![Image Courtesy Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Image_Courtesy_Kendall_College_of_Art_and_Design_of_Ferris_State_University_.jpg)
Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University (KCAD) is a
college of art and design located in downtown
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city and county seat of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. At the 2020 census, the city had a population of 198,917 which ranks it as the second most-populated city in the state after Detroit. Grand Rapids is th ...
.
Founded in 1928 as a private
art academy
An art school is an educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, including fine art – especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. Art schools can offer elementary, secondary, post-second ...
, the college merged with
Ferris State University
Ferris State University (FSU or Ferris) is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan. It was founded in 1884 and became a public institution in 1950. Ferris is the ninth-largest institutions of higher education by enrol ...
in 2000. Offering bachelor's and master's degree programs encompassing
design, visual arts,
decorative arts
]
The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose object is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. It includes most of the arts making objects for the interiors of buildings, and interior design, but not usua ...
,
art history
Art history is the study of aesthetic objects and visual expression in historical and stylistic context. Traditionally, the discipline of art history emphasized painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, ceramics and decorative arts; yet today, ...
, and
critical theory
A critical theory is any approach to social philosophy that focuses on society and culture to reveal, critique and challenge power structures. With roots in sociology and literary criticism, it argues that social problems stem more from s ...
, KCAD is accredited by the
National Association of Schools of Art and Design, and the Higher Learning Commission of the
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Academics and rankings
Rankings
According to
U.S. News & World Report, KCAD's
Master of Fine Arts program in
Studio Art is ranked #110 in the United States, tied with those of
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico, or commonly, Chico State, is a public university in Chico, California. Founded in 1887, it is the second oldest campus in the California State University system. As of the fall 2020 semester, the university h ...
, and
California State University, Long Beach.
Programs
The college's primary offering is its four-year undergraduate program, which combines general-education courses based on a model it calls ''Pathways'', common foundational subjects, and a concentration of courses specific to each area of study, usually with a heavy studio focus. Kendall offers degrees in: Art History: Studio (BA), Art History: Academic (BA), Art History (AA), Collaborative Design (BFA), Design Studies (AFA), Digital Art and Design: Entertainment Arts (BFA), Digital Art and Design: Multimedia Design (BFA), Drawing (BFA), Fashion Studies (BFA), Graphic Design (BFA), Illustration (BFA), Interior Design (BFA), Life Sciences and Pre-Medical Illustration (BFA), Painting (BFA), Photography (BFA), Product Design: Furniture Design (BFA), Product Design: Industrial Design (BFA), Product Design: Metals/Jewelry Design (BFA), and Sculpture/Functional Art (BFA). Spring 2022, enrollment is 562.
Kendall offers graduate programs in several disciplines: Architecture (MArch), Certificate in Design and Innovation Management (MBA), Painting (MFA), Visual and Critical Studies (Certificate), and Design (MA).
It offers dual-enrollment programs through several area high schools, in which students receive both high school and college credit. These classes are taught either on Kendall's campus or at high schools.
History
David Wolcott Kendall was a nationally known furniture designer, during Grand Rapids' heyday as "Furniture City". The David Wolcott Memorial School was established in 1928 by the will of Helen M. Kendall, his widow. The school opened in 1931, offering a two-year program in design, with 35 students. The school was located at 145 Fountain Street, at the western edge of what is now
Heritage Hill.
In 1947, growing from an influx of students following World War 2, the school's name was changed to Kendall School of Design. In 1961, having outgrown the Heritage Hill site, it relocated to 1110 College Avenue NE in the Highland Park neighborhood. In 1977, Kendall began offering baccalaureate degrees, and in 1981 was accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. It moved again, to the seven-story Manufacturer's Building at 111 Division Avenue North (on the corner of Fountain Street, a short distance from the original site) in 1984.
The name of the school was changed in 1987 to Kendall College of Art and Design. As part of a merger with Ferris State University, the college bought the adjacent Interstate Building in the 1990s, constructing an atrium which became the combined structures' main entrance at 17 Fountain Street NW. In 2000 the school became formally Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, and it continued renovating the new space for studio and classroom use. After the
Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) is an art museum located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, with collections ranging from Renaissance to Modern Art and special collections on 19th and 20th-century European and American art. Its holdings ...
moved out of the Federal Building to the north, the university took ownership of it and reopened it as the Woodbridge N. Ferris Building in 2012 as part of the Kendall campus. In 2013, the college merged with th
Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts which had recently relocated to a new facility a few blocks to the south, and continues to operate as an arts organization.
Facilities
![Kendall College of Art and Design sign](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Kendall_College_of_Art_and_Design_sign.jpg)
The college occupies two historic structures in downtown Grand Rapids, between Division and Ionia Avenues and Fountain and Lyon Streets. The seven-story main building contains most of the college's classroom, studio, and office space. The
Woodbridge N. Ferris Building contains exhibition space, additional classrooms, and office space.
Facilities include black-and-white
darkrooms, photo studios, a
library
A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...
, galleries, an historic furniture collection,
sculptural
Sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. Sculpture is the three-dimensional art work which is physically presented in the dimensions of height, width and depth. It is one of the plastic arts. Durable sc ...
wood- and
metalworking
Metalworking is the process of shaping and reshaping metals to create useful objects, parts, assemblies, and large scale structures. As a term it covers a wide and diverse range of processes, skills, and tools for producing objects on every scal ...
shops, a
metalsmithing/jewelry design studio,
digital fabrication Digital modeling and fabrication is a design and production process that combines 3D modeling or computing-aided design (CAD) with additive and subtractive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing is also known as 3D printing, while subtractive manuf ...
contemporary technology such as wide format inkjet printers, laser engraving/cutting systems, 3D scanners, rapid prototyping/3D printers,
CNC milling
Numerical control (also computer numerical control, and commonly called CNC) is the automated control of machining tools (such as drills, lathes, mills, grinders, routers and 3D printers) by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a ...
machines,
printmaking equipment,
life drawing
A figure drawing is a drawing of the human form in any of its various shapes and postures using any of the drawing media. The term can also refer to the act of producing such a drawing. The degree of representation may range from highly detailed, ...
studios, audio recording booth, and student studios.
Notable alumni
*
Ray C. Anderson, founder and chairman of
Interface Inc., one of the world's largest manufacturers of modular carpet for commercial and residential applications and a leading producer of commercial broadloom and commercial fabrics.
*
Ted Bell
Theodore Augustus Bell III (July 3, 1946 – January 20, 2023) was an American author of suspense novels such as ''Hawke'' and ''Assassin'', ''Pirate'', ''Spy'', ''Warlord'', ''Phantom'', and ''Overkill'', released in May 2018. He is best know ...
is an American author of suspense novels such as Hawke and Assassin, Pirate, Spy, Warlord, Phantom, and Overkill.
*
Børns
Garrett Clark Borns (born January 7, 1992), better known by his stage name Børns (stylized as BØRNS), is a former American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.
Born and raised in Grand Haven, Michigan, Børns began performing in his ...
, American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, known for his collaborative single,
God Save Our Young Blood
"God Save Our Young Blood" is a song by American recording artist Børns featuring the vocals of American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. The song was produced by Tommy English and written by Børns and Thomas Schleiter. The song was their secon ...
with
Lana Del Rey
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant (born June 21, 1985), known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. Her music is noted for its cinematic quality and exploration of tragic romance, glamour, and melancholia, with frequent r ...
.
*
Denise Fleming
Denise K. Fleming (January 31, 1950) is an American creator of children's picture books. She was born in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated in illustration (after a change from advertising design) from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, M ...
, children's book illustrator.
*
Vladimir Kagan, American furniture designer.
*
Maynard James Keenan
Maynard James Keenan (born James Herbert Keenan; April 17, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and winemaker. He is best known as the singer and primary lyricist of the rock bands Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Pusc ...
, lead singer and primary lyricist of the rock bands
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up includes vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones and drummer Danny Carey. Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist since 1995, replacing thei ...
and
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. A Perfect Circle has released four studio albums, the first three during the early 2000s: ...
.
*
Laurie Keller, American children's writer and illustrator.
*
Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of
Council of Fashion Designers of America
The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA), founded in 1962 by publicist Eleanor Lambert, and headquartered in Manhattan, is a not-for-profit trade association comprising a membership of over 450 American fashion and accessory d ...
.
*
Daniel Morris Monroe, American illustrator known for his illustration
Dennis the Wild Bull, a children's book written by
Dennis Rodman
Dennis Keith Rodman (born May 13, 1961) is an American former professional basketball player. Known for his fierce defensive and rebounding abilities, his biography on the official NBA website states that he is "arguably the best reboundin ...
.
*
Keith Parkinson
Keith A. Parkinson (October 22, 1958 – October 26, 2005) was an American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book covers and artwork for games such as ''EverQuest'', '' Guardians'', '' Magic: The Gathering'', and '' Vanguard: Saga of Hero ...
, American fantasy artist and illustrator known for book covers and artwork for games such as
EverQuest
''EverQuest'' is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) originally developed by Verant Interactive and 989 Studios for Windows PCs. It was released by Sony Online Entertainment in March 1999 in North Amer ...
,
Guardians
Guardian usually refers to:
* Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another
* ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper
(The) Guardian(s) may also refer to:
Places
* Guardian, West Virginia, Uni ...
,
Magic: The Gathering
''Magic: The Gathering'' (colloquially known as ''Magic'' or ''MTG'') is a Tabletop game, tabletop and Digital collectible card game, digital Collectible card game, collectable card game created by Richard Garfield. Released in 1993 by Wizards ...
.
*
Reynold Weidenaar
Reynold Henry Weidenaar (1915-1985) was an artist from Grand Rapids, Michigan, recognized nationally as well as locally for his technical virtuosity as a draftsman and printmaker. He embraced the subject matter and realism of American Regionalist ...
, American draftsman and printmaker.
References
External links
Kendall College of Art and Design web site
{{authority control
Public universities and colleges in Michigan
Art schools in Michigan
Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ferris State University
Educational institutions established in 1928
Universities and colleges in Kent County, Michigan
1928 establishments in Michigan
Arts organizations established in 1928