Mike Womack's research focus is on drawing and painting media, objects, conceptual practices, and installations made from plain materials, which in turn make images. The imagery reflects, projects, or distorts either the objects that create the images in the first place, or their constituent materials. Using mirrors, lights, and found materials, I create a rudimentary bitmapping of data. This primitive and low-tech approach replicates the complexity of electronics, like a cathode ray tube or an integrated circuit, with the make shift means of the everyday. Compounded blips of light and color attempt to create a raster image similar to that transmitted in a computer or a television. The inherent inability of mechanical-era ingenuity to simulate atomic-era technology results in an abstraction of futility. The images created by the objects Womack makes are a fingerprint of desire, a desire of a material to be something more than its process will allow.
keywords
Drawing, painting, sculpture, installation, digital media, and conceptual art practices
Teaching
courses taught
ARTS 1212 - Painting for Non-Majors
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2022
Explores varied painting techniques. Introduces concepts relevant to the understanding of painting and the creative process. May not be repeated.
ARTS 2222 - Beginning Painting
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2023
Emphasizes color and descriptive mark making through observation based painting. Students are introduced to various painting materials and learn to translate what they see into painting media using two basic subjects: still-life and the figure.
ARTS 3017 - Special Topics in Studio Arts
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Introduces timely subjects in studio arts courses that cannot be offered on a regular basis. Information concerning the topics in any given semester is available prior to pre-registration from the department of Art and Art History. May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours.
ARTS 3212 - Figure Painting
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Explores varied painting techniques. Introduces concepts relevant to the understanding of painting and the creative process. Student is also eligible to take this class if they have taken a Non-Majors class in Drawing. Please contact the instructor for permission. May not be repeated. Formerly ARTS 2202.
ARTS 3222 - Intermediate Painting
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
In addition to being a continuation of Beginning Painting, this course focuses on a non-traditional approach to making paintings encouraging conceptual development, experimentation and research. Moving beyond observation based painting multiple thematic possibilities will be explored. Emphasis will be placed equally on ideas and technical execution.
ARTS 4002 - Advanced Drawing/Portfolio
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2022
Continuation of Drawing 3. Advanced studio class in drawing for creative expression and individual portfolio development. Emphasis varies by semester;contact individual instructor for more information. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
ARTS 4118 - Visiting Artist Program
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Artists of national and international reputation, interacting with graduate and advanced undergraduate students, discuss their studio work at seminar meetings and at public lectures or events. Provides continuous input of significant developments and a comprehensive view of contemporary issues in the arts. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Department enforced prerequisite: portfolio review. Same as ARTS 5118.
ARTS 4202 - Advanced Painting/Portfolio
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2020 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2024
Continuation of Painting 3. Advanced studio class in painting for creative expression and individual portfolio development. Emphasis varies by semester;contact individual instructor for more information. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
ARTS 5118 - Visiting Artist Program
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018
Artists of national and international reputation, interacting with graduate and advanced undergraduate students, discuss their studio work at seminar meetings and at public lectures or events. Provides continuous input of significant developments and a comprehensive view of contemporary issues in the arts. Same as ARTS 4118.
ARTS 5202 - Graduate Drawing and Painting
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2023
This course is an intense inquiry into contemporary studio practices. Students will be expected to consider and communicate the context (social, political, personal, philosophical, etc.) underpinning studio work as well as the decisions that go into making that work. Specific themes of inquiry will vary by semester, depending on the instructor. Coursework may include readings, group discussions, group and individual critiques, written assignments, and projects. For non-ARTS or non-ARTH Grads, permission of instructor required. May be repeated for up to 18 total credit hours.
ARTS 5717 - Graduate Studio Critique
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2019
May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours with any single faculty member.
