Weekly Announcements October 24 - November 2
Student Advising
Advising Appointments will continue taking place through fall quarter for all BFA students. Appointments with Major Advisor, Sara Frantz, can be made via Bookings.
Additionally, our Dept. Chair’s office hours are Mondays: 11am -12pm and Thursdays: 12 -1pm. Make an office hours appointment with Sara via Bookings. Drop-In appointments are also welcome. Email artdesign@calpoly.edu if you have any questions.
The CLA also offers virtual, drop-in advising appointments daily: CLA Advising
Department News
Winter ART Electives
Upper Division Art Elective
Student Work from ART 402 (WI25)
Art 402-01/02: Advanced Figure 2D
The Figure-Groan Relationship
MW 3-6pm
Instructor - Ian Pines
In this studio class we will investigate how the figure can be abstracted (and/or emerge) to varying degrees in painting and drawing from mild distortions of bodily features and caricatures to the mercurial edge of figure-ground relationships. Is there actually such a thing as pure abstraction, and, if so, is it irrelevant, decadent, bourgeois? Does that matter?
Exploration of materials (mediums and surfaces) and techniques will be emphasized. Some of the artists we will look at include Cecily Brown, Francis Bacon, Jacob Lawerence, Leon Golub, Jay DeFeo, Honoré Daumier, Carroll Dunham, Paul Cézanne, Hilma af Klint, Max Beckmann, Rema Ghuloum, Philip Guston, and other Abstract Expressionists who evolved their practice.
Upper Division Art History Elective
Sandy Rodriguez, Mapa de Califas, 2024, mixed media
ART 310: Art of the Americas
TTH 4-6pm
Instructor - Marco Polo Juárez Cruz
From colonial times to today, this course traces the evolution of American society through its art. How have artists shaped—and challenged—ideas of identity, power, and belonging? Through portraiture, monuments, landscapes, and contemporary works, we will examine how visual culture reflects the nation’s complex history of colonization, revolution, urbanization, and change. What can we learn from the works of art produced during those periods of change? How have museums and cultural institutions echoed diverse ideas regarding American society? How have artists responded to the construction of the nation?
Job & Volunteer Opportunities
Visual Arts Volunteer Role | City of SLO
Help build your portfolio! Gain experience and exposure by engaging with the City of SLO via a Visual Arts Volunteer role. Based on staff requests to the Volunteer Program, Visual Arts Volunteers help to capture one-time and ongoing City and community events in creative ways. With direction from staff, volunteers in this role serve as editors, videographers, photographers, content creators, storytellers and more… Contact the City’s Volunteer Program (volunteer@slocityorg or call/text 805-858-0771) to learn more or run Qs by the Coordinator.
A special call for Volunteer Photographers to capture an annual City event on the afternoon of 12/6 at the Swim Center. “Underwater pictures with Santa” is a family-fun community event in SLO and we’re seeking someone familiar with - or willing to learn and practice beforehand - underwater photography. Gear (minus camera body and lenses) + training provided. Please reach out a.s.a.p. and at latest by 11/13.
City of SLO Fall 2025 Volunteer Opportunities
CENG Ambassadors Headshots
Opportunity: Volunteer student photographer to take a few candid and group photos during one of our club meetings (our previous photos didn’t turn out well, so we’re hoping to refresh them).
When/Where: Tuesdays (we can schedule which upcoming Tuesday)
11:00–12:00, Bonderson 104
Compensation: This is unpaid (volunteer).
Perks: We’ll provide lunch for the student who takes the photos.
Use: Photos may be used for our club’s email, newsletter, and promotional materials.
Contact: Arianna Venegas (social chair) or Trevor Knotts (President)
Check out MustangJobs for current job opportunities
Clubs
Animation Club - @calpolyanimation
Design Lab - @Designlab_CalPoly
Fiber Arts Club - @Calpolyfiberarts
.RAW Journal of Art & Design - @artmag.raw
Studio Art Club - @Calpolystudioartclub
Club 34 - @club.thirtyfour
Other Opportunities
San Diego State University School of Art and Design!
Are you interested in pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree? We’re excited to invite you to one of our upcoming virtual information sessions about the SDSU MFA in Art.
These sessions are a great opportunity to:
Learn about our dynamic MFA program and areas of focus
Get insights into the application process and portfolio requirements
Meet the graduate faculty advisor
Ask questions during a live Q&A
Event Details:
Session 1
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
On Zoom - Please register here
6:00 p.m. PST
Session 2
Friday, November 7, 2025
On Zoom - Please register here
3:00 p.m. PST
*Registration is required to attend.
Collision Literary Magazine Open for Submissions
Collision Literary Magazine at the University of Pittsburgh is currently open for submissions of undergraduate fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art, and we welcome Cal Poly Art and Design students to submit! By submitting to the annual magazine, students will be considered for our writing and cover art contests.
Submissions for the annual magazine close Sunday, February 15, but we read on a rolling basis. You can find more information about the magazine and our submission guidelines at https://www.collision.pitt.edu. If you have any questions, please contact collisionlitmag@gmail.com
Blank Canvas Arts Grant
A new funding opportunity for SLO County artists
The Blank Canvas Arts Grant supports experimental, contemporary projects by emerging and mid-career artists based in San Luis Obispo County. Funded projects should represent a playful exploration of artistic expression that strays from traditional art-making conventions and gallery installation. Proposals should be conceptually oriented to provoke audience response and questions by providing thoughts, images, sounds, and physical arrangements in unexpected places. Applicants are encouraged to submit work in mediums including but not limited to visual arts, performance, literary arts, music and sound, dance, and cross-disciplinary collaborations.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2026
Download the Guidelines
Apply for the Grant
More Quick Links
Faculty & Staff at Art & Design
ART Minors - Art History, Studio Art, Photo+Video, MAST and CIA Minors
Campus Map of All Gender Restrooms! - More on the campus Inclusive Restroom Program
Want your event or activity included in our Weekly Announcements?
Announcements are sent to members of the Art and Design Department each week while classes are in session. To submit an event or news item, please email information to Paula Rygg (prygg@calpoly.edu), by Friday at 8:00 am. Include title, date and time, participation information (Zoom link, registration, ticketing, fee, etc.), and a brief description. Small – email sized images may be included. Weekly announcements are approved by the chair before they are distributed.