The Visual Arts Complex as it will appear when completed. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Art and Art History)

The Art and Art History Department may be in between buildings while a new Visual Arts Complex is constructed but that hasn’t stopped the department from being one of the top rated programs in the country or from offering students first rate opportunities in summer art classes and study abroad programs.

In 2008 CU-Boulder’s graduate art school was ranked 58th in the country out of roughly 160 institutions by U.S. News & World Report. “It is impressive considering that we are between buildings,” said Garrison Roots, chair of the department. “In addition, in 2003 our ceramics department was ranked ninth in the country.”

To complement the nationally recognized program, the state-of-the art Visual Arts Complex will be finished in 2009 and will enhance the already nationally recognized program by providing more space and more resources for students. “We are very excited," said Roots. "When it's finished it will be one of the largest art schools in the country, with 170,000 gross square feet of space.” This summer construction is moving full steam ahead and Roots is excited to show off the progress. “I invite everyone who wants to know more to contact us. We are always looking for support,” he said.

While construction is underway, the department is offering its normal array of art summer classes designed for the beginning art student, the hobbyist and the experienced student. “There are many people around this summer and the campus is very active,” Roots said. The classes are the perfect way to fill the summer and improve or learn a new art technique.

The department offers classes for non-majors during three different summer sessions and for art majors, who can use the summer to advance in the program or concentrate on an area of interest. In addition to the diverse summer classes, adventurous students can study art abroad in Mongolia, Paris or Rome. Next year the department plans to add a new study abroad program in Mexico, said Roots.

The Mongolia digital photography study abroad program began as an idea in 1992 when Associate Professor Ken Iwamasa visited the country. “I was so impressed with what I saw and thought it was important for CU students and American students to see what was going on socially, politically and environmentally,” he said. Students travel the country snapping 30 photographs a day, editing them on the road and working on a theme project of their choosing for three weeks.

Whether it's traveling in Mongolia or painting in a campus studio, students have countless opportunities to enrich their educational experience.