Registration is now open to a new off-campus transdisciplinary arts course that will be offered in fall 2013 to undergraduate students; the class, beginning Oct. 22, will take place at the Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale (MoAFL), one night per week, and Shark Shuttle transportation will be available to and from NSU’s main campus.
David Spangler, director of the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education’s Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Arts program and director of education for MoAFL, believes that this course, titled “Transdisciplinary Arts: Demystifying the Creative Process”, will solidify the museum’s role as an academic center.
“This class is a really revolutionary idea, because it is transdisciplinary,” said Spangler. “The word ‘trans’ implies not only the interaction between subject matters, but also a transformation.”
Spangler was appointed to the directorial position by President George Hanbury in July 2012, and is responsible for developing, managing and directing joint programs between the museum and NSU.
The class will be team-taught by Spangler; Anthony Lauro, deputy director of MoAFL; and Tennille Shuster, associate professor in the Division of Performing and Visual Arts in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences.
The class, according to Lauro, will be a theoretical and practical study of different types of art. Artists will be studied in-depth in the classroom setting and then a hands-on application relating to each artist will follow.
“We might study Andy Warhol, for example, first discussing his life and his influences on 20th century art movements,” said Lauro. “And then we’ll have students roll their sleeves up and actually experience Warhol’s signature style of printmaking,”
In addition to the museum’s galleries and 250-seat Horvitz Auditorium, students will also utilize the Autonation Academy of Art and Design, which is located across the street from the museum. There, they will engage in various art projects, such as painting and ceramics, all facilitated by the three instructors.
At the Horvitz Auditorium, students will have the opportunity to experience contemporary dance, learning from professional choreographers on the stage.
“All of the experiences will be about focusing on the creative process and how to apply creativity to any chosen career path,” said Spangler.
If successful, the course will continue to be offered each semester.
Students interested in enrolling in the course should contact their academic advisors or David Spangler at davids@moafl.org for more information. To register for the course using Webstar, enter the CRN “22654” or the course name MUSE1000.
MoAFL is a division of NSU and offers free memberships and museum admission to all NSU students and faculty, with the presentation of a SharkCard.
