Current Activities

Fall Colloquium

Faculty members Ali Ferdowsi and Patti Andrews presented at the Fall Colloquium on October 19, 2011.

Ali Ferdowsi
My Discovery of the Oldest Manuscript of the 14th-Century Persian Poet Hafez and Its Implications

 
Patti Andrews
Meeting the Chumash: Periodization and Emphasis of Historical Experience among 21st Century Chumash

Betty Friedman

"Last fall I unexpectedly received an email inviting me to teach a short printmaking course for the Faculty from the Escuela de Arte de Cadiz. I was honored as there is such a great tradition of printmaking in Spain from Goya to Tapies. They knew about my work through a gallery that shows my work in Cordoba and a lecture I gave at the School of Art and Design in Cordoba during my sabbatical two years ago.

I gave this week-long course during our Spring break and Carnival in Cadiz. It was a pleasure to teach in their printshop, located in the historic city walls, at the spot where the Spanish fought and pushed back Napoleon Bonaparte's army in 1812, with the help of the British navy. It is obvious where parts of that wall had been breached. The rest of the school, located in a beautiful decommissioned palace, is one of the oldest art schools in Spain. Cadiz, thought to be the oldest city in Europe, was originally Phoenician.

The Spanish faculty learned monotype and drypoint printmaking techniques to produce prints with chine collé (collage). I shipped ahead Jin Shofu, Japanese wheat paste that I cooked for the Cadiz faculty during the class. There was only one very experienced printmaker in the course, the faculty whose shop we were using. The rest of the faculty were a range of artists including, painters, graphic designers, sculptors, fashion designers and wood workers.

This course was funded by a grant received by the Escuela de Arte de Cadiz from the European Union for faculty development. It was also a wonderful cultural exchange that we hope to continue."

- Betty Friedman, March 30, 2011

Spring Colloquium

Faculty members Melissa McAlexander and Cheryl Joseph presented at the Spring Colloquium on March 31, 2011.

Melissa McAlexander
Tales from the Creek: Engaging a Small Group of Students in a Water Quality
Research Project
 
Cheryl Joseph
Putting Sociology to Work: Practical Pursuits for Majors