Faculty & Staff
Art Program Faculty & Staff
Faculty
MARIEL CAPANNA, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art
SONY DEVABHAKTUNI, Assistant Professor of Art
RANDALL EXON, Sarah Lawrence-Lightfoot Professor of Art
LOGAN GRIDER, Associate Professor of Art, Chair of Art
JODY JOYNER, Assistant Professor of Art3
EMMANUELA SORIA RUIZ, Visiting Assistant Professor-Part Time6
RON TARVER, Associate Professor of Art
WILLIAM UDELL, Visting Assistant Professor-Part Time6
3Absent on leave Fall 2024-Spring 2025
6Spring 2025
Staff
STACY BOMENTO, Visual Resources Curator
CAREN BRENMAN, Administrative Coordinator
DOUG HERREN, Technical Assistant
Academic Program
Art Academic Program
For more information about the Art program visit: https://www.swarthmore.edu/art
Requirement for Admission to the Art Major
- Completion of at least two courses in art at Swarthmore with grades of B or better.
Requirements for Completion of the Major
All Art majors are required to take 10 courses (nine credits of Art courses and one credit of Art History) to fulfill major requirements. Five art credits in a chosen medium will form an art concentration. Of these five courses, one will be the Senior Capstone. The areas of concentration are painting, photography, and sculpture. In addition, art majors will be required to take the two-credit course ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice Seminar. ARTT 101 will be offered each Fall and should be taken in the senior year as a precursor to Senior Capstone. Additionally, students must complete two elective studio courses outside their area of concentration. The one required Art History credit should relate to the chosen area of concentration in the art major. Students are encouraged to take more Art History courses in their time at Swarthmore. These courses would count outside the Art major.
Art Major Credits:
- Five courses in one art concentration (including the Senior Capstone)
- Two elective art courses
- One Art History course related to the area of concentration
- ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice (double-credit seminar, offered each Fall semester
Further Information:
Four credits in an art concentration must be completed before entry into a Senior Capstone.
● ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice must be completed before entry into a Senior Capstone.
● As part of ARTT 101, art majors will write a significant research paper on a topic related to their own interests and work.
● Up to two credits abroad can count toward the major.
● Art majors are required to mount a selection of their thesis work in a group exhibition in the List Gallery. The exhibitions will be curated in collaboration with art faculty and the List Gallery
director. The exhibitions are scheduled during the end of spring semester each year.
● Honors art majors are required to mount a solo exhibition in the List Gallery, and in addition to giving an artist’s talk, all honors art majors must complete a 3,750- to 5,000-word artist essay,
framing their work, influence, and process for readers.
● The senior exhibition is a comprehensive exam and is a pass/fail.
● There is no course minor in art, only an honors minor.
● CR/NC designations cannot be accepted for courses inside the major
Concentrations and the Architecture Special Major in Art
When a student majors in art, they will choose a concentration to help focus their creative process and to deeply hone specific skills. Majors will select from concentrations in painting, sculpture, photography, or an architectural studies special major in art. Selection of a concentration will take place during the sophomore year. Regardless of concentration, each art major will be given their own studio space housed in Whittier Hall. At the culmination of their four years at Swarthmore, the majors exhibit their senior work in the List Gallery.
Further Information:
- Four credits in an art concentration must be completed before entry into the Senior Capstone.
- ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice must be completed before entry into the Senior Capstone.
- As part of ARTT 101, art majors will write a significant research paper on a topic related to their own interests and work.
- Up to two credits abroad can count toward the major.
- Art majors are required to mount a selection of their thesis work in a group exhibition in the List Gallery. The exhibitions will be curated in collaboration with art faculty and the List Gallery director. The exhibitions are scheduled during the end of spring semester each year.
- Honors art majors are required to mount a solo exhibition in the List Gallery, and in addition to giving an artist’s talk, all Honors art majors must complete a 3,750- to 5,000-word artist essay, framing their work, influence, and process for readers.
- There is no course minor in art, only an Honors minor.
- CR/NC designations cannot be accepted for courses inside the major.
Art Majors and the 20-Course Rule
It is a College requirement that 20 of the 32 credits required for graduation must be outside the major. This means that students can take no more than 12 courses in the major unless they graduate with more than 32 credits, in which case the surplus can also be in the major. For art majors, the required one credit in art history counts within the major, but additional credits in art history count outside the major.
Off-Campus Study
The Art Program strongly encourages those with an interest in art and its history to consider incorporating study abroad - either during a summer or a regular academic term - into their Swarthmore program. Important examples of art and architecture are scattered throughout the world, and the encounter with works still embedded in their original context is vital to an understanding of their historical and contemporary significance. Students who are interested in bettering their chances of gaining a full Swarthmore credit for a course taken in a foreign program are advised to meet with their advisor and the chair of the Art Department before leaving the campus. Up to two credits abroad can count toward the major.
Academic Program Requirements for the Honors Art Major and Minor
Requirements for admission to honors do not differ from those for admission to the course major. Students will be expected to maintain an average of B or better in all courses in art. The course and honors art majors are 10-credit majors. To fulfill the Honors requirements, Art Honors majors must also complete an artist essay paper, solo exhibition, and Honors examination. Five art credits in a chosen medium will form an art concentration. Of these five courses, one will be the Senior Capstone. The areas of concentration are painting, photography, and sculpture. In addition, all art majors will be required to take the two-credit course ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice Seminar. ARTT 101 will be offered each Fall and should be taken in the senior year as a precursor to Senior Capstone. Additionally, students must complete two elective studio courses outside their area of concentration. ALL PREPARATIONS FOR HONORS MUST BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
Honors Major
- An honors major in art will present three preparations in art.
- Each of the three art preparations will consist of two paired art courses. The examiner of each preparation will receive the syllabus for each examined course and the images representing the body of work produced in them, and will examine the student in an individual oral of 30 minutes.
- Each pair of art courses can consist of an intermediate and an advanced course in a specific medium, OR two courses with a different approach to the same medium, OR two related courses.
- Art courses taken at an institution outside Swarthmore cannot count toward an honors studio preparation.
- Only courses taught by regularly teaching faculty in art can be applied toward a preparation. Courses taught by regularly returning adjuncts might be applied pending department approval.
- Honors preparations approved in the sophomore year must be adhered to. Any later changes to your program must be approved by the department.
- Honors candidates in art must fulfill the course major requirements.
- Honors study in art consists of a culminating solo exhibition of the student’s studio work in the List Gallery, with an accompanying artist essay of 3,750 to 5,000 words. Some of this work may figure in the selections of work presented for one or both of the course pairs described above, but the rationale for inclusion in the exhibition will differ. The artist essay will be sent to all examiners of art preparations.
- In addition to the honors requirements, the Art major’s senior exhibition is a comprehensive exam and is pass/fail.
Honors Minor
- An honors minor in art will present to the honors examiners one art preparation, which must be a combination of the Senior Capstone and another related course.
- An honors minor in art must fulfill the requirements for the course major in art.
- During the spring semester of senior year, an honors minor in art will write a 2,500-word artist essay to be sent to the examiner, along with the relevant syllabi and images for the two-credit preparation.
Architectural Studies Major-Art
Academic Program
Major, Honors, and Honors Major in Architectural Studies (Art Program)
Beginning with Sophomore Planning in January 2025, Swarthmore students may elect Architectural Studies as a major, choosing either a design-focused track within the Art Program, or an architectural history-focused track within Art History. Students considering the Architectural Studies Art Program track should contact Sony Devabhaktuni.
The Art Program’s Architectural Studies track focuses on the development of architectural skills and methods including observation, drawing, model-making, mapping and photographic documentation.
Semester long studios vary in scale, methods and thematic focus, but share a conception of architecture that aligns making, craft and materials with analytical thinking, humanistic inquiry and social urgency. The major prepares students for professional degrees or graduate study in a broad range of design disciplines including architecture, landscape, urban planning, historic preservation and industrial design. The major also serves as a meaningful introduction to methods of spatial analysis for students interested more broadly in the role of the built environment in human experience.
A required, three-credit, year-long Senior capstone offers majors a chance to develop an architectural design that demonstrates the knowledge, skills and methods acquired during their time in the program. Students in the Art Program’s Architectural Studies track rigorously document their work in design portfolios that become an
important part of their record for graduate school applications and off- campus opportunities.
Requirement for Admission to the Architectural Studies Major
Completion of at least 2 courses in Architectural Studies from either the “Studio” or “History” track at Swarthmore with grades of B or better.
- Students interested in the major must take at least one ARTT course from the list below.
- Courses in the “History” track (ARTH) are also listed.
Distribution Requirements for Completion of the Architectural Studies Major (Art Program)
The Architectural Studies (ART) major comprises 12 credits.
Six Pool A credits from Art and Art History; these six credits are inclusive of the 2 credits taken for admission to the major.
In total, students in the studio-based concentration must complete at least 4 pool A credits focused in studio-based courses and 2 pool A credits focused in history and theory.
Three Pool B credits from throughout the college that allow students to develop an interdisciplinary expertise that relates to their study of the built environment.
A three credit full-year Senior Capstone; the senior capstone is an independent thesis that synthesizes a student’s education at Swarthmore in a design project. Architectural Studies majors are granted individual studios in Whittier Hall, alongside other art majors, to complete their capstone.
Pool A Credits
Pool A credits comprise design, art and architectural history courses that introduce majors to the methods, skills, concepts and issues that are central to architectural design and practice. All architectural design classes are “vertical studios” in which students who have never taken a design class work besides more experienced students. Peer-learning and collaborative work become an important part of the design studio. Design courses in Pool A cover a wide diversity of subjects and methods; students should make their selection in consultation with Art Program staff and based on their own interest and curiosity.
Students should take pool A courses with at least three different faculty, two of whom must be from studio-based courses.
Pool B Credits
3 credits from pool B.
Pool B courses come from outside the Art Program and reflect the broad range of knowledge and methods that designers may be called on to synthesize in practice and research. Students are encouraged to choose Pool B credits to develop an expertise (for example, on questions of the city, on biological and material processes, or on the mechanics of movement) that can be further explored in their Senior Capstone.
NOTE: Courses listed in Pool B will vary based on course offerings. This list is not exclusive; students are encouraged to speak with their advisor to identify courses that reflect their own interdisciplinary interest.
Senior Capstone
The 3-credit Senior Capstone comprises 2 credits in the fall (ARTT 101: Contemporary Art Practice) and 1 in the spring (ARTT 102: Senior Capstone) of the senior year. The Senior Capstone is required for all Architectural Studies Majors and cannot be fulfilled through exchange or study abroad program.
Architectural Studies Majors and the 20-Course Rule
It is a college requirement that 20 of the 32 credits required for graduation must be outside the major. This means that students can take no more than 12 courses in the major unless they graduate with more than 32 credits, in which case the surplus can also be in the major. For Architectural Studies majors, the required one credit in art history counts within the major, but additional credits in art history count outside the major.
Off-Campus Study
The Art Program strongly encourages those with an interest in art and its history to consider incorporating study abroad - either during a summer or a regular academic term - into their Swarthmore program. Important examples of art and architecture are scattered throughout the world, and the encounter with works still embedded in their original context is vital to an understanding of their historical and contemporary significance. Students who are interested in bettering their chances of gaining a full Swarthmore credit for a course taken in a foreign program are advised to meet with Sony Devabhaktuni and the chair of the Art Program before leaving the campus. Up to two credits abroad can count toward the major.
Academic Program Requirements for the Honors Architectural Studies Major
Students may also elect to combine the Senior Capstone with other courses for evaluation in the college Honors program. Students graduating as an Honors major are granted a solo show in one of the List Gallery’s two rooms. Please reference Honors Major and Minor admission and completion requirements in the Honors Art section above. For further detail, please contact Sony Devabhaktuni, Assistant Professor.
ALL PREPARATIONS FOR HONORS MUST BE APPROVED IN ADVANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT.
Architectural Studies Major-Art: Courses
Pool A and Pool B Course List
Architectural Studies Major-Art: Pool A and B Courses
Pool A Courses
ARTT006E. ARCH 2D: EXPERIMENTS IN DRAWING
ARTT006H. ARCH 2D: MAPPING AND GIS
ARTT 006E. ARCH 3D: THE ANALYTICAL MODEL
ARTT060B. ARCH 3D: FULL SCALE FABRICATION
ARTT006F. ARCH DESIGN: DWELLING AND INHABITATION
ARTT006G. ARCH DESIGN: COLLECTIVE LIVING
ARTT006I. ARCH DESIGN: CIVIC REALM/PUBLIC HOME
ARTT 006D. ARCH DESIGN: CITIES, TERRITORIES, INFRASTRUCTURE
ARTT 006A. STUDIO ARCHITECTURE I: TURNING CORNERS; DRAWING ARCH AND 3-D DESIGN
ARTT 054C. SCULPTURE AND THE ENVIRONMENT
ARTT 006A. STUDIO ARCH. I: TURNING CORNERS
ARTT 005A. SCULPTURE I: FORM, MATERIAL, PROCESS
ARTT 054D. SCULPTURE II: INSTALLATION
ARTT 054E.SCULPTURE II: METAL
ARTT 054F: SCULPTURE II: CASTING
ARTT059B. SCULPTURE III: ADVANCED SCULPTURE
ARTT 003. PAINTING I: DRAWING INTO PAINTING
ARTT 033. PAINTING II: COLOR AND STRUCTURE
ARTH 001D. FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR: ARCHITECTURE OF PHILADELPHIA
ARTH 003. ASIAN ART: PAST AND PRESENT
ARTH 028. REPLICATION IN CHINESE ART
ARTH 040: MICHELANGELO TO MUSSOLINI
ARTH 046: SOCIALLY ENGAGED ART IN THE AMERICAS
ARTH 060. BUILDING NEW WORLDS: THE ARTS AND ARCH. OF LIBERATION
ARTH 061. ART AND CULTURE OF INDIGENOUS PHILADELPHIA: FROM SHACKAMAXON TO THE PRESENT
ARTH 062. LAND ART, PLACE, AND ENVIRONMENT
ARTH 066. RACE, SPACE, AND ARCHITECTURE
ARTH 067. BUILDING ARCHITECTURE FROM DIRT TO DUST
ARTH 072. GLOBAL HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE: PREHISTORY TO 1750 CE
ARTH 073. GLOBAL HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE: 1800-PRESENT
ARTH 076: ART MUSEUMS: HISTORY, THEORY, CONTROVERSY
ARTH 098: INTERPRETING THE CLASSICAL TRADITION: NEOCLASSICISM & ROMANTICISM
ARTH 152: ARTS & CRAFTS AS AVANT-GARDE LABOR.
ARTH 153. MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM: HONORS SEMINAR
Pool B Courses
ANTH 122. URBAN ETHNOGRAPHIES
ENGR 006. MECHANICS
ENGR 007. ART AND ENGINEERING OF STRUCTURES
ENGR 062. STRUCTURAL DESIGN
ENVS 001. INTRO TO ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
ENVS 013. OUR TRASH
ENVS 047. ENVRN., CULTURAL MEMORY, AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN JAPAN
GSST 035. CRITICAL DISABILITY THEORY
HIST 056. POLICE, PRISONS, & PROTESTS
HIST 114. CITIES AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
JPNS 036. ENVIRONMENT, CULTURAL MEMORY, AND SOCIAL CHANGE IN JAPAN
PHIL 011. MORAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 012. LOGIC
PHIL 021. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
PHIL 047. UTOPIAS
PHIL 117. ARISTOTLE: ETHICS AND POLITICS
POLS 047. ETHICS AND ECONOMICS
PSYC 001. INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 035. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
SOCI 007B. INTRODUCTION TO RACE AND ETHNICITY IN THE UNITED STATES
SOCI 058C. MANUFACTURING SCARCITY: THE HOUSING CRISIS IN AMERICAN CITIES
THEA 004. SET DESIGN
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