Department:
Art

Biography:
Gordon Senior moved to California from England to take up the post of chair of the Art Department. Prior to this, he was leader of the undergraduate and post graduate Fine Art program at Norwich School of Art and Design in the UK. He has also been head of Art at Northumbria University at Newcastle and lectured and assessed extensively at Art Schools and Universities in the UK. Senior has had solo exhibitions in numerous venues including Norwich Gallery, Norwich, UK, the City Gallery, Dundee, Scotland, Northern Center of Contemporary Art, Sunderland, UK, Hardware Gallery, London, Parks Exhibition Center, Idyllwild Arts, Idyllwild and the University Art Gallery, California State University, Stanislaus and The Greenleaf Gallery, Whittier College, Whittier, California. He has been included in many group exhibitions including the "International Festival of Light" at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloustershire, UK, "Drawing Connections" Beach Gallery, Kansas, "Newcastle to Newcastle" Newcastle Regional Art Gallery, Australia, "Tree of Life" at The Centre for Life Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK, "Strands" I Gallery Chicago, "Weather View" Koninkijke Gallery, Den Haag, Netherlands, "View Points," ArtSway Gallery, Hampshire, UK and "Just Visiting" Huntington Beach Art Center, California.

He has received several research awards and commissions including a Grizedale Residency, an Eastern Arts Publishing Award and commissioned sculptures for Southern Arts in England and a commission for NESsT and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Modesto in America.

Senior's publications include "About this Earth" and "Groundwork" recent exhibition catalogues, and "Crossing Open Ground" a book of his environmental drawings. For more information about his work please visit his website at: www.gordonsenior.com

Academic Credentials:
Goldsmiths College, London University UK: ATC
Leeds College of Art UK: Post Graduate in Art and Design.
Leeds College of Art UK: National Diploma of Design.
Wakefield College of Art UK: Intermediate Diploma in Art and Design.

Area of expertise:
Fine Art Contemporary Practice within the traditional and across various art forms (all levels to MFA) with particular emphasis on the symbolic use of materials in sculptural installation. The understanding of the content, meaning and ideas within art and the interpretation and analysis of methods, materials and their relationship to concept.

What have you learned from your students?
1) To listen.
2) Engage in open discussion and treat students as equals in the process of Learning/Teaching
3) Respect for diversity of both thought and practice and lead by example.
4) The encouragement of self-motivation and independence is rewarded with the development of individuality.

Why do students choose CSU Stanislaus?
Individual attention from faculty in small classes in a safe and caring environment. The art department has excellent facilities, a spacious painting studio with beautiful light, well equipped printmaking and new media facilities conducive to study and a sculpture studio and workshops where extensive media can be explored and enjoyed.

How do students succeed in your class?
By responding to suggestions and encouragement, and working with persistent concentration. To become well informed about (international) contemporary art and demonstrate a willingness to explore new materials and media appropriate to individual ideas leading to the development of a personal, artistic identity and language.

What brought you to CSU Stanislaus?
A sense of adventure coupled with a deep admiration for America and its culture. I had taught in art schools in the United Kingdom and the opportunity presented itself to experience living and working here in Turlock. The parallels and contrasts between England and America continue to fascinate me.

If you were not teaching, what other career do you see yourself in?
I love doing what I do now, and cannot imagine doing anything else.

Describe a former student who has attained professional success.
A graduate of mine from the UK now runs his own commercial gallery in New York showing experimental international art -- Gavin Browne's Enterprise.

Having been at CSU Stanislaus for only four years, students I have taught here are in the early stages of their post-BFA and BA journeys. I am pleased for any student who fulfills their own ambition. Several students are currently studying for MFAs. Others are beginning their careers as teachers. Some have diversified but their lives are enriched by their art education.

E-mail Address:
GSenior@csustan.edu