Oregon College of Art Craft and Pacific Northwest College of Art Announce JP Reuer as Chair of the J
January 27, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 28, 2009
Oregon College of Art Craft and Pacific Northwest College of Art Announce JP Reuer as Chair of the Joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design
PORTLAND, OR – Oregon College of Art and Craft (OCAC) and Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) announce JP Reuer as the Chair of the new joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design program.
A former Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, Reuer brings a breadth of experience in design and arts education to the program. Reuer is also a LEED accredited architect and licensed general contractor, founder of JP Reuer, Architect, PA and Reuer Associates Inc., and a founding member of DesignBox, a collaborative group of creative talent from a variety of design disciplines. With a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design and a Master’s of Architecture in Affordable Housing, Reuer continues to explore socially purposed design.
“JP Reuer brings an articulated insight to the sphere of craft and design. Through his knowledge as a practitioner, augmented by his academic experience, JP understands the inherent strength of pairing capabilities of making with the sensibilities of design,” said Karl Burkheimer, OCAC Wood Department Head and search committee member.
Portland’s two oldest art colleges, OCAC and PNCA, have partnered on a joint MFA degree that fosters a new, forward-thinking model of art and design education. The creation of the joint MFA bolsters the cooperative and innovative efforts of these two growing institutions by creating a program that offers students opportunities for creative work that fuses craft, design and environmentalism within a rich academic and creative practice.
“Combining intellectual, fiscal and physical resources, institutions can create new and extraordinary educational opportunities that otherwise exceed the capacity of any one institution,” said Greg Ware, PNCA Provost. “This collaboration with OCAC is the first of such programs, and the search committee knew it had to find an individual with the vision, leadership and dedication to launch an advanced program that could set a new paradigm for creative practice education. I believe the committee found such a person in JP Reuer, and he will not only be a wonderful addition to our faculty, but will expand OCAC’s and PNCA’s outreach to, and interaction with, Portland’s art and design communities.”
Reuer also has strong connections to local, national and international creative communities and practices and companies, and the desire to create an internationally competitive program — he previously served as the director of the Tasmeem international design conference in Qatar.
“I view the act of making not simply as a means to an end, but as an integral part of designing,” said Reuer. “Enhancing the relationship between design and making is something that in my experience is not only mutually beneficial to design and craft, but also supports and gives character to local community.”
The new joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design celebrates process and tradition, innovation and cultural engagement and is the culmination of feasibility studies by an MFA Task Force consisting of OCAC and PNCA faculty members. The OCAC/PNCA MFA program will accept 15 students in the 2009-2010 school year. Application deadline is March 15, 2009.
Reuer will officially join the program full-time in February 2009. The inaugural joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design class starts in Fall 2009.
About OCAC
Established in 1907, Oregon College of Art and Craft has become a principal center for education, dialogue, and the mastery of contemporary craft for future generations of artists. The College offers a four-year BFA in Crafts, a three-year Certificate Program, a one-year Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program, and year round studio classes and workshops for adults and children of all ages and skill levels. As the only accredited private art college west of the Mississippi to offer a BFA in Crafts, OCAC is a superb laboratory for the invention of modern craft. “www.ocac.edu”:http://www.ocac....
About PNCA
Since its founding in 1909, Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) has become a leader in innovative educational programming that connects students to a global perspective in the visual arts. The College offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Communication Design, Illustration, Intermedia, General Fine Arts, Painting, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture. In addition, the College offers a mentor-based MFA in Visual Studies and a new joint MFA in Applied Craft and Design with Oregon College of Art and Craft. PNCA has the oldest continuously running community arts education program in the Northwest. From its base in the heart of the Pearl district, PNCA is actively involved in Portland’s cultural programming through exhibitions and a vibrant public program of lectures and visiting artists from around the world. In conjunction with its Ford Institute for Visual Education (FIVE), the College is pleased to present PNCA + FIVE Idea Studios, which bring internationally renowned artists such as James Turrell, philosopher Jacques Rancière, art critic Saul Ostrow, and theorist Tom Zummer. Visit on-line for a full events calendar and to learn more about PNCA’s BFA degree, MFA in Visual Studies or Continuing Education courses for all ages and skill levels. “www.pnca.edu”:http://www.pnca.edu.