February 18–March 4, 2017
Application deadline: January 15, 2017
The University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School is pleased to announce that the Nomad/9 Interdisciplinary MFA is holding its first residency of 2017 in Oakland, California, February 18 through March 4, 2017.
As a follow up to their work in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, in October, the students will work with artist Allison Smith in the Techno Lab 3 class to create utilitarian quilted blankets that refer to the history of craft; artist Hope Ginsburg will guide students toward developing their thesis work during the Critique Exchange 3 class; and AIGA Medal recipient and designer John Bielenberg will oversee a design blitz that will include Nomad/9 students and the California College of Art’s Secret Project group in the Distinguished Practitioner 2 class. The Art & Place, Reconsidered course will focus on traditions of art and social justice in the Bay Area. This two-week intensive residency will culminate the inaugural year of this experimental MFA program. When the students regroup at the Hartford Art School in June 2017, the second student cohort will join them.
About our program
The Nomad/9 Interdisciplinary MFA is a low-residency MFA program based at the University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School. The 26-month, accredited program visits sites throughout the Americas, using a living classroom approach to hands-on learning. During each residency, students engage in a reciprocal relationship with the place, learning from local practitioners and contributing to regional initiatives. The curriculum brings together art, ecology, the technology continuum (from craft to code), and the study of history and culture. Featuring an open outcome philosophy, the MFA program’s faculty and students represent artists from diverse creative disciplines. Current MFA students’ first year learning experiences include green woodworking in a forest classroom; participating in a workshop on materiality, death, and regeneration; practicing performative strategies in relation to self and site; and experiencing North American indigenous knowledge systems. Throughout the program, students use multiple genres of writing to develop their art practice in the context of regenerative culture and resiliency. Between residencies, students work independently, while working closely with a faculty advisor. The curriculum supports artists working in diverse visual art genres. Faculty and visiting artists include: John Bielenberg, Mark Dion, Christy Gast, Hope Ginsburg, Seitu Jones, Amanda Lovelee, Shanai Matteson, Ernesto Pujol, Allison Smith, Linda Weintraub, and Caroline Woolard.
To learn more
Visit nomad9mfa.org for information about our curriculum, faculty, application, and scholarships. Additionally, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To be considered for scholarships, applications for the 2017–18 class must be received by January 15, 2017.
