Art History Department Alumnae E-Newsletter

ABOUT ART HISTORY AND THE MAJOR
Art History, which is devoted to the study of the visual arts, is one of the broadest of the humanistic disciplines. It is concerned not only with the nature of works of art—their form, style, and content—but also with the social, political, and cultural circumstances that shape them. Art History courses aim at developing in students a lifelong understanding and appreciation of works of art. As an Art History major, the curriculum is geared to preparing students either for graduate study leading to careers in university teaching and museums, or for positions in the art world, in galleries, publishing, criticism, the visual media, art consultation, conservation, and the like. These courses also provide opportunities for correlated learning to students in other fields. The department, fortunate in being located in New York City, one of the world's great art centers, takes full advantage of the rich resources of the city's museums and galleries in its course of study. Some examples are Barnard's recent partnership with the International Center for Photography (see more below), the course Introduction to Connoisseurship taught at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the frequent museum and gallery trips required in many art history courses.

VISUAL ARTS CONCENTRATION UPDATE

The annual Senior Project Visual Art Show is an annual exhibition of art works by senior art history majors who have concentrated in the visual arts. This year's show ran from April 20 to April 28. Joan Snitzer and John Miller organized and curated the show along with the seniors.

This spring the Art History Department graduated the first Barnard students to participate in Barnard's partnership with the International Center for Photography (ICP), founded four years ago. Each semester, 15 students (the maximum) have worked at the ICP, taking classes ranging from "Black and White Photography for Beginners" to "Photoshop III" to "Introduction to Web Design." Works produced at the ICP were shown together with the Senior Visual Arts Concentration Thesis Projects, which opened on April 20 and ran through April 28. Our student exhibition in photography demonstrated how valuable this program is to our students. We have recognized many excellent photographers and one has already been published and hired by a professional photo agency. To learn more about the collaboration and the students who have benefited from it, click here to read the article about the Barnard-ICP partnership that appeared in the Spring 2004 issue of Barnard magazine.

We have also entered into a consortium with Pont-Aven School of contemporary art with a new offering of a semester abroad program for visual arts students. This consortium will enable Barnard students to have a semester in France and focus on their studio work. This will provide a unique opportunity to work in an academic environment with their own studio space while experiencing the value of a study abroad program, living with French families in an art historical town.

JOAN SNITZER RECEIVES BARNARD'S MARGARET MEAD AWARD AT SPRING PARTY & AUCTION
Joan Snitzer, Senior Lecturer and director of the Visual Arts Program, was honored with the Margaret Mead Award at Barnard's annual Spring Party & Auction on May 8. The successful event at The Puck Building in downtown Manhattan drew 520 guests who raised $870,000 toward scholarships for students with need. In addition to Snitzer, the event honored alumna and Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Dasha Epstein (Ain't Misbehavin, Children of a Lesser God). Click here for more.

• SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF BARNARD WOMEN An investment in Barnard is an investment in the future. Our graduates go on to benefit and impact communities around the globe. To continue this important work, Barnard relies on the generous support of alumnae. Please click here for more information or to make your gift online today. Every gift makes a difference!

SUPPORT THE ART HISTORY DEPARTMENT—BUY AN ITEM ON OUR "WISH LIST"
The Art History Department constantly seeks to improve students' experience at Barnard—by offering research opportunities, inviting guest lecturers, and showing our support in other ways. Alumnae can help make a difference to today's students by funding an item on our "wish list," consisting of items we'd love to have but can't afford, given the department's limited funds. Here are some of the things we wish for:

• A grant for the department to take students on trips to museum shows in NYC: $2,000.
  
  
• A grant for the class trips to museum shows outside of NYC: $8,000.
  
  
• Travel grants for students to pursue senior thesis projects in Art History: $3,000 each, two or more needed.
  
  
• Travel grants for students to pursue senior thesis projects in the Visual Arts: $3,000 each. Two or more needed.
  
  
• Guest lecturers and visiting professors: $10,000.

Your support is much needed and deeply appreciated. To fund an item on the wish list, or to make a general gift to the Art History Department (your gift will make a difference, no matter the size), please contact Amy DeRobertis in the Office of Development at aderobertis@barnard.edu or 212-854-2004. Or, to make a gift to The Barnard Fund, which helps meet critical needs throughout the College, click here.

ALUMNAE DIRECTORY AND MORE AT BARNARD'S ONLINE COMMUNITY
Art History alumnae may search for friends and make new connections through Barnard's Online Community. Membership is free and exclusive to alumnae. All you need to do to take advantage of all the community has to offer is to proceed through the registration process to establish a User ID and password. The service also offers free permanent email forwarding for Barnard graduates. To register, visit the Alumnae Online Community page and click on "Log-in or Register" in the blue box on the upper right corner of the page.