What is your year and major?
I finished my classes last semester, so I am in limbo between a senior and a person with a BFA. I guess I’m a super senior. I’m a Studio Art General major.
What is your favorite medium to work with and why?
It’s rough picking favorites, but I seem to have found my calling in creating digital collage with photography. I never get sick of the process, and I have so much freedom to edit along the way. I’m a very messy artist, so I also enjoy not having a mess to clean up.
How did you choose the pieces you will be displaying?
It was actually more of a mission to complete than a choosing process. I wanted to have a show about astrology and to create images for each sign, so I knew I needed to complete 12 images. I also received a lot of valuable input from my mentor, Wanda Pearcy, along the way.
What would you like people to know about your show?
In this series it was important for me to combine new and old processes. I wanted to marry the digital age of art with the older, lesser-known dark room cyanotype process. In doing so, I was able to create pieces of art that couldn’t be mass-produced in an exact way.
Conceptually, I chose to create “Gods of the Stars” because I’ve been observing people and astrology for many years. I’ve created my pieces by mixing my observed concepts with the traditional symbolism for each sign. Astrology fascinates me, because it’s an ancient system but it somehow makes sense. I don’t want to believe it, but I haven’t been able to shake it. Underlying themes include my own lighthearted brand of feminism, as well as my unhidden disdain for Christianity/simultaneous fascination with its ancient aesthetic appeal.
What is one piece of advice you have for incoming art students?
You don’t go to art school because you are already an amazing and successful artist. Yes, you can draw a really pretty flower … or a really cool, detailed eyeball. Most of us can. You need to find your own voice and use it. Take risks. Become an artist because this is what you love to do, don’t half-ass it (hopefully I can say that). Critiques can be hard; they make you feel very vulnerable and defensive. It’s best to listen to what others say about your work though, because it’s not just about you. Here you learn how an audience receives your work. Your instructors are getting paid for a reason, and they tend to know what they’re talking about. Be honest about others’ work as well, so they can also grow as artists. If you are open to critiques and use them to your advantage, you will become a better artist by the end of it. Appreciate your education.
COMPILED BY TALOR JENSEN AND APRILL EMIG