Art of Expression


This FIG draws upon the cultural matrix of ideas and practices associated with the arts to develop a broader understanding of the visual world.

College Connections Faculty:  Dr. Gregory Gurley

Photo of College Connections faculty for Art of Expression, Greg Gurley. Dr. Gregory Gurley is a Senior Instructor I at the University of Oregon in the Arts and Administration program.  He has professional experience in professional and academic theatre. He has served as a curriculum specialist for the states of Arizona and Oregon and has worked on arts curriculum projects for Lane Arts Council, Lane Community College, and the Oregon Children’s Theatre where he collaborated with schools and community centers to offer ensemble development, playwriting, and creative play devising.  He also serves to train teachers in standards-based curriculum development and in the use of the arts to teach across the curriculum. Greg completed the doctoral program in theatre at Arizona State University with a concentration in Theatre for Young Audiences. His research includes 18 and early 19th C dramas for youth in Ireland and France.

FIG Assistant: Ben M. Jones

My name is Ben M. Jones, and I am a junior, double majoring in Journalism and Theatre Arts. I’m an award winning actor (take that with a grain of salt) as well as a playwright and director for the University of Oregon’s Pocket Playhouse. In the coming fall term, I will be appearing as Oronte in University Theatre’s production of The School For Lies by David Ives, and my play “Writing the Perfect Love Song” will be directed by Erica Hartmann in the Pocket Playhouse.

Next Steps: Summer Assignment and Information

Summer Assignment: The first part of our FIG is a summer assignment: At IntroDUCKtion you will receive a copy of Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. We want you to read it over the summer and come prepared to discuss reactions and ideas inspired by the book at our first meeting. We will also be using this book as a jumping off point for projects throughout the term, so getting familiar with the book now is going to make life easier for you. But don’t worry; reading this book will hardly be a chore!

First Meeting: We look forward to our first mandatory meeting, which will take place during the Week of Welcome on Friday, September 25, 2015 at 10:00 a.m in Straub 156. Be sure to get there on time, because we’ll be moving to another room where we will talk about your summer assignment!

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at benj@uoregon.edu. See you there!

Are you looking for future classes related to your FIG?

The courses below are related to the focus of your FIG and are a great way to keep exploring the subject matter that you dove into your first term at the UO. Many of these courses satisfy general education requirements.

  • J 201: Media and Society
  • DAN 251: Looking at Dance
  • AAD 250: Art & Human Values
  • ARH 205: History of Western Art II
  • ENG 107/108/109: World Literature
  • AAD 301: Art & Gender
  • TA 367/368: History of Theater I / II
  • J 387: Communication History