Frances Colpitt named UTSA art and art history chair

(August 26, 2002)--James Broderick, who has been department chair, division director and professor of art for 19 of the UTSA art program’s 28 years, and chairman of the university’s Public Art Commission, is now anticipating his planned retirement from the university. Frances Colpitt will assume the responsibilities of department chair Sept. 1.

Colpitt has been with the university since 1990. She is an associate professor of art history and criticism specializing in contemporary art, theory and criticism. She holds a bachelor of fine arts in painting and a master of arts in humanities from the University of Tulsa, and a Ph.D. in art history from the University of Southern California. Before assuming her position at UTSA, she taught at Cornell University; the University of California, Santa Barbara; and the University of Southern California. She was also a visiting professor at UCLA.

Colpitt's books include “Minimal Art: The Critical Perspective” and “Abstract Art in the Late Twentieth Century.” She is a corresponding editor for “Art in America,” where her essays and reviews appear regularly. In addition, she has authored articles for the “Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism,” “Afterimage,” “Art Journal” and “ArtLies.” Among the numerous exhibitions she has organized are several devoted to issues of contemporary abstract painting.

Her exhibitions have appeared at the University Art Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara; Fisher Gallery, USC; Blue Star Art Space in San Antonio; ArtPace, A Foundation for Contemporary Art|San Antonio and the UTSA Art Gallery.

During the next year, Broderick will pursue research opportunities and spend more time in the studio. He is now concentrating his efforts in various forms of photography, including type-C prints, and cyanotype and electrostatic color prints. Several of his recent photographs will be part of “FOTOSEPTIEMBRE USA,” an upcoming Texas photographers exhibit at San Antonio’s Blue Star Art Space.

During Broderick’s tenure at UTSA, the department added three tenure-track faculty positions, the number of undergraduate and graduate art majors increased and a master of arts degree in art history and criticism was added to the BFA and MFA programs. Also while he was at the helm, the UTSA Art Gallery, Student Gallery E, UTSA Satellite Space at Blue Star Art Space and the UTSA Durango Building gallery were added to the department’s service mission.

Presenting up to twenty professional art exhibitions annually, the department’s exhibit spaces provide educational and entertainment experiences for the San Antonio metropolitan community. Broderick also presided over the visiting faculty program, which consistently brings to UTSA nationally prominent visiting artists and art critics.

“The success the visual arts program had during my time at UTSA is clearly due to the great working relationships that I have enjoyed with all departmental, college and university colleagues,” said Broderick.

Broderick raised thousands of dollars in scholarship funds for UTSA art students and more than $50,000 in private support for the UTSA Satellite Space. With administrative encouragement and support, he organized the UTSA Public Art Commission in 1994, and has been the chair and facilitator since then of the UTSA public art program operations.

“Under the leadership of Professor Jim Broderick, the faculty has been committed to developing a respected national profile for our programs,” said Colpitt. “During this period of transition, I am committed to maintaining the high quality of instruction and professional education of our undergraduate and graduate students, and our extensive exhibition programming, community presence and the reputation of the department.”

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Frances Colpitt named UTSA art and art history chair

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