Jerry ZurekMany students may pass through the second floor of the Widener Center headed for the lecture hall or the Student Life Office, but many may not take the time to glance up at the glass cases lining the walls there. Within these cases is evidence of a fruitful fine arts program here at Cabrini. Student artwork fills the walls and is displayed for everyone to see. However, many students may be unfamiliar with the world of the fine arts department and fine arts majors.
Students in other disciplines may have visions of drafty loft apartments in New York and endlessly trying to sell artwork to tiny art galleries. However there is far more to the art world than just these inaccurate visions. There are a number of promising careers that involve art and are viable options for fine art majors. The advertising and communications worlds are full of opportunities for original artists to create logos and design marketing presentations using their own drawings and creations. Opportunities can also be found in the more pure art world as a museum curator, in art restoration or as a gallery manager. Graphic design and other design fields are also quickly becoming commonplace careers for those with an interest in art. Art education is also another imperative field for those with an interest in art to consider, as the continued education of younger generations in this amazing field is vital.
However, a fine art major is not for the faint of heart. Those who feel they will slide easily through the fine arts curriculum and quickly into a job are sorely mistaken. Hard work and dedication are as much a part of the art world as they are to any other major, if not more so. However, the benefits of experiencing art far outweigh the necessary dedication. Art give students the chance to be creative and opens up many mediums through which they can express themselves. This creative outlet fosters critical thinking and other key skills that are the base of a liberal arts education. Art also spills over into many other majors and subjects.
Locally Philadelphia also offers many schools where those with an interest can continue their art education. The Art Institute of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia College of Art and Design, The Drexel University College of Media Arts and Design and The University of the Arts in Philadelphia are just a few of the schools locally where students could continue onto after their time here at Cabrini.
” If you are really committed the career will come,” Lisa Learner-Wagner, associate professor of art of the mentality of students who pursue a career in art, said. She went on to say, “Really dedicated artists are big thinkers and they see the big picture, which is more than a paycheck every two weeks.” And it is clear from the students who are fine art majors that they are passionate about pursuing art and this supercedes many of their other concerns about life after college. “I have always wanted to do art and I feel there is a lot you can do with it,” Victoria Griffin, a junior graphic design major, said.
“They have an inner passion that has to be satisfied through involvement with the arts,” Dr. Adeline Bethany, chair of the fine arts department, said of students pursuing a fine art major. Bethany went on to say that she is very happy with the fine art department here at Cabrini and that it is the best she has seen it in many years. The future looks bright for this ever evolving major and hopefully it will continue to expand.
” Every culture is remembered by their art,” Cassandre Maxwell, an adjunct in the fine art department, said.
So, if you have not already, the next time you stroll through the hallway on the second floor of the Widener Center admire the artwork displayed there and remember that it was created by some very innovative and hard working fellow students , and that these students are leaving a lasting mark on the world through their art.
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