{"id":59323,"date":"2024-09-09T10:49:42","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T14:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/?page_id=59323"},"modified":"2026-04-20T08:55:51","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T12:55:51","slug":"60th-anniversary-of-the-department-of-art-art-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/60th-anniversary-of-the-department-of-art-art-history\/","title":{"rendered":"AAH 60"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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60th Anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Explore our “Generations” Exhibition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Generations: 60 Years – 21 Conversations<\/em> pairs emertius faculty, alumni, and current faculty members together to display their work, illustrating the generational influence of the department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This academic year, the Department of Art & Art History celebrates its 60th anniversary. In 1964, the acclaimed North Carolina painter Maud Gatewood was hired to create a new program, and over the next decade she developed courses and hired colleagues, spearheaded the design of an arts building and its facilities, and sustained dialogue with institutions such as the Mint Museum and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Both the department and the university have grown dramatically in the intervening years, as more than 3,000 alumni have graduated from the visionary program Gatewood founded.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Fine Arts Program (1964-1968)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originally named the “Fine Arts Program” before departments existed at UNC Charlotte, it began with one painter and later added musicians and theater faculty. By 1968, construction began on the Rowe building, setting the stage for an interdisciplinary program modeled after Black Mountain College’s curriculum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured: Alumna Ann Carter in the studio with Maud Gatewood (1982).<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Department of Creative Arts (1968-1985)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1968, the interdisciplinary degree became official, expanding studio, music, and theater courses. Dance was added in 1974, and architecture originated separately in 1972. The first BA was awarded in 1970, with a more ambitious Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA) two years later. In 1985, the program split into Performing and Visual Arts due to an administrative revision to bring more structure to the courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pictured: Former faculty Eric Anderson, Rod MacKillop, and Tom Mason<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Department of Visual Arts (1985-1993)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The department continued to offer interdisciplinary paths and brought faculty growth, helping overcome roadblocks and set the stage for degree reform and future expansion.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Department of Art (1993-2007)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A new name arrived with the new BFA, one meant to promote visibility and recruitment: \u201cVisual Arts\u201d appeared alphabetically in last place in the university\u2019s printed catalogues, whereas \u201cArt\u201d would feature near the beginning. Digital Media was introduced, while graphic design and art history were expanded, setting the stage for both of these disciplines to create degree programs of their own.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Department of Art & Art History (2007-Present)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first new degree program came in 2007, in art history, and prompted the most recent name change. The department then joined the College of Architecture along with the departments of Dance, Music, and Theatre in 2008 \u2013 creating the CoA+A. The department has since expanded, and its continued, dynamic growth positions it to operate at the university\u2019s new Research1 status level.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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the Projective Eye Gallery presents “Generations”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On view December 4, 2024-February 7, 2025
Closing reception: February 6 at 6 pm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Department of Art & Art History, the Projective Eye Gallery presents Generations<\/em>, an exhibition of exemplary work by departmental alumni and legacy faculty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1964, the acclaimed North Carolina painter Maud Gatewood was hired by Bonnie Cone to begin arts programming at the new Charlotte College campus. The following year, Charlotte College was added to the UNC System and became UNC Charlotte. Over the next decade, Gatewood developed courses and hired colleagues, spearheaded the design of an arts building and its facilities, and sustained dialogue with institutions such as the Mint Museum and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Both the department and the university have grown dramatically in the intervening years, as more than 3,000 alumni <\/a>have graduated from the visionary program Gatewood founded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the program\u2019s decades of accomplishments, Generations<\/em> features work by Eric Anderson, Susan Brenner,  Edwina Bringle, Keith Bryant, Sara Catapano, Ann Carter, Jen Clay, Lili Corbus, Alexandra Giannell, John Hairston, Ad\u00e9 Hogue, Heather Hoover, Eldred Hudson, Susan Jedzrejewski, Jason Losko, Nadia Meadows, Carmen Neely, Martha Strawn, and Winston Tite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Companion Exhibitions<\/h2>\n

We are thrilled our community has joined us in the 60th-anniversary celebrations! We hope you will check out one of the companion exhibitions happening locally.<\/p>\n

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60 Years<\/em> at The Mint Museum<\/h3>\n

On view now through winter 2025 on the 4th floor gallery<\/em><\/p>\n

The Mint’s permanent collection has extensive holdings of UNC Charlotte-connected artists, a selection of which is highlighted in this exhibition. The exhibition features artwork by TJ Reddy, Marianne Lieberman, Maud Gatewood, Rod McKillop, Richard Stenhouse, Edwina Bringle, Tom Mason, Roy Strassberg, David Brodeur, and Maja Godlewska. <\/p>\n

VISIT INFORMATION \u2192<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Hodges Taylor<\/h3>\n

On view from November 4 – December 16, 2024<\/em><\/p>\n

Hodges Taylor helps continue the celebration with an exhibition of alumni work on view from November 4 to December 16. There will be an opening reception<\/a> of the exhibition, “Generations: Artwork by UNC Charlotte Alumni” on November 8 from 6-8 PM. <\/p>\n

VISIT INFORMATION \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Journey through 60 years of history with our UNC Charlotte Department of Art & Art History timeline!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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explore the timeline<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Generations: 60 years – 21 conversations<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In October we celebrated the 60th<\/sup> anniversary with Generations: 60 Years \u2013 21 Conversations<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, an exhibition of 85 works by alumni and faculty that celebrated 60 years of accomplishment in the visual arts, marking the start of art-based research at UNC Charlotte and honoring the oldest of the programs in the College of Arts + Architecture. Curated by Professor of Art History Jim Frakes, Generations<\/em> drew works by alumni and current faculty of the Department of Art & Art History into a thematic and visual conversation with the contributions of 21 \u201clegacy\u201d faculty. This exhibit was made possible in part by the Roderick MacKillop Bi-Annual Alumni Art Exhibition Fund. See the artwork featured in the exhibition by clicking through Maud Gatewood\u2019s Drive-In<\/em> into the Flickr album!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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