During the weekend and in the evenings you will have the opportunity to use your assigned studio space to pursue independent work and class projects. You will also participate in organized outings that complement the program's curriculum. Sample outings include First Fridays gallery openings, city tours of Boston, public art walking tours, open studios, performance events, film screenings, and some exciting day-long adventures. In addition to organized activities on weekends, you will also have free time. Click here to see a sample program schedule.

Art Jamming Sessions
2-D: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking
3-D: Sculpture and Installation
Digital Studio: Video, Digital Photography, and Sound Art
Artists in Action: Collaboration and Performance

Art Jamming Sessions:
We begin and end each week by bringing together the entire Summer Studio community: all students, faculty, teaching and resident assistants, graduate mentors and program staff.  These sessions include discussions, activities, and presentations that explore the interdisciplinary process, current art topics, and student influences. We will also use this time to do community-wide check-ins, and discuss any questions or concerns that arise. 

2-D: Painting, Drawing, and Printmaking:
The two-dimensional area will emphasize both traditional foundations and contemporary issues of drawing, painting, and printmaking. Experimentation with diverse materials, methods, and techniques will enable you to develop a fundamental understanding of each medium. Through structured investigations and challenging training, you will also develop a high level of technical proficiency in your work. As a group, we will explore problems and possibilities of the two-dimensional image through art history as well as contemporary art discussions. Individually, you will have the support and focus to create an independent body of work.

3-D: Sculpture and Installation
During Sculpture sessions, you will explore a variety of simple materials and techniques for realizing three-dimensional form while developing a vocabulary for understanding its relationship to meaning. In Installation you will incorporate various media to create an entire physical environment and learn how to engage with your audience using site-specific, public, and environmental art. Images and readings will serve as a jumping off point for discussions about critical issues in contemporary sculpture and installation. 

Digital Studio: Video, Digital Photography, and Sound Art
Digital Studio will provide you opportunities to explore digital art using video, digital photography, and sound art. We will examine how digital images and sound have become a dominant force in our society, and you will interact with and hear presentations by artists working in digital media. You will be taught how to use digital still cameras, mini-DV video camcorders, and sound recording instruments. You will also learn how images and sounds transform and morph using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, and Protools.

Artists in Action: Collaboration and Performance
This section will focus on the creation of a collaborative project—a chance to discover the classroom group as community. We will draw strategies from the work of contemporary artists working collaboratively in the public sphere, extending these into projects that grow out of your specific interests and those of your fellow students. Through experiential team-building activities and collaboration you will experience the roles and group dynamics that come with you will experience yourself in collaboration and the roles and group dynamics that come with teamwork.

Professional Practices
During the final week of the program, the SMFA's Admissions Office and Artist’s Resource Center will provide presentations, resources, and one-on-one guidance in regard to portfolio building, career paths in the arts, and the college application process. Throughout the program you will also have the opportunity to meet a range of visual arts professionals including curators and exhibitions specialists from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and local gallery directors.

Access to the Museum of Fine Arts
In addition to unlimited access to the MFA’s permanent collections, you will also enjoy presentations by Museum professionals working in conservation and exhibitions, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of special collections such as rare books and prints.