
• Babbio Auditorium

The Stevens Community

Stevens is one of the leading technological universities in the country with an established reputation for innovation in science, engineering, and technology. Against this backdrop, students in the Art & Technology program will have opportunities to find unique ways of merging their interest in science and technology with their passion for art, an opportunity not available in most academic institutions.