2006 MFA Exhibiton & Graduate Program

FROM THE DIRECTOR

There is something special about an MFA program in an Art and Design School in a Big Ten Research One University. It’s the combination of a 600 student specialist environment for art and design practice with the intellectual, physical and human resources of a 40,000 student campus. When the University has been there for 139 years and the Art School for 129, that’s a long and honorable tradition with alumni like William Wegman, Bill Stumpf and thousands of others. When that Art and Design School includes all areas of art and design practice but also art history and art education, it’s a very special situation.

Out of that situation emerges the work of the graduating MFA class of 2006. Edgy, challenging, thought- provoking and considered. These are students who’ve been with us for three years, working alongside faculty as teaching assistants, aiding and inspiring our undergraduate students, whilst continuing to produce their own work, culminating in this exhibition. Speaking for the faculty and staff, we’ve enjoyed working with them. I hope you enjoy their work in this catalogue and that it will inspire future cohorts of MFA students to join us here and continue the tradition.

— David Weightman