Arts Practice at Carleton
Leksi talks about how students (specifically non-Arts majors!) get their arts practice credit, as well as her experience taking a Carleton studio art class!
Leksi talks about how students (specifically non-Arts majors!) get their arts practice credit, as well as her experience taking a Carleton studio art class!
Carleton is a liberal arts college, which means that exploring all the different departments and subjects the school has to offer is part of our graduation requirement. As someone who felt a need to prioritize taking every AP class possible over enrolling in more interesting electives in high school, it’s refreshing to feel like I can choose to take courses outside of my major and meet these liberal arts (LA) requirements in the process! One of the last ones I have to obtain is “arts practice,” which involves participation in some art form. I personally am hitting it this term with intro ceramics, but there are tons of options for fulfilling it!
Ceramics and Other Studio Art
Because winter always tends to be on the busier side for me as far as extracurriculars go, I decided to take the opportunity this term to try and lighten my academic homework load by fulfilling my arts practice requirement. Before I go any further, I should acknowledge that this was a mistake. Studio art classes at Carleton are rigorous; in ceramics specifically, students should expect to spend a sizeable chunk of time outside of class working on their pieces. This has made my term rather difficult so far, and if I could go back, I’d definitely wait until the spring to take the class.
That being said, I love having the opportunity to exercise artistic freedom in an art class setting. As someone who has always been drawn to art, taking ceramics has been very creatively freeing. I’ve definitely dived headfirst into my final project which, coincidentally, I will be heading to Boliou Hall to work on as soon as I finish this post!
Two other close friends of mine, also seeking to fulfill the arts practice requirement, chose to take studio art classes last term and enrolled in metalsmithing. Another is taking a sculpture class this term. I’d lump all of these into one category of arts classes here; they’re enthralling and so much fun but require, at times, staggering levels of commitment. These are the sorts of classes that can’t be worked on outside of Boliou, so the amount of time you want to spend in the art building during the term is certainly something to consider before registering!
Take a Drawing Class!
If you’re not looking to spend quite so much time physically in Boliou Hall, observational drawing could be a great choice. Another one of my friends is taking it this term and drew me in the Libe as part of her figures unit last week! In addition to figures, this friend is constantly sending me pictures of still-life pieces and objects she’s replicated in her sketchbook. She loves the class so far, and as someone who was passionate about drawing in high school, I’ll definitely be taking it in the future just for fun.
Acting
And if visual arts isn’t really your thing, there are lots of theatre and acting classes you can take for arts practice credit. I also have lots of friends in the same intro acting class right now, and even though none of them have any experience on a stage, they’re all having a great time and learning a lot in the process! These tend to involve a lot of script reading and presentation in a smaller class setting (I believe their class has 14 total students), which works really well for some people.
Take Lessons and Play an Instrument!
If none of the things listed above catch your eye, you could always try (or continue, if you do already) playing an instrument. Individual lessons for half an hour once a week earn you 1 credit per semester, so 6 terms of lessons (or 3 combined with an additional 3-credit arts practice course) can meet the full arts practice requirement. Or beyond the requirement, if you’re just interested in playing an instrument! I intend to take at least a few terms of guitar lessons just because I want to fine-tune my skills.
Additional Opportunities
There are tons more options, too, that I don’t know much about or have any direct experience with. Certain CAMS (cinema and media studies) classes have a creative component, and dance classes can be a great way to go even if you have no experience because they also count for PE (my friend in ballet has nothing but good things to say!).
No matter your background or experience level, Carleton’s arts practice requirement offers a chance to explore creativity in a way that fits your interests. Whether it’s ceramics, metalsmithing, drawing, theatre, music, or even dance, there’s something for everyone. While some classes require a bigger time commitment than others, they all provide a valuable opportunity to try something new and develop artistic skills. Looking back, I may have underestimated the workload of a studio art class, but I’ve also found so much joy in the creative process. If you’re planning out your arts practice credit, my advice is to choose something that excites you—you might just discover a new passion along the way!
Leksi (she/her) is a sophomore Carleton student from Colorado Springs, Colorado and a prospective pre-law Psychology or Cognitive Science major. So far, she could not be happier with her college decision! Northfield and Carleton have done an amazing job providing Leksi with the only five things she needs to thrive: local coffee, music, wilderness, the gym, and ice hockey. She is heavily involved in club ice hockey and loves hanging out on the Bald Spot or Bell Field with her friends, some good music, and a football/volleyball/frisbee in the warmer-weathered off-season. She also spends a great deal of time in the cities checking out cool local restaurants and m
usic venues! If you’re unsure where to find Leksi on campus, your best bet is the group tables on Fourth Libe, the weight room in the Rec, or hopelessly lost somewhere deep in the arb. Meet the Other Bloggers!