<p>Hi everyone!
I’m applying in the fall and was just wondering – Could anyone tell me about art at Brown?
Art is a big thing for me and while I’m not really keen on majoring in it, I would definitely love to take some good classes.
Ideally I’d like to take classes at RISD, but my art teacher and counselor both told me it’s kind of a pain. True?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>It is a pain to take classes at RISD, you have to be really proactive or just damn good. I met two sides of the spectrum. I know this girl who practically is a RISD student (shes good at art and I think she is very good at keeping up with all of the deadlines) and I know someone who tried really hard to get in on a RISD class but ultimately failed because of scheduling/timing issues. </p>
<p>I used to do art in highschool too, and was a big thing for me too, but college level art is a whole new ball game. The main issue will be creating time (I don’t know what you are considering majoring in) it is no fun having to work on an art project that will take atleast 6 hours and do another a project/read a book/have a problem set due at the same time. You might have better time management than me… but things come up too like you might have to sacrifice hearing a famous senator speak to do the art project. Also you might have art be a 3 hour class late in the afternoon. </p>
<p>So for me art at Brown really tested my priorities. I signed up for VA11 (advanced art course) got in and realized that this course wasn’t for me and that it would take up too much of my time and possibly hurt grades in my other classes. I already have been through the whole art sha bang and I know that I am an oil painter, but it is really hard to skip the intro art courses and oil paint so…</p>
<p>I would still keep art in your repertoire, but be realistic. I use art as a way of relaxing, (RISD museum is excellent every 2 months there is something new, and its FREE when you are a Brown student) I wouldn’t want to be tied down and have to devote atleast 10 hours a week to it when I have other major obligations… However I am still very knowledgeable about art history and architecture (due to my perusings at RISD and etc) So I think I’ve found my balance. Maybe one day I will return to painting when I feel I can handle it all.</p>
<p>Goodluck.</p>
<p>My D is a Visual Art concentrator at Brown. She will be entering her junior year in September, and as of now, has not taken a RISD course, although she is definitely going to do it in her future (probably during the coming Wintersession, at least). She loves the art department at Brown, and while RISD certainly has a huge number of great courses, she feels that Brown’s department is wonderful-- many great people and a wide variety of course offerings. If you are interested in art courses, and also interested in the myriad other fabulous things at Brown, go for it. The art department is wonderful, even without taking advantage of RISD’s proximity.</p>
<p>Scheduling conflicts is a really good point – with that i’ll probably try a class at Brown and see how everything shakes out.<br>
and i’m happy to know that Brown has a nice art department! It doesn’t sound like I’m motivated or talented enough to take classes at RISD anyway haha!</p>
<p>Thanks for the thoughtful responses!</p>
<p>i’m an art major at Brown</p>
<p>Arapallo isn’t describing art at Brown, he’s describing art at college. In order to succeed it needs to be made a priority – it’s no elective, it’s a serious academic endeavor at the college level. Especially at RISD. </p>
<p>I have had little trouble getting into the RISD classes I’ve taken, but I’ve only taken one, an advanced ceramics class. The ceraimcs department is underpopulated and I took the “for majors” course, so it had more spaces. Demanding? Very. Surprising? Not at all. That’s college art. I’m at the University of Hawai’i right now on exchange and I can tell you at this “non prestigious” univeristy the courses were harder than at either RISD or Brown. There are some courses that cut more slack than others. I have found Brown’s art classes to be, while incredibly enriching, less demanding than the other 3 institutions I have taken art classes at (this is not a bad thing, I don’t think you have to have your brain smashed in to learn a lot). </p>
<p>RISD is not a necessity. While its courses are good you can take a great painting course at either school. If you want to take glass blowing that’s when you venture down the hill. But don’t count yourself out of RISD classes in terms of talent – you’d be surprised at what you can do sometimes. RISD has beginners too. </p>
<p>The department is good but not over the moon. There are some limits to resources and courses. However, if you stay within their parameters, you can make almost anything happen for your personal curriculum. Wander outside what they put stake in and its more difficult. This is more of a problem if you are a major. </p>
<p>Overall I definitely recommend Brown for a place to seriously pursue art and seriously pursue intellectual courses. You will not, I repeat will not, be able to casually purusue art within a serious art department at any college. If that is your goal, find a school with a craft center or courses for non-majors.</p>
<p>I was just lurking, as I was interested in the art scene at Brown as well.
NapoleonInRags, your post was immensely helpful, thank you for contributing!</p>
<p>No problem. If you have any more questions, let me know, I can let you know about my experiences, the teachers and classe, attitudes, and resources.</p>