By KRISTEN KIRTLEY, Assistant Editor
Art is a major again at Northwestern.
For the first time in years, visual art is being offered as a major at Northwestern.
“This is definitely an exciting place to be right now,” said David Poindexter, Associate Professor of Visual Arts at Northwestern
Before coming to Northwestern this semester, Poindexter was teaching at a community college in Odessa, Texas. Poindexter mentioned that he has a background in working with new programs or revising existing ones, and that he was looking for a new challenge when the opportunity to come to Northwestern was given to him.
“A big goal of mine for this year is to get the program up and running,” Poindexter said. “I look forward to the challenge each time I take something like this on.”
Poindexter pointed out that Northwestern already has an established art minor, and that he thinks the major will somewhat sell itself due to other university’s in this area not offering an art major.
“If one wants to get their education close to home, we are definitely someone to consider,” Poindexter said.
Due to having experience with improving and building programs, Poindexter briefly explained the process.
“There’s quite a few factors and there’s not necessarily a step one and two, its more about what we can challenge in what order,” Poindexter said.“Other than that, its basically the hard work of recruiting and making sure we can keep getting students into the program”
Poindexter also mentioned that he wants to involve students in this process and get a feel for what students are looking for in studio art education.
The art major was approved last spring, and there were minors who decided to become majors as soon as it was approved.
Poindexter’s particular specialties are photography, digital art, graphic design, and print making. In the past, he worked as a studio artist.
“Studio art is any of the mediums that can be used in a fine art way,” Poindexter said. “In other words, your making work based on your own ideas and messages that you want the public to view.”
After Poindexter’s time in the military, he got a degree in Psychology. He said he had been interested in art almost his entire life, and when it was almost time for him to graduate, he decided to pursue his interest.
Poindexter said art clicked for him immediately, and he encourages everyone to try an art class.
“Art can be a very powerful way to communicate in a different way,” Poindexter said. “If you have trouble interacting in different ways, art may be the perfect medium for you to interact with the rest of the world.”
Thomas Cornell, Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, is a first-year hire at Northwestern. Cornell attended the university of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he earned his bachelor of science in business administration, as well as his bachelor of fine arts with a concentration in sculpture. He then attended the university of Notre Dame, where he earned his masters terminal degree for sculpture. Like Poindexter, Cornell said that he also took an art class and fell in love with it. “We’re both working together to build upon what was laid out before us,” Cornell said.
“We have freedom to figure out what will be successful here, which is an exciting and unique opportunity.”
Cornell said both him and Poindexter want to grow together, while also making the art program grow.
“What I’m looking for this semester and going forward is the opportunity to figure out what would work best here,” Cornell said.
He explained that most of the courses being offered this semester are from previous years, and that he hopes to be able tooffer new courses next semester. Cornell explained that many people are scared of art, but if it’s something you love, you can develop those skills.
“Go where your passion is and what you find is rewarding,” said Cornell.
The new art professor Thomas Cornell teaches NWOSU art students during the figuring drawing class on Monday as part of the new art major.
David Poindexter, a new professor in the arts department. Instructs art students in class to draw still life.