Priority will be given to applications received by January 6, 2014.
San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)
800 Chestnut Street
San Francisco, CA 94133
The San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) seeks two full-time (tenure-track or tenured) faculty hires in Sculpture/New Genres and Printmaking. Individuals with exemplary exhibition records and prominent reputations in their fields, as well as dedicated teaching histories, are sought for these positions. One of the country’s most prestigious institutions of higher education in the practice and study of contemporary art, SFAI offers students a rigorous education in the fine arts, and preparation for a life in the arts, through an immersive studio context, an integrated liberal arts and art history curriculum, and critical engagement with the world.
The successful candidate in Sculpture/New Genres will posses the experience needed to teach students in one, or both, of these major disciplines, and will be fluent in the relevant discourses. Expertise in the relationship between contemporary art and emerging technologies in relation to these practices is highly desired.
The successful candidate in Printmaking will be prepared to instruct students in the material/technical skills required for studio production in areas of digital and traditional printmaking, and will demonstrate familiarity with the relationship of printmaking to the broader fields of contemporary art and print culture. They will simultaneously demonstrate an expansive approach to concepts such as reproducibility, repetition, iteration, and more.
Regarding the faculty search, Rachel Schreiber, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, commented:
“Building the faculty body is extremely exciting, and an important moment in the advancement of SFAI. In these two positions, we offer a fantastic opportunity for artists of the highest caliber to join our historic and innovative institution, drawing on their experience to prepare the next generation of SFAI alumni for a life in the arts.”
Both searches are open rank; appointments will be made commensurate with the candidates’ experience and standing. SFAI faculty teach at all levels of the curriculum, from first year through MFA. Participation in institutional service and academic leadership is required.
Application instructions and position details can be found at sfai.edu/work-sfai. Priority will be given to applications received by January 6, 2014.
About the Programs
New Genres at SFAI has its roots in the major conceptual and disciplinary shifts of the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the proliferation of video, performance, installation, land, and environmental art. New Genres is conceptually driven, with a core value of experimentation. Initially founded as a department of “Performance/ Video,” New Genres students continue in this tradition while also expanding to all imaginable forms of practice.
Sculpture at SFAI comprises three varied areas of emphasis, inviting individual or hybrid practice: 3D media/practice; kinetics; systems and environments. Additionally, SFAI houses a vital ceramics program, while also offering facilities for work in wood, metal, plaster, fabric, and electronics. Regardless of the material support, the curriculum fosters interdisciplinary experimentation, site-specific strategies, and environmentally and socially conscious investigations.
Printmaking at SFAI emphasizes an exploration of technique alongside historical and cultural contexts. Students are challenged to use processes creatively to translate conceptual ideas into print. The department also fosters a sense of community and collaboration in order to investigate what it means to work in a “democratic” art form. Value is placed on the role of print in contemporary society and on discourses of digital print culture.
