James Madison University

The Institute for Visual Studies

The Institute for Visual Studies (IVS) at James Madison University is a center for scholarly, scientific and creative inquiry into the nature and workings of images. An incubator of new ideas, the institute fosters discovery, and the generation of artworks, products, and applications by multidisciplinary teams of students and faculty.

IVS is located in Room 208 of Roop Hall on the campus of JMU. It is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and by appointment. Please call 568-5656 with questions.

IVS Fall Events 2012

The Art of Writing
September 11–November 2
Reception: September 11, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Drawn from JMU’s special collections, as well as works lent from members of the community, this exhibition explores the beauty of writing with the hand. The show includes everything from Baroque legal records to Asian scrolls.

Asian Calligraphy: Tradition and Transformation
November 27–December 14
Reception: November 27, 11 a.m–1 p.m..

In East Asian cultures, calligraphy is viewed as an art form that can demonstrate social status, but also display political power. After taking a course to learn the fundamentals of the practice and its cultural context, students respond to these ideas by creating their own artistic explorations.