Tenure-Track Position in Art Writing, Department of Art, U.C. Irvine

The Department of Art at UC Irvine's Claire Trevor School of the Arts seeks an Assistant Professor of Art Writing. The Department of Art offers both the Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) and the Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA). The starting date for the position is July 1, 2013, with teaching responsibilities commencing in September 2013.

Faculty positions at the University of California entail research, teaching, and service responsibilities. The Department of Art is looking for a colleague conducting research at the forefront of art writing, broadly defined to encompass discursive practices addressing art, as well as the relationship of artistic practice to other fields. The successful candidate will possess a deep understanding of contemporary art with a thoughtful appreciation of historical precedent. The Department is interested in writing practices that challenge the limits of existing conventions, and value the ability to take a stand, pose questions, and encourage new possibilities, especially in areas where silence has reigned. An active engagement with formal and conceptual experimentation; DIY publishing; non-Western perspectives; and writing practices that intersect with other art forms are desired.

Candidates must be able to teach writing-oriented courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, while possessing sufficient versatility for teaching studio critiques, special topic seminars, and university-wide lecture courses on contemporary art. The new faculty member will also play a role in the department’s recently formed MFA with a concentration in Critical & Curatorial Studies, join collaborative interdisciplinary efforts throughout the university, and share departmental administrative duties.

The successful candidate will join a growing department of 16 full-time faculty. A heterogeneous group of artists and scholars, the department values inquiry and experimentation over specific ideologies and intellectual methods. The department’s research and instruction examines how definitions of art play themselves out in contexts ranging from the personal to the public, from the gallery to the street. The department’s curriculum emphasizes that art is not a freestanding category, but instead takes shape through its intersection with other knowledge domains and sites of power. Located in one of the most diverse regions of the United States, the department remains mindful of its role in a global society. Areas of interest include, but not limited to, the legacies of modern and post-modern art discourses, “post-studio” practices, gender and queer theory, deconstruction and postcolonial critique, media and new technologies, museum and curatorial studies, social practice and public/community cultural work.

Qualifications: MFA or PhD, or equivalent training; a record of significant research achievements; minimum of three years of teaching experience at the post-secondary level; and a strong commitment to teaching, research, service, and collegial collaboration.

Application Requirements: 1) A cover letter explaining interest in the position; 2) CV, including record of publications, projects, and weblinks; 3) Statement of research practice; 4) Statement of teaching philosophy; 5) Names and contact information for three recommenders; and 6) Copies of three (maximum) publications, to: https://recruit.ap.uci.edu.

Optional: Applicants have the option to submit a portfolio of up to 10 images and other media samples to: https://ctsa.slideroom.com. There is a fee associated with submission of materials.

Deadline: Friday, March 1, 2013, with application review continuing until the position is filled.

EEO/AA Policy: UCI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity, and strongly encourages applications from women, minorities, and other under-represented groups. UCI is responsive to the needs of dual career couples and is dedicated to work-life balance through an array of family-friendly policies, and is the recipient of an NSF Advance Award for gender equity. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. All positions at University of California are subject to budgetary approval.