Dr. Starmanda Bullock's research is underway into the theory and practice of visual language design based on the proposition that " the ascendancy of the syntactic relationship of the `image' to text, sound, and motion is central to the evolution of the human species language systems in twenty-first century culture."

Dr. Floyd Coleman , art history, continues to assemble a research team that projects leadership and scholarship by perpetuating a National voice concerned with visual art and its relationship to cultural studies. The culminating event of each academic year is a forum he presents which brings nationally recognized scholars to the campus for a three day event.

The Porter Colloquium continues its tradition of boldly promoting innovative perspectives, ground breaking scholarship and open critical dialogue on African American Art. During this year's three-day program, scholars artists, and cultural critics will examine the ideas that influence how works of African American are viewed, interpreted and valued. The Colloquium will offer competing theoretical claims, critique and analyze critical terms challenging Eurocentric hegemonies, and chart the course for revision in African American art historical discourse. The Colloquium also aims to expand the analysis of art production by artists of color, acknowledging the complexity of artistic construction, and the necessity to carefully examine these works throughout the African Diaspora. To this end, the Colloquium reveres the legacy of Professor James A. Porter and honors artists of color with clear and probing analyses of our visual traditions.

Raymond G. Dobard, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1970. From the Johns Hopkins University Dobard received his Master of Arts (1973) and Doctor of Philosophy (1975) degrees in the History of Art.

Since 1975, Dr. Dobard has been affiliated with Howard University where he is currently Professor of Art in the College of Arts and Sciences.

In addition to exhibiting his own quilts, Dr. Dobard served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg [1992 to 1996]. He also served on the advisory boards of the Washington, D. C. Textile Museum [1993-96] and the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln [1997-98]. Currently he is an advisor for the new African American Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland and serves as adjunct faculty member/ Quilt Study Center Fellow to the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

With Jacqueline L. Tobin of Denver, Colorado, Dr. Dobard co-authored the book, Hidden In Plain View: The Secret Story of Quilts And The Underground Railroad , published by Doubleday in January of 1999 and by Anchor Press as a paperback with an additional chapter in January 2000. Dr. Dobard = s other publications include an article in the International Journal of African American Art [1994 Hampton University Press] and a symposium paper in the Illinois State Museum = s Connecting Stitches: Quilts in Illinois Life [1995 ].He has contributed to the Washington DC Antique Show catalogue and has written the introduction to Cuesta Benberry = s book, A Piece of My Soul: Quilts by Black Arkansans [University of Arkansas Press, 2000}

His recent publications include an article entitled , A Knowing Hands: Binding Heritage in African American Quilts , @ in the 2001 November/December issue of the NAACP Crisis Magazine, and an essay for Maryland Art Place Exhibition 2002 Catalogue [ part of his participation in the Maryland = s Writers 2001-2002 Critics = Residency Program.] In Maryland, Dr. Dobard appeared on C-Span Book TV March 2002 filmed at Howard Community College Book Fair For Cobblestone Publications = Footsteps Magazine , Dr. Dobard wrote an article entitled @ Signs and Symbols which was published in the 2003 Jan/Feb issue. In 2003, Dr. Dobard was a consultant/participant in the documentary on the Underground Railroad entitled Safe Harbor : a Main street Media production 2003 [ see www.wqln.org/safeharbor]. His research on quilts, codes and the Underground Railroad continues with an eye towards another book entitled By Way of Sandusky.  

Dr. Chi Chong Lee is conducting team­ teaching collaborations in the area of electronic studio art with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. This past academic year (2003­ 2004), she was joined by Professor David Smedley, departmental sculpture coordinator, in a Senior Capstone Course involving General Motors, the Department of Engineering, and the Electronic Studio and Sculpture Units. The project, titled Partners for the Advancement of CAD/CAM/CAE Education (PACE), involves the use of industry software to carry out instructions and research activities in the areas of Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) at Howard University. The use of this software has had a direct impact on the curricula in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Division of Fine Arts. Faculty/student teams participated in the Capstone course to compete in a national competition on the styling, packaging and esthetic design of the tailgating package accessory under the sponsorship of General Motors. The results of the PACE project/ Capstone course's collaborative vision and curriculum planning has resulted in General Motors selecting Howard University to participate with the $70 million project, Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education (PACE).

Tewodross Melchishua, also supported by the Fund for Academic Excellence, has made significant progress towards the department's goal to partner with the School of Communications through the presentation of a new course, "Digital Narratives: New Concepts in Digital Video Art, Editing, and Compositing." "Digital Narratives" is designed to introduce students to digital video editing, animation, and streaming media techniques for the web and multimedia presentations. Through the interaction between students, faculty and visiting artists, filmmakers, and producers, the course will give students a direct communication with those in the industry, thus creating an even stronger and professional graduating portfolio

Kwaku Ofori-Ansa, through the support of the Fund for Academic Excellence Grant in previous years, has continued to work towards a Ghana Travel/Study Program to provide participants with the necessary human and material resources and intellectually stimulating environment for the acquisition of knowledge and skills relating to African visual arts and their cultural context of use. The goals of his travel program are to offer avenues for cross-cultural and multidisciplinary interactions between Howard University and the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); to afford participants the opportunity to expand their global awareness by studying cultures other than their own; and to strengthen the historic and cultural ties between the American people and the Ghanaian people and solidify the present cordial relationship towards future expansion. In order for these goals to come to fruition, Dr. Ansa was instrumental in authoring a Memorandum of Understanding between KNUST and Howard University. Dr. Ansa is expected to begin the program through which Howard University students may receive college credit during summer 2005.

Winnie Owens-Hart, a renowned ceramics artist, has employed two assistants, seven high school apprentices, and dozens of members of the Arlington, Virginia community to collect and create over 1,200 handmade decorative memory bricks to line Arlington's Gateway oval walkway. Images on the bricks serve as visual reminders of a neighborhood's heritage period. The creation was made possible through funding by the Arlington County Neighborhood Conservation Program and is the first in the program's history to include works of Public Art.

James Phillip's work in painting has provided hands-on experience for his students by securing and executing a public arts mural, "Healing the Spaces" at Washington, DC's Children's Hospital. Through this project, which was unveiled in June 2004, students participated in all phases of contract development, client/public interaction, fabrication and transport, installation, insurance of maintenance and preservation instructions, and photographic documentation of the finished artwork.

In sculpture, David Smedley, as an Art Department member of the PACE design team, partnered with Dr. Chi Chong Lee to provide hands-on experience for our students and engineering students in deconstructing (two) 2003 Saturn Ion Automobiles (see PACE project details in Electronic Studio section). As an outcome to interdisciplinary research with the Department of Mechanical Engineering, the sculpture unit expects to secure eight to ten high-end workstations with parametric modeling software with which to design virtual models of component parts of the redesigned General Motors automobile.

Alfred J. Smith has designed a cross­ disciplinary course, with support from the Fund for Academic Excellence Grant, titled "Time as the Rhythm of Experience." Co-authored by James Lindesay, Department of Computational Physics, this collaborative faculty team delivered a video presentation and lecture as part of the David C. Driskell Center Colloquium Series at the University of Maryland on November 11, 2003.
Related to the theme, "Time as the Rhythm of Experience," Professor Smith has published a paper titled "Workdance of a Rhythm Master" in The International Review of African American Art, a quarterly journal published by the Hampton University Museum (May 2004). In conjunction with the May 2004 publication, Professor Smith was invited to participate in the exhibition, "The Rhythm of Structure," that ran from June 2, 2004 through July 28 at Kenkelaba Gallery in SOHO, New York. 

Colette Veasey-Cullors is coordinator and the sole full-time faculty member of the photography concentration. The photography unit is contributing significantly to the department's dialogue, discussion, and research concerning the topic of "the image" in relation to visual syntax and language design. Veasey­ Cullors organized a visiting artist presentation in the Department of Art by internationally recognized performance artist, Steven Cohen, from Johannesburg, South Africa on October 29, 2003. Mr. Cohen's aesthetic features controversial "Reality TV" video presentations that invoke the viewer to address controversial issues concerning sexually explicit material, gender, homophobia, race relations, class relations, and entitlement. As a result of a lively dialogue generated by Mr. Cohen's video narratives, students and faculty experienced alternative views and the broader dialogue and debate of Post-Modern visual culture.

Mark Watkins is an Architect and full time Instructor in the Interior Design discipline.  He recently completed the architectural design of the First Baptist Church of North Brentwood, Maryland.  He has provided community design assistance to numerous organizations and groups including Terrific Inc. where he redesigned an apartment building for "Families Living With Aids."  Professor Watkins' teaching provide students an opportunity to participate in all phases of the design process.

Patricia Young is coordinator and full time Instructor for the Interior Design discipline.  Her recent collaboration, with colleague Mark Watkins, has included the design of the interior for the First Baptist Church in North Brentwood, Maryland.  Dr. Young and faculty recently submitted redesign plans for the Howard University Cancer Center, using ten students from Interior Design, and four from Architecture.  Dr. Young is in the process of coordinating a Community Design Assistance and Research Center for the Department.  Faculty and students will provide, on a selected basis, design outreach service to small businesses, organizations, neighborhood groups, and community organizations.