MFA thesis exhibition

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday 11am–5pm, Thursday 11am–7pm, First Friday Art Walk until 8pm

Maine College of Art is pleased to announce the opening of the 2017 MFA thesis exhibition.

The MFA thesis exhibition spotlights works by nine artists: Sarah Emch, Megan Franasiak, Crystal Gale Phelps, Shelby Wynne Richardson, Dayna Riemland, Jose Rodriguez, Jr., Renee Sawyer, Benjamin Spalding, Louise Coupar-Stamat.

This year’s exhibition features work in a variety of media including video projection, ceramics, performance, and installation. These thesis projects are meant to hybridize a range of conceptual themes and material approaches as they relate to our cultural landscape and to contemporary art practice. Evident in the works on display will be ideas of empowerment against shame, the body in relation to the vessel, the narratives of objecthood, and many more. This exhibition represents the syntheses of each student’s experience within MECA’s MFA in Studio Art.

Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art at Maine College of Art
MECA’s MFA Program in Studio Art offers an interdisciplinary approach that encourages students to think across traditional academic boundaries while challenging their art practice and intellectual curiosity. The two-year, trimester structure emphasizes the intersection of studio production, individual research, critical analysis, curatorial experimentation, and travel to inspiring and important cultural sites. Built on a rigorous curriculum and an exceptional commitment to one-on-one student mentoring by distinguished faculty, visiting artists, critics, and curators, MECA’s MFA program offers a dynamic and supportive learning environment for artists who want to define and pursue a sustainable and attainable vision for their art practice.

Starting with the first eight-week Summer Intensive in the artistically vibrant city of Portland, Maine and culminating with the final Thesis Residency, students challenge their own art-making assumptions and habits, identify and contextualize an emerging point of view, develop verbal, written and presentation skills and deepen responsibility for their own practice in their artistic community locally and globally.

Graduate studios with 24/7 access to 200,000 square feet of state-of- the-art facilities in painting, printmaking, sculpture, metals, wood, ceramics, fashion and textiles, photography, digital media, sound and expanded practices. Full and low residency options available.

Graduate faculty
Chris Stiegler, Assistant Professor of the MFA in Studio Art + Art History, and Chair of the MFA in Studio Art
Gail Spaien, Professor of the MFA in Studio Art + Painting
Adriane Herman, Associate Professor of the MFA in Studio Art + Printmaking + Digital Media
Joshua Reiman, Assistant Professor of the MFA in Studio Art + Sculpture
Julie Poitras Santos, Adjunct Professor of the MFA in Studio Art
Lauren Fensterstock, Adjunct Professor of the MFA in Studio Art
Katie Vida, Adjunct Professor of the MFA in Studio Art

Learn more about the MFA program.

Summer visiting artist lecture series 2017
The MFA visiting artist summer lecture series brings a national and international roster of visiting artists, curators, and scholars to Portland, Maine. According the to the dates listed below each of the MFA visiting artists deliver public lectures. Additionally, they conduct studio visits and attend critiques and with graduate candidates during their week-long visits.

Jesse Small: June 19
Tamara Gonzales: June 26
Ruth Erickson: July 5
Rose Marasco: July 10
Brandon Alvendia: July 17
Keith Boadwee: July 24
Sonya Clark: July 31

Lectures are free and open to the public from 5:30–7pm in MECA’s Osher Hall. Learn more details about the MFA visiting artist lecture series here.