Marwen

Priority applications due Saturday, May 26

Marwen Lab

Course Description

Teaching Artist: Katie Rodrigues

Teaching Artist: Kate Adams

Teaching Artist: Christian Ortiz

Are you dedicated to your art? Do you have ideas for your own art projects? Do you want to dive deep into a specific art discipline such as Sculpture, Painting/Drawing, Mixed Media, Photography, or Digital Media? Will you be in grades 10-12 this coming fall?

If you answered yes to these questions, then you may be ready for Marwen Lab, an extended course designed for Marwen's most dedicated students. With the personal guidance of expert teaching artists, Marwen Lab Artists have access to all of Marwen's studios and art-making resources throughout the school year. Marwen Lab is designed to give you the opportunity to work closely with an experienced teaching artist to develop your own art-making techniques and concepts as you learn new ways of expressing yourself through your art. You will finish the school year having completed one or more projects for your portfolio and your work will be featured in a special exhibition in Marwen’s gallery!

We provide you with:

guidance and resources to develop independently motivated work
the experience of working closely with a teaching artist to develop your own art-making techniques and concepts
focused learning for improved communication skills
the framework for a supportive network of creative peers
access to all of Marwen’s studios, equipment, and supplies
the opprotunity to complete one or more projects for their portfolio
the experience to have your work featured in a special exhibition in Marwen’s galleries

You must:

be in grades 10-12
be dedicated to your art
be interested in learning more about a specific media or process
want to create a project that expresses your own ideas
be available to take a course on Fridays during the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a Marwen Lab student? +

Download the Marwen Lab application (to the right). Fill it out and submit it to Marwen by:

delivering it in person to Marwen
faxing it to Marwen at 312.944.6696
uploading it by clicking the Apply link to the right

Can I propose a project in a media that I don’t have experience in? +

This program is NOT the place for you to learn a new media or technique, it is aimed towards students who have experience already and want to take their skills even further.

What grade do I have to be in to apply? +

Marwen Lab is for students in grades 10-12.

I play a sport/am in the play and need to miss several classes, is that ok? +

Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate students who are involved in activities that conflict with our class time. It is very important that students look at their schedules to determine if they can commit to this program before they apply.

How many classes can I miss each term? +

Our preference would be that students wouldn’t miss any classes but we realize this isn’t always realistic. As with our other courses, students cannot miss more than 2 classes per term. In addition, if they do miss a class they will be required to come in on another day to make up that time in the studio.

Will I get to keep my artwork after the course is over? +

Absolutely! As soon as the final exhibition is de-installed, you will be expected to promptly pick up your artwork.

Am I guaranteed a spot in the final exhibition? +

We hope that every student will be able to complete their projects and show their work in the exhibition. However, at the discretion of the teaching artists, if a student’s project is not complete or ready to be exhibited, they may still finish the program but not exhibit their project.

What kind of art can I make in Lab? +

We encourage you to create any kind of art that our facilities will accommodate. This includes Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Digital Photography, Analog (darkroom) Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, Video, Design, etc. If you are unsure about what media you can work in, just ask!

When can I use the studios? +

During term our studios are open and available for Lab students to use on Mondays and Fridays. In-between terms, we do our best to offer several open studios days where students can come and use our studios for an extended amount of time.

Do I have to do the exact project I proposed in my application? +

You are not obligated to making the exact project your proposed in your application. We understand that ideas evolve and you may be inspired by something just before Lab begins in the Fall. We only ask that you commit to one idea during the Fall term so you have ample time to work on it throughout the school year.

How do I get the supplies I need? +

We provide all of the supplies for Lab students. You will work with your teaching artists to determine what supplies you will need for your project. We will do our best to order them in a timely manner. The more prepared you are in terms of knowing specifically what you will need, the faster you will get your supplies!