Faculty Position Announcement
Assistant Professor in Studio Art
Position: Full-time, nine month, tenure accruing faculty position
Date of Expected Hire: August 16, 2020
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
The University of Florida’s School of Art + Art History (SA+AH) invites applications for the position of full-time assistant professor in studio art with a strong background producing 3D art utilizing ceramics and sculpture with expertise in metals. We are looking for a colleague who identifies as a change-maker to join our imaginative and vigorous group of 3D studio faculty in the ceramics, sculpture and WARP programs within a newly revised, interdisciplinary curriculum.
Learn more about Studio Art at the University of Florida
We welcome a forward-looking artist/educator with strong intellectual, communication, organizational, leadership, and collaborative skills to contribute to, and advance, the studio program through teaching, research, and service. This faculty member will teach undergraduates and graduates in ceramics and sculpture and will team teach in our nationally recognized first year studio foundation course, W.A.R.P. (Workshop for Artistic Research and Practice). Working actively between ceramics, metals, and WARP in a fluid and collaborative manner, the ideal candidate will demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of contemporary art dialogues, methods, and technologies, while engaging in broader ideas related to culture, identity, and community.
The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. As artists and scholars, we embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower our students and faculty to shape that experience fearlessly through critical study, creative practice, and provocation. We seek a colleague who identifies as a change-maker. We seek a colleague who will prepare students to access and unsettle centers of power in a radically changing world. We seek a colleague who will position emerging artists and researchers as catalysts for equity on local and global levels.
The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty.
Responsibilities: Teach a 2/2-course load at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Actively engage in service to the Studio area, the School of Art + Art History, the college and the community. The ideal candidate will have a active practice engaged with contemporary ceramics and sculpture and conversant with contemporary art theory and practice. We seek an innovative artist/educator who can engage students at all levels of undergraduate and graduate studio education.
Minimum Requirements:
• Possess a terminal degree (ex: MFA, PhD) in studio art.
• Have minimum 3 year teaching or instructional experience beyond the graduate assistantship.
• Be conversant with contemporary art theory and practice, with demonstrated expertise in ceramics and sculpture.
• Evidence of success in promoting an environment that advances diversity, equity and inclusion including an ability to navigate the needs of students and colleagues from a variety of trainings and cultural backgrounds.
• Have experience, enthusiasm, and knowledge of team teaching methodology and/or collaborative projects utilizing strong communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Three years full-time college level teaching beyond the graduate assistantship.
• Strong evidence of success in teaching at the undergraduate level, including foundations teaching.
• Possess a broad understanding of ceramic materials and processes, including digital fabrication, with a focus on sculptural work with a strong conceptual approach.
• Demonstrable understanding of ceramic materials and processes, including emerging technologies, with a focus on Sculptural work with a strong conceptual approach. Expertise in both wheelthrowing and handbuilding techniques as well as experience with electric, gas and atmospheric firing. Ability to teach materials and glaze technology.
• Demonstrable understanding of sculptural materials and processes, especially demonstrating proficiency in MIG and TIG welding, oxy-acetylene welding, and plasma cutting as well as ceramic shell bronze and aluminum casting. Experience with both hot and cold metal forming techniques is desirable.
• Demonstrated success at creating professional experiences for students and mentoring graduate students.
• Comfortable taking on new interdisciplinary challenges in creative and pedagogical endeavors — able to think critically and transfer skills across media.
Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system at https://apply.interfolio.com/71008. Online applications must include the following in one pdf document: (1) a detailed letter of application that explains how you match the particular qualifications of this position and how your work and perspective will contribute to and enhance our transformative community; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) statement of teaching philosophy; (4) 20 student work samples—included or links to view online; (5) sample syllabus and assignments; (6) names and contact information of three professional references. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time.
Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an applicant pool is established. To ensure full consideration submit all application materials by 11:55pm on January 2, 2020. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority.
Inquiries may be sent to:
Anna Calluori Holcombe
Chair, Assistant Professor in Studio Art Search
Email: ach@ufl.edu
The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty and staff seeking faculty of all races, ethnicities, genders, backgrounds, experiences, perspectives and those who practice conduct of inclusion.
If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call +1 (352) 392- 4621 or the Florida Relay System at +1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD).
ABOUT THE CERAMICS STUDIO AREA:
The Ceramics area is designed to promote growth in aesthetics, technical knowledge, and conceptual approaches. The undergraduate program in ceramics is designed with the philosophy and intent of providing a broad, yet specific, base of knowledge as related to the ceramic arts. The graduate program offers a strong community of active students who are researching questions about individual issues in art-making and pursuing solutions to resolved, focused, personal work. Faculty in the area have an international reputation and bring a global viewpoint to the program. UF Ceramics is on the cutting edge of the use of technology in the classroom, with 3D clay printers and access to a Fabrication Lab and library 3D scanning and printing labs. Outside of the classroom, students participate in the student organization, H.O.T (Handbuilt Or Thrown) Clay. This energetic club sponsors visiting artist workshops, gallery exhibitions, ceramic art sales and annual travel to the conference sponsored by the National Council of Education in the Ceramic Arts. The Ceramics Area is distinguished by a flourishing alumni community that add a successful and supportive network of professionals in the field to our faculty and staff community. Ceramics is well equipped and maintained by a Teaching Lab Specialist. A list of equipment is found at https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/art-and-art-history/programs/ceramics/facilities/
ABOUT THE SCULPTURE STUDIO AREA:
The Sculpture area supports an experimental and transdisciplinary approach to studio art based on the conception of sculpture as a practice that has expanded its field of influence to incorporate the realms of installation, video, and performance art. The program promotes serious investigation into all facets of contemporary art including history, theory, sculptural processes, formal issues, experimental techniques, and conceptual strategies. The area is comprised of an internationally exhibiting faculty team that maintain close ties with international artists, residencies, art spaces, and educators. Our alumni build careers in the fields of art, teaching, curation, and other projects related to 3D design. Sculpture faculty and staff have led study abroad trips to France, Ireland, and the Bahamas. Students have taken opportunities to study with scientists, arts and medicine professionals, and engage with the collection and staff for art at the Florida Museum of Natural History (a world class natural history museum) and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art. Sculpture is well equipped and maintained by a Teaching Lab Specialist. Our blog follows the activities and careers of some of our alumni, visiting artists, and faculty.
https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/art-and-art-history/programs/studio-art/sculpture/overview/ and http://ufsculptureprogram.blogspot.com/
ABOUT WARP
Workshop for Artistic Research and Practice students develop an art vocabulary, learn problem-solving skills, work in diverse media, and begin to conceptualize and produce complex works of art. WARP teaches basic art and design skills and simultaneously (and more importantly in terms of this particular course) provides students with conceptual and critical thinking skills that will allow them to be ambitious, smart, and poetic in future artistic endeavors. The program encourages the development of students’ own interests and sensibilities, while challenging them to examine other perspectives and motivations for making art. The assignments are designed to help students experiment, to act and think more freely about art and design as a practice and livelihood. WARP is a nationally-recognized foundations program known for producing advanced student design and artwork while preparing students for the greater BFA/BA curriculum and participation in contemporary dialogues.
https://arts.ufl.edu/site/assets/files/38601/warpsyllabus_fall2014_6credit-1.pdf
SCHOOL OF ART + ART HISTORY:
Organized within the College of the Arts, the mission of the School of Art and Art History (SA+AH) is to nurture a culture of critical inquiry in scholarly and creative pursuits. The faculty within the SA+AH seeks to empower each individual student with knowledge, skills, and insight to thoughtfully respond to our changing world. The SA+AH is driven by the knowledge that visual and scholarly research is vital to the work of the larger university and that this research enhances the lives of its regional, national and international communities. Most of our programs have a focus on socially engaged, global research. Studio programs in art and design view production as an expanded practice – one that is interdisciplinary, inclusive, and often collaborative. School of Art + Art History Faculty publish, curate and exhibit widely and internationally. They bring their scholarship and production into their teaching, offering innovative, engaged learning experiences to their students. The school has 400 undergraduate students, and more than 120 graduate students. Degree programs include the B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A., and Ph.D. Areas of study include art history, art education, museum studies, graphic design, and studio art (art + technology, ceramics, creative photography, drawing, painting, printmaking, and sculpture). Also a part of the School of Art + Art History is the 4Most Gallery and the University Galleries—University Gallery, the Gary R. Libby Gallery, and Grinter Gallery — which provide exhibition space for professional and student artwork. The School sponsors a robust program of visiting artists and scholars, the VAS Lecture Series, and has hosted an esteemed roster of vistitors including: Janine Antoni, Felipe Baeza, Wafaa Bilal, Mark Dion, Tue Greenfort, Diana Al-Hadid, Fritz Haeg, Oliver Herring, Christine Hill, Saki Mafundikwa, Tea Makipaa, Ben Patterson, Michael Rakowitz, Judith Schwartz, Pepón Osorio, Fred Wilson, and many others. The University of Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. The art education program is accredited by NCATE. For more information, visit http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art.
Submitted by Anna Calluori Holcombe