Sculpture at San Francisco State University provides instructional emphasis aimed at stimulating development of self-knowledge, engagement with diverse artistic and cultural issues, and broad knowledge of sculptural expression using a wide range of processes, materials and venues. The Sculpture Area encourages open-ended investigations, creative risk-taking and the strengthening of observational, research, analytical, reflective, thing-making and strategic-thinking skills. Sculpture faculty have strong traditional studio knowledge as well as commitment to exploring the boundaries of current 3-dimensional investigations. The Sculpture Area equipment centers around fabricating processes, particularly metals and non-ferrous materials. The Area also encourages explorations with site-specific installations, publicly-sited works, art and community processes, as well as multi-media, multi-disciplinary and collaborative expressions along with inter-active and kineticizing processes. The Sculpture Area hosts six undergraduate classes per semester and has a graduate population of four to five MFA students at any one time. Each graduate student is provided a studio approximate to instructional equipment areas. Several part-time graduate assistantship positions are available through the Sculpture Area.
The Sculpture Area consists of approximately 9000 sq. ft. of work space. Within that space, it has equipment concentrations in wood (and other non-ferrous materials) processing, sheet metal working and metals fabrication as well as an area for plaster, clay and wax working along with non-specified areas for work in a variety of other materials and processes. The Sculpture Area also has a large outdoor component to the space with open work spaces and stores of materials. The layout of the entire area allows for fusion of the various media when constructing sculptural expressions.
