SJC Brooklyn students have a new way to follow their creative calling with new fine arts programming in the arts department.
The art department at SJC Brooklyn began offering two new programs at the start of 2021: a fine arts minor and a fine arts concentration for child study.
Students who take fine arts classes learn to gracefully express themselves through different mediums, sharpen their critical thinking skills as they interpret the world around them, and develop a keen eye for improving a project’s aesthetic appeal. The classes feature a blend of visual arts (including art history and art studio courses) and music (including music theory, music history and music studio), teaching students skills that are easily transferrable to many other fields.
The art department is led by talented artists and musicians: E. Jane Beckwith, associate art director at SJC Brooklyn, often spends summers creating art in Italy; Leon Bernardyn, music chairperson, has extensive experience as a performer, teacher and arts administrator; and Dawn Lee, art chairperson, has led several study abroad art classes and uses nature as inspiration for her paintings, drawings and paper works.
The minor and concentration also offer the opportunity to take a class taught by SJC President Donald R. Boomgaarden, Ph.D. The College president teaches one music class per year at both SJC campuses.
Fine Arts Minor Offers Big Opportunities
Lee said she is excited to introduce the new programs to SJC Brooklyn students.
“The fine arts minor for any major and the concentration for child study majors are flexible programs that easily fit into students’ scheduling and allow them to pursue further study in the areas of art and music,” she explained.
Beckwith echoed Lee’s enthusiasm for the new course offerings.
“Students will find they have room in their Child Study and other majors for the minor or concentrate. The ability to sample a wide variety of classes, combining music and art studio, as well as history/theory classes in both subjects will be an attractive option in Brooklyn.”
Art classes at SJC Brooklyn have led students from various majors to success in their future careers over the years. Alumnus Christopher Quiñones, a general studies major and a studio art minor, took nearly every studio art course offered at the College before graduating in 2017. He used the art courses to build his foundation to fulfill the requirements necessary to apply for the MFA Studio Arts program at The City College of New York. Quiñones earned his MFA — an academic degree and the “terminal” professional degree for artists — in May.
