Time-Based Art
Where forms of expression and aesthetic dialog are open and evolving, and divisions between art disciplines are fluid.
Produce your experience
Our programs for graduate and undergraduate students examine time-based artistic practice and encourage a multifaceted approach to art-making where the forms of expression and aesthetic dialog are open and evolving, and where divisions between art disciplines are fluid.
The faculty consists of internationally-recognized, award-winning artists and filmmakers, with affiliated faculty other departments such as Cinema Studies, German, and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.
Programs in Time-Based Art
MFA
The Time-Based Art program focuses on a contemporary arts studio practice and the development of creative strategies that utilize interdisciplinary approaches.
The three-year MFA encourages critical research and investigation into contemporary issues informing Time-Based Art and can include work that spans many areas including but not limited to animation, creative coding, film/cinema, performance, physical computing, sound, transmedia storytelling and/or video. Students will make lasting connections between traditional and emerging practices, collaborative modes of expression and alternative production methods. Our students are encouraged to engage with departments outside of the School of Art such as Music, Theater, Computer Science, English and others.
Applicants will be considered who possess a BFA or other undergraduate degree in time-based media or any related disciplines and are willing to commit to a program of integrated studies.
Email faculty advisors
Program Features
The first two years of study include coursework within Time-Based Art and electives in the School of Art and across the University. In the third year of study, students are responsible for developing, executing and defending a project of their own design. Along with other School of Art MFA candidates, these projects culminate in an exhibit and/or presentation at either the School of Art’s Ewing Gallery or UT Downtown Gallery.
The School of Art is a vibrant studio community offering a host of facilities for use by graduate students throughout the school. Students have access to individual studio space and opportunities to show their work at several local galleries including Gallery 1010, the student art gallery in downtown Knoxville.
Courses
- ART 503: Theory/Practice/Art Fundamentals — Required for all GTAs. Surveys art theory and practice as it relates to teaching art foundations. Practical instruction, professional development, and pedagogy will be introduced in the form of lectures, group discussions, readings, and project development.
- ART 504: First-Semester Graduate Seminar — Issues in art, design and art history presented by School of Art faculty.
- ART 507: Professional Practice: Teaching Internship — Individual study in development of skills and methodology in teaching studio courses.
- ART 551: Graduate Time-Based Art I
- ART 552: Graduate Time-Based Art II
- ART 595: Visiting Artist Seminar — Students are required to take topics courses in Art History, and encouraged to take elective courses outside of the School of Art, as well as graduate-level studio art in ceramics, painting + drawing, sculpture, or time-based art.
Degree Requirements
Students in Time-Based Art should meet with the faculty coordinator teaching the current Time-Based Art Graduate Seminar course (Time-Based Art I and II) to discuss requirements and future coursework planning.
A minimum of 60 credit hours to include the following:
- A minimum of 16 credit hours of studio courses in a concentration area.
- A minimum of 9 credit hours of graduate-level academic (non-studio) courses of which at least 6 credit hours are to be in art history.
- 1 credit hour of First-Semester Graduate Seminar.
- A minimum of 14 credit hours of electives consisting of any combination of courses offered by the University of Tennessee for graduate credit. Students with a GTA are required to successfully complete 3 credit hours of ART 503 – Theory and Practice of Art Fundamentals. These credit hours are considered to be elective. A concentration area may have course requirements that reduce the number of elective credit hours.
- In lieu of a comprehensive exam, MFA students must complete a Project in Lieu of Thesis with written statements and accompanying documentation. In the third year of semi-independent study, students must have completed all required coursework prior to taking 20 credit hours of ART 599 Projects in Lieu of Thesis.
Academic Standards
- First-year evaluation. At the end of the first two semesters in residence, the student must present a portfolio for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to continue in the program.
- Second-year evaluation. With the completion of all course work, the student must present work for evaluation by the faculty and receive permission to register for Project in Lieu of Thesis.
- If in a review by the student’s major area faculty, the student’s progress is deemed insufficient, the faculty may recommend a work period without advancement toward the degree, probation with specific goals set for a specific time, or dismissal.
Option: Art History Minor
A graduate minor in art history may be arranged during the student’s first semester of study with the consent of the student’s area instructors and the art history faculty. Students must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours in art history that is agreed upon by the art history faculty after review of previous undergraduate course work. A reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian is a prerequisite, unless waived by the art history faculty. Graduate Council policy stipulates that a member from the minor unit must serve on the thesis committee.
BA in Art
OR Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art — Time-Based Art
Students working in Time-based Arts have the opportunity to create works of animation, video, cinema, performance art, installation art, sound art, and other time-based, and/or interactive works using a broad range of techniques and concepts. As an area that emphasizes creative questioning using established and emerging technologies, students in Time-Based Art are uniquely poised to be creative, productive, and successful both in the art world and related creative industries.
The Time-Based Art program leads students to develop skills needed to produce time-based art, engage in creative problem solving and concept development, learn research methodologies, and investigate historical and contemporary practitioners and theories of time-based art. Emphasis is placed on professional practice at the upper level. Students in Time-Based Art are encouraged to broaden their horizons by pursuing advanced coursework in other studio areas in the School of Art in addition to other departments in the University (such as Cinema Studies, Computer Science, Music or Theatre), participating in student-run organizations like the Visiting Artist Committee, the Society of Media Arts and the UT Cinema Club, The UT Animation Club and interning with one or more of Knoxville’s many media companies and non-profits.
Other benefits of the Time-Based Art program include exhibition and screening opportunities through our bi-annual Handheld Festival for video, performance, sound, and film, and the Knoxville Film Festival.
Details
Courses
The coursework offers a blend of practical, skill-building knowledge (video production, cinematography, sound recording techniques, sound and video editing, creative-coding, matte painting etc.) and intense critical study in an intimate, supportive environment, all in the pursuit of a fully-developed artistic point-of-view.
- ARTC 232: Introduction to Performance and Sound Art (3 credits) — Development of basic concepts and techniques for the creation of performance and sound art.
- ARTC 235: Introduction to Digital Media and 16mm Film as Art (3 credits) — Development of basic concepts and techniques for the creation of film as an art form.
- ARTC 236: Intro to Cinema/Video Art (3 credits) — Development of basic concepts and techniques for the creation of works of cinema and video art.
- ARTC 401: Experiments in Sequencing (3 credits) — Advanced study and development of art or design works based on the concepts and techniques of sequencing.
- ARTC 402: Experiments in Space (3 credits) — Advanced study and development of art or design works based on the concepts and techniques of spatiality.
- ARTC 403: Experiments in Systems (3 credits) — Advanced study and development of art or design works based on systemic concepts and techniques.
- ARTC 432: Advanced 4D Arts I (4 credits) — Advanced study and development of concepts and techniques for the creation of time-arts works as an art form with an emphasis on individual projects.
- ARTC 430: Internship (1–4 credits) — On-site work experience in the media production field. Pre-approval required.
- ARTC 435: Narrative Filmmaking (4 credits) — Development of concepts and techniques for the creation of narrative films with an emphasis on individual projects.
- ARTC 436: Video Art (4 credits) — Continued development of concepts and techniques for the creation of video works as an art form with an emphasis on individual projects.
Requirements
BA in Art
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in art is a humanities degree with 45 credit hours in studio art and art history coursework. Many students who choose the BA path earn a second major in another field of study. The BA option allows for flexibility to pursue wide-ranging interests and career paths and to study abroad for a full semester.
BFA in Studio Art – 2D
The Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in studio art is a professionally-oriented degree intended for students planning careers or graduate study in the visual arts.
For Current Students
The School of Art uses a combination of a professional advisor and faculty mentors to meet the needs of our students. You are assigned to our professional staff advisor, Brittany Hunt-Woods, upon admission to the School of Art. Brittany will do all primary advising (clearing registration holds, discussing graduation requirements, etc). In addition, a faculty mentor will be assigned after you pass portfolio review. You will be expected to meet with your faculty mentor at least once per year.
Time-Based Art Progression Review
Passing the Time-Based Art Progression Review allows students to take upper-division Time-Based Art courses.
Prerequisites:
- A grade of C or better in the following courses: Art 101, Art 102, Art 103. Two out of the three following lower-level art history classes: Art History 172, Art History 173, Art History 183,
- Complete or currently enrolled in ARTC 236 (Intro to Cinema and Video Art), ARTC 232 (Intro to Performance and Sound Art)
- Complete or currently enrolled in Drawing 211 and one other 200-level studio class in 2D or 3D.
Requirements:
- To enroll in Time-Based Art Progression review, register for ARTC 330
- Progression reviews are offered at the end of every semester. Students have the option to repeat the progression review if they are not successful the first time.
Minors and Non-Art Majors
Minor: 21 Credits
Select 6 hours of Art History (grade of C or better):
- ARTH 172 – Western Art: Ancient through Medieval *
- ARTH 173 – Western Art: Renaissance to Contemporary *
- ARTH 183 – Asian Art *
Required:
Select 15 hours of art courses of which a minimum of 3 must be at the 300-400 level.
TIME-BASED ART OPTIONS
- ARTC 236: Intro to Cinema/Video Art (3 credits) — Development of basic concepts and techniques for the creation of works of cinema and video art.
- ARTC 239 or 439: Special Topics: Animation (3 credits) — Student- or instructor-initiated course offered at convenience of department.
- ARTC 239: Special Topics: Editing Video (3 credits) — Student- or instructor-initiated course offered at convenience of department.
- ARTC 401: Experiments in Sequencing (3 credits) — Advanced study and development of art or design works based on the concepts and techniques of sequencing
- ARTC 430: Internship — On-site work experience in the media production field. Pre-approval required.
- ARTC 435: Narrative Filmmaking (3 credits) — Development of concepts and techniques for the creation of narrative films with an emphasis on individual projects.
- ARTC 436: Video Art (3 credits) — Continued development of concepts and techniques for the creation of video works as an art form with an emphasis on individual projects.
Courses for Non-Art Majors
Register for ARTN courses to learn alongside art majors, while skipping the prerequisites. Class sizes are limited.
- ARTN 211 Non-Major Intro to Drawing
- ARTN 213 Non-Major Intro to Painting
- ARTN 221 Non-Major Intro to Ceramic Sculpture
- ARTN 222 Non-Major Intro to Pottery
- ARTN 231 Non-Major Intro to Photography
- ARTN 232 Non-Major Intro to Performance & Sound Art
- ARTN 239 Non-Major Intro to Special Topics in 4D Art
- ARTN 241 Non-Major Intro to Sculpture
- ARTN 262 Non-Major Intro to Intaglio (Printmaking)
- ARTN 263 Non-Major Intro to Lithography (Printmaking)
- ARTN 264 Non-Major Intro to Screen Printing
- ARTN 265 Non-Major Intro to Relief (Printmaking)
- ARTN 291 Non-Major Intro to Book Arts and Papermaking
Faculty
Heather Coker Hawkins
Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Paul Harrill
Co-Chair, Cinema Studies, Professor and Dee & Jimmy Haslam Chair in Cinema Studies
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
John Kelley
Associate Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Christopher McNulty
Director, UT School of Art
Area of Study: Works on Paper
Janelle VanderKelen
Assistant Professor
Area of Study: Cinema Studies + Time-Based Art
Time-Based Art News
- MFA Student Ruchi Singh: Internship with the Jewish Museum in New York
- Kimberly D. Iles Scholarship Awards – 2023
- Stacey Robinson and Julie Lohnes Interview at the Ewing Gallery
- Stacey Robinson Brings Energy and Collaborative Art to Knoxville
- Elaine Sheldon’s “King Coal” a New York Times Critics Pick
- Student Profile: Kai Mote
- Student Profile: Nyssa Collins
- Faith Belt, 2022 BFA Grad, Excels in Puppetry
- MFA Grad Danqi Cai to Teach at University of Arkansas
- BFA Graduate Chloe Baker Begins Art Career in Knoxville
- Honors Exhibition 2023 at Ewing Gallery
- Handheld – Cinema Studies Student Screening – Spring 2023
Time-Based Art Resources
HANDHELD
HANDHELD is a semi-annual festival where students in the Time-Based Art Program in the School of Art present their works in 16mm film, video, performance and sound art. HANDHELD provides a public area for students to show alternative possibilities and new visions in the creation of film, video, performance and sound art as fine art.
Internships
Internships for credit must be coordinated through the School of Art. Students wishing to pursue internships are encouraged to contact Paul Harrill, professor of Time-Based Art, for a list of local, regional, and national companies and organizations, as well as for internship guidelines and forms.
A-1 Lab Arts
Based in Knoxville, A-1 Lab Arts is a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by a group of local artists. It is dedicated to multi-disciplinary and experimental exploration of contemporary art issues in all media.
Media Pool
Located in Art + Architecture 343, the Media Pool enriches the creative work of the School of Art community through free equipment check-out, lab access, and instruction. We maintain a wide variety of digital and analog media equipment, a 3D markerspace, and Photo/Video documentation studio. Find it in our Facilities section.