{"id":3180,"date":"2024-08-02T14:17:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T14:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/schools\/professional-studies\/?post_type=story&p=3180"},"modified":"2026-04-03T15:49:04","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T15:49:04","slug":"mastering-the-art-of-community","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/schools\/professional-studies\/2024\/08\/02\/mastering-the-art-of-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering the art of community"},"content":{"rendered":"
During each MFA residency, students develop a strong artistic community,\r\nwhile receiving between 10 to 20 critiques of their work from faculty, peers,\r\nguest critics, and visiting faculty. June residencies take place at Clark\u2019s \r\nWorcester campus, while January residencies take place at MASS MoCA<\/a>\r\nin North Adams, MA.\r\n\r\n\u201cWhat distinguishes our low-residency program is that it\u2019s very critique-based\r\ninstead of being studio-based. People grow creatively and intellectually in a\r\ncritique-based experience because they\u2019re getting meaningful feedback from\r\na range of diverse professional voices within a rigorous arts community. \r\nIt\u2019s like a shot in the arm for their creative practice,\u201d said Ben Sloat, \r\nvisual artist and Program Director of the MFA Visual Arts.<\/a><\/pre>\n
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Program Director Ben Sloat.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA in Visual Arts students and faculty photographed with President David Fithian ’87 at Clark University.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA students at the President\u2019s gathering.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA faculty with graduating students.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA students at the President\u2019s gathering. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Clark V&PA faculty, Stephen DiRado, shares some images with MFA students. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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An MFA student setting up her critique space. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA student organizing her critique space.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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An MFA student putting finishing touches on the installation of her paintings.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA student hanging large scale drawings.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA students getting their critique spaces ready.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Individual student critiques with thesis students, known as resident critics.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Visiting faculty, Luis Croquer, giving an individual critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Individual student critiques with thesis students, known as resident critics.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA faculty, Alex Jackson, giving a critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Student critique with resident critic.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Multiple individual critiques with faculty and resident critics.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Individual critique with MFA faculty, Jan Avgikos.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Individual critique with resident critic.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Visiting faculty, Luis Croquer, giving a critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Group critique with resident critics. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Group critiques with resident critics.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Addressing a painting\u2019s detail during a group critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Resident critic sharing a perspective during a group critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting into a conversation during a group critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Addressing works on paper during a group critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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MFA faculty, Oliver Wasow, doing an individual critique.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Group celebration for longtime MFA faculty, Laurel Sparks.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Group photo in June 2024 of our MFA community.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Detail of a 30ft scroll work by an MFA student.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
During each MFA residency, students develop a strong artistic community, while receiving between 10 to 20 critiques of their work from faculty, peers, guest critics, and visiting faculty. June residencies take place at Clark\u2019s Worcester campus, while January residencies take place at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA. \u201cWhat distinguishes our low-residency program is that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":708,"featured_media":3211,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"topic":[],"displayed_author":[],"media_contact":[],"media_type":[],"class_list":["post-3180","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"fimg_url":"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/schools\/professional-studies\/www-content\/uploads\/sites\/310\/2024\/07\/ClarkU_062924_31-1024x683.jpg","yoast_head":"\nMastering the art of community - School of Professional Studies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.clarku.edu\/schools\/professional-studies\/2024\/08\/02\/mastering-the-art-of-community\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mastering the art of community\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"During each MFA residency, students develop a strong artistic community, while receiving between 10 to 20 critiques of their work from faculty, peers, guest critics, and visiting faculty. 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