By Facebook's count, the Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) interests a mere 13 students here at Johns Hopkins ("I want MICA friends ... now"). But convenient samples of Hopkins students would suggest that this quirky art school has a much stronger pull at Hopkins than anyone would have expected.
"They just seem so artistically out there ... they almost seem hard to reach," sophomore Cindy Chen said.
"Fun," "colorful," "exciting" and "good-looking" were other adjectives that came up when this question was put to a group of obviously bored biostatistics students. But when the question was pressed, it became clear how little interaction we've had with MICA and how its status here has more of a mythological air than our engineers would admit.
For sophomore Dan Furman, there is a simple answer to the MICA mystique--become part of it. An east Asian studies and International Relations double-major at Hopkins, Furman is also cross-registered at MICA for three credits this fall semester.
As part of the Collegetown agreement that dates back to 1973, Hopkins students may take up to three credits at MICA at no additional cost. Traditionally, this has attracted a small but steady stream of closet artists exploring everything from sculptural studies to graphic design.
Furman, one of the two Hopkins students cross-registered this semester at MICA, has opted for Introduction to Ceramics, a six-hour studio class that meets every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. However, it would be a mistake to think that's all there is to it. According to Furman, the class typically requires another six to 10 hours a week for its homework, last week's being the construction of 8 five-inch cylinders.
Which begs the question, "why?"
"I've done ceramics in high school and I think it's a really good way I feel like I can express myself ... it's quite a time commitment, but it's just nice to get away from Hopkins," Furman said. "It just strikes me as a different kind of atmosphere, you walk around you see a lot of people smiling, people are encouraged to be very creative, there's a lot of art installations around campus."
Furman went on with a description of his current class -- how the professor manages to stay instructive while largely leaving her students to their own work.
"I just think at Hopkins so many people aren't doing what they love," Furman added after a pause.
All this sounded too enticing for me to not see for myself. And with the next day's biochemistry reading, I paid a Wednesday night visit to MICA's ceramics studio.
It would be hard to miss MICA's campus on Mt. Royal. After blocks of Baltimore's brick fa&231;ade, MICA's Brown Center stands out with a soft white glow at night.
Stepping into the building (and not being asked to sign in), I found it hard not to steal glances at the MICA students passing by. Compared to the stream of cologned-prep that crosses the N. Charles every morning, MICA students appeared to be walking statements of tasteful fashion -- their jeans washed to the perfect fade, their t-shirts unique but understated and on every student was an individual look that comes together as a real life version of an idealized college brochure.
Paintings, sculptures, prints and other pieces line the well-lit halls of the buildings, where many students complete sketches for their studio classes. Even its library (since a true Hopkins student cannot visit a school without seeing its library) carried a different air. Better lighting, more spacious aisles and a congenial silence made it seemed a more relaxing space to study.
However it would be a mistake to think of MICA as the relaxed nirvana of art students. Heading into the ceramics studio in the basement, one would see students concentrating with the same intensity pre-meds in organic chemistry lab (though wearing much nicer aprons). Dropping in on conversations around campus, talks of graduate school, business plans and jobs are mixed with student gossip and music critiques.
But for those who still aren't convinced about MICA, the Facebook group provides a few final reasons -- "because sometimes you need an artsy friend for insight and creativity ... because sometimes sad, lonely Hopkins students need something better to do on a Saturday night than study."
