Mason's AVT Program Among The Best

By Broadside News Editor Asma Chaudhary

According to a Mason Gazette article, the department of art and visual technology has been recognized as one of the top 100 graduate programs in the country. The recent discovery was made when the program was listed in a U.S. News and World Report.

AVT department chair and professor Harold Linton discussed his satisfaction with the title as well as what it means to the university.

"I believe that the fine arts is just as much a profession as any other graduate program, and being in the top 100 of graduate art programs in the country is great footing on which we can build our future,” Linton said.

Criteria for the distinction includes the ability to make experimental and quality art. Due to information that was collected in 2007, the graduate program was awarded the ranking, which was finished in 2008.

According to the article, “Coordinator of the survey for U.S. News and World Report, Linton has been working on the survey methodology for the past eight years. He has helped to develop the survey criteria and expand survey categories from five to 12 and to include smaller fine arts programs such as glass, metals and jewelry.”

Currently, students in the graduate program of study have excelled in craft development and “interdisciplinary efforts” to expand ideas throughout various three-dimensional media like sculpture, painting and photography.

With construction already underway for a new three-level fine arts building, students will have the opportunity to expand their studio space as well as their individual artistic interests.

The AVT program features four different degree levels including the BA, BFA, MFA and the Master’s in art education. Concentrations are available in graphic design, sculpture, painting, printmaking, drawing, art education, photography, digital arts and interdisciplinary arts.

Not only does the AVT feature artwork in the classrooms and hallways, but there are also four separate gallery spaces on campus, which allow exhibitions to rotate among different artists from the area, as well as international artists. The AVT department has also brought different artists to campus and held numerous lectures with artists as part of their “Visual Voices” lecture series. In addition, there are three Arts Bus trips each semester to New York City for students to view galleries and museums.

For more information about the program, students may e-mail Linton at hlinton@gmu.edu.