What is your year and major? I'm a senior, graduating this May — scary stuff. I'm a general studio major as well as graphic design.
What is your favorite medium to work with and why?
Recently, ceramics has become my favorite medium because of the amazing techniques I can use to create intricate forms that have the appearance of deterioration. Plus, it's hefty and has a fantastic sound when it bursts into pieces when dropped.
How did you choose the pieces you will be displaying?
I'm displaying Greek-style torso figures cast from my own body, as well as a face cast of myself with a feature of drapery. I'm also showing a video — a compilation of the massive amount footage I've gathered while being here at UMD. This is an autobiographical show where I hope I can tell a story that fosters empathy in others.
What would you like people to know about your show?
A warning: There's swearing in the video. For art, of course. I wanted to capture real life, and real life has profanity.
What is one piece of advice you have for incoming art students?
Somewhere along the way, I turned into a boring adult. Basically, I'll say the advice adults told me, (that) I subsequently didn't believe. I expect any young ones who read this article to be just as skeptical. But here it is:
You'll be fine. You'll have a lot of advice to sift through, and a lot of times you'll feel like your art is no good and it will never get any better, but, good lord, it will. Just keep doing what you like, and do a lot of it.
That's what this show is about, I suppose. It's about me getting better at figuring out what I'm doing. Just doing the things that excite me, going the places I want to go, dating the people I want to date and creating the art that I want to see makes me happier than I was four years ago. I think everyone else gets better too when they keep chugging along and do their own passions. So do what you want, and you'll do great.
Photo Description
Taken by Elizabeth James
Senior Jill Petracek with a carved ceramic sculpture of her body.
COMPILED BY TAYLOR JENSEN Arts and Entertainment Editor