The Springfield Renaissance: Art and the City

The class examines the practical applications of art in relation to history, society, museum and gallery studies, culture and personal expression. Through field trips, guest speakers, written assignments, guided art-making activities, and a final art exhibition, students will gain an overview of the development of Springfield's identity through art. By a guided analysis of the artists' ability to change the quality of life in the urban environment, students will develop their own understandings of what art means to them and how they think it contributes to society.