VCUarts-ITW-2011-singlepages

in their words

Wh a t m a d e yo u d e c id e to c o m e to VCU a r t s? 7– 9Wh a t h a s i m p re s s e d yo u m o st a b o ut yo u r VCU a r t s ex p e ri e n c e? 11–13Stu d e nt I nte r vi e ws A r t Fo u n d a ti o n 15 A r t Ed u c a ti o n 17 A r t H i sto r y 19 Ci n e m a 2 1 Co m m u ni c a ti o n A r t s 2 3 C ra f t / M a te ri a l Stu d i e s 2 5 D a n c e & C h o re o g ra p hy 27 Fa s hi o n D e s i g n 2 9 Fa s hi o n M e rc h a n d i s i ng 31 G ra p hi c D e s i g n 3 3 I nte ri o r D e s i g n 3 5 K i n eti c I m a g i ng 37 M u s i c 3 9 Pa i nti ng & Pri ntm a ki ng 41 P h oto g ra p hy & Fi l m 4 3 S c u l ptu re + E x te n d e d M e d ia 4 5 Th e a tre 47Wh a t h a ve yo u d i s c ove re d a b o ut R ic h m o n d th a t yo u d id n’ t k n ow 49 – 51b efo re c o m i ng to VCU?Wh a t a d vi c e wo u l d yo u g i ve to a n e w VCU a r t s Stu d e nt? 5 3 – 5 5Cl u b s a n d O rg a ni za ti o n s 5 7R e s o u rc e s 59D eta i l e d ra n ki ng s i nfo rm a tio n 6 3

VCUarts: In Their Words

Vi rg i nia Co m m o nwe a lth U ni ve r s it y S c h o o l of th e A r t sR i c h m o n d , Vi rg i ni a , U S A

Cover image by kathleen jones, department of photography & film

VCUarts is ranked the #1 public university arts & design graduate* program in the country by US News & World Report.

vcu.edu/arts/rankings

* US News & World Report ranks only graduate – not undergraduate – programs.

How can you know what VCUarts is really like until you’re here? Well… you can’t. But we thought posing the same 13 questions to students from each VCUarts undergraduate major might help. These students are recent recipients of the much-coveted VCUarts Dean's Scholarship. There are similarities in their responses, and as to be expected, many differences.

Those who plan to attend VCUarts will find their words and advice enlightening – and we hope – helpful.

student life at VCUarts

5

Craft/material studies

what made you decide to come to VCUarts?

Th e re we re a c o u p l e fa cto r s . Th e s c h o o l i s s o m u c h m o re d i ve r s e th a n a ny oth e r s c h o o l I v i s ite d , whi c h wa s re a l l y i m p o r ta nt to m e . It wa s a l s o th e b e st o pti o n c o st wi s e . To m e , it re a l l y d id n’t m a ke a ny s e n s e to c o m e o ut of s c h o o l wit h $ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 wo r t h of d e bt a nd a n a r t d e g r e e . M o st i m p o r ta ntl y th o u g h , VCU a r t s wa s a n a r t s c h o o l withi n a l a rg e r u ni ve r s it y. I re a l l y wa nte d to b e a bl e to ta ke wh a te ve r c l a s s e s I wa nte d a n d h a ve m o re o ptio n s th a n j u st a r t c l a s s e s . I thi n k th a t c ro s s d i s c i p l i n a r y stu d i e s a re re a l l y i m p o r ta nt i n d e ve l o p i ng my wo rk a n d I ’m a l s o ju st i nte re ste d i n a l ot of d if fe re nt thi ng s .Catherine gellatlyCraft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors

I c h o s e VCU a f te r a t te n d i ng th e VC U a r t s H ig h S c h o o l S u m m e r I nt e n s i ve p r o g ra m , fo r whi c h I a m n ow a c o u n s e l o r. Th e I nte n s i ve g a ve m e a n e ye o p e ni ng ex p e ri e n c e a b o ut c o l l e g e a n d th e re a l it y of th e wo rk l o a d . I l ove d e ve r y m i nute of it !virginia driggersArt Education major, Art History minor

M y c h o ic e to a t te n d VCU (oth e r th a n my s p e c if i c p ro g ra m of stu d y) wa s fo r th e ex p e ri e n c e of l i v i ng i n a n u rb a n e nvi ro n m e nt . I a m fro m a s m a l l town a n d wa nte d to b r o a d e n my h o ri zo n s .hannah WrayFashion Merchandising major

VCU a p p e a l e d to m e b e c a u s e of it s s i ze , l o c a ti o n , a n d p ric e . I wa nt e d to b e p a r t of a h u g e a nd d i ve r s e s t u d e nt b o d y i n a fa i rl y u rb a n s e t t i ng a nd I d i d n’t wa nt to b e p a yi ng of f lo a n s fo r t h e r e s t of my l ife . Th e S c h o o l ’s ra n ki ng wa s a l s o a d ra w. raChel Zoe WaltersFashion Design major

I a m a t te n d i ng VCU b e c a u s e of it s l o c a ti o n i n th e b e a utifu l c it y of R ic h m o n d a n d th e va ri et y of c o u r s e s of fe re d to stu d e nt s .john dombroskiKinetic Imaging major, Sculpture + Extended Media minor

I wa nted to go to de sig n sc hool a nd VCU se e me d l i ke the most at tra cti ve option . With ou r hig h nationa l rati ng , relati vel y low cla s s size , a nd acce s s to a let te rpre s s facilit y, stude nts re a l l y d o ha ve a g re at oppor tu nit y he re . Li ke a ny thi ng el se thoug h , it is what you ma ke of it a nd you shou ld a l wa ys ex p e ct the rewa rd s to b e propor tionate to the a mou nt of ef for t you put i n .brian gartsideGraphic Design major

B efore at tending VCU, I was a resident of Virginia , and a high school ar t teacher. As a teacher, I ad vised students who were seriousl y interested in ar t to investigate VCUar ts before appl ying to RISD or SCAD or similar programs . I e ven took my students on a f ield trip to VCU. It just makes the most sense f inancial l y and academicall y. Yo u h a ve t h e s a m e l e ve l of e d u c at io n at a s tat e i n s t it ut io n t h at yo u wo u ld g e t at a p ri vat e a r t s c h o o l , a nd yo u g e t to wo rk wit h i nt e rn at io n a l l y re n own e d fa c u lt y. Af ter teaching for 5 years , I decided to fol low the same ad vice I ga ve my students . I bel ie ve I made an intel l igent choice when I decided to return to school to l i ve out my dream of becoming a bet ter ar tist and a more educated educator.miChelle Clark sitesCommunication Arts major

VC U c o m b i n e s t h e b ig u n i ve r s it y ex p e rie n c e wit h a l l it s re s o u r c e s a nd t h e s m a l l e r a nd m o re i nd i vid u a l a r t s c h o o l ex p e rie n c e .Xuefei (sophie) yanInterior Design major, Craft/Material Studies minor

It wa s c l o s e to h o m e a n d it i nvo l ve d s o m ethi ng I LOVED to d o . Al s o , I wa s th e o nl y p e r s o n o ut of my c i rc l e of fr i e n d s to c o m e h e re a n d , I ye a rn e d fo r t h e i nd i vid u a l it y a nd re s p o n s i b i l it y.Crystal johnsonTheatre Performance major

I transferred from George Mason University after my freshman year because I decided that I needed to live in a more urban environment. It also helped that VCU has such a great arts program!andrea manriqueInterior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor

7

interdisCiplinary researCh projeCt

I wa s f i r st d ra wn to VCU by th e o ut sta n d i ng re p uta ti o n of it s m u s ic a n d a r t s s c h o o l . U p o n my f i r s t vi s it to t h e u n i ve r s it y, I h a d fa l l e n i n love . Th e a tm o s p h e re wa s p a l p a bl e . I k n e w th a t R ic h m o n d a n d VCU wo u l d b e p l a c e s th a t wo u l d fa c i l i ta te my a r ti stic d e ve l o p m e nt . I k n e w I h a d s et fo ot i n b re e d i ng g ro u n d s of c re a ti vit y. Th a n k fu l l y, my i n sti n ct s we re c o rre ct!matt jeWellMusic and Women’s Studies majors (Dual Degree)

I d e c id e d to c o m e to VCU o n my f i r st vi s it to R i c h m o n d with my fa m il y. We we re a ctu a l l y j u st p a s s i ng th ro u g h a n d sto p p e d i n Ca r y town b efo re h e a d i ng to th e b e a c h . We d rove th ro u g h S h o c ko e B ot to m to g et o n th e hi g hwa y a n d I d e c i d e d wh i l e d ri vi ng t h r o u g h d owntown t h a t if t h e r e wa s a n a r t s c h o o l t h e re , I wo u ld b e a t t e nd i ng . I t wa s j u st a c o i n c id e n c e VCU a r t s h a p p e n s to b e th e b e st p u bl i c a r t s c h o o l i n th e c o u ntr y.kathleen jonesPhotography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)

At first I was unsure that I wanted to attend VCU. I thought the dance program was all about modern dance and would be dr y, which is so not me. I came to the audition because my mother, being a dance teacher herself, told me it was a great place to audition. During my audition, I had more fun than expected. At the end we got the opportunit y to watch the Friday class which has all of the VCU dancers’ participation. This class changed my world. I saw some of the most phenomenal dancers I have ever seen – all four levels dancing together as a family. They looked so happy and into this life that I never questioned my decision of where to go again.allison day meyerDance & Choreography major

VC U h a s b e e n t h e n u m b e r o n e p u b l ic a r t s c h o o l i n t h e n at io n fo r s e ve ra l ye a r s .shaZia jasmine aZiZArt History major

VCU of fe red me more mone y tha n a ny othe r school , which had a ma jor im pa ct on my de cision . I wa s a l so d ra wn to VCU b e cau se it ’s t he be st of bot h world s to ha ve frie nd s i n ot he r major s a nd be at a big sc hool while still ha vi ng a s ma ll commu nit y wit hin my d e pa r t me nt .Conor baCkmanPainting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended Media (double major)

what made you decide to come to VCUarts?

9

Craft/material studiesCinema

Wh a t ’s i m p re s s e d m e th e m o st i s h ow m u c h I h a ve c h a ng e d a s a p e r s o n . I n e ve r k n e w t h a t e d u c a t io n c o u ld c h a ng e wh o I wa s s o c ia l l y, p hys ic a l l y, a nd e ve n m e nta l l y. B e l i e ve it o r n ot , th e VCU a r t s ex p e ri e n c e i s c o nti nu i ng to re ve a l my s e lf to m e a n d with o ut it , I wo u ld ’ve b e e n i n th e d a rk o n wh o I wa s fo r a m u c h l o ng e r t i m e .Crystal johnsonTheatre Performance major

I ha ve been most impressed with the teachers I ha ve experienced and t h e l e ve l of wo rk t h e y e x p e c t fr o m u s . I am constantl y moti vated by my professors and my fel low students to keep pushing the boundaries and make bet ter and bet ter work .Catherine gellatlyCraft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors

I h a ve b e e n m o st i m p re s s e d with th e d ri ve a n d p a s s i o n d i s p l a ye d by my p rofe s s o r s a n d t h e m a ny o p p o r t u n it ie s VCU h a s g i ve n m e to tra ve l , l e a rn , a n d g row.hannah WrayFashion Merchandising major

Wh a t h a s i m p re s s e d m e m o st a b o ut my VCU a r t s ex p e ri e n c e i s th e a c c e s s th e stu d e nt s h a ve to th e re s o u rc e s a s we l l a s fa c u lt y. Th e re i s a s t r o ng l i n e of c o m m u n ic a t io n o p e n fo r a nyo n e to ta ke a d va nta g e of, whic h l e a d s to a n ex p a n s e of o p p o r tu niti e s . Th e a r t wo rld i s a ve r y s m a l l o n e a n d th e fa c u lt y a n d stu d e nt c o n n e ctio n s th e yo u ng a r ti st m a ke s wi l l i nva ri a bl y a id h e r i n futu re a r ti stic e n d e a vo r s .kathleen jonesPhotography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)

I ha ve been most impressed by the VCU Music Depar tment ’s incredibly strong commitment to the development of whole musicians , not merely per formers or educators . We are trained to view ourselves as musicians that are competent in all areas of our craf t, not in terms of preferred specializations or proficiencies; this philosophy is what is going to make us valuable assets in the music world . Whether we’re hired as per formers in professional ensembles or we’re standing at the front of public school classrooms , our training as musicians , coupled with the knowledge of our specif ic mediums , wil l set us apar t.matt jeWellMusic and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)

what has impressed you most about your VCUarts experience?

Wh a t i m p re s s e d m e m o st a b o ut th e VCU a r t s ex p e ri e n c e wa s h ow m u c h th e s c h o o l a ctu a l l y of fe r s . I n th e a r t s c h o o l we c a n c h o o s e a ny d e p a r tm e nta l p a th th a t we wa nt to fo l l ow. Yet , withi n th a t d e p a r tm e nt we c a n a l s o p ic k u p o n a stre a m of c o n s c io u s n e s s whic h we fe e l i s m o st i m p o r ta nt to o u r p e r s o n a l d e ve l o p m e nt . I h a ve b e e n g re a tl y re wa rd e d by th e d i ve r s it y a n d i nte l l e ct of th e Ar t Ed u c a tio n d e p a r tm e nt a n d I fe e l c o nf id e nt th a t I a m re c e i vi ng a n e d u c at io n h e re t h at c o u ld n ot b e g ot t e n a ny wh e re e l s e .virginia driggersArt Education major, Art History minor

I ’m m o stl y i m p re s s e d i n c o m p a ri s o n by wh a t oth e r p e o p l e i n d if fe re nt f i l m d e p a r tm e nt s a ro u n d Am e ric a s a y a b o ut th e i r own p ro g ra m . VCU a r t s Ci n e m a i s fo r tu n a te e n o u g h to b e a bl e to s h o ot i n 3 5 m m m otio n p ictu re f i l m i n o u r fre s h m a n ye a r. Th a t ’s s o m ethi ng I n e ve r wo u ld h a ve d re a m e d of d o i ng s o s o o n .duy nguyenCinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor

I h a ve b e e n i m p re s s e d by th e a m o u nt of o p e n d o o r s b et we e n d e p a r tm e nt s a n d t h e a m ic a b l e “o n e - o n - o n e ” fa c u lt y at t it u d e towa rd stu d e nt s withi n th e VCU a r t s p ro g ra m s .john dombroskiKinetic Imaging major, Sculpture + Extended Media minor

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interior design art history

theatre

Th e fa c u lt y h a ve b e e n th e m o st i n s p i ra ti o n a l a s p e ct of my ex p e ri e n c e , a n d fo rm th e b a s e of my p o s iti ve m e m o ri e s . A fe w fa c u lt y m e m b e r s I wo u l d l i ke to th a n k i n p a r ti c u l a r a re Ki m b e rl y G uth ri e fo r h e r p o s it i ve a t titu d e , o rg a ni za ti o n , m oti va ti o n ; M a d a m e Ve rn et fo r te a c hi ng m e Fre n c h a n d e n c o u ra g i ng m e to g o to Pa ri s; H e n r y S wa r t z a n d J a n et Co l e fo r b e l i e vi ng i n m e s o c o m p l ete l y, Li n d a Le e fo r p u s hi ng m e s o h a rd , a n d H o l l y Alfo rd fo r g i vi ng s o fre e l y of h e r k n owl e d g e .raChel Zoe WaltersFashion Design major

The communit y at the school here is really tight and suppor tive . This is one of the best a spects of the program I ’m in .Conor baCkmanPainting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended media (double major)

I think the profe s siona l ism of the Com mu nication Ar ts fa cu lt y a nd t he work et hic t hat t he y i nstill i n t hei r stude nt s ha s im pre s sed me the most . In ou r de p a r tme nt , i f you d on’t work a s ha rd a s you pos sibl y ca n a nd ta ke you r stud ie s se riou sl y, the n you wi l l s im pl y not prog re s s i n you r te rms of you r thi nki ng or you r s ki l l s or e ve n ha ve a futu re i n the f ie ld . It fe el s ve r y com p etiti ve , e ve n if the pre s su re is someti me s i nte rna l . The Com mu nication Ar ts D e pa r tme nt is a cruci ble that se p a rate s i ntel le ctua l l y a nd cre ati vel y moti vated profe s siona l a r tists from a mateu r s .miChelle Clark sitesCommunication Arts major

Wh a t h a s i m p re s s e d m e m o re th a n a ny thi ng e l s e a b o ut th e d e s i g n d e p a r tm e nt i s th e wi l l i ng n e s s of s o m e of my p rofe s s o r s ( Eric Ka rn e s , C h ri sti n e Cof fe y, J a m i e M a h o n e y) to g o a b ove a n d b e yo n d th e i r re s p o n s i bi l i t i e s .brian gartsideGraphic Design major

It i s a l l e n c o m p a s s i ng . I n a d d iti o n to hi sto r y c l a s s e s , my m a jo r re q u i re s stu d io c l a s s e s a s we l l a s th e r i g o ro u s fo re i g n l a ng u a g e re q u i re m e nt whi c h m a ke s a r t hi sto r y a c h a l l e ng i ng yet c o m p l ete u n d e r sta n d i ng of a r t .shaZia jasmine aZiZArt History major

what has impressed you most about your VCUarts experience?

I a m m o st i m p re s s e d by h ow h a rd th e p rofe s s o r s p u s h u s . VC U a r t s i s n o j o ke . I a m a l s o i m p re s s e d by a l l my h a rd wo rki ng fe l l ow stu d e nt s wo rki ng l a te i nto th e ni g ht a n d of te n s p e n d i ng th e ni g ht a t B owe Stre et (th e Ar t Fo u n d a tio n b u i ld i ng).Xuefei (sophie) yanInterior Design major, Craft/Material Studies minor

Wh a t h a s re a l l y i m p re s s e d m e a b o ut thi s ex p e ri e n c e i s th e c a m a ra d e ri e th a t h a s g rown b et we e n m e a n d my stu d i o -m a te s . I h a ve n e ve r b efo re h a d th e p l e a s u re of wo rki ng wit h s u c h ta l e nt e d p e o p l e . Af te r a whi l e , p e o p l e wa rm u p a n d sta r t to g i ve e a c h oth e r re a l l y g re a t fe e d b a c k . It ’s s o m u c h e a s i e r to l e a rn wh e n yo u a re a wa re of p e o p l e ’s stre ng th s a n d we a k n e s s e s . O th e r ex p e ri e n c e s th a t sta n d o ut h a ve a l ot to d o with t h e a b i l it y to c r o s s ove r a nd m e r g e d i s c i p l i n e s . Th e s c u l ptu re a n d c ra f t c l a s s e s th a t I h a ve ta ke n h a ve b e e n g re a t ex p o s u re to d if fe re nt te c h n o l o g i e s a n d m a c hi n e r y.andrea manriqueInterior Design major, Craft/Material studies (Fiber concentration) minor

VCU h a s i m p re s s e d m e a g re a t d e a l re g a rd i ng h ow d i ve r s e o u r a r t s a nd o u r a r t i s t s a re , ye t we a l l s t i l l m i x o u r s t yl e s to c re at e n e w c o l la b o rat io n s a nd frie nd s h i p s .allison day meyerDance & Choreography major

13

H ow H a s yo u r wo r k p r o g r e s s e d s i n c e yo u ’ v e c o m e to vc u ?

S i n c e I ’ve c o m e to VCU, I h a ve b e e n m o re o p e n to u s i ng d if fe re nt m e d iu m s . B efo re a t te n d i ng VCU, I wa s c o mfo r ta bl e m a i nl y with d ra wi ng a n d p a i nti ng a n d s o m e s c u l ptu re . N ow, I b e l i e ve th a t I a m we l l ve r s e d e n o u g h i n a l l a re a s of f i n e a r t th a t I c a n a c c o m p l i s h e ve n s o m e of my m o st a m biti o u s p roje ct s . Ti m e Stu d io wa s re a l l y e ye o p e ni ng fo r m e b e c a u s e I h a ve n e ve r e ve n c o n s id e re d ti m e a s a n e l e m e nt of my a r t . I h a ve a l s o n otic e d th a t my a r t h a s b e e n p ro g re s s i ve l y m o re c o n c e ptu a l a n d id e a -d ri ve n . I d ef i nite l y fe e l m o re m a tu re a s a n a r ti st .

wHat is your favorite or best project tHat you’ve contributed to as a student?

M y fa vo rite p roje ct th a t I h a ve c o ntri b ute d to a s a stu d e nt i s th e H o n o r s p roje ct th a t my Ar t Wo rl d s c l a s s a c c o m p l i s h e d whi l e we we re o n a we e ke n d tr i p to M i l d re d ’s La n e . Th e p roje ct wa s a c e re m o ny/d i n n e r with a fo c u s o n l i g ht . We we re a l l we a ri ng o u r own h a n d m a d e i l l u m i n a te d c o stu m e s a n d we b u i lt a hu g e b o nf i re i n th e m id d l e of th e wo o d s i n Pe n n s yl va ni a . It wa s by fa r o n e of th e m o st c o n c e ptu a l p roje ct s I ’ ve wo rke d o n a n d I e n joye d e ve r y m i nute of it .

H ow i s yo u r e x p e r i e n c e d i f f e r e n t f r o m H ow yo u t H o u g H t i t m i g H t b e ?

It wa s n’ t m u c h d if fe re nt fro m h ow I th o u g ht it wa s g o i ng to b e .I wa s a l re a d y a ntic i p a ti ng a l ot of h a rd wo rk a n d p ro g re s s .

w H at H av e yo u d i s c ov e r e d a b o u t r i c H m o n d t H at yo u d i d n ’ t k n ow

b e fo r e yo u c a m e to vc u ?

Eve r y thi ng . I d id n’ t k n ow a ny thi ng a b o ut R ic h m o n d b efo re I c a m e to VCU s o th e l a st ye a r h a s b e e n a n ex te n d e d a d ve ntu re fo r m e a s I d i s c ove r m o re n e w a n d i nte re sti ng thi ng s a n d p l a c e s i n R ic h m o n d .

w H at i n t e r e s t s yo u o u t s i d e o f yo u r a r t s d i s c i p l i n e ?

M u s ic , vid e o g a m e s , k nit t i ng , c o o ki ng , a n d wa tc hi ng m ovi e s .

w H at a dv i c e wo u l d yo u g i v e to a n e w vc ua r t s s t u d e n t ?

Li ste n to c rit ic i s m . D o n’ t b e a je rk .

w H at i s yo u r favo r i t e m e m o r y s o fa r at vc u ?

O n e of my fa vo rite m e m o ri e s a t VCU i s sta yi ng u p l a te a t ni g ht a t B owe Stre et wo rki ng o n a r t with my c l a s s m a te s .

w H at d o yo u wa n t to ac c o m p l i s H b e fo r e yo u g r a d uat e ?

I wa nt to stu d y a b ro a d a n d vo l u nte e r a b ro a d . I a l s o h o p e to g et a g o o d i nte rn s hi p .

w H at d o yo u H o p e to d o a f t e r yo u g r a d uat e ?

Af te r g ra d u a te s c h o o l , I h o p e to b e a n i n d u stria l d e s i g n e r d e s i g ni ng p rotot yp e s fo r n e w i nve ntio n s .

M y n a m e i s Xu e fe i Ya n , b ut I l i ke to b e c a l l e d S o p h ie . I ’m fr o m Lit t l e R o c k , Arka n s a s .M y m a j o r i s I nt e rio r D e s ig n .M y m i n o r i s C ra f t/ M at e ria l S t u d ie s .

Art Foundation

15


M y wo rk h a s d ef i nite l y p ro g re s s e d s i n c e my a rr i va l a t VCU . D u ri ng hi g h s c h o o l I wa s i nte re ste d i n th e re a l m of tex tu re s a n d h ow th e m eta p h o r of fe e l i ng m e et s th e s e n s e of fe e l i ng . N ow my i nte re st i n th e hu m a n ex p e ri e n c e h a s ex p a n d e d to n a rra ti ve , o r ra th e r h ow a n a d u lt u s e s n a rra ti ve to ex p l a i n s o m ethi ng h a rd to u n d e r sta n d to a c hi ld .


M y fa vo rite p roje ct i s o n e I wo rke d o n d u ri ng th e s u m m e r of 2010 . I wo n a VCU S u m m e r Fe l l ows hi p g ra nt to stu d y a r t exc h a ng e s i n th e c l a s s ro o m a n d h ow th e y a id i n te a c hi ng m u ltic u ltu ra l l e s s o n s . R e c e ntl y I f i n i s h e d p ut ti ng to g eth e r a c o l l a b o ra ti ve q u i lt whic h i n c o rp o ra te s b oth th e M a ya n a n d G re g o ria n c a l e n d a r. Th e f i r st t i m e I sto o d b a c k fro m th e f i ni s h e d p ro d u ct I wa s a m a ze d a t th e wo rk th e stu d e nt s h a d d o n e , with th e i r s m a l l p a i nti ng s th e y fo rm e d a sta r d e s i g n re p re s e nti ng wh a t th e y d o d u ri ng th e ye a r.

i s t H e r e a fac u lt y m e m b e r t H at H a s pa r t i c u l a r ly i n s p i r e d yo u ? H ow s o ?

There is one facult y member who ha s inspired me more than she could e ver know. Jan Johnston taught me how to teach without depending on language . The Ma yan Ar t Program is a cla ss that brings people from all dif ferent majors together with one goal: ar t! Ar t is a common language that crosses al l borders , speaks al l dialects and is in the hear t of e ver y human . Her teaching opened my e yes to the possibi l ities of Ar t Education , I ’m so luck y to ha ve been a par t of her cla ss .


I d id n’ t o ri g i n a l l y i m a g i n e th a t I wo u l d p u r s u e thi s p a th . I wa s s u re I wa nte d to b e m o re of a n A r t H i sto ri a n . Yet I re a l i ze d with my f i r st ex p e ri e n c e with th e M a ya n A r t Pro g ra m th a t thi s i s th e d e p a r tm e nt I b e l o ng e d i n . I n a s m a l l c l a s s ro o m i n th e hi g hl a n d s of G u a te m a l a I m a d e th e c o n n e cti o n with stu d e nt s th a t h a s l e a d m e to my n e w p a s s i o n , A r t Ed u c a ti o n .


O ut s id e of a r t I wo rk with th e b a bi e s a t a nu r s e r y s c h o o l i n th e R ic h m o n d a re a (a g e s ra ng i ng fro m 3 – 2 2 m o nth s) a n d I o b s e s s i ve l y l i ste n to a u d i o b o o k s (whi c h th e b a bi e s a l s o e n joy.) Wo rki ng with c hi l d re n s o yo u ng i s a c h a l l e ng e , b ut a l s o a fa nta stic c h a n c e to d e ve l o p c re a ti vit y i n c hi l d re n . I a m a bl e to te a c h th e b a s ic s of a r t , l i ke s m e a ri ng p a i nt o n c o n str u ctio n p a p e r whi l e a l s o h e l p i ng th e m to b a l a n c e a s th e y wa l k a c ro s s

th e ro o m a n d stu m bl e i nto my a rm s . I a m re wa rd e d a s I l i ste n to th e i r l a ng u a g e d e ve l o p a n d k n ow th a t I a m s o m e o n e wh o h a s ta u g ht th e m s o m e of th e i r s yl l a bl e s .

i f yo u c o u l d g o b ac k a n d d o s o m e t H i n g d i f f e r e n t ly i n yo u r l i f e ( n ot

n ec e s s a r i ly a r t s r e l at e d) , w H at wo u l d i t b e ?

I h a ve n o re g ret s – l i t t l e thi ng s th a t s e e m e d a w fu l i n th e p a st h a ve m a d e m e wh o I a m n ow. Th e str u g g l e i n l i fe h a s m a d e m e a p ro bl e m - s o l vi ng a r ti st . I m i g ht c o m p l a i n a b o ut th e d if f i c u lt y of a s itu a tio n , b ut i n th e e n d I ’ve l e a rn e d fro m e ve r y thi ng .


S o m a ny g re a t thi ng s h a ve h a p p e n e d d u ri ng my ti m e a t VCU , b ut I m o st e n joye d g et ti ng to k n ow p e o p l e d u ri ng my s p ri ng b re a k s with th e M a ya n Ar t s Pro g ra m .


B efo re I g ra d u a te I wa nt e sta bl i s h a n a r t exc h a ng e m o d e l th a t c o u ld b e u s e d by oth e r te a c h e r s i n c l a s s e s a l l a c ro s s th e c o u ntr y. S o m e stu d e nt s h a ve n e ve r p a r tic i p a te d i n a n a r t exc h a ng e a n d wh e n d o n e c o rre ctl y th e exc h a ng e c a n b e o n e of th e m o st e nl i g hte ni ng ex p e ri e n c e s of th e stu d e nt ’s e d u c a ti o n a l c a re e r. It i s a n o p p o r tu nit y fo r c hi ld re n a n d a d u lt s a l i ke to re a l i ze th a t th e p e o p l e o n th e oth e r s id e of th e wo rld d o exi st a n d a re i nte re ste d i n th e m .


Af te r I g ra d u a te I h o p e to wo rk a s a n a r t te a c h e r. I wo u l d b e c o mfo r ta bl e wo rki ng with a ny a g e a n d i n m o st a ny s itu a ti o n , wh eth e r it i s p u bl ic s c h o o l , a m u s e u m , a r t c e nte r o r nu r s e r y s c h o o l . A s l o ng a s I a m te a c hi ng a n d l e a rni ng I c a n fo rm a c a re e r i n a ny s et ti ng .

M y n a m e i s Vi r g i n ia D rig g e r s . I wa s born in S hre ve por t , Louisia na . B e cau se my fa mil y moved a rou nd so of te n , I would sa y t hat I wa s raised in t he dee p sout h a nd t he n wa s t ra ns pla nted to the west end of Richmond at around the age of ten .M y m a j o r i s Ar t Ed u c a t io n .M y m i n o r i s Ar t H i s to r y.

Art Education

17


S i n c e c o m i ng to VCU, I h a ve l e a rn e d a r ti sti c te c h ni q u e s a n d m o st i m p o r ta ntl y, I ’ve l e a rn e d to s e e thi ng s a s a n a r ti st . I h a ve d e ve l o p e d a d e e p s e n s e of a p p re c i a ti o n th ro u g h h a n d s - o n l e a rni ng , whic h c a n o nl y b e a t ta i n e d by p hy s i c a l l y ex p e ri e n c i ng a r t . Th e b e st wa y to ex p e ri e n c e it , i s to c re a te a r t .


I a m most proud of the p or trait I p ai nte d of Al la ma Iq b a l . H e wa s one of the fou nd ing fathe r s of Pa kista n a nd a relati ve of my g ra nd mothe r. I worked so ha rd , wa s tota l l y thri l le d at my work . I ha ve a ctua l l y fa l le n in love with the p ai nti ng . A fu nny stor y a bout this painting is that whe n I showe d it to my g ra nd mothe r, the f i r st thing s he said wa s , “ Why d id you p ai nt hi m we a ri ng a su it? H e ne ve r l iked we a ring su its .” This p ai nti ng is me a ni ngfu l to me for se ntime nta l va lu e a s wel l a s for the ha rd work that I put i nto it .

w H at H av e yo u d i s c ov e r e d a b o u t r i c H m o n d t H at yo u d i d n ’ t k n ow b e fo r e yo u c a m e to vc u ?

It is ver y beautiful . There are lots of outdoor activities . Richmond has a unique culture, and the impressive historic architecture is stunning. Also, although not a large cit y, there is so much to do!


I f ind that all my professors bring their unique valuable experience to teaching their classes . I value my professors because I can alwa ys go to them for feedback. Ji l l Baughan really encouraged me and ga ve me confidence throughout the semester. It was inspiring to see someone who went through a dif f icult issue and turn it into a positive one by writing about it to help others . She alwa ys l istens and helped me come out of my shell .


I a m fa s c i n a te d with bio l o g y, hi sto r y, a n d a rc h a e o l o g y. Stu d yi ng th e s e s u bje ct s h e l p s u s to b et te r u n d e r sta n d o u r s e l ve s , a n d b et te r c o p e with a ny thi ng th a t c o m e s o u r wa y i n th e futu re . We c a n s e e p a t te rn s a n d f i n d a n swe r s to q u e stio n s we h a ve th ro u g h th e s e d i s c i p l i n e s .


R e m i n d yo u r s e lf of why yo u a re h e re . Ta ke yo u r c l a s s e s s e ri o u s l y a n d e n joy th e m . R e s p e ct yo u r s e lf by re s p e cti ng yo u r p e e r s a n d p rofe s s o r s . We a re a l l h e re fo r th e s a m e p u rp o s e: e d u c a ti o n . R e m e m b e r, a l l d e g re e s h a ve th e s a m e we i g ht , m u s ic , bi o l o g y, m a th , o r a r t d e g re e s . O n e i s n’ t h a rd e r th a n th e oth e r, ju st d if fe re nt . Wh a t p e o p l e d o n’ t re a l i ze i s th a t it i s ju st a s h a rd to g et a n A i n bio l o g y a s it i s i n p a i nti ng . N o a r t c l a s s i s a n e a s y A .

i f yo u c o u l d g o b ac k a n d d o s o m e t H i n g d i f f e r e n t ly i n yo u r l i f e ( n ot n ec e s s a r i ly a r t s r e l at e d) , w H at wo u l d i t b e ?

I f I c o u ld d o thi ng s d if fe re ntl y, i t wo u ld b e b e i ng a bl e to f i ni s h my d e g re e e a rl i e r, s o th a t I c o u ld d o my m a ste r s a n d my P h D i n a m o re t i m e l y wa y.


I d ef i nite l y wa nt to i nte rn with m u s e u m s a n d vo l u nte e r fo r a n a rc h a e o l o g ic a l d i g .


I wo u ld l i ke to wo rk i n a m u s e u m b ut a l s o wa nt to sta r t my m a ste r ’s d e g re e r i g ht a wa y. I wa nt to wo rk i n a m u s e u m o r te a c h a t th e u ni ve r s it y l e ve l . I wa nt to e a rn my P h D a s we l l .

M y n a m e i s S h a zia J a s m i n e A zi z .I l i ve i n G l e n Al l e n , Vi r g i n ia wit h my h u s b a nd a ndt wo yo u ng c h i ld re n .M y m a j o r i s Ar t H i s to r y.

Art History

19


I fe e l my wo rk h a s p ro g re s s e d g re a tl y s i n c e I sta r te d o ut a s a n oth e r k id r u n ni ng a ro u n d with my d a d ’s h a n d i c a m i n hi g h s c h o o l . S o m eti m e s I sti l l fe e l l i ke I ’m r u n ni ng a ro u n d with a c a m e ra , b ut VCU a r t s h a s a l l owe d m e to g et a h o l d o n my p a s s io n a n d l e a rn h ow to b e m o re c re a ti ve a n d th o u g ht fu l .


With Cine ma , it ’s a l l a bout col la b oration . I ’m proud of the shor ts I ’ve d ire cted a nd shot but I cou ld n’t ha ve d one it without my crew a nd cla s smate s . If I d o my job wel l on a shoot the n I ’m ha ppy.


Th e e nti re ex p e ri e n c e of b e i ng a VCU a r t s Ci n e m a stu d e nt h a s b e e n i n s p i r i ng . It b e g a n with Profe s s o r R o b Tre g e n za . H e i n sti l l e d th e i m p o r ta n c e of p rofe s s i o n a l i s m a n d c o nve ye d Ci n e m a a s a n a r t a n d fo rm of c o m m u ni c a ti o n . H e ta u g ht m e hi s th e o ri e s a n d id e a s a n d s h owe d m ovi e s th a t s h a p e d th e wa y I l o o k to c re a te f i l m s to d a y. B ut wh a t re a l l y i n s p i re s m e a re my fr i e n d s a n d c l a s s m a te s i n th e p ro g ra m . We wa tc h m ovi e s a t e a c h oth e r s’ h o u s e s , th row id e a s a ro u n d a n d e n c o u ra g e o n e a n oth e r. We ’re a l wa y s d own to h e l p o n e a c h oth e r s’ f i l m s . M y fa vo rite to p ic of c o nve r s a ti o n i s o u r a m biti o n s: h ow c a n we m a ke th e b e st m ovi e a n d wh e re d o we wa nt to b e i n th e futu re .


I n e ve r th o u g ht I wo u ld b e wo rki ng o n p rofe s s i o n a l s et s whi l e sti l l i n c o l l e g e . I ’ve g ot te n th e o p p o r tu nit y to wo rk with s o m e bi g n a m e s i n R ic h m o n d . Ed iti ng a t th e M a r ti n Ag e n c y, p u l l i ng fo c u s fo r a Wa l - M a r t s p ot . Al wa y s g l a d wh e n p e o p l e wa nt m e a ro u n d .


I l ike to think I ’m ju st a s invol ve d i n my othe r ma jor (Phi losophy) a s I a m in Cine ma . With f i l m ma ki ng ta ki ng u p muc h of my time , phi losophica l a nd Ze n thoug ht ca n b e i nvol ve d with e ve r y a sp e ct

of l i fe . Ze n re a l l y hel ps with b eing on a he ctic shoot for 28 hou r s straig ht . Ad ve r tis ing is something that I ’m a l so inte re sted in . M y minor a l lows me to get more insig ht into that ind u str y, a nd ha s hel p ed me with ma rketing a nd bra nd ing my own med ia ba sed com pa ny, A Col lege Proje ct . I ’m a l so he a vi l y invol ved with S H HO, Stude nt H i p Hop O rga ni zation . We work with lo ca l hi p hop a r tists a nd bring qua l it y hi p hop a cts to Richmond .


M y fa vorite memor y has to be on the set of The Persistence of Ever y thing. That was our f irst big shoot as a Cinema depar tment as opposed to a class. It was the f irst to be shot with our Arri BL III 35mm motion f i lm camera and it was also the f irst production that included the f irst year Cinema students as well as the second year students . The shoot really brought ever yone together and I think that was when we really f irst learned how to make a movie.


I wa nt to c re a te a s h o r t f i l m to s e n d a n d b e a c c e pte d i nto a fe w fe sti va l s i n Vi rg i nia a n d e l s e wh e re . It ’s a n a m bitio u s g o a l b ut I fe e l th a t a i m i ng hi g h a l wa y s g et s yo u fa r th e r.


I f a l l g o e s a s p l a n n e d , I ’ l l c o nti nu e to sta y i n R ic h m o n d to s e e wh a t h a p p e n s i n th e n ex t fe w ye a r s with th e l o c a l f i l m i n d u str y, a s we l l a s my own c o m p a ny. I wa nt to b e c o m e a b o uti q u e c re a ti ve a g e n cy of s o r t s . I n ste a d of g o i ng th ro u g h a nu m b e r of d if fe re nt p ro d u c e r s , c re a ti ve s , e d ito r s , I wo u ld d o a l l th e wo rk my s e lf with a s m a l l te a m . With th e m o n e y fro m my “ jo b” I ’d l i ke to fu n d my own n a rra ti ve f i l m p roje ct s .

M y n a m e i s D u y N g u ye n .I wa s b o rn i n S a ig o n , Vie t n a m , a nd ra i s e d i n Fa i r fa x , Vi r g i n ia . I a m p u r s u i ng d u a l d e g re e s i n C i n e m a a nd P h i lo s o p hy. M y m i n o r i s M e d ia S t u d ie s .

Cinema

21


S i n c e c o m i ng to VCU, my wo rk h a s p ro g re s s e d tre m e n d o u s l y. I h a ve l e a rn e d a b o ut th e n e c e s s it y of d ra wi ng fro m l i fe i n o rd e r to i n c re a s e s ki l l s a s a n i l l u stra to r. I a m a l s o m o re k n owl e d g e a bl e a b o ut th e p ri n c i p l e s of b u i l d i ng a n i m a g e , e s p e c i a l l y i n te rm s of c o m p o s itio n . Th e id e a b e hi n d wh a t th e i m a g e i s a t te m pti ng to c o m m u nic a te i s s o m ethi ng th a t I thi n k a b o ut m o re n ow a s we l l . I thi n k th a t b efo re VCU, I fe lt l i ke i m a g e m a ki ng wa s m o re of a n i ntu it i ve , e m otio n a l p ro c e s s . N ow I s e e th a t a l ot of th o u g ht a n d stra te g y g o i nto c re a ti ng th e m o st s u c c e s sfu l i m a g e s a s we l l .


This s pring I wa s a sked to b e p a r t of a se a rc h com mit te e to hire a new te nu re -tra ck profe s sor for ou r de p a r tme nt . It wa s such a pri vi lege a nd wa s hig hl y e nl ig hte ni ng . I le a rne d a b out the le vel of a r tistic a nd profe s siona l sophistication it ta ke s to b e a profe s sor in VCU School of the Ar ts .


I ha ve b ee n pa r ticu la rl y i nspi re d by Al b e r t Epshte yn , the Figu re D ra wing instructor in Com mu nication Ar ts . H is te a c hi ng method s a re no - nonse nse , a nd he is ve r y ha r sh to a ny stude nts who a re la z y or who cut corne r s i n thei r te chniqu e s . H is te a ching phi losophy is g rou nded i n a l ifelong pra ctice of a cade mic d ra wing method s , a n ex p e r t k nowle dg e of hu ma n a natomy, a nd a pa s sion not onl y for a r t , but for hu ma n a c hie ve me nt .


As an older student, it has been harder to feel l ike I f it in in the depar tment social l y. As a senior, I ’m 34 and the majorit y of my classmates are in their earl y 20’s . Howe ver, the le vel of maturit y, focus , and moti vation of the students who are my closest friends in Communication Ar ts – regardless of age – ha s been incredible .


I l ove my fa rm i n We st Vi rg i nia . I l ove n a tu re a n d s c i e n c e . I a l s o l ove tr yi ng to u n d e r sta n d hu m a n n a tu re a n d l i ste ni ng to a n d o b s e r vi ng p e o p l e re l a te th e i r sto ri e s a n d p e r s p e cti ve s .



I wo u ld h a ve b e c o m e a m e d ic a l d o cto r o r c o n c e ntra te d i n s c i e ntif ic i l l u stra tio n a t a g e 20 . I d id n’ t k n ow th a t p re - m e d i c a l i l l u stra tio n exi ste d wh e n I f i r st we nt to c o l l e g e . I fe e l l i ke a t 3 4 , I d o n’ t h a ve th e e n e rg y o r d e s i re to g o to m e d ic a l s c h o o l a t thi s p o i nt , a lth o u g h I a m fa s c i n a te d by bio l o g y a n d l ove th e id e a of u s i ng a r t to h e l p p e o p l e i n th a t wa y.


I re m e m b e r th e l e ve l of exc ite m e nt a n d th e b e a ut y of wa tc hi ng B a ra c k O b a m a ’s i n a u g u ra tio n o n a bi g s c re e n i n th e VCU b a l l ro o m . I wa s s it t i ng n ex t to a yo u ng Afr ic a n - Am e ric a n wo m a n d u ri ng th e s p e e c h –we we re b oth c r yi ng ove r th e s i g nif ic a n c e a n d p owe r of th e e ve nt .

w H at d o yo u wa n t to ac c o m p l i s H b e fo r e yo u g r a d uat e ? I re a l l y wa nt to fe e l l i ke I h a ve re c e i ve d a l l th a t VCU h a s to of fe r. Thi s i s my s e c o n d ti m e a s a n u n d e rg ra d u a te , a n d I wa nt to b e tota l l y fo c u s e d o n my e d u c a tio n s o th a t I d o n’ t wa ste a ny o p p o r tu niti e s to g row o r to l e a rn .


I wo u ld l i ke to retu rn to te a c hi ng , b ut I a l s o h o p e to wo rk i n p u bl ic a tio n s , e s p e c ia l l y th o s e g e a re d towa rd e d u c a tio n o r c hi ld re n .

M y n a m e i s M ic h e l l e C la rk S it e s .I ’m o rig i n a l l y fr o m U p p e r Tra c t , We s t Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s C o m m u n ic at io n Ar t s .

Communication Arts

23


VCU a r t s h a s a l l owe d m e to fo c u s o n th e thi ng s th a t I a m re a l l y i nte re ste d i n . I h a ve l e a rn e d a l ot a b o ut my s e lf a n d wh a t I re a l l y wa nt to m a ke , n ot wh a t I “h a ve ” to m a ke . Th e p roje ct a s s i g n m e nt s fo r th e m o st p a r t a re o p e n e n d e d e n o u g h to l et m e ex p l o re m a te ria l s a n d c o n c e pt s th a t I a m i nte re ste d i n .



I h a d n o id e a h ow bi g th e a r t c o m m u nit y i s i n R i c h m o n d .


Th e re h a ve b e e n a nu m b e r of p rofe s s o r s wh o h a ve re a l l y i n s p i re d m e . I n Ar t Fo u n d a ti o n , A nth o ny M e l o ro , S a ra h M i ze r a n d H o p e G i n s b u rg we re re a l l y g re a t p rofe s s o r s to h a ve my f i r st ye a r i n a r t s c h o o l . Withi n th e C ra f t d e p a r tm e nt , S u s a n I ve r s o n , J a c k Wa x a n d M a t t Szo sz h a ve a l l b e e n i nf l u e nti a l i n th e p a st ye a r. M a t t i ntro d u c e d m e to th e wo rl d of g l a s s a n d re a l l y l et m e ex p l o re b e yo n d th e b o u n d a ri e s of th e c l a s s . I n J a c k Wa x ’s ju nio r s e m i n a r c l a s s , I l e a rn e d a l ot a b o ut my s e lf a s we l l a s th e a r t wo rld , whic h h a s i nf l u e n c e d th e wa y I a m c re a ti ng wo rk n ow.


I a m th e wo m e n’s c a pta i n fo r th e VCU C re w c l u b . I l ove rowi ng a n d exe rc i s i ng i n g e n e ra l . I a l s o re a l l y l ove th e n e w ro c k wa l l a t VCU ’s Ca r y Stre et G ym . I l ove th e o utd o o r s a n d I s p e n d a s m u c h ti m e hi k i ng a n d c a m p i ng a s I c a n .

w H at d o yo u wi s H s o m eo n e H a d to l d yo u b e fo r e yo u c a m e to vc u ?

A l ot of p e o p l e h a d to ld m e th a t I wo u l d n’ t n e e d a c a r. We l l a s a n a r t stu d e nt , l i fe i s m u c h e a s i e r with a c a r, o r a t l e a st h a vi ng a fr i e n d th a t h a s a c a r. Fa b ri c sto re s a re fa r a wa y, a n d th e re we re a l ot of t i m e s wh e n I ju st c o u l d n’ t c a rr y e ve r y thi ng o n my bi ke .



I wi s h th a t I h a d ke pt a b et te r j o u rn a l ove r th e p a st fe w ye a r s . I thi n k it wo u ld h a ve h e l p e d to d e ve l o p s o m e of my id e a s b et te r.


There were many late nights in the studio and I loved the fact that there were so many other people there with me. I love the communit y and that there are so many students here who love what they are doing and are as passionate about their work as I am.


I wa nt to m a ke a b o d y of wo rk th a t I a m p ro u d of a n d c a n s h ow.


I h a ve b e e n thi n ki ng a b o ut d o i ng a c o u p l e of thi ng s . I wo u l d l i ke to wo rk i n th e N a tio n a l Pa rk S e r vic e fo r a whi l e e ith e r a s a p a rk ra ng e r o r a b a c kc o u ntr y g u id e , o r d o a re s id e n cy a t s o m e p o i nt a n d e ve ntu a l l y a p p l y to g ra d s c h o o l . I wo u ld l ove to wo rk a t th e N a tio n a l G a l l e r y i n D C . I wo rke d th e re i n hi g h s c h o o l a n d I h a d a g re a t ex p e ri e n c e . Es s e ntia l l y I wo u ld l i ke to h a ve a jo b th a t a l l ows m e to m a ke wo rk a s we l l , wh eth e r it ’s th ro u g h my j o b o r o ut s id e of it .

M y n a m e i s C at h e ri n e G e l lat l y.I ’m fr o m Wa s h i ng to n , D .C .M y m a j o r i s C ra f t / M a t e ria l S t u d ie s .I ’m m i n o ri ng i n Ar t H i s to r y a nd I ta l ia n .

Craft/MaterialStudies

25


I ha ve had the great privi lege of working with the amazing facult y here at VCU. Because of them, I ha ve learned more than I could ha ve hoped about my own dancing and choreography. One of the facult y members , Christian von Howard, has allowed me to per form at such venues as the Kenned y Center, Alvin Ailey, and in the GAL A at the past t wo American College Dance Festivals .


I thi n k my fa vo rite p roje ct h a s yet to c o m e . S e ni o r ye a r we a l l g et to m a ke o u r own d a n c e a n d we h a ve to p i c k m u s i c , c o stu m e s , d a n c e r s , a n d a c o n c e pt . O n c e we h a ve a l l of thi s , we p ut o n a s h ow o n o u r own . I b e l i e ve th a t I wi l l l e a rn s o m u c h th ro u g h a l l of thi s h a rd wo rk th a t I a m exc ite d fo r it to c o m e .


Ea c h a n d e ve r y fa c u lt y m e m b e r h a s p u s h e d m e i n a d if fe re nt a m a zi ng wa y. I a m s o l u c k y to b e a p a r t of th e i r fa m i l y. C h ri stia n vo n H owa rd i s a tr u l y p a s s i o n a te te a c h e r. H e m a ke s m e l ove my a r t e ve n m o re e ve r y t i m e I g et th e o p p o r tu nit y to wo rk with hi m . Th e re i s a l s o a te a c h e r, S c ot t Putm a n , wh o m a ke s m e hu ng r y to l e a rn b e c a u s e h e h a s s o m u c h to g i ve . H e h a s c re a te d a b o d y a l i g n m e nt s y ste m whic h h e te a c h e s c a l l e d EB AS whi c h i s a g o d s e n d . H e i s o n e of th o s e te a c h e r s th a t yo u c o u l d h a ve e ve r y d a y of yo u r l i fe a n d sti l l h a ve m o re to l e a rn fro m .


I h a d n o id e a h ow m u c h I wo u l d l e a rn fro m my fe l l ow d a n c e r s . Ea c h d a n c e r h a s th e i r own p o s iti ve a s p e ct a n d we a l l l ove to s h a re o u r k n owl e d g e with o n e a n oth e r s o we c a n a l l b e th e b e st we c a n b e . I a m s o g ra tefu l th a t we c a n i n s p i re e a c h oth e r.


Th e re a re m a ny thi ng s th a t I a m i nte re ste d i n o ut s id e of d a n c e . I l ove g ym n a stic s whic h I c a n ti e i nto my d a n c i ng . I a l s o l ove s i g n l a ng u a g e . I thi n k it i s s o i nte re sti ng th a t yo u c a n c o nve r s e n o nve rb a l l y ju st l i ke i n d a n c e . J u st l i ke e ve r y oth e r g i r l , I l ove to g o o ut s id e a n d h a ng o ut with my fr i e n d s a s we l l a s e n joy th e a m a zi ng fo o d R ic h m o n d h a s to of fe r.



I wo u ld d o n othi ng i n my l i fe d if fe re ntl y, oth e r th a n n ot l et oth e r s p ut m e d own . I a m wh o I a m a n d I d o n’ t re g ret a ny thi ng .


M y fa vorite memor y is my freshmen reper tor y show. The facult y decided that ever y year the freshmen should be allowed to learn a few dances and put on a show just for them . I love per forming and was so happy that we got a chance to shine our f irst year. The families and friends of the freshmen came as well as ALL of the other dancers . Ever yone was so suppor tive about our process .


I wo u ld l i ke to f i ni s h b e c o m i ng my own p e r s o n a s a d a n c e r. Co m i ng to VCU I h a d s o m u c h wo rk to d o a n d I fe e l l i ke I h a ve c l e a n e d u p my te c h ni q u e . N ow I wo u ld l i ke to p ut th e f i ni s hi ng to u c h e s o n my d a n c i ng a n d m a ke it tr u l y my own .


I h o p e to b e p ic ke d i n a s h ow o r c o m p a ny o n c e I g ra d u a te . Pe r fo rm i ng i s my re a l p a s s io n a n d a s l o ng a s I a m o n a sta g e with p e o p l e wa tc hi ng a n d m e d a n c i ng , I wi l l b e h a p py.

M y n a m e i s Al l i s o n D a y M e ye r.I a m fr o m Wo o d b rid g e , Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s D a n c e & C h o re o g ra p hy.

Dance &Choreography

27


Fa s hio n D e s i g n a t VCU h a s g i ve n m e th e e s s e nti a l fra m e wo rk of s ki l l s th a t wi l l a l l ow m e to e nte r my p rofe s s i o n a s a d e s i g n e r. B efo re c o m i ng to VCU, I a t te m pte d to m a ke c l othi ng by d ra p i ng fa b ric ove r my d re s s fo rm a n d c ut ti ng s p o nta n e o u s l y. H e re , I h a ve l e a rn e d ste p s to a p ro c e s s whi c h e n d s i n a f i ni s h e d g a rm e nt , whic h i s u lt i m a te l y wh a t I s et o ut to l e a rn wh e n I c a m e to c o l l e g e . I h a ve a d ra we r i n whi c h I ke e p my a t te m pt s a t g a rm e nt c o n str u ctio n b efo re I h a d tra i ni ng a n d n ow I c a n o p e n th a t d ra we r a n d l a u g h a t wh a t I o n c e th o u g ht we re g o o d p i e c e s .


I wo u ld ve ntu re to s a y th e “ I nf i nit i D re s s .” I m a d e it i n Pa ri s whi l e I wa s th e re fo r my f i r st i nte rn s hi p a n d my a r ti st c o l l a b o ra to r, O l i vi e r D u h e c , m a d e a 10 fo ot ta l l i l l u m i n a te d m eta l s c u l ptu re a l o ng th e s a m e th e m e . O u r p roje ct wa s a c c e pte d i nto th e ju r i e d ex hi bit io n “ M a i r i e d e Pa ri s” a t th e H ôte l d e Vi l l e i n Pa ri s .


H e nr y Swa r t z a nd Kim b e rl y G uthrie c ha ng e d my l ife fore ve r whe n the y hel p ed me la nd a su m me r i nte rnshi p i n Pa ris , Fra nce . It is a n a ma zing feel ing to go to cla s s k nowi ng I ha ve so muc h su ppor t .


Eve r y s m e l l , s i g ht , ta ste , s o u n d a n d to u c h p rovo ke s a m e nta l re a ctio n th a t s p a rk s a c h a i n of e ve nt s th a t c a n c u l m i n a te i n yo u r n ex t bi g id e a .


I d id n’ t ex p e ct to b e s o th o ro u g hl y c o n s u m e d by my stu d i e s . I th o u g ht I wo u ld b e a bl e to f i n d e q u i l i b r i u m b et we e n wo rki ng a n d p l a yi ng , b ut o n e d a y I re a l i ze d th a t fa s hi o n d e s i g n fa l l s i nto b oth c a te g o ri e s fo r m e . Wh e n s c h o o l l et s o ut fo r b re a k s , I st i l l h e a d to th e stu d io with fa b ri c tu c ke d u n d e r my a rm . Ve r y fe w thi ng s s a ti sf y m e a s m u c h a s s e e i ng a g a rm e nt th ro u g h fro m th e c o n c e pt to th e s ketc h to th e we a ra bl e e n d re s u lt .



D e s p ite th e m a ny “m i sta ke s” th a t h a ve s l owe d m e d own i n my q u e st to b e c o m e a d e s i g n e r, I wo u l d n’ t c h a ng e a ny thi ng . I a m p ro u d of wh o I a m a n d th e t id bit s of k n owl e d g e a n d l e s s o n s I h a ve c u l l e d fro m my p a st ex p e ri e n c e s .


Th e 2010 fa s hio n s h ow h e ld a t th e Vi rg i nia M u s e u m of Fi n e Ar t s wa s o n e of th e p ro u d e st m o m e nt s of my ti m e s o fa r a t VCU . S e e i ng my c o n c e pt s c o m e d own th e r u nwa y i n fu l l - bl own re a l it y wa s s u c h a n u n p a ra l l e l e d p l e a s u re . I l o o k fo r wa rd to n ex t ye a r ’s s h ow wh e n I wi l l b e a s e nio r.


I h a ve o nl y o n e ye a r l ef t a t VCU . It ’s re a l l y a m a zi ng h ow fa st it f l i e s by. I wi l l b e c o n c e ntra ti ng o n my s e nio r c o l l e ctio n s a n d th e p o r t fo l io I wi l l u s e to a p p l y fo r jo b s . I m a y a l s o b e g i n to l e a rn Ita l ia n , s i n c e h a vi ng Fre n c h a n d Ita l ia n u n d e r yo u r b e lt m a ke s yo u m o re e m p l oya bl e i n th e fa s hio n i n d u str y.


I wa nt s o ve r y b a d l y to wo rk i n Pa ri s . M y g o a l i s to b e a te c h ni c a l d e s i g n e r wh o m a ke s th e p a t te rn s th a t re a l i ze a d e s i g n e r ’s vi s io n . I h a ve tr i e d to b e a c o n c e ptu a l d e s i g n e r wh o n e ve r to u c h e s s u p p l y m a te ria l s , b ut wh o ra th e r wo rk s a t a c o m p ute r a l l d a y, a n d d id n’ t l i ke it . I n e e d to wo rk i n a n a te l i e r with s c i s s o r s , fa b ric a n d p a p e r c ut to s h re d s a l l a ro u n d m e . I n e e d to wo rk with hyp e r- c re a ti ve p e o p l e wh o a re p a s s io n a te a b o ut p u s hi ng fa s hio n fo r wa rd . S o I wi l l l o o k fo r th a t s itu a tio n u nti l I f i n d it a n d I a m h o p i ng it wi l l b e i n th e c it y I l ove .

M y n a m e i s R a c h e l Zo e Wa lt e r s .I a m fr o m R ic h m o nd , Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s Fa s h io n D e s ig n .

Fashion Design

29


S i n c e sta r ti ng a t VCU, I h a ve l e a rn e d th e va l u e a n d s a ti sfa ctio n of b e i ng 10 0% d e d ic a te d to my s c h o o l wo rk . Co l l e g e wi l l e ith e r m a ke o r b re a k m o st p e o p l e a n d I q u i c kl y c h o s e to g i ve it my a l l b e c a u s e I k n e w th e p a yof f wo u l d b e wo r th e ve r y bit of ef fo r t ; thi s h a s p rove n tr u e! I h a ve l e a rn e d th a t e ve r y ta s k , n o m a t te r h ow s e e m i ng l y s m a l l , d e s e r ve s n o l e s s th a n my ve r y b e st .


M y fa vo rite p roje ct s h a ve b e e n th o s e u s i ng Ad o b e C re a ti ve S u ite S of t wa re . I l ove th e s e p ro g ra m s a n d re a l l y e n j oy wo rki ng o n c re a ti ve c o m p ute r p roje ct s .


I wo u ld l ove to g i ve c re d it to a s p e c if i c te a c h e r, b ut th e tr uth i s th a t e a c h p rofe s s o r i n th e Fa s hi o n d e p a r tm e nt h a s i n s p i re d m e i n hi s o r h e r own wa y. Th e y h a ve a l l b e e n c r u c i a l i n my e d u c a tio n a n d h a ve e a c h l ef t a l a sti ng i m p a ct . I g re a tl y a d m i re e a c h of th e m a n d wi l l n e ve r fo rg et th e k n owl e d g e , i n s p i ra ti o n , a n d fr i e n d s hi p s g a i n e d . I a m h o n o re d n ot o nl y to k n ow th e m , b ut to h a ve a l s o h a d th e m e a c h p l a y a vita l p a r t i n my e d u c a ti o n .


S c h o o l i s n ot e a s y. I wo u l d n ot b e wh e re I a m to d a y with o ut m a ki ng d if f ic u lt c h o ic e s a n d p u s hi ng my s e lf to d o b et te r o n a d a i l y b a s i s .


I l ove b u s i n e s s a n d m a th . I a m ex tre m e l y fo r tu n a te to h a ve a m a jo r th a t i n c o rp o ra te s b u s i n e s s , m a th , a n d a r t . M y d e s i re fo r b oth c re a ti vit y a n d l o g i c a re th e re a s o n s I a m e c sta ti c to m a ke thi s m a jo r my c a re e r.



One thing I would do dif ferently would be to appreciate my parents more. The high school years can be stressful , but I ha ve come to realize how for tunate I am to ha ve such amazing parents who love and suppor t me in all that I do. They are the reason I am where I am toda y and ha ve been able to accomplish so much .


I wo u ld l i ke to h a ve a jo b p ro s p e ct i n o rd e r. K n owi ng th e n ex t ste p of my l i fe wo u ld b e c o mfo r ti ng a n d fe e l ve r y re wa rd i ng a f te r a l l my h a rd wo rk .


I re c e ntl y c o m p l ete d a n i nte rn s hi p wo rki ng fo r th e s e nio r a c c o u nt exe c uti ve s fo r a d e s i g n f i rm . I c o u ld s e e my s e lf e n joyi ng th e s a l e s s id e of th e fa s hio n i n d u str y a n d exc e l l i ng i n th a t f i e ld .

..

M y n a m e i s H a n n a h Wra y ( p ic t u re d o p p o s it e , l e f t) .I a m fr o m Fra n kl i n C o u nt y, Vi r g i n ia .I a m a Fa s h io n M e r c h a nd i s i ng m a j o r.

FashionMerchandising

31


M y work ha s prog re s sed d i re ctl y a s a re su lt of me u nde r sta nd ing more a bout ae sthetics a nd de sig n . I b el ie ve my visua l st yle ha s b e come more ref ined ove r ti me . D e sig n is l i ke a ny thi ng el se; the longe r you work at it , the more prof icie nt you b e come .


For my S ystems in D esign cla ss , taught by Eric Karnes , I redesigned the identit y for the Science Museum of Virginia . I leaned a lot from that project (and the cla ss) and would def initel y qualif y it as one of the strongest pieces in my por t fol io.


Eric Ka rn e s , C h ri sti n e Cof fe y, a n d J a m i e M a h o n e y h a ve a l l s i g nif ic a ntl y i nf l u e n c e d my wo rk . M o re th a n a ny p rofe s s o r s I ’ ve e ve r h a d , th e y ’ve p u s h e d m e to f i n d my own vo i c e a n d h a ve e n a bl e d m e to d o my b e st wo rk i n th e i r c l a s s e s . Th e y h a ve sta ye d a f te r c l a s s , m a d e o ut s id e a p p o i ntm e nt s , a n d m a d e th e i r fe e d b a c k a va i l a bl e fo r b oth c l a s s a s s i g n m e nt s a n d re a l -wo rld p roje ct s . Th e y a re th re e of my fa vo rite p e o p l e a n d I c o n s id e r my s e lf ve r y fo r tu n a te to h a ve l e a rn e d with th e m .

Eve n b e yo n d h e l p i ng m e g row a s a d e s i g n e r, i t wa s Eri c Ka rn e s wh o p u s h e d m e to a p p l y fo r a n i nte rn s hi p a t Pe nta g ra m D e s i g n i n N e w Yo rk thi s p a st s u m m e r. H e h e l p e d m e e ve r y ste p of th e wa y, p re p a ri ng my p o r t fo l i o a n d g et ti ng re a d y fo r th e i nte r vi e w. With o ut hi s a s s i sta n c e , I p ro b a bl y wo u l d n’ t h a ve a p p l i e d , m u c h l e s s h a ve g ot te n th e jo b .


The most unexpected aspect of my experience with the design depar tment is how refreshingl y down to ear th most of the facult y and student bod y are . There ma y be a cer tain expectation of pretension that comes with being a gra phic designer, but I ha ve found that at VCU it is conspicuousl y absent.


I ’m ve r y i nte re ste d i n a n d h a ve a l wa y s b e e n p a s s i o n a te a b o ut s c i e n c e . I n fa ct , I wo u ld h e s ita te to c a l l i t u n re l a te d o r “o ut s id e [my] a r t s d i s c i p l i n e ” b e c a u s e of h ow c l o s e l y s c i e n c e re l a te s to d e s i g n . Th e m o re I thi n k a b o ut th e p ro c e s s e s th a t I u s e i n my wo rk , I s e e p a ra l l e l s b et we e n d e s i g n a n d th e s c i e ntif i c m eth o d .



I tr y n ot to a l l ow re g ret to e nte r i nto my d a y- to - d a y l i fe , s o n othi ng c o m e s to m i n d . Th e g re a t thi ng a b o ut g ra p hic d e s i g n (e s p e c ia l l y i n s c h o o l ) i s th a t yo u u s u a l l y h a ve a s e c o n d c h a n c e to re vi s it a p roje ct a n d m a ke it b et te r. I te n d to d o th a t a l ot .


M y fa vo rite m e m o ri e s of VCU a re of th e S y ste m s i n D e s i g n c o u r s e ta u g ht (a t th e t i m e) by Eric Ka rn e s a n d i n my Pri nt 2 c l a s s with C h ri sti n e Cof fe y. We a l wa y s h a d a g re a t t i m e i n c l a s s a n d it i s i n th o s e t wo c o u r s e s th a t I tu rn e d o ut s o m e of my b e st wo rk i n n o s m a l l p a r t th a n k s to th e g u id a n c e g i ve n by th e i n str u cto r s .


M y g o a l fo r thi s ye a r i s to h a ve my p o r t fo l io ( b oth p hy s i c a l a n d o nl i n e) re a d y to g o by th e t i m e I n e e d to sta r t l o o ki ng fo r a j o b .


H o p efu l l y g ra p hic d e s i g n . I e n joy a l l a s p e ct s of d e s i g n s o I h o p e th a t wh e re ve r I e n d u p wo rki ng h a n d l e s a wid e a rra y of p roje ct s .

M y n a m e i s B ria n G a r t s id e .I a m fr o m S p a r ta , N e w J e r s e y.M y m a j o r i s G ra p h ic D e s ig n .

Graphic Design

33


I ’ve com e a long wa y s i nc e I wa s f i r st i nte re ste d i n pu r su i ng a r t . Eve n thou g h I ha d ta ke n c la s s ica l d ra wi ng , my f i r st s e m e ste r i n a n Ar t Fou nd ation d ra wi ng c la s s wa s the f i r st t i m e a n i n stru ctor ha d a ctu a l l y told m e that s he wa s d i sa p p oi nte d i n my work . Of cou r se thi s moti vate d m e to p rove my s e lf, but it i s a g o o d exa m ple of the wa y I fe lt a b out b e i ng th rown i nto a la rg e g rou p of ex tre m e l y ta le nte d stu d e nt s , h a vi ng to bu y su p pl ie s at Lowe’s , on to p of l i vi ng i n my f i r st a p a r tm e nt a nd tr yi ng to m e et new p e o ple . S i nce s p e nd i ng t wo ye a r s n ow i n the d e p a r tm e nt of I nte rior D e sig n , I ’ve le a rne d to c o m mu nicate mo re c o m plex s p atia l id e a s mu c h fa ste r, a nd u su a l l y mo d e l the m d ig ita l l y f i r st .


I contributed to a proje ct for the VCU d a Vi nci Ce nte r, which wa s s ponsored by the Scie nce Mu seu m of Vi rg i nia . We b a sica l l y cre ated a la borator y for p ote ntia l corp orate cl ie nts or othe r de sig ne r s to “ tinke r.” The b e st p a r t a b out it wa s that the y of fe red u s su m me r inte rnshi ps whe re we a re a ctua l l y worki ng on bu i ld ing the proje ct that we sp e nt a se me ste r de sig ni ng . It wa s proba bl y the ha rde st a nd most rewa rd i ng thi ng I ’ve d one i n col leg e .


Two professors in par ticular inspired me last semester while I was working on t wo intense projects , and was constantly approaching one or the other for feedback. An admirable qualit y in both was that they unconditionally suppor ted whatever I thought was wor th exploring, and continued to point me in the direction of other designers who had explored similar forms and concepts .


I n e ve r th o u g ht I wo u ld h a ve ex p e cte d to fe e l thi s re a d y to ju m p i nto th e p rofe s s io n a l f i e l d of d e s i g n . It fe e l s re a l l y e m p owe ri ng to b e a bl e to c o m bi n e k n owl e d g e of m a th , s c u l ptu re , s c i e n c e , a n d p o etr y to c re a te s o m ethi ng of va l u e fo r oth e r p e o p l e .


I ’m inte re sted in mu sic a nd whe re to f i nd the nex t cu p of cof fee . I l ike to kee p u p with blog s a nd se e what ’s new out the re . It ’s re a l l y im por ta nt to sta y cu rre nt a nd e ngag e d i n p ol itic s , a r t , a nd l ife .



I wi s h I h a d ta ke n hi g h s c h o o l m o re s e rio u s l y, ta ke n m o re AP c l a s s e s o r g ot te n i nto G ove rn o r ’s S c h o o l . Yo u d o n’ t re a l i ze h ow yo u r d e c i s io n s a re g o i ng to a f fe ct yo u r l i fe u nti l yo u a re o ut l i v i ng it .


Tra veling to NYC with Interior D esign students for the Architectural Home Digest Show was one of my fa vorite memories so far. We got a tour of the Maharam tex ti le headquar ters , and got to sta y in a hostel in downtown Manhat tan . Another awesome tra vell ing memor y was my summer in Europe with students from Virginia Tech’s architecture program . We backpacked for over a month , sketching historical and modern architecture . Both times were ama zing bonding experiences with some of the best people I ’ l l e ver know.


La st s e m e ste r I h a d th e p l e a s u re of m e eti ng Pa o l a Anto n e l l i , s e nio r c u ra to r a t M o MA . H e r l e ctu re a t th e Wi n d m u e l l e r l e ctu re s e ri e s wa s a b o ut h ow i nte re sti ng it c a n b e wh e n d e s i g n , s c i e n c e , a n d te c h n o l o g y ove rl a p . B efo re I g ra d u a te I ’d re a l l y l i ke to p a r tic i p a te i n m o re c o l l a b o ra tio n , wh eth e r it ’s i nte g ra ti ng my f i b e r s k n owl e d g e m o re i nto my d e s i g n wo rk , o r s e e ki ng o ut stu d e nt s a n d p rofe s s io n a l s fro m oth e r f i e ld s .


I h o p e g et i nvo l ve d with a s m a l l to m id s i ze d a rc hite ctu re a n d d e s i g n f i rm , wh e re I c a n c re a te p re s e nta tio n d ra wi ng s a n d p a r tic i p a te i n c o n c e ptu a l d e s i g n wo rk . Af te r a fe w ye a r s , I wo u l d l i ke to a p p l y to a g ra d u a te s c h o o l wh e re I c a n c o nti nu e to stu d y i nte rio r a rc hite ctu re , l i g hti ng d e s i g n , o r tex ti l e d e s i g n .

M y n a m e i s And re a M a n riq u e ( p ic t u re d o p p o s it e , l e f t) . I wa s b o rn i n C h at ta n o o g a , Te n n e s s e e a nd ra i s e d i n S m it hf ie ld , Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s I nt e rio r D e s ig n , a nd my m i n o r i s C ra f t/M at e ria l S t u d ie s wit h a c o n c e nt rat io n i n Fi b e r.

Interior Design

35


S i n c e a t te n d i ng VCU, I h a ve b e e n ex p o s e d to n e w m e d i u m s i n c l u d i ng s c u l ptu re , vid e o , s o u n d a n d a ni m a ti o n . Th ro u g h my e d u c a tio n a n d my ex p o s u re to oth e r c re a ti ve i n d i vid u a l s , I h a ve th e s ki l l s a n d re s o u rc e s to fa c i l i ta te a ny c re a ti ve e n d e a vo r. wHat is your favorite or best project tHat you’ve contributed to as a student?

Th e o n e I ’m wo rki ng o n r i g ht n ow.


I a d m i re m a ny VCU fa c u lt y m e m b e r s , th o u g h B o b Pa ri s of Ki n etic I m a g i ng h a s i n s p i re d m e i n hi s g u id a n c e a n d p e r s p e cti ve th ro u g h my ye a r s i n s c h o o l .


M y c re a ti ve g o a l s h a ve c h a ng e d e nti re l y s i n c e my a rr i va l . I ex p e cte d to l e a rn g ra p hi c d e s i g n , a n d n ow I ’m wo rki ng with vid e o , s c u l ptu re , a u d io , a n d m o re . w H at H av e yo u d i s c ov e r e d a b o u t r i c H m o n d t H at yo u d i d n ’ t k n ow


I ha ve experienced an intricate beaut y that l ies in the streets and alley wa ys , around the secluded areas of the James River, and noticed the ref lection of this depth in the people of Richmond . w H at i n t e r e s t s yo u o u t s i d e o f yo u r a r t s d i s c i p l i n e ?

A s id e fro m my e d u c a tio n a l fo c u s , I a m a m u s i c i a n a n d o utd o o r s m a n ; I a l s o e n j oy ex p l o ri ng s o c i a l a n d g e o g ra p hic a l a re a s a n d tr y to s e e a l l th a t I d o a s a n a r ti sti c e n d e a vo r. w H at d o yo u wi s H s o m eo n e H a d to l d yo u b e fo r e yo u c a m e to vc u ?

C h a ng e i s c o n sta nt . Wh e n yo u tr y yo u r h a rd e st , fa i l u re i s o n e of th e b e st l e a rni ng ex p e ri e n c e s yo u c a n h a ve . w H at a dv i c e wo u l d yo u g i v e to a n e w vc ua r t s s t u d e n t ?

Co n c e ntra te o n yo u r l i fe , a n d yo u r a r t wi l l fo l l ow. Wh e n yo u sto p m a ki ng p roje ct s fo r c l a s s , a n d b e g i n m a ki ng wo rk fo r yo u r s e lf, yo u sta r t m a ki ng a r t . Al s o , d o n ot c o nf i n e yo u r c re a ti ve e n e rg y to o n e p a r tic u l a r m e d iu m —yo u c a n a n d s h o u l d c h a ng e yo u r a r ti stic fo c u s wh e n e ve r yo u ’d l i ke .



Th e re i s n othi ng I wo u ld d o d if fe re ntl y i n l i fe; I ’m h e re , wh a t b et te r i s th e re? w H at i s yo u r favo r i t e m e m o r y s o fa r at vc u ?

M y fa vo rite m e m o ri e s a t VCU i n c l u d e e ve r y ni g ht th a t I ’ve sta ye d a wa ke u nti l th e m o rni ng to c re a te my a r t wo rk . Ea c h ni g ht l i ke th a t i s t i m e I g et to s p e n d l e a rni ng a b o ut my s e lf a n d d o i ng wh a t I l ove . w H at d o yo u wa n t to ac c o m p l i s H b e fo r e yo u g r a d uat e ?

I wo u ld l i ke to e sta bl i s h m o re fr i e n d s hi p s with oth e r c re a ti ve p e o p l e , I wo u ld l i ke to l e a rn , a n d I wo u ld l i ke to h e l p oth e r s i n th e i r own c re a ti ve ef fo r t s . w H at d o yo u H o p e to d o a f t e r yo u g r a d uat e ?

I h o p e to te a c h , m a ke vid e o ( p o s s i bl y f i l m) wo rk , a n d s h ow my a r t a ro u n d th e wo rld .

M y n a m e i s J o h n D o m b r o s ki . I wa s b o rn i n B a lt i m o re , M a r yla nd , l i ve d i n N o r t h Yo rk s h i re , U n it e d Ki ng d o m fo r t h re e ye a r s wh i l e g r owi ng u p , t h e n at t e nd e d h ig h s c h o o l i n N o r t h e rn Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s Ki n e t ic I m a g i ng .M y m i n o r i s S c u l pt u re + E x t e nd e d M e d ia .

Kinetic Imaging

37


M y wo rk a s a m u s ic ia n h a s p ro g re s s e d s i n c e I ’ ve c o m e to VCU . I c a n s e e a n d h e a r m u s ic a l it y i n wa y s th a t fo rm e rl y e l u d e d m e . A p i e c e th a t p re vio u s l y h e l d o n e fa c et fo r m e n ow h o l d s c o u ntl e s s . I c a n a d a pt to n e w m u s i c a l s itu a ti o n s i n a m u c h q u i c ke r a n d m o re ve r s a ti l e fa s hio n . I e nte r b ra n d n e w e n s e m bl e s a n d f i n d my s e lf m e s hi ng with oth e r m u s i c i a n s with s p e e d a n d th o ro u g h n e s s th a t I owe p u re l y to my tra i ni ng a t VCU .


D u ri ng my s o p h o m o re ye a r, I p l a ye d vi o l i n i n th e p it o rc h e stra of a stu d e nt- d i re cte d m u s i c a l , p e r fo rm e d i n th e S h a fe r Stre et Pl a yh o u s e . C re a ti ng fa nta sti c a r t with s o l e l y my p e e r s i n a n i nti m a te s et ti ng th a t fa c i l i ta te d tr u e ex p re s s i o n a n d c o m m u nic a tio n wa s a m a zi ng . It a l s o h e l p e d th a t th e m u s ic wa s s o m e of th e m o st d if f i c u lt th a t I h a d e ve r e n c o u nte re d . I fe lt c l o s e r to th e m e m b e r s of th a t p ro d u cti o n th a n a ny oth e r m u s ic a l s et ti ng of my l i fe .


Wh e n I e nvi s io n e d m u s ic s c h o o l , I o nl y p i ctu re d th e fu r th e ri ng of my m u s ic a l e d u c a tio n – n e ve r th a t my ex p e ri e n c e s h e re wo u ld e d u c a te m e a s a p e r s o n i n g e n e ra l . M u s i c s c h o o l h a s ta u g ht m e l e s s o n s i n e ve r y tra it n e c e s s a r y to th e hu m a n ex p e ri e n c e . Th e l e s s o n s I h a ve l e a rn e d i n th e c l a s s ro o m h a ve re ve rb e ra te d th ro u g h o ut e ve r y a s p e ct of my l i fe . I wo u l d n ot b e a ny thi ng c l o s e to th e p e r s o n I a m to d a y with o ut my VCU a r t s ex p e ri e n c e .


O ut s id e of m u s ic , my g re a te st p a s s i o n i s wo rki ng with yo uth . I vo l u nte e r with s e ve ra l o rg a ni za ti o n s th a t p ro m ote th e we l l -b e i ng of c hi ld re n i n va rio u s l i fe s itu a ti o n s a n d c i rc u m sta n c e s . I h a ve b e e n fo r tu n a te e n o u g h to f i n d wa y s to c o m bi n e th e s e t wo i nte re st s , d i re cti ng yo uth m u s i c a l p ro d u cti o n s a n d te a c hi ng m u s ic to k id s i n va rio u s s et ti ng s . I a m a l s o a n a vid c o l l e g e b a s ketb a l l fa n , a t te n d i ng a s m a ny VCU R a m s g a m e s a s I p o s s i bl y c a n .



Lo o ki ng b a c k o n my l i fe , I wo u l d h a ve m a d e a g re a te r ef fo r t to ex p e ri e n c e fo re i g n c u ltu re s . I re c e ntl y tra ve l e d to Eu ro p e a n d fo u n d my s e lf wh o l l y c h a ng e d by th e ex p e ri e n c e . I n e ve r th o u g ht it p o s s i bl e to b e s o d ra sti c a l l y tra n sfo rm e d by m e re l y s p e n d i ng ti m e i m m e r s e d i n a d if fe re nt c u ltu re .


D u ri ng my fre s h m a n ye a r, th e M u s ic d e p a r tm e nt h e ld a fe sti va l c e l e b ra ti ng th e B ra zi l ia n c o m p o s e r, H e ito r Vi l l a - Lo b o s ( 18 87–19 59). It fe a tu re d g u e st s fro m a ro u n d th e wo rld . Th e s ym p h o ny o rc h e stra , of whic h I wa s a m e m b e r a n d p ri n c i p a l vio l i st , p e r fo rm e d Vi l l a - Lo b o s’s Fa nta s ia fo r S o p ra n o S a xo p h o n e a n d Str i ng O rc h e stra . Th e p e r fo rm a n c e fe a tu re d VCU fa c u lt y m e m b e r Al b e r t R e g ni , p r i n c i p a l s a xo p h o ni st of th e N e w Yo rk P hi l h a rm o nic . A m ove m e nt of th e wo rk fe a tu re d a d u et b et we e n th e s o l o s a xo p h o n e a n d s o l o vio l a ; p e r fo rm i ng thi s d u et with s u c h a n i n c re d i bl e m u s ic ia n wa s i n d e s c ri b a bl e . H o ld i ng my own a s a s o l o i st with a wo rld - c l a s s m u s ic ia n wa s fa nta sti c a l l y i n ef fa bl e , a n d it wi l l sta y with m e fo r th e re st of my l i fe .


I wa nt to f i n d a wa y to i nte g ra te my a r t i nto a n oth e r d i s c i p l i n e fo r a c o m m o n c a u s e . I wa nt to c re a te a n e ve nt , p ro d u cti o n , o r a ny oth e r o rg a ni ze d fo rm of jo i nt ex p re s s io n th a t s ynth e s i ze s m u lti p l e d i s c i p l i n e s i nto o n e u nif i e d vo ic e .


M y p o st- g ra d u a tio n p l a n s a re sti l l u n d ef i n e d . I fe e l l i ke I h a ve m u lti p l e stro ng i nte re st s th a t a re p u l l i ng m e i n d if fe re nt d i re ctio n s; my g o a l i s to c o a l e s c e th e s e i nte re st s i nto my o n e l i fe . I tr y to n ot d ef i n e my l i fe p l a n s th ro u g h a c a re e r, b ut ra th e r th ro u g h a s e a rc h fo r u lt i m a te fu lf i l l m e nt . Id e a l l y, I ’ l l f i n d a wa y to a n swe r th e p u l l s of a l l of my i nte re st s , m a i nl y m u s i c , yo uth , a n d c u ltu re , a n d f it th e m a l l i nto a l i fe th a t fu lf i l l s m e c o m p l ete l y. I k n ow th a t s u c h a b ro a d s e n s e of d e s i re i s g o i ng to m a ke a c hi e vi ng my g o a l s a l i t t l e m o re d if f ic u lt , b ut I k n ow, with o ut a d o u bt th a t th e g a i n wi l l b e wo r th th e c o st .

M y n a m e i s M at t J e we l l .I a m fr o m Lo r to n , Vi r g i n ia .I a m p u r s u i ng d u a l d e g re e s i n M u s ic a nd Wo m e n’s S t u d ie s .

Music

39

w H at m a d e yo u d ec i d e to c o m e to vc u ?

Th e ra n ki ng , a n d th e a r t c o m m u nit y.

w H at H a s i m p r e s s e d yo u m o s t a b o u t yo u r vc u e x p e r i e n c e ?

Th e te a c h e r s , a n d th e fa c i l i t i e s .


My work really changed here at VCU. The teachers opened my mind to different ways to think about painting, and to making art work.


I re a l l y d id n’ t k n ow h ow it wo u l d b e .


Ye s , b ut n ot ju st o n e fa c u lt y m e m b e r. Th e y to o k m e u n d e r th e i r wi ng s a n d b e c a m e m o re of m e nto r s th a n te a c h e r s .


M u s ic a n d g e e k y/n e rd y stu f f.

w H at d o yo u wi s H s o m eo n e H a d to l d yo u b e fo r e yo u c a m e to vc u ?

Th a t th e te a c h e r s r u l e .


I wo u ld s a y WO R K WO R K , b u st yo u r b ut t! ! N e ve r g i ve u p o n wh a t yo u b e l i e ve i n .



N ot s u re . I tr y to l i ve e ve r y thi ng with n o re g ret s .


G o i ng to th e M FA th e s i s s h ows , a n d c h e c ki ng o ut c ra z y thi ng s a ro u n d s c h o o l .

w H at i s yo u r favo r i t e o r b e s t p r oj ec t t H at yo u ’ v e c o n t r i b u t e d to a s a

s t u d e n t ?

N ot re a l l y a p roje ct , b ut te a c hi ng oth e r stu d e nt s te c h ni q u e s .


H a ve a s o l o s h ow.


G o to g ra d s c h o o l , a n d b e c o m e a te a c h e r.

M y n a m e i s And re w I nd e l ic ato .I a m fr o m rig ht h e re i n R ic h m o nd , Vi r g i n ia .M y m a j o r i s P a i nt i ng a nd P ri nt m a ki ng .

Painting &Printmaking

41


I k n ow I h a ve i m p rove d b e c a u s e of th e a c hi e ve m e nt s I h a ve m a d e , a wa rd s I h a ve wo n , a n d th e g e n e ra l o p e n fo r u m with te a c h e r s a n d fe l l ow stu d e nt s re g a rd i ng my wo rk . VCU a r t s i s a g re a t i n c u b a to r fo r th e e m e rg i ng a r ti st , b e c a u s e of th e s u p p o r t s y ste m i n c l u d e d i n th e stu d e nt s’ e d u c a ti o n .


M y fa vo rite p roje ct s o fa r h a s yet to b e d ete rm i n e d . I a m ve r y exc ite d to s e e wh e re my vi s i o n ta ke s m e thi s a c a d e m i c ye a r.


Tom Condon is an instructor and person in general who has truly inspired me and has influenced my artistic career. Any student would be lucky to have Tom’s influence, because he probes issues in our artwork others would probably never have thought to question.


I ha ve learned so much more about myself as an ar tist , as well as a person, than I ever thought possible. This experience is so valuable because it has truly changed my l ife and the wa y I look at things around me, as well as the questions I think to ask. Thinking in the wa y we are encouraged to think – as ar tists – af fects all aspects of l ife, including values , friendships , relationships , etc .


Entre pre neu r ship, a s wel l a s the ef fe ct a r t ca n ha ve on the com mu nit y in which it wa s c re ate d . Non - prof it bu si ne s se s , e s p e cia l l y a r t spa ce s a re ve r y i nte re sti ng to me from a bu sine s s , a s wel l a s a r tist sta nd poi nt . D i re ctl y outside of photog ra phy, painting inte re sts me , d u e to the va lu e the a r tist ca n b e stow on he r work by ma king it non - re prod uci ble a nd tru l y orig i na l .



If I cou ld go ba ck to midd le a nd hig h sc hool , I wou ld def i nitel y ha ve tr ied to com mit to my foreig n la nguag e cla s se s . Not onl y wou ld b eing bi l ingua l g ra nt one a com p etiti ve ad va ntag e in tod a y ’s ma rketpla ce , I b el ie ve the cu ltu ra l d oor s it cou ld op e n wou ld b e ve r y va lua ble . As a d ou ble ma jor i n t wo ve r y se pa rate f ie ld s , the re is pra ctica l l y no room for cla s se s to ta ke ju st for fu n .


M y fa vo rite m e m o ri e s s o fa r a t VCU a re f i n a l c r it i q u e s . Th e f i n a l c r it i q u e of th e s e m e ste r m a rk s th e c u l m i n a ti o n of m o nth s o r m o re of wo rk . Thi s m o m e nt i s ve r y ex hi l a ra ti ng fo r th e

a r ti st h e r s e lf, b ut a l s o ve r y i nte re sti ng fo r th e wh o l e g ro u p to s e e h ow th e oth e r ’s wo rk h a s g rown , c h a ng e d , ref l e cte d , a n d p ro g re s s e d . I l ove th e m o m e nt wh e n yo u s e e a fe l l ow stu d e nt ’s a r ti stic id e ntit y e m e rg e – wh e n yo u c a n l o o k a t th e wa l l a n d k n ow whic h stu d e nt m a d e whic h b o d y of wo rk .


I want to ha ve made the most out of the oppor tunities a vailable to the VCUar ts student. I want to use my senior year in academia as a plat form for discover y of the ar t world outside of the Pollak building , and where/how far this world can take me . I would l ike to feel conf ident nex t spring that I ha ve a sense of what to do nex t.


Af te r I g ra d u a te , I h o p e to fe e l s u re a b o ut th e n ex t ste p , wh a te ve r th a t m a y b e . N ow, I a m fa i r l y p o s it i ve I wa nt to a p p l y to g ra d u a te s c h o o l s o o n a f te r g ra d u a ti ng , b ut t i m e wi l l te l l .

M y n a m e i s Kat h l e e n J o n e s . I wa s b o rn i n G e n e va , S wit ze rla nd a nd s p e nt m o s t of my l ife i n Al exa nd ria , Vi r g i n ia .I a m p u r s u i ng a d o u b l e m a j o r i n P h oto g ra p hy & Fi l m a nd S m a l l B u s i n e s s/ Ent re p re n e u r s h i p

Photography &Film

43


M y wo rk h a s d ef i nite l y p ro g re s s e d s i n c e c o m i ng to VCU . S o m e of th e wo rk I ’m d o i ng sti l l l o o k s l i ke wo rk I wa s m a ki ng b efo re s c h o o l , b ut my thi n ki ng a b o ut th e wo rk h a s c h a ng e d a l ot i n th e l a st fe w ye a r s . I ’m g l a d to b e a bl e to m a j o r i n b oth p a i nti ng a n d i n s c u l ptu re b e c a u s e I fe e l l i ke e a c h m a j o r i nfo rm s th e oth e r, a n d thi s h a s b e e n ve r y b e n ef i c i a l to my p ra cti c e .


La st s u m m e r I o p e n e d a n a r t g a l l e r y with th re e fr i e n d s fro m th e a r t s c h o o l . It ’s b e e n by fa r th e bi g g e st p roje ct th a t I ’ ve b e e n a p a r t of s i n c e c o m i ng to s c h o o l . It h a s b e c o m e a fu l l t i m e jo b fo r a l l of u s , b ut it h a s b e e n s o re wa rd i ng , I wo u l d n’ t h a ve it a ny oth e r wa y.


I ’ ve b e e n i n s p i re d i n s o m e wa y by e ve r yo n e I ’ ve wo rke d with h e re . Th e fa c u lt y a re a l l ve r y g e n e ro u s a n d s u p p o r ti ve with th e i r fe e d b a c k a n d with th e i r t i m e .


I re a l l y d id n’ t h a ve a ny ex p e cta ti o n s fo r a r t s c h o o l , whi c h I thi n k h a s b e e n a g o o d thi ng .



R ic h m o n d i s a g re a t p l a c e fo r m e to b e wo rki ng r i g ht n ow. It ’s bi g e n o u g h th a t th e re a re thi ng s h a p p e ni ng h e re , b ut n ot s o bi g th a t it i s n ot a c c e s s i bl e . Fo r i n sta n c e , h e re i n R ic h m o n d we c a n r u n a g a l l e r y th a t i s g et ti ng a t te ntio n n a tio n a l l y whi l e sti l l b e i ng a bl e to a f fo rd th e re nt a n d h a ve a n i m p a ct i n th e l o c a l c o m m u nit y.


Thi s i s a to u g h q u e stio n to a n swe r. Th e re i s s o m u c h I c a n’ t e ve n b e g i n to sta r t a n swe ri ng . I thi n k thi s i s th e b e st p a r t a b o ut b e i ng a n a r ti st i s th a t yo u g et to b e i nte re ste d i n e ve r y thi ng a n d fro m th e re f i g u re o ut wh a t it m e a n s to p u l l th e s e i nte re st s i nto a n a r ti stic p ra ctic e .


I ’d l i ke to s e e th e g a l l e r y th ro u g h u nti l g ra d u a ti ng . I ’d a l s o l i ke to c o nti nu e s h owi ng my own wo rk i n oth e r g a l l e r i e s , h o p efu l l y s h ow wo rk i n N e w Yo rk b efo re I l e a ve s c h o o l .


Ideally I would make a l iving as an ar tist or from running a galler y. It ’s hard to sa y what I ’l l be doing work-wise af ter I graduate. There are a lot of possibil ities . I ’ve been luck y with the jobs I ’ve had so far, there are lots of oppor tunities I would sti l l l ike to tr y out.

M y n a m e i s C o n o r B a c k m a n .I a m p u r s u i ng a d o u b l e m a j o r i n P a i nt i ng & P ri nt m a ki ng a nd S c u l pt u re + E x t e nd e d M e d ia . I g re w u p i n P u r c e l l vi l l e , Vi r g i n ia .

Sculpture +Extended Media

45


Before becoming a par t of Theatre VCU, I believed that acting was all about abandoning one’s self to become another character; I used acting and theatre as my escape. Now I ’ve learned that this ar t requires all of oneself, including its honest y along with all of its f laws . In order to create a truthful per formance I now know that I must invest all of myself or to not even bother. In my opinion, the audience is there to relate, not to be tricked or misguided; a truth has to be told .


M y fa vo rite p roje ct wa s wh e n I wa s c a st i n Fo r Co l o re d G i r l s … h e re a t Th e a tre VCU . H e re I wa s , a fre s h m a n , a n d c a st i n a M a i n sta g e . Th e re i n th e f i r st re h e a r s a l I sto o d a l o ng s id e s o m e of th e m o st p owe r fu l th e a tre a ctre s s e s I k n ow. Th a t s h ow ta u g ht m e s o m u c h a b o ut my s e lf a n d h ow I s h o u l d vi e w th e wo rld .


Ye s , my a cti ng te a c h e r, D r. T, h a s tr u l y i n s p i re d m e . S h e s h ows m e th a t th e a tre i s m o re th a n wh a t m e et s th e e ye . It i s re a l l i fe , with re a l p e o p l e , a n d if d o n e r i g ht – it d e a l s with re a l e m otio n s . It ’s i n s p i r i ng b e c a u s e s h e fo rc e s m e to b e my s e lf, to l ove my s e lf a n d th e c h o ic e s th a t c o m e a l o ng with a ny thi ng th a t I d o . H e r te a c hi ng s h ows m e th a t th e a tre c a n b e a to o l fo r h e a l i ng . An d I m u st s a y th a t thi s a r t h a s tr u l y b e c o m e a g i r l ’s b e st fr i e n d .


I th o u g ht c o l l e g e wa s a l l a b o ut p a r t yi ng a n d a hu g e s o c ia l l i fe . An d fo r s o m e thi s m a y b e , b ut fo r m e it h a s b e e n a b o ut d i s c i p l i n e a n d d e d ic a tio n ; wh a t it m e a n s to h a ve a p a s s io n a n d s o m eti m e s h ow p owe r fu l i t i s to sta n d a l o n e i n it .



I ne ve r k new that the Richmond the atre sce ne wa s so succe s sfu l .


M o d e rn p o p , ro c k , a n d ra p m u s i c h a ve a l wa y s b e e n h o b bi e s .I ju st l ove to b e a p a r t a n d l i ste n to it . I a l s o l ove c hi l d re n a n d c l e a ni ng! O rg a ni za tio n a n d s a niti zi ng a re ve r y th e ra p e utic . I a l s o l ove to c h e e r, s i ng , a n d d a n c e .



I wo u ld ta ke m o re r i s k s with my s i ng i ng a n d ta ke m o re d a n c e c l a s s e s . I re c o g ni ze th e p ote ntia l a n d of te n wo n d e r i f I h a ve e n o u g h ti m e to fu r th e r it .


M y fa vo rite m e m o r y a t VCU i s wh e n o n e of my te a c h e r s c a l l e d m e a n d to ld m e th a t th e y we re c o n s id e ri ng m e fo r a n u n d e r stu d y p o s it io n a t a p rofe s s io n a l th e a tre . I re m e m b e r s m il i ng fro m e a r to e a r b e c a u s e h e re I wa s a s o p h o m o re a n d h e c o u ld ’ve c a l l e d a nyo n e e l s e i n th e s c h o o l , b ut h e c a l l e d m e .


I ’d love to direct a show, become a lead in one, and develop the contacts and f inancial stabil it y needed to sur vive in this business .


I h o p e to m ove to e ith e r L A o r N Y a n d a u d itio n u nti l I c a n’ t a nym o re . An d whi l e d o i ng s o , I h o p e to i nte rn a t a p rofe s s i o n a l th e a tre c o m p a ny.

M y n a m e i s C r ys ta l J o h n s o n .I a m fr o m P e t e r s b u r g , Vi r g i n ia wh e re I l i ve wit h my m ot h e r a nd 7 ye a r o ld s i s t e r.M y m a j o r i s T h e a t re P e r fo rm a n c e .

Theatre

47

sCulpture + eXtended media

I d i s c ove r e d t h a t I a m a c it y g i rl ! I th o u g ht th a t th e c it y of R ic h m o n d wo u ld b e s c a r y a n d d i r t y, wh e n i n fa ct it i s q u ite th e o p p o s ite . Th e re a re s o m e tr u l y b re a thta ki ng l y b e a utifu l a re a s i n R ic h m o n d . Th e re i s a l wa y s s o m ethi ng to d o o r s o m e wh e re withi n wa l ki ng d i sta n c e , s o I a m n e ve r b o re d . allison day meyerDance & Choreography major

R ic h m o n d ’s d i ve r s it y i s i t s g re a te st a s s et a n d it s b e st- ke pt s e c ret . I h a d n o id e a th a t I wo u l d b e s u rro u n d e d by s u c h a wid e s p e ctr u m of c u ltu re a n d ex p e ri e n c e i n R i c h m o n d . I k n e w I wa s m ovi ng i nto a n u rb a n e nvi ro n m e nt wh e n I d e c id e d o n VCU, b ut I wa s s h o c ke d a t t h e ric h n e s s of t h e d i ve r s it y o n c e I tr u l y g ot to k n ow th e c it y.matt jeWellMusic and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)

H a vi ng g rown u p o n a fa rm i n We st Vi rg i ni a , I th o u g ht th a t R ic h m o n d wa s g o i ng to b e a te rr if yi ng , h a rd - c o re u rb a n e nvi ro n m e nt . I h a d n e ve r l i ve d i n a c it y b efo re , a n d fe lt l i ke I wa s to o n a i ve to m ove to R ic h m o n d . I wa s s u rp ri s e d a n d d e l i g hte d to d i s c ove r th a t R ic h m o nd a c t u a l l y h a s m o re of a s m a l l e r c it y fe e l t h a n I a nt ic i p a t e d . I l e a rn e d to b e s m a r te r a n d l e s s p a ra n o id a b o ut my u rb a n s u rro u n d i ng s a n d m o re o p e n to th e g if t s R ic h m o n d h a s to of fe r. Th e a rc hite ctu re h e re i s b e a utifu l , a n d th e hi sto r y of th e c it y i s fa s c i n a ti ng . Th e vi b ra n c y of th e VCU stu d e nt b o d y i s s o i nvi g o ra ti ng . Th e re i s n o “ t yp i c a l ” VCU stu d e nt . Eve r yo n e h a s a u ni q u e sto r y a n d b a c kg ro u n d . Al s o , I d i s c ove re d th a t m o s t p e o p l e i n R ic h m o nd a r e i n c r e d i b l y frie nd l y a nd h e l pfu l .miChelle Clark sitesCommunication Arts major

B efo re c o m i ng to VCU I l i ve d i n th e we st e n d of R i c h m o n d a n d I fe lt c o nf id e nt th a t I h a d s e e n a l l th e s i g ht s of d owntown R ic h m o n d a l re a d y. H owe ve r, I wa s wro ng . Th e re a re l a ye r s to thi s c it y whic h I a m sti l l p e e l i ng . I ’ ve d i s c ove re d s i g ht s hid i ng i n c o rn e r s of th e c it y. I ’ve m et p e o p l e th a t h a ve i nf l u e n c e d my l i fe d e c i s i o n s m o re th a n th e y c o u l d k n ow. Th e m o st s u rp ri s i ng thi ng a b o ut m ovi ng to thi s c it y i s h ow e a s y it i s to b u i ld a h o m e a nd b e c o m e p a r t of a fa m i l y o ut s i d e of my p e rm a n e nt a d d re s s .virginia driggersArt Education major, Art History minor

what have you discovered about Richmond that you didn’t know before coming to VCU?

Th e re re a l l y i s s o m ethi ng fo r e ve r yo n e . I fe e l l i ke I a m d o i ng s o m ethi ng n e w a l l th e t i m e , a n d c o n sta ntl y m e eti ng n e w p e o p l e i n my c l a s s e s , i nte rn s hi p s , a n d wh e n I g o o ut with fr i e n d s . Pe o p l e te n d to b e re a l l y p ro a cti ve a b o ut wh a t th e y ’re i nto , a n d th e re a re c o n sta ntl y n e w re sta u ra nt- g a l l e r y-ve nu e hyb rid s s p ro uti ng u p a l l ove r th e c it y. Yo u c o u ld a l s o e a s i l y m e a s u re o ut th e ye a r i n te rm s of fe sti va l s: Fre n c h Fi l m , I nl i g ht , I n d ia n , B ro a d A p p étit , Wa te rm e l o n , Ar t wa l k , Wo rn Ag a i n Fa s hio n S h ow, a n d oth e r m u s ic - b a s e d fe sti va l s .andrea manriqueInterior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor

Th e f i l m i n d u str y h e re i s s l owl y g rowi ng . I a l wa y s th o u g ht th a t I ’d h a ve to m ove to e ith e r L A o r N e w Yo rk b ut R ic h m o nd h a s g re at p ot e nt ia l a nd g r owi ng j o b o p p o r t u n it ie s fo r f i l m m a ke r s . I t i s i n s p i r i ng to thi n k th a t I m a y b e a p a r t of s o m ethi ng g re a te r.duy nguyenCinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor

49

danCe & Choreography

art foundation

R ic h m o n d c a n b e a s d re a r y o r a s fu n a s yo u wa nt , d e p e n d i ng o n h ow of te n yo u a re a bl e to g et o ut a n d if yo u ta ke th e t i m e to d i s c ove r it s q u i rk y c ra n ni e s . I a m a hu g e fa n of th e vi nta g e c l othi ng sto re s B yg o n e s a n d H a l c yo n . Th e re i s a fa b ri c sto re to d i e fo r a s we l l a t th e i nte r s e cti o n of Li b bi e a n d G rove c a l l e d Co utu re Fa b ric s .raChel Zoe Walters

Fashion Design major

R ic h m o nd i s a u n iq u e c it y t e e m i ng wit h d i ve r s it y a nd c u lt u ra l a s p e c t s t h at c a n n ot b e fo u nd o n e ve r y c a m p u s . I m e et n e w p e o p l e a n d h a ve n e w ex p e ri e n c e s re g u l a rl y th a t h a ve h e l p e d m e to b ro a d e n my s c o p e of u n d e r sta n d i ng .hannah Wray

Fashion Merchandising major

Eve r y thi ng I k n ow a b o ut R i c h m o n d h a s b e e n s h a p e d by my ex p e ri e n c e s a t VCU . I h a ve d i s c ove re d th e r i c h c u ltu re a n d hi sto r y of thi s c it y. I p a r ti c u l a rl y e n j oye d d i s c ove ri ng th e wa y th e a r t c u ltu re h e re i n R i c h m o n d g u id e s c i vi c i s s u e s s u c h a s h o u s i ng , re a l e sta te , g a l l e r y s p a c e s , etc .kathleen jonesPhotography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)

what have you discovered about Richmond that you didn’t know before coming to VCU?

51

What advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?

sCulpture + eXtended mediamusiC

M a ke s u re yo u a re i n l ove with yo u r a r t fo rm . Co l l e g e l e ve l a r t s i s fu n , b ut it i s n o jo ke . Yo u h a ve g ot to b e wi l l i ng to g i ve yo u r t i m e , love , e f fo r t , a n d e ve r y thi ng th a t i s yo u fo r yo u r a r t . I a m s o i n l ove with d a n c e th a t I tr y to d a n c e e ve r y c h a n c e I g et . Co m i ng to VCU a s a n a r ti st yo u m u st b e p re p a re d to wo rk h a rd e r th a n e ve r with a s m i l e o n yo u r fa c e .allison day meyerDance & Choreography major

I ’ ve h a d m a ny te a c h e r s th a t h a ve to l d m e th e b e st a r ti st s a re th e o n e s th a t m a ke th e m o st wo rk . I thi n k a l ot of th e t i m e thi s i s tr u e . Thi s a l s o i n c l u d e s l o o ki ng a t a r t a n d ta l k i ng a b o ut a r t . Th e m o re yo u i nve st i nto yo u r p ra cti c e th e m o re yo u wi l l g et o ut of it . I t ’s a l s o g o o d to m a ke frie nd s wit h g ra d u a t e s t u d e nt s i n yo u r p ro g ra m , th e y a re th e m o st m oti va te d p e o p l e a t th e s c h o o l a n d a re u s u a l l y a l wa y s h a p py to ta l k a n d wo rk with yo u . R e a l l y th e ex p e ri e n c e yo u h a ve a t s c h o o l i s wh a t yo u m a ke of it .Conor baCkmanPainting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended Media (double major)

Ta ke c a re of yo u r s e lf, p r i o rit i ze , a n d b e wi l l i ng to g o to th e ex tre m e s th a t oth e r s m a y refu s e to g o to . D o s o m ethi ng , a ny thi ng th a t s et s yo u a p a r t . D o n’ t r u i n yo u r re p uta ti o n o r wo rr y to o m u c h a b o ut a s o c ia l l i fe ( it ’ l l h a p p e n o n it s own). J u st wo rk h a rd a n d m a ke a n a m e fo r yo u r s e lf o r e l s e yo u ’l l l o o k u p 4 ye a r s l a te r te rr i bl y d i s a p p o i nte d i n yo u r c o l l e g e c a re e r. Crystal johnsonTheatre Performance major

I wo u ld a d vi s e a p ro s p e cti ve stu d e nt to ke e p a ve r y o p e n m i n d to th e p o s s i bi l i t y of c h a ng e . C h a ng e i s a s c a r y thi ng fo r o n e ’s a r t c a re e r, e s p e c ia l l y wh e n yo u g et stu c k o n s o m ethi ng yo u ’re d o i ng . H owe ve r, a b s o rbi ng a d vi c e a n d c rit i q u e c a n g u id e a yo u ng a r ti st to a tr u e r u n d e r sta n d i ng of a r ti sti c m e a ni ng . Al s o , I wo u ld a d vi s e th e p ro s p e cti ve stu d e nt to ta ke a d va nta g e of t h e re s o u r c e s VC U h a s to of fe r.kathleen jonesPhotography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)

Co n s id e r g et ti ng re a l l y s e ri o u s a b o ut wh a t yo u d o , a n d it wi l l p a y of f. I h a ve h a d s o m a ny o p p o r tu niti e s o p e n u p b e c a u s e I h a d ti m e to g o o ut a n d d o thi ng s l i ke vo l u nte e r a t th e VA Ce nte r fo r Arc hite ctu re a n d a p p l y to te a m p roje ct s l i ke th e VCU d a Vi n c i C e nte r fo r I n n ova ti o n i n Pro d u ct D e ve l o p m e nt .andrea manriqueInterior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor

what advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?

Em bra ce the d i ve r sit y that su rrou nd s you . The cit y provide s a n incred ible ba ckd rop for broade ning you r cu ltu ra l a nd a r tistic hori zons . T h e ot h e r VC U a r t s d e p a r t m e nt s c a n s e r ve a s h u g e s o u r c e s of i n s p i rat io n ; watching you r p ee r s work in their own ele me nt a nd witne s sing the ma ste r fu l work that the y cre ate ca n se r ve a s a n inspirationa l cata l yst g re ate r tha n a ny thing you’ve e ve r imagined .matt jeWellMusic and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)

I wo u ld te l l a n e w stu d e nt to n e ve r fo rg et why h e o r s h e i s h e re: a n e d u c a tio n . Co l l e g e i s a m a zi ng , a n d e m b ra c i ng fu n a n d fre e d o m a re g re a t , b ut m a ke s u re th a t d u ri ng th e fo u r ye a r p e rio d yo u d o n ot lo s e s ig ht of t h e re a s o n t h at yo u c a m e . Co l l e g e i s th e s etu p fo r th e re st of yo u r l i fe . Th e re i s s o m u c h m o re to fo l l ow.hannah WrayFashion Merchandising major

Sta y o p e n a n d re m a i n c u rio u s . R e s e a rc h th e thi ng s th a t m a ke yo u h a p py a n d c o l l e ct i m a g e s i n fo ld e r s . It ’s c l ic hé b ut tr u e; yo u ta ke a wa y wh a t yo u p ut i n .raChel Zoe WaltersFashion Design major

53

CommuniCation arts

J u s t m a ke s u r e yo u love wh a t yo u d o . D o n’ t wo rr y a b o ut wh eth e r yo u ’l l f i n d a jo b o r n ot , i f yo u l ove wh a t yo u d o , a n d of c o u r s e if yo u ’re ta l e nte d , e ve r y thi ng wi l l wo rk o ut .duy nguyenCinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor

O b s e r ve wh a t th o s e wh o a re s u c c e s sfu l a re d o i ng . D o th a t , a n d th e n f i n d yo u r own wa y of d o i ng wh a t th e y d o — d if fe re ntl y.miChelle Clark sitesCommunication Arts major

G et to k n ow yo u r p rofe s s o r s . Lo o k a t th e i r wo rk , l o o k a t why it wo rk s a n d a s k th e m a b o ut it . Th e y a re th e re to te a c h yo u a b o ut a r t a n d yo u c a n re a l l y l e a rn a l ot a b o ut c re a ti ng wo rk fo r yo u r s e lf by l o o ki ng a t h ow oth e r s wo rk .Catherine gellatlyCraft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors

G o Fo r It ! Thi s i s yo u r e d u c a ti o n a n d yo u s h o u l d m a ke th e b e st of th e t i m e yo u h a ve . D o n’ t j u st wa d e th ro u g h s c h o o l , m a ke it a c h a l l e ng e , str u g g l e , g o a l! I f yo u a re u p s et with th e e a s i n e s s of a c l a s s th e n ta ke a h a rd e r o n e . Pe o p l e c a n d o a ny thi ng th a t th e y s et th e i r m i n d to a n d with a l l of th e wo rl d ’s i s s u e s , Ea r th n e e d s c re a ti ve p ro bl e m - s o l ve r s to i m p a ct th e futu re a n d m a ke a c h a ng e fo r th e b et te r!virginia driggersArt Education major, Art History minor

what advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?

graphiC design

55

art foundation

35 international fraternities and sororities

a Cappella ensemble of vCu

aCtive minds

ad Club

alternative spring break

ameriCan institute of graphiC arts (aiga @ vCu)

ameriCan marketing assoCiation (ama @ vCu)

ameriCan soCiety of interior designers (asid @ vCu)

anime Club

anthropology/arChaeology Club

art history Club

ballroom danCe soCiety

blaCk student union

blaCkout danCe team

bookWorms of vCu

boWling Club

Capoeira at vCu

Caribbean student organisation

CatholiC Campus ministries

CeramiCs Club

Change for Change

Chinese student assoCiation

Christian student felloWship

CirCle k international (Cki @ vCu)

City ConneCtions

ClassiC/silent horror film student organiZation

Club baseball

Club softball

College republiCans @ vCu

CommonWealth times

vCu Compass singers

Contemporary Craft soCiety

CreW team

CyCling Club

diversity theatre

def poets soCiety

episCopal Campus ministry

ethiopian student union

field hoCkey Club

filipino ameriCans Coming together (faCt @ vCu)

filmmakers at vCu

foCus on relevant Current events (forCe)

german Club

global foundation (gf)

green unity 4 vCu

groupmoda (fashion organization thriving on diversity and creativity)

habitat for humanity

homeComing Committee

iCe hoCkey Club

indian student assoCiation

ink magaZine

interCultural festival planning board

international interior design assoCiation (iida @ vCu)

international student volunteers (isv @ vCu)

invisible Children @ vCu

judo Club

korean students at vCu (ksvCu)

kino!kino! (german Cinema Club)

latino student assoCiation

literati

media , art, and teXt student organiZation

men against violenCe (mav)

men's soCCer Club

men's CriCket Club

men's laCrosse Club

men's rugby Club

men's ultimate frisbee Club

men's volleyball Club

monroe park student government assoCiation (sga)

muslim students assoCiation

national art eduCation assoCiation, vCu student Chapter

national assoCiation for the advanCement of Colored people (naaCp @ vCu)

notoChords (Co-ed a Cappella group)

organiZation of photographiC arts (opa!)

paintball Club of vCu

pakistani students assoCiation

persian ameriCan students (pas)

philosophy Club

poker Club at vCu

poppers of vCu

queer aCtion

quidditCh Club

relay for life @ vCu

runners Club of vCu

s.t. a .n.d. (students taking aCtion noW: darfur)

saudi students organiZation

sCooter Club

seXual assault dating violenCe

eduCation by students (s. a .v.e.s.)

siggraph at vCu

sikh student assoCiation of vCu

ski Club at vCu

snoWboarding Club

soCiety for Women in Cinema (sWC)

soCiety of CommuniCation artists (soCa)

strut fashion shoW planning Committee

stiCk it or Whip it: roCk Climbing at vCu

student art spaCe

student film festival @ vCu

student hip-hop organiZation (shho)

students for sensible drug poliCy (ssdp)

students for soCial aCtion (ssa)

students today alumni tomorroW (stat)

suits & Cigars (s&C)

surf Club vCu

sWim Club of vCu

sWing danCe at vCu

table tennis Club at vCu

taekWondo Club at vCu

tennis Club of vCu

this ameriCan life at vCu

university bible felloWship

vegetarian Club

video game Club of vCu

vietnamese student assoCiation (vsa)

WhiteWater at vCu

Women's Club soCCer

Women's laCrosse Club

Women's rugby Club

Women's ultimate frisbee Club (bisCuit villains)

Women's volleyball Club

World Cup vCu

WvCW radio

yoga eduCation student

organiZation ( yeso)

young ameriCans for liberty

young demoCrats at vCu

something foreveryone

57

fashion design & merChandising

VCU a r t s stu d e nt s u s e w w w.vc u .e d u /a r t s/ i n s i d e a s th e i r h o m e p a g e fo r e a s y a c c e s s to a l l stu d e nt re s o u rc e s .

E VE N T S – To f i n d o ut a b o ut VCU a r t s s h ows , g u e st s , a n d stu d e nt /a l u m ni / fa c u lt y a cti vit i e s . w w w.e s t e rk n ows .c o m

O P P O RT U N ITI E S – VCU a r t s stu d e nt s a re m a d e a wa re of o p p o r tu niti e s i n c l u d i ng c o m p etit i o n s , i nte rn s hi p s a n d fe l l ows hi p s th ro u g h e ste r ’s s i ste r s ite , p r u d e n c e . w w w. p r u d e n c e k n ows . i nfo

C AR E E R S – G re a t fa c u lt y i s n’ t th e o nl y wa y a r t s stu d e nt s h a ve a l e g u p . Th e re ’s h e l pfu l i nfo rm a ti o n fo r th o s e a b o ut to e m b a rk o n a jo b s e a rc h a t w w w. je a n e t t e k n ows j o b s .c o m

G AL L E RY – VCU a r t s An d e r s o n G a l l e r y ex hi bit s th e wo rk of n a ti o n a l l y a n d i nte rn a ti o n a l l y re n own e d a r ti st s , e m e rg i ng f i g u re s , a n d re g io n a l n a m e s . Th e A n d e r s o n G a l l e r y m o u nt s ex hi bit io n s th a t ex p l o re c o nte m p o ra r y a r t a n d d e s i g n . Ea c h s p ri ng , stu d e nt s a l s o ex hi bit th e i r wo rk i n th e A n d e r s o n G a l l e r y. Thi s a n nu a l s h ow d ra ws hu g e c rowd s a n d a c c o l a d e s fo r stu d e nt s . w w w.vc u .e d u /a r t s/g a l l e r y

FAC I LITI E S – Th e S c h o o l of th e A r t s s p a n s 13 b u i l d i ng s o n th e VCU c a m p u s i n c l u d i ng th e m u c h l a u d e d Fi n e A r t s B u i l d i ng a n d th e W. E . S i ng l eto n Ce nte r fo r th e Pe r fo rm i ng A r t s .

DA VI N C I C E N T E R – Th e n e w d aVi n c i C e nte r fo r I n n ova tio n i n Pro d u ct D e s i g n a n d D e ve l o p m e nt i s a j o i nt ef fo r t by th e S c h o o l s of B u s i n e s s , Eng i n e e ri ng a n d A r t s th a t te a m s stu d e nt s fro m e a c h d i s c i p l i n e wh o ta c kl e d e s i g n c h a l l e ng e s . w w w.d a vi n c ic e nt e r.vc u .e d u

Ke e p u p with VCU a r t s o n yo u r fa vo rite we b s ite s:yo ut u b e .c o m / vc u a r t sfa c e b o o k .c o m / vc u a r t st wit t e r.c o m / vc u a r t s

resources forour students

kinetiC imaging

59

painting & printmaking

art eduCation graphiC design

61

vCu rams basketball game

OVERALL

SCULPTUREDepartment of Sculpture + Extended Media GRAPHIC DESIGN Department of Graphic Design

FIBER ARTS Department of Craft/Material Studies

GLASSDepartment of Craft/Material Studies

PAINTINGDepartment of Painting & Printmaking

MULTIMEDIA/VISUAL COMMUNICATIONSLikely a combination of our departments of Communication

Arts, Graphic Design, Photography & Film, and Kinetic Imaging

METALS/JEWELRYDepartment of Craft/Material Studies

CERAMICSDepartment of Craft/Material Studies

PRINTMAKINGDepartment of Painting & Printmaking

How VCUarts Measures Upranking among all u.s. arts

programs publiC and privateranking among all u.s.

publiC universitiesvCuarts programs

as ranked by U.S . NEWS & WORLD REPORT

#4

#1

#4

#4

#5

#8

#9

#10

#12

#17

#1

#1

#1

#1

#1

#3

#3

#5

#6

#10

additional rankings information

DesignIntelligence 2010 National Rankings: VCUarts Department of Interior Design named “Hidden Gem of Interior Design Education.”

Dance & Choreography is an invited member of the Council of Dance Administrators (CODA), a forum of the nation’s 25 leading dance programs.

63

(804) [email protected]

vcu.edu/artsyoutube.com/vcuartsfacebook.com/vcuartstwitter.com/vcuarts

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