Skip to main content

Here, we blend the bold and the in-between — milestones, insights, and sparks of what’s next. It’s the creative space where ideas unfold in real-time.

  • Biennial Symposium

    Biennial Symposium

    Department of Art and Design Faculty #MTSUart @MTSUart Wednesday, February 5 – As a concluding event to the department’s Biennial 2024, faculty from the various areas of Art and Design reflected on their work from the exhibition and, more broadly, on their artistic motivations and philosophy with a strong component of Q&A for an invigorating…

    Read More →

  • BIENNIAL 2024: A Department of Art and Design Faculty Exhibition

    BIENNIAL 2024: A Department of Art and Design Faculty Exhibition

    #MTSUart @MTSUart Biennial 2024 Poster, Images, top to bottom, left to right: Ambrose Prince, The Sheep Man; Joshua Lynn, Bubble; Nick Satinover, Time is a Distance 8; Sisavanh Phouthavong-Houghton, Fields of Red Anemone Blooming; Kim Dummons, A Conversation Across Time, Posthumous Collaboration with John T. Scott; Kathleen O’Connell, Character Flaw: Denial, Blissful Ignorance, Worrier; Kelsey…

    Read More →

  • Biennial 2024

    MTSU Art and Design proudly presents Biennial 2024: An MTSU Art and Design Faculty Exhibition. This showcase resides in the Todd Art Gallery in Todd Hall, room 224A, and is open until December 14, 2024.

    Read More →

  • John English

    Join Assistant Professor Tony Rodriguez and Illustration legend, John English for 2 hours of conversation over Zoom. John English is an illustrator and the founder of Visual Arts Passage and the director of the ever-prestigious Illustration Academy, the birthplace of many of today’s modern day illustration masters. In this Zoom session, John will walk…

    Read More →

  • Justin Benford

    Justin Benford

    Join Assistant Prof. Tony Rodriguez and Justin Benford for a character design talk and LIVE digital painting demonstration over Zoom (or attend in-person in room 337) When? Monday October 7, 11:30amWhere? Todd, room 337 Email Tony.Rodriguez@mtsu.edu for Zoom Link Benford’s credentials:– Character designer and illustrator at Ripple Effects– Art director and artist on…

    Read More →

  • MTSU Department of Art and Design Senior Symposium

    MTSU Department of Art and Design Senior Symposium

    Please join us this Monday – Wednesday, April 8 – 10, 15, 2024, Todd Hall, Room 204. Complete schedule and times available at MTSU Senior Symposium – Schedule (google.com) The MTSU Department of Art and Design’s Research Practicum and Symposium are essential components of the academic evaluation process for Art & Design majors studying…

    Read More →

  • Saturdays At Todd: Gale Stoner | Photography

    Saturdays At Todd: Gale Stoner | Photography

    Introduction to Composition This course is designed for beginning and intermediate-level photographers; even the experienced photographer may learn a tip or two. We will look at the fundamentals of the creative elements of photography. You will be introduced to principles and techniques that will create visual interest. The discussion of composition will include the…

    Read More →

  • Rachel Mindrup | Portrait Painter

    Rachel Mindrup | Portrait Painter

    Rachel Mindrup | Portrait Painter Noon – Friday, April 12, 2024 Via Zoom Rachel Mindrup is an Associate Professor of Drawing and Painting at Creighton University where she is also the Richard L. Deming, MD Endowed Chair in Medical Humanities. Hosted By Alaina Miller & Sheri Selph Email sheri.selph@mtsu.edu by April…

    Read More →

  • 2024 Award of Excellence Recipient

    2024 Award of Excellence Recipient

    During the Tuesday, March 19, Awards Dinner of the Tennessee Association of Museums, the MTSU Department of Art and Design’s Todd Art Gallery was awarded a 2024 Award of Excellence for the collaborative effort involving the traveling exhibition, Crafting Blackness: Black Bodies Making Form. As a collaborative, East Tennessee State University’s Curators Karlota Contreas-Koterbay, Karen…

    Read More →

  • Stained Glass Mosaics with Dr. Paige Medlock

    Stained Glass Mosaics with Dr. Paige Medlock

    November 4, 2023,  10 a.m.–1 p.m. Todd 205 Ages 10+ (students under 18, please register with an adult) Max 12 participants GLASS MOSAICS with Dr. Paige Medlock Images: Left, a young student working in Glass Mosaics; Center, left, Dr. Paige Medlock; Center, right, Art Educators showing off their skills; Right, Glass Mosaics…

    Read More →

Communicated Commemorabilia: A Creative Project Exploring Christian Recovery

Eli Ward

October 28 – November 8, 2023
Closing Reception: November 7, 4:30-6:00 pm
Todd Art Building, 210 Student Gallery

This immersive exhibit reflects on the experiences of individuals in Christian recovery groups. As they heal, they tell stories of radical new identities,
intimate community, gradual change, empowering
practices, and novel perceptions of God. Communicated Commemorabilia depicts the
sacred symbols in these stories of healing.

———————————————
Eli Ward is a Religious Studies and Nursing student who loves art. He studies the intersections of health and religion and plans to pursue medical mission work. His art has been published and received local and national awards.

 

Celebrating Art Educators and Art Education Alumni

5 p.m., Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Todd Art Gallery, Todd Hall, Room 224A. 

Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts and the MTSU Department of Art and Design cordially invite you to Celebrate Art Educators and MTSU Art Education Alumni for their invaluable contributions to students. Also available on exhibition will be Job Skills of Tomorrow, a collaboration of king-size puzzle pieces from Middle Tennessee State University, its Colleges of Liberal Arts and Basic and Applied Sciences, and the Art Education program of the MTSU Department of Art and Design

Entitled Job Skills for Tomorrow, it includes the artistry of many hands from across campus and the broader community while showcasing essential skills through accompanying text that speaks to the gain students receive by studying the arts, humanities, and sciences. The text is from a list constructed from the World Economic Forum’s identification of the Top Ten Job Skills for 2020 in its Future of Jobs Report, with four additional pieces added from the 2025 list.

Enjoy the contributions made by local art educators with their exhibition of Job Skills of Tomorrow and MTSU Art Educator Debrah Sickler-Voigt’s new book STEAM: Teaching and Learning through the Arts and Design.

Fall Picnic

Fall Picnic

All students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the MTSU Department of Art and Design are welcome and invited to join us 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturday, November 11, 2023, on the Todd Hall patio adjacent to Peck Hall.

Free Food 

BYOB (Beverage)

Please RSVP to Noel.Lorson@mtsu.edu to confirm your participation.

Image: Noel Lorson

Chat with Kate Moore

KATE MOORE

ART PRODUCER ILLUSTRATION AGENT

http://www.k-moore.com/about

Join Professor Rodriguez to chat with art producer and illustration agent Kate Moore. Kate will educate us on her experiences as an agent and art producer in the advertising, editorial, and book illustration realms. Kate will also provide helpful information on how aspiring illustrators can procure illustration agents.

Notable Clientele:

As an art producer, Kate has worked with clients like Hasbro, Crown Royal, Royal Caribbean, Wright Watchers, Smartwater, Panera, Budweiser, the History Channel, HBO, Apple, and more!

When? October 31, 3 p.m. CDT

Where? Todd Hall, 3rd floor, Room 333

Hosted by Assistant Professor of Art and Design Tony Rodriguez

For Questions, contact Tony.Rodriguez@mtsu.edu 

MTSU FALL ART EXHIBIT

MTSU FALL ART EXHIBIT featuring Claudia V. Caldarola

7–9 p.m., Friday, October 27, 2023

Todd Hall, Room 210

Food and Refreshments

Guests who dress in costume (for Halloween) can participate in a raffle to win a canvas print of the artist’s work.

Everyone is invited to attend | Free parking after 4:30 p.m. in the Jones Hall parking lot

Art and Design Open Advising

Art Open Advising

Join faculty from the MTSU Department of Art and Design along with CLA Advising for this open scheduling two-day event.

Todd Hall, Room 354, Wednesday and Thursday, October 25 and 26, 2023

1–3 p.m. Wednesday and

11 a.m.–1 p.m. Thursday

No Appointment Needed

Avoid Priority Registration Rush

Sponsored by the MTSU Department of Art and Design with CLA Advising

Questions: Jennifer.Tweedie@mtsu.edu 

 

 

Common Ground Lecture Series with Elise Hathaway

Join Art and Design Assistant Professor of Illustration Tony Rodriguez as he guides Zoom attendees through the next Common Ground Artist Lecture Series with Illustrator and Visual Development Artist Elise Hatheway.

With over a decade of experience in the animation industry, Hatheway currently resides in Dallas, TX, and recently concluded movie work with Netflix on “Thelma the Unicorn.” Her other film credits include “Maya and the Three,” “Lego Movie 2”, “Book of Life,” “Free Birds,” and “Rock Dog.” Additionally, she has worked with several award-winning studios, including Disney, Warner Bros, Animal Logic, Reel FX, Gaumont Animation, and Tangent Studios. Currently, you can find her working at Paramount Animation on Spongebob Squarepants.

If you’d like to participate in this call with Elise, contact tony.rodriguez@mtsu.edu by Thursday, April 13, 2023, for meeting links.

Common Ground is an ongoing series that highlights exciting and inspiring success stories from artists with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences.

Elise-Hathaway-ArtImage.jpg

Still from Netflix’s Maya and the Three by Elise Hathaway

UCDA Design Award Student Winners!

Congratulations to our UCDA Design Award student Silver and Excellence winners!

From the University & College Designers Association (UCDA): A wide range of talent was represented among the entries, and the judges evaluated 775 print and digital entries, awarding 151 awards—13 Gold Awards, 27 Silver Awards, and 111 Awards of ExcellenceThese annual awards honor the best work in educational design—in print, digital, illustration, photography, and student competitions. These coveted awards are judged by a hand-picked panel of peer jurors composed of designersdesign educators, photographers, and illustrators working in or doing a significant portion of their work for educational institutions—they understand the environments you create. https://www.ucda.com/awards/

Award: Silver

Ben Moss
Vital Frontline

Award: Excellence

Ellen Everett

Poetry People Campaign

(Senior Capstone Project)

Award: Excellence

Maggie Strahle
Facing Home – Book Design and Book Promo

Award: Excellence

Cassidy Bidwell

The Hallow Social Exhibit

The judges also selected additional pieces to receive an Honorable Mention. Congratulations to these students as well!

Although not part of the UCDA Design Awards Show, the judges felt several of our entries should receive recognition:

Award: Honorable Mention

Cassidy Bidwell
ARTEMISIA / french cuisine + absinthe lounge

Award: Honorable Mention

Jania Boddie
DEFIANT: How the Black Skateboarding Community
has Influenced Fashion and Culture

Award: Honorable Mention
Evangelina Stephens
Better Bean: Cocoa for Change

Award: Honorable Mention
Evangelina Stephens
Into the Wilderverse – Campaign to bring new visitors to the National Parks

Winners will have their work displayed and recognized at the UCDA’s conference in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico, in October and receive a certificate after the conference. If you see these students around, please congratulate them. And thank you for all you have done to contribute to their successes.