1. School of Visual Arts
  2. About the School of Visual Arts
  3. School of Visual Arts Facilities

School of Visual Arts Facilities

The School of Visual Arts is located on the first, second, and third floors of Fletcher Hall, where classroom and studios are located for eight of ten programs. 

Constructed in 1976, Fletcher Hall is currently under renovation and when completed will have increased classroom space by 20,000 square feet.

Teaching Spaces

Fletcher Hall houses the School of Visual Arts and the studios and classrooms for computer art and animation, ceramics, graphic design, new media and digital art, metalwork and jewelry, painting, photography, and printmaking on the three floors of Fletcher Hall are accessed by inner gallery walkways. Access to different levels is provided by internal and external stairways and an elevator. The center of the building is an open atrium. A large lecture hall/theater which is also used for special events is connected to the main building by a breezeway. Climate control is provided for each of the studios, classrooms, and offices. Restroom facilities are accessible to the physically challenged.

The Visual Arts Annex, houses studios for drawing, three-dimensional design and sculpture. Built in 1939 and located adjacent to Fletcher Hall, was renovated in 2015 and houses classroom and studio space dedicated to foundation courses in Drawing, Design, as well as the Art Education and Sculpture concentrations.

Lecture Spaces

Fletcher Hall encompasses a 130 seat SMART classroom/auditorium that serves as a multi-purpose lecture facility. In addition the building houses six SMART classrooms, three of which are located in the 2500 square foot Digital Media Resource Center, one in the 2500 square foot Fletcher Hall Gallery used for multi-purpose exhibitions, and two in self contained classrooms. Fletcher Hall is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Studio Spaces

Located in Fletcher Hall, the ceramics studio occupies a 1,900 square foot space. The studio external kiln yard occupies 1600 square feet of work space. Both studios are open seven days a week. The main studio houses motorized and kick potters wheels, a clay extruder, slab roller, and wedging and canvas covered work tables. A 300 square foot Glaze Lab includes triple beam scales, a spray booth, air compressor, pug mills, dust collector, glaze bins and stainless steel topped work surfaces. A 550 square foot kiln room houses 9 kilns including 2 Alpine updrafts, 3 electric, and 4 for raku, soda, woodfire, and car processes.

Inventory of Equipment in Ceramics Studio

  • 8 Canvas-covered Tables
  • 10 Brent Model B Motorized Wheels
  • 1 Brent Kick Wheel
  • 1 Plaster-topped Wedging Table,
  • 1 Brent Slab Roller
  • 1 Bailey Clay Extruder  w/Assorted Dies
  • 3 Metal Banding Wheels
  • 1 Aluminum Ware Cart
  • 11 Freestanding Wooden Shelving Units
  • 2 Overhead Micro Air Dust-collection Units (awaiting installation)
  • Assorted Wooden Ware Boards
  • Assorted Wooden and Plastic Bats (for wheel throwing)
  • Assorted Hand Tools (rulers, paddles, ceramic carving, cutting, and surfacing tools, spray bottles, sponges and scrapers)
  • 1 First-aid Kit and Eye Wash Station
  • 2 Electric Drills (glaze mixing)
  • 2 Water Hoses
  • 4 Squeegees

Glazing Lab

  • 1 Ohaus Digital Scale
  • 1 Ohaus Triple Beam Scale
  • 1 Mettler Toledo Floor Scale
  • 1 Alpine Spray Booth
  • 1 Cambell Hausefield Air Compressor
  • 1 Amaco Ball Mill with Porcelain Jars and Beads
  • 1 Venco De-airing Pug Mill
  • 2 Bailey glaze Formulation Tables with Bins
  • Full Range of Glaze Chemicals and Clays
  • 1 Aerocology Dust-collector
  • 1 Torit Dust-collector
  • 1 Soldner Studio Clay Mixer
  • 2 Glaze Spray Guns
  • 1 Pneumatic Die Grinder
  • Assorted Scoops and Measuring Containers
  • 1 Bench Grinder

Coordinators’ Office

  • 1 Custom-built Photographic Seamless Backdrop (property of area coordinator)
  • 1 Custom-built Overhead Light Box (property of area coordinator)
  • 1 Boom Standards (property of area coordinator)
  • 1 Tripod (property of area coordinator)
  • 1 Pentax 35mm Camera (property of area coordinator)
  • Assorted Books, Magazines, and Technical References on Ceramics (property of area coordinator)

Indoor Kiln Room:

  • 1 50 Cubic Foot Alpine Updraft Gas Kiln
  • 1 30 Cubic Foot Alpine Updraft Gas Kiln
  • 1 16 Cubic Foot Alpine Electric Kiln
  • 1 10 Cubic Foot Olympic Electric Kiln
  • 1 Test Kiln
  • 1 Oxygen Probe Analyzer
  • 1 3-Phase Air-compressor (awaiting electrical connection)
  • 1 MK Diamond Wet Saw
  • 1 3.5" Angle Grinder
  • 3 Pneumatic Die Grinders
  • Assorted Kiln Shelves and Furniture
  • Assorted Leather & Kevlar Gloves
  • 1 Self-igniting Propane Torch
  • 1 Wall-mounted Safety Ear Plug Dispenser
  • 1 Millermatic Mobile Mig Welder
  • Assorted Welding Helmets and Face Shields
  • 1 Clothing Cabinet (in storage)
  • 4 Aluminized Safety Suits for Metal Casting (in storage)

Outdoor Kiln Yard & Foundry

  • 1 60 Cubic Foot Gas Kiln for Soda Firing (partially built)
  • 1 100 Cubic Foot Train-kiln for Wood Firing (construction yet to start)
  • 1 wax Burnout Kiln (construction yet to start)
  • 1 Raku Kiln (working and in use)
  • 1 Propane & Gas Cylinder Safety Storage Container
  • 1 Sandblasting Cabinet (not installed)
  • 1 Metal Worktable
  • 1 Overhead Trolley with Hoist (not installed)
  • 1 Gas-firing Foundry Furnace (in storage)
  • 1 Oxyacetylene Cart with Torch
  • 1 Wax-burnout Kiln (construction yet to start)
  • Assorted Kiln Shelves and Furniture
  • 2 Tongs for Raku Firing
  • Assorted Crucibles (in storage)
  • Assorted Pouring Arms and Casting Equipment for Foundry (in storage)

The Animation and the New Media and Digital Art studio is located in Fletcher Hall within the DMRC studio and Fletcher Hall room 125. The PC-based lab is usded to teach 3-D animation programs (MAYA), compositing, and editing software. There is a video/audio lecture system with projector connected to a DVD player, a VHS video player; a computer with speakers is included in the classroom. Fletcher Hall room 125 consists of a Green Screen production studio that includes HD digital cameras, tripods and lighting equipment and storage space.

Located in Fletcher Hall, the 2500 square foot Graphic Design studio has wireless access for online research and is open 7 days a week to concentration majors. Primary facilities include:

  • High-resolution Large Format Scanner
  • Large Format Color Printer
  • Laser Jet Monochromatic Printer
  • 4 Macintosh workstations
  • 1 instructor workstation with high resolution projector
  • Library of Graphic Design and Reference books
  • Binding Equipment for student portfolios and multi-page documents
  • Photographic Equipment, Backdrops, Lights, DSLR Camera, and Lenses
  • Printing Lab with Wood and Metal Type and a Platen and Cylnder Press

The Metalwork and Jewelry studio, located in Fletcher Hall, occupies a 1,900 square foot space which is open to students seven days a week. The studio houses extensive equipment used in specialized processes including Annealing and Soldering, Forming, Casting and Mold-Making, Chasing and Repousse, Die Forming, Enameling, Finishing, Lapidary and Stone Setting.

Inventory of Equipment in Metalwork and Jewelry Studio

  • 1- VIC12 Investment Machine
  • 1 - Lincoln Electric Precision TIG 185 Welder
  • 1 - SPX Power Team Quarter
  • 1 - Bonny Doon Electric 6” Hydraulic Press
  • 1 - Delta 16” 2-Speed Scroll Saw
  • 1 - Delta 9” Band Saw
  • 1 - Delta Large Drill Press
  • 1 - Delta Medium Drill Press
  • 1 - Proxxon Micro Drill Press
  • 1 - Wilton 6” Belt/9” Wheel Sander Grinder
  • 1 - Emerson 1” Belt Sander-grinder
  • 1 - Delta Oscillating Drum Sander
  • 1 - C&M Topline 24” Tumbler 10.5” dia Canister
  • 3 - Prestolite Acetylene Torches, “B” size tanks
  • 1 - Oxyacetylene Torch
  • 1 - Smith Mini-oxyacetylene Torch
  • 3 - Compressed Air/natural Gas Torches
  • 1 - Caswell 25 amp Anodizing Rectifier
  • 1 - Swest 10 amp Plating Rectifier
  • 1 - 36“ Bending Brake
  • 1 - Manual Rolling Mill
  • 1 - 6” Benchtop Shear
  • 3 - Swest 13”x 8.75”x 13.5” Firebrick Kilns
  • 1 - 48” Metal Floor/step Shear
  • 1 - 36” Slip Roller
  • 8 - Small Flat-tipped Pliers
  • 9 - Small Needle-nosed Pliers
  • 9 - Small Wire Cutters
  • 4 - Medium Wire Cutters
  • 3 - Large Wire Cutters
  • 7 - Wood Ring Clamps
  • 6 - Ball Peen Hammers
  • 6 - Sinking Hammers
  • 4 - Forging Hammers
  • 5 - Planishing Hammers
  • 8 - Assorted Mallets (wood, rawhide)
  • 44 - Assorted Stakes
  • 1 - Sandbag
  • 1 - Sinking Stump
  • 1 - Surface Plate
  • 4 - Ring Mandrels
  • 2 - Bezel Mandrels
  • 2 - Sets Wax Files
  • 4  - Medium File Sets
  • 25 - Large Files
  • 15 - Jeweler’s Saw Frames
  • 2 - Pitch Bowls
  • 1 - Large Wax Pot
  • 3 - 1-Gal Pickle Pots
  • 3 - Annealing Pans
  • 1 - Brush Plating Tool
  • 1 - 5-Gal Aluminum-anodizing Setup
  • 1 - 5-Gal Copper - Electroforming Setup
  • 1 - 1 qt. Silver-plating Setup
  • 3 High CFM Vent Hoods
  • 1 - Auto-rolling Mill
  • 1 - TAIG CNC Micro Mill LE
  • 2 - 5-Gal/2hp Shop Vacs
  • 2 - Foredom Flex-shafts
  • 2 - I Shor Whirlwind Buffer/polishers
  • 1 - 30-Gal/1hp Air Compressor
  • 1 - Trinco DryBlast Lasting Cabinet
  • 1 - I Shor Branson E-Module ultrasonic cleaner
  • 1 - Reimers Portable Steam Cleaner
  • 1 - Jet 9” Metal Lathe
  • 6 - Ball Peen Hammers
  • 6 - Sinking Hammers
  • 4 - Forging Hammers
  • 5 - Planishing Hammers
  • 8 - Assorted Mallets (wood, rawhide)
  • 44 - Assorted Stakes
  • 1 - Sandbag
  • 1 - Sinking Stump
  • 1 - Surface Plate
  • 4 - Ring Mandrels
  • 2 - Bezel Mandrels
  • 2 - Sets Wax Files
  • 4  - Medium File Sets
  • 25 - Large Files
  • 15 - Jeweler’s Saw Frames
  • 1 - Deep-throat Saw Frame
  • 1 - Hacksaw
  • 3 - 5” Benchtop Vises
  • 3 - Assorted Sharpening Stones
  • 1 - Small Anvil
  • 3 - Large Anvil
  • 10 - Alcohol amp
  • 15 - Raising Hammers
  • 4 - Riveting Hammers
  • 6 - Chasing Hammers
  • 1 - Centrfical Force Casting Michane
  • 1 - Deep-throat Saw Frame
  • 1 - Hacksaw
  • 3 - 5” Benchtop Vises
  • 3 - Assorted Sharpening Stones
  • 10 - Assorted Draw Plates
  • 4 - Hand Shears
  • 3 - Burnishers
  • 3 - Bezel Rollers
  • 1 - Set of Diamond Burrs
  • 1 - Set of Wax Burrs
  • 1 - Set of Stone-setting Burrs
  • 1 - Set of Mandrel Burrs
  • 1 - Set of Metal Burrs
  • 1 - Set of Stone-setting Tools
  • 1 - Disc Cutter
  • 1 - Set of Dapping Punches
  • 2 - Metal Dapping Blocks
  • 3 - Wood Dapping Blocks
  • 1 - Combination Round- and V-pliers
  • 1 - Set Assorted Chasing Tools

Gallery Spaces

The Fletcher Hall Gallery, the former site of the University Art Museum prior to 2004, is located on the second floor and contains 2500 square feet of exhibition space serving the School of Visual Arts and the School of Architecture and Design. This space hosts the department’s BFA senior exhibitions, the annual high school art exhibit, the annual department juried student exhibition and special exhibitions that are organized by departmental faculty.

The Dean’s Gallery, a 600 square foot space located adjacent to the Dean’s office in Fletcher Hall, along with the 200 square foot DMRC Lobby Gallery across directly across the atrium offer exhibition space suitable for small to moderately sized two and three-dimensional work. The latter area is largely used to display student work from computer art courses.

The Visual Arts Annex Gallery, located in the lobby of the Visual Arts Annex, is approximately 600 square feet and also has hanging space on two adjacent hallways. This space is used primarily to show recent work from a variety of visual arts studio foundation classes.

The nationally recognized Hilliard Art Museum, located at the southeast corner of the University campus, since opening in the Spring of 2004 has hosted major exhibitions featuring the work of Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Andrew Wyeth, Deborah Butterfield, and John Buck, among others. The Museum offers an unprecedented forum from which to stage internationally recognized artists and exhibitions for the benefit of the university and regional communities demonstrating a high standard of excellence. There is no admission fee to the museum for University students.