By Joli Williams
Master of Fine Arts professors look beyond the canvas and find a deeper meaning behind teaching the studio graduate program.
'Being of service to the students is my main goal,' said Joseph Ostraff, professor of painting and drawing. 'Teaching is about making yourself available.'
The Master of Fine Arts Studio Program at BYU has a unique method of learning compared to most university classes. The number of teachers almost equals the number of students.
This program is different from other departments because of its amazing student-teacher ratio, Ostraff said.
The program currently has 15 graduate students working with 11 full-time faculty advisors, he said.
'The limited size works very well,' said Hagen Haltern, professor of painting and drawing. 'We have something similar to a mentorship program.'
Students in the program are encouraged to work together with faculty advisors.
'I always look for opportunities to get involved with the students,' said Ostraff. 'I want to know what each artist is all about.'
Professor Haltern said not all students eagerly embrace student-teacher relationships.
If the desire for companionship exists, professors can better tailor art to fit individual needs, Haltern said.
Although art education is based upon change, Bruce Smith, professor of painting and drawing is grateful for a stable program.
'This program does not ebb and wane with trends that are cyclical and not based upon truths that persist,' said Smith.
Instead, the studio art program embraces gospel truths and individual expression.
'Art is extremely complex, and each artist brings his/her own personal expression with certain objective insights,' Haltern said.
This program incorporates a wide range of talents and ideas, all of which add to the department, Ostraff said.
The Masters of Fine Arts program is unique because of its willingness to embrace diversity and still hold firmly to valuable ideals.
'We don''t paint the same, we don''t think the same, but our art is based upon the same attitude of trying to be in touch with ultimate truth and worth,' said Smith.