Student Announcements
See below for important information and announcements for the week.
This information is also sent out in our SMFA Update newsletter, which is sent to undergraduate and graduate students weekly on Mondays during the school year.
What You Need to Know This Week
Anti-Racism: A Year of Creative Activism at Tufts Event Today at 1 pm
It has been a year like no other: a school year defined by initiatives for anti-racism across Tufts University. We bring together creative collaboration from artists and leaders at Tufts for this end of the year event. This event is sponsored by the Daynard Microgrant for Racial Justice at SMFA for collaborative projects. Register to attend and learn more.
Support the Virtual Sidewalk Sale
Support student artists at this year's virtual sidewalk sale. Information about buying and commissioning work from this year's participating artists can be found here. The sale will be live through Wednesday, April 21.
Apply for the Print and Paper Student Awards
All students working in Print, Paper, and Graphic Arts are encouraged to apply to the Print and Paper Student Awards. Submissions will be reviewed by Print, Paper and Graphic Arts Faculty. All awards will be cash awards to help fund future work and will showcase the innovative approaches to working in print and paper at SMFA.
Each student can submit from 1-20 images/videos of projects. This can include works on and of paper, publishing projects, editioned work, multiples, books, zines, posters, flyers, installations, wearables, sculptures, videos, anything involving ideas of print, paper, and graphics. Students will be asked to provide titles, materials, processes, dimensions, years, and project descriptions for their work, as well as, a 1-3 paragraph artist statement.
Submission Deadline: Saturday, May 8 at midnight
Senior Thesis Program: Student Artist Talk Series Continues This Thursday and Friday
Writing as Art Practice: An Extension of Intimacy : Thursday, April 22 – 6:00-7:15 pm EST
Register here to join Amy Chu, BFA + BA '21, and Lily Oliver, BFA '21, for a casual conversation with Research Librarian all-star, Carrie Salazar, on intimate narratives and writing as an extension of artistic practice.
Research=Care: Friday, April 23 – 6:00-7:15 pm EST
Register here to join Jean Chung, BFA ’21 for a conversation about design, printed matter, and the creative potential of research.
View the full schedule of talks here.
Mindful Art Workshop: Wednesday, May 5
Are you in need of a grounding experience after this disorienting semester on campus? Join Megan Farr and Effie Theodosopoulos on May 5 from 3:30-5:00 pm for a mindful art workshop. We will discuss our own experiences using art to clear our minds in times of stress. Afterwards, everyone will have the opportunity to discover their own practice of mindful art through drawing, writing, or whatever you want! Each participant will be provided with a bag of art supplies. The event will take place on the lawn near Crafts Center at the Medford Campus. Sign up here to attend.
Sprout Club Earth Day Giveaway
Earth Day Giveaway hosted by SPROUT Club in a Grab-N-Go event and assisted by the SMFA Library, Thursday, April 22 from 1-3 pm in the SMFA courtyard. Bags include a basil sprout and seed bombs, and a reference list of gardening and sustainability courtesy of the SMFA Library!
Tufts Earth Month: Week 3 Highlights
Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, and #TuftsEarthMonth2021 programming continues. Play this week’s trivia on Sustainability & Food by April 24 and continue building new sustainable habits with the Tufts Ecochallenge team until April 26. In Medford, check out EarthFest on April 23 for nine event stations across campus to learn about sustainability, take action, and complete a scavenger hunt to win $50 of JumboCash. Virtual events this week cover equity and climate change in Boston, food sovereignty and climate, rising seas, a night of Earth Day bingo with TUSC, and more. All information at go.tufts.edu/EarthMonth and @GreenTufts on social media.
Important Fall 2020 Information
COVID-19 Guidance: For the latest updates and guidance from Tufts University, please visit go.tufts.edu/coronavirus
The university has released detailed information about routine testing and shared the comprehensive plan on a dedicated website. We encourage you to review this important information.
Beginning February 1, routine testing will take place at SMFA’s 230 Fenway building Monday through Friday, and on the Medford/Somerville campus daily. You will need to download the Campus Key app in order to schedule your routine tests. Visit the testing website for the most up-to-date information about testing.
All SMFA buildings (including 230 Fenway and 160 St. Alphonsus on the Boston SMFA Campus, and Barnum and Lane Halls on the Medford/Somerville Campus) will be open daily from 8 am to 10 pm All students, faculty, and staff will be required to show their Daily Health Screening clearance at the 230 Fenway and Mission Hill security desks. Overnights and after-hours access will not be permitted in our buildings this semester. Visitors and the members of the public will not be permitted to access our buildings.
Informational signage has been posted throughout campus to remind all of us to maintain a safe social distance. Students, faculty, and staff will be required to wear masks at all times while in SMFA spaces, except while seated in the designated dining area in Anderson Auditorium. We ask that everyone follows these protocols to protect the health and safety of our community.
Students wishing to access specialized studios over the spring semester should contact smfastudioteam@tufts.edu to request an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Information about studio policies and access protocols can be found here.
The SMFA Library will be providing contactless pick up of materials and virtual research consultations during the beginning of the semester. In an abundance of caution, we are not immediately reopening the library. We want to keep everyone safe and will work with you individually to meet your needs. We will share further details about access when we have a better idea of what the demand will be at 230 Fenway.
Once it is proven safe to do so, we will begin scheduling individual library appointments for you to browse the stacks. If you are interested in scheduling such an appointment, email Darin Murphy with a subject of "Scheduling an appointment at the SMFA Library." We cannot guarantee we will be able to honor everyone's requests but will do our best to accommodate you and to create alternative solutions where necessary.
In the meantime, continue to use Jumbo Search to access library materials and to schedule contactless pickup at the SMFA Library or Tisch Library.
Library resources quick links for all students:
Tisch Library Website
SMFA Library Services for Fall 2020
SMFA degree candidates and students enrolled in select SMFA studio courses have been allocated licenses for Adobe. Licenses from fall semester have expired. Students must claim new licenses for spring. Follow these steps:
- Go to https://tufts.onthehub.com/
- Log in with your Tufts username and password
- Click on the "Student" tab, then "Adobe".
- Select the four-month option with a free price.
- Follow the instructions to download and install the software. Please note, Mac users should be running MacOS X 10.13 or later. Windows requirements are less stringent – even Windows 7 is supported!
- If you have trouble, please contact it@tufts.edu. Be sure to let them know you’re an SMFA student.
- You must claim your license by 2/28, otherwise you will relinquish it.
This semester the galleries in the Aidekman Arts Center on the Medford/Somerville campus are open for in-person visits by appointment for Tufts students, faculty, and staff only. New hours are Monday to Friday, 10 am to 5 pm; groups and classes should schedule their visits with Liz Canter at elizabeth.canter@tufts.edu.
All public programs will be available online. Visit our site for our full schedule of panels, artist talks, screenings and more and for a full listing of our in-person and online exhibitions.
SMFA Shuttle Service is running. There will be two shuttles departing Aidekman Arts Center and two shuttles departing 230 Fenway on the hour. Masks are required on the shuttle and shuttles will run at 50% capacity to accommodate physical distancing. Please visit the SMFA shuttle website for exact times. Contact transportation@tufts.edu with any questions.
Shuttle Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 10 pm
Saturday & Sunday: 11 pm to 7 pm
The SMFA Café will open for the semester on Monday, February 1. SMFA Café will have limited counter service, but we highly suggest ordering ahead on the mobile app. Anderson Auditorium will be furnished to offer socially-distant dining space. The Café accepts meal swipes, RhinoBucks, JumboCash, and credit cards.
SMFA Café hours of operation:
Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 4 pm.
Friday: 9 am to 2 pm
Closed weekends and holidays
Visit the Dining webpage for Medford/Somerville campus dining locations and hours.
This semester, the SMFA Art Store will allow in-person shopping by appointment only. Make an appointment here to shop in-person or by phone. An online shopping experience is on its way. Questions? Contact us 617-627-0049 or via email at artstore@tufts.edu.
Art Store Hours
Monday – Thursday: 10 am-5 pm EST
Friday: 10 am-4 pm EST
SMFA Student Affairs offices are open 9 am to 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday, but please do not come by in person. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SMFA Student Affairs will be conducting meetings and drop-in assistance to students virtually rather than in our office in 2020-21.
Make an appointment by contacting us via phone, or drop into our virtual office hours: 10 am to 4 pm EST, Monday through Friday.
All letters and packages for SMFA students will be received and distributed from Mail Services on the Medford/Somerville campus. Students living off-campus are encouraged to ship and mail items to their off-campus address.
Students that already had a locker at 230 Fenway will continue to use that locker for the 2020 - 2021 academic year. If you do not have a locker and would like to reserve one, you may request a locker. After you have reserved a locker, email SMFAStudentAffairs@tufts.edu with your locker number and location to receive the combination. Contact SMFAStudentAffairs@tufts.edu with any questions.
Due to the situation with COVID-19, the Wave Farm Radio Station is currently offline.