job posting: Assistant Professor in Craft and Material Studies – Ceramics
Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts
Position 29020
Full time Tenure Track Position beginning August 16, 2014
Application Deadline: January 15, 2014, or until filled
Department and University:
The
Department of Craft/Material Studies is one of 15 departments, within
the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University. The
department specializes in five media areas: Clay, Metal, Wood, Glass
and Fiber. We offer both breadth and depth across the media areas and
have one of the few departments in the nation to offer all five craft
disciplines at the BFA and MFA levels. U.S News & World Report
currently ranks our MFA programs in Fiber #4, Glass #5, Ceramics #9, and
Metals #10.
The School of the Arts is comprised of over 3000
students at the undergraduate and graduate levels and 15 nationally
recognized programs in design, visual and performing arts. U.S. News
& World Report ranks the School of the Arts as the top public
university art school in the nation. Virginia Commonwealth University is
an urban university with over 27,000 students located in Richmond,
Virginia. Richmond is two hours south of Washington, D.C. and is
situated between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Virginia/North
Carolina coast. Richmond is the state capital and home to numerous
historic sites; it functions as a visual arts, design and performing
arts center regionally and nationally.
Description:
We are
seeking a dynamic teacher, creative colleague, broad thinker, and
technically skilled artist who is dedicated to the innovation and
investigation of Ceramics in a contemporary art context with teaching
specialties ranging from vessels to designed objects and installations.
The successful candidate will be an accomplished, versatile artist with
expertise in contemporary approaches, concepts, techniques, and
critical issues as they pertain to ceramics and art in general. Areas of
expertise might include: sculpture, utility and function, craft and
objects, vessel making, 3D digital fabrication/rapid prototyping,
traditional processes and/or emerging material processes with an
interest in digital technology. The successful candidate will be able to
engage in future curricular and facilities planning as an aspect of the
ongoing conversation about the evolution and future of the discipline.
The successful candidate will teach 5-6 courses per year including
instruction of graduate students across all five disciplines; serve on
Department, School, and /or University committees; advise students;
maintain and build an active exhibition record; manage and facilitate
the ordering of supplies for the Ceramic studios, and work
collaboratively with members of the department and School of Arts to
foster a progressive atmosphere for exploring the arts. The ability to
communicate with students on multiple levels, and from multiple media
areas, and eagerness to teach and develop both graduate and
undergraduate programs is essential. The faculty member will be required
to have an established research agenda and a clear potential for
external funding, as appropriate, and potential for scholarship or
creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the
department. The faculty member must have demonstrated experience working
in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or
commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. This is a full-time
9-month position.
Requirements:
• M. F. A. or equivalent in Ceramics or related area.
• Successful college level teaching preferred.
• Familiarity with contemporary art history and art/craft theory.
• Ability to teach beginning and advanced students in contemporary art practices in Ceramics.
• Proficiency in teaching a wide range of aesthetic, conceptual, and technical aspects within Ceramics.
• Evidence of national/international career profile and active exhibition record.
• The
faculty member must have demonstrated experience working in and
fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or
commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
Application: Deadline January 15, 2014 for full consideration or until filled
• Letter of Application (PDF) – with file Titled “your last name_first name–ApplicationLetter”
• Curriculum
Vitae (PDF) – with file Titled “your last name_first name–CV” Include
address, phone, e-mail and website link if available
• Artist Statement (PDF) – with file Titled “your last name_first name–ArtistStatement”
• Teaching Philosophy (PDF) – with file Titled “your last name_first name–Teaching_Philosophy”
• Portfolio
– 20 images of student work with description of assignment (all within a
single PDF file no larger than 1MB) with file Titled “your last
name_first name–StudentWORK”
• Portfolio – 20 images of personal
work with images list (all within a single PDF file no larger than 1MB)
with file Titled “your last name_first name–Portfolio”
• Contact
information for three references (PDF) – with file Titled “your last
name_first name–References” Including name, title, email, and phone
numbers
• Only electronic applications will be accepted.
Email to [email protected]: ATTN: Andrèa Keys Connell, Search Committee Chair
Virginia
Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
university providing access to education and employment without regard
to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual
orientation, veteran’s status, political affiliation or disability. For
more information about VCU School of the Arts and this position please
visit http://arts/vcu.edu
Department website: http://arts.vcu.edu/craft/areas/clay/
