Student Organizations

AIGA Mason

The AIGA MASON student organization is committed to advancing the understanding of the value and process of design to aspiring professional graphic designers around the Washington DC area. We hold weekly meetings and events. Also, we have a rich schedule of design-related activities such as our Spotlight on DC Design guest speaker series, portfolio reviews, field trips, workshops, studio tours, movie nights, happy hours, social events, etc. There’s always room in our friendly community for all students to learn, get inspired, and make new friends. 

We have created our own AIGA George Mason University Design Firm to gain real world design experience outside of the classroom. Together we design exciting, inspiring, and beautiful things for various clients of the George Mason University community. We like to take risks and work together in a collaborative student environment. Please take a look at our portfolio and see our past projects.

Contact: Michael McDermott, faculty advisor.

Focus Group GMU

Focus Group is George Mason University’s only student organization of photographers providing a community to facilitate growth in members’ artistic and photographic knowledge and skill set. Through various activities, including but not limited to artist talks, guest speakers, educational outings, and regular exposure to traditional and contemporary photography and methods, Focus Group seeks to educate and stimulate conversation concerning all types of professional photography.

GMU Printmaker’s Guild

GMU Printmaker’s Guild is composed of students, faculty, and professional artists from the Washington D.C. area who are skilled in a wide range of printmaking media.  The Guild is affiliated with Pyramid Atlantic art center, Navigation Press, Lily Press, and of course George Mason University.

Our philosophy is that artists enjoy working together and producing exciting work collaboratively. We feel the need to work in society and as part of the community, networking, sharing interest and having fun. The GMU Printmakers Guild will not operate as a work only guild; but a teaching and sharing group that freely gives all our knowledge of printmaking to any visitor during Guild hours on our Calendar.

As an organization, the printmaker’s guild reaches out to other artists in the community though its exhibitions, demonstrations and lectures. It will be our goal to bring prominent Washington D.C. artists into the universities studios to share knowledge through lectures, making prints, or just conversations over coffee with our members.

In addition to having free workshops a couple of times a month, we will offer print works for sale at reasonable prices in an effort to build a fund to pay visiting artists and to finance trips to printmaking conferences and workshops for the George Mason University students.  Membership is open to all – GMU Students, Faculty and Staff, as well as Community Members.

Questions? Email info@gmuprintmakersguild.org.

NAEA

The National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) mission is to advance art education through professional development, service, advancement of knowledge, and leadership. The local Mason student chapter encourages pre-service teachers to engage in their own field at the local, state and national level.

Our Goals:

• Attend state and national art education conventions
• Host guest speakers on current art education topics
• Network with state and county education officials to discuss trends and standards in the field
• Extend community outreach programs to schools, community art centers, galleries and museums
• Provide job resources for aspiring art education professionals through discussion and newsletters covering job searches, teaching portfolios and interviewing strategies

Sculpture Club

Sculpture Club is a group of highly motivated students who enjoy learning new sculptural techniques, peer critique and community building barbecues . We bring in local professional artists for lectures and workshops.