Art

Discover Art at Garden City Community College

Interested in expanding your creative side? The GCCC Fine Arts Division invites all high school students to discover our Art program.

 

 

Two-Dimensional Art

The Two-Dimensional Art program provides avenues for research and development of personal creative expression in various drawing, painting and printmaking courses. Projects in each class challenge the student's creative problem solving skills through execution of design. We teach and encourage exploration both in traditional areas of each media and outside the conventional realm of contemporary concepts. The fundamental training enables students to earn an associate degree while completing lower division preparatory classes for a four-year degree with curriculum designed to maximize transferable courses and provide basic skills required for employment in art-related fields.

We provide a broad range of foundational two-dimensional courses for those pursuing a degree in the studio arts, art education, and commercial art.

Three-Dimensional Art

The Three-Dimensional Art Program focuses on preparing students to transfer to a four year institution with superior technical and intellectual skills. The program engages students in craft, technique, design, and creative problem solving in a nurturing classroom that is both small and state of the art. We operate several kilns, with plenty of space to expand your creative horizons.

Recently the art programs have increased opportunities for students to take classes in digital media. The GCCC art major has the opportunity to explore within a carefully designed curriculum crafted to bring out your best in and out of the classroom. We challenge our students to involve themselves with the community, participating in cultural activities that enrich the lives of many underserved populations. Experiences in the real world organizing, sharing their craft and serving the college and our world prepare students to be leaders in their jobs and in their universities.

In addition to two and three dimensional foundations courses, our Visual Communications Department focuses on classes in graphic design, web design and photography as a vital part of the GCCC experience. Art majors are encouraged to explore every avenue of creativity.

 Scholarships

Numerous tuition and book scholarships are awarded each semester to art majors. These competitive scholarships are renewed each semester depending on GPA standings and involvement in our GCCC Art Club. Eligibility is based on a portfolio containing previous works of art which are evaluated by faculty.

Additional scholarships are periodically available for students who show dedication and talent above and beyond the norm.

GCCC Art Club

GCCC Art Club membership is a requirement for art majors and an opportunity for art supporters. The Art Club allows Art Majors to get involved on campus and in the community through numerous events in organized by Student Government Association. Twice a year the club travels to art events in the region. Every year in the fall, members attended the Kansas Artist Craftsman Association annual conference held in Universities across the state to participate in art openings and lectures. Each spring we travel to a major regional city to explore the art scene, visit galleries and museums. Recent trips include Denver, Kansas City Wichita and Santa Fe. The club offers our art scholars the opportunity to expand their horizon and serve as ambassadors of the arts in the GCCC and Southwest Kansas communities.

GCCC Potters Guild

The GCCC Potters Guild organizes potters around event opportunities to market their wares while raising monies for the GCCC Arts Programs. There are sales events on campus in the fall and spring as well as arts fair opportunities on the summer. Monies raised by the Potters Guild help fund visiting artists and equipment purchases.

GCCC Visiting Artist Program

Each year the Visiting Artist Program gives our students have the opportunity to expand their knowledge by experiencing hands on demonstrations and lectures by professional artists, musicians and writers. The students offer their suggestions for upcoming events. Past artists include faculty and graduate candidates from area colleges and Universities as well as professional artists and musicians.

Meet Brian McCallum

Brian McCallum

Brian McCallum received his MFA from Kansas State University under the tutelage of Yoshiro Ikeda. His work in ceramics is often figurative in nature and focuses on the nature of the human condition. He arrived at GCCC in 2003 and is the three dimensional foundations specialist. His courses include History of Art, Appreciation of Art, Sculpture Design, and all levels of ceramics. He has received numerous awards in competitions both Nationally and internationally. His work appears in the book "500 figures in Clay" by Lark press. In addition to his sculptural work, Mr. McCallum is an accomplished potter. His functional work has been quietly collected by pottery lovers for several years. He is especially proud of his students and their accomplishments. GCCC Graduates in art have gone on to earn degrees with honors from several universities.

Meet Michael Knutson

Michael Knutson joined the faculty in 2015 after serving as Art Adjunct Instructor at Fort Hays State University. He was the son of two art educators and spent his childhood immersed in creativity drawing inspiration from his experiences in the natural environment of the Black Hills of South Dakota. He earned his Bachelor of Arts form Black Hills State University in 2010. In 2013 Michael completed his MFA at Fort Hays State University. He is an accomplished visual artist and works primarily as a painter. Michael has an active national exhibition record of solo and group shows and has completed many public art commissions for intuitions such as The Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

The base for Michaels's work is a deep connection to the immediate environment, life experiences and the way the mind interprets this information. He works both in the studio and in the landscape in this manner allowing him to explore a wide range of physical and emotional experiences. Michael encourages exploration, searching for cinematic scenes with a strong sense of impending drama.

Contact Information

Fine Arts Office
Pauline Joyce Fine Arts Building
(620) 276-9540
mark.scheopner.gcccks.edu

Brian K. McCallum
(620) 276-9419
brian.mccallum@gcccks.edu

Michael Knutson
(620) 276-9644
michael.knutson@gcccks.edu