School of Fine Arts

KU design course explores objects made the “old fashioned” way



In a recent design studio course entitled “Furniture Built with Hand Tools,” industrial design students in KU’s School of Fine Arts learned how fine wood furnishings were created and built the “old fashioned” way.  The course not only covered the conceptual issues and thinking that are part of contemporary design dialogue, but also reinforced the importance of traditional tools and wood working techniques. 

By working with the tools of yesteryear, KU design students gained direct hands-on experience in this body of knowledge.  As designers, the students are no longer separated from realizing their ideas by a computer screen or other secondary technology. Read more.

KU Department of Art welcomes visual artist to campus

The KU Department of Art in the School of Fine Arts welcomes visual artist Chris Johanson to KU as part of the Department of Art Visiting Artist Series.  Johanson will give a public lecture on his work on Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in the Spencer Museum of Art Auditorium. 

Johanson is a street artist who has had no formal art training, but has honed his trade while doing everyday jobs, such as painting skateboards and houses.  He settled down in 1989 in a community of artists in San Francisco's Mission District.  The Mission School in this district is known for communicating themes on urban realism through graffiti art and social commentaries on found or recycled materials and has produced many distinguished artists, such as Barry McGee (aka Twist), Alicia McCarthy and the late Margaret Kilgallen.  Johanson is like many of the artists who came from the Mission School in that he creates works that are a direct response to his suburban upbringing.   Read more.

Visit the School of Fine Arts Web site for more information.