At the Regional Sites

TTU at Fredericksburg Hosts Summer Art Program & Exhibition

by Kelly Podzemny

Texas Tech University Higher Education Teaching Site at Fredericksburg (TTU at Fredericksburg) hosted TTU School of Art's Inaugural Fredericksburg Summer Art Program Student Exhibition on the evening of Thursday, July 30. The show was the culmination of student work created in art courses offered at TTU at Fredericksburg during the second summer term.

Courses taught included graduate-level painting, photography, printmaking and documentary filmmaking. They've historically been offered at the TTU Center at Junctionbut were offered in Fredericksburg for the first time this summer. These courses are intended for students pursuing the Master of Art Education degree, but other art majors and visiting artists are welcome to take the classes as well.

"It's been a pleasure having the art students and faculty in the Hill Country University Center this summer," Director of TTU at Fredericksburg Dr. Kelly Fox said. "The building has been buzzing with creativity, excitement and learning."

Students, faculty and community members filled the halls of the Hill Country University Center on the night of the exhibition. Each student had a section of their work on display and was nearby to tell attendees about their process and inspiration. A television in the lounge area continuously played a loop of short films produced in the documentary filmmaking course.

"Being a part of the Junction-Fredericksburg MAE program has nurtured my love for art and teaching," Master of Art Education major Rebeca Regalado said. "I have met people from all over Texas who share the same passion. Every summer session has been a wonderful experience that I get to share with my students throughout the school year."

Earlier in the summer, the Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance donated $10,000 to the summer art program to be used for the courses. The organization, which promotes local art in Fredericksburg, promised an additional $50,000 donation if Texas Tech would permanently relocate the summer art program from Junction to Fredericksburg.

"The Fredericksburg community, and the PCAA specifically, have been very supportive of Texas Tech offering art classes at the HCUC," Vice Provost Dr. Melanie Hart said. "The donation provided by PCAA helped to offset the housing costs for students in the program this year. Before we add or move programs at any of our regional sites we need to address a number of regulatory and logistical issues, but the current plan is to move the MAE program permanently to Fredericksburg."

TTU at Fredericksburg adapted existing facilities for use by the School of Art this summer but has begun fundraising efforts to provide state-of-the-art studio facilities for the program.

"We transformed a classroom into a Mac lab for photography and documentary filmmaking and the H-E-B Community Events Center into a painting and printmaking studio," Fox said. "Students enjoyed both spaces. But we need a better studio for students and faculty."

ABOUT THE MASTER OF ART EDUCATION PROGRAM

Texas Tech University's Master of Art Education program supports practicing teachers with contemporary social theories and strategies that strengthen their classroom, studio practice, and research in relation to art and visual culture. Fall and spring coursework is completed online or on main campus in Lubbock. Face-to-face art courses each summer are held in the Hill Country area for a three-week period beginning in early June.