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Department of Art & Art History Sculpture/Ceramics Area & the Association of Ceramic Artists (Clay Club) Student Organization Present Our Spring 2017 Visiting Artist with support from the Gus Mazzocca Visiting Artists and Scholars Fund
Claudia Alvarez
Artist Lecture/Demonstration
Thursday – Friday March 30-31, 2017
10:00am-12:30pm & 1:30-4:00pm
Art Building Rm. 117
Claudia Alvarez is a painter and sculptor currently living in New York City. Born in Monterrey, Mexico in 1969 and raised in California from the age of three, she received a BA from the University of California, Davis in 1999, and an MFA from California College of Arts, San Francisco in 2003.
Alvarez worked at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California from 1987-2000. Deeply affected by the terminally ill children and elderly patients she encountered as a non-emergency ambulance driver, she reflects on their strength and vulnerability through her painted and sculpted figures.
The Art Building main entrance is located on Bolton Road behind the Drama/Music Building on Rte. 195 Hillside Road at 280 Bolton Rd. Storrs, CT 06269
For more information, contact: Department of Art & Art History Office at 860-486-3930
Featured
3/28 Opening Reception Laura Newman
STRUCTURES
Paintings by Laura Newman
March 28 – May 5, 2017
Monday – Friday 10 am – 4 pm
Public Talk
March 28th from 4 – 5 pm – Art Building, VAIS room 109
Exhibition and Artist’s Reception
March 28th from 5 – 6 pm – Art Building, CAG
The Contemporary Art Galleries will present an exhibition of artworks including paintings by New York based artists Laura Newman. Prior to the artists’ reception, Newman will present a public talk on her artwork at 4pm in UConn’s Art Building. This event is open to the public, and free of charge.
Newman states,
“In my recent paintings, architectural structures serve as containers for space. My paintings fold together a variety of approaches to form-among them hard-edged geometrical shapes, loose gestural forms arrived at through the actual process of painting, and representational references. The imagery in my work is poised between building sites and urban ruins, structures and deconstruction. Brushstrokes form structures that frame geometric paintings, embedded windows and fragments of views.”
Laura Newman is an abstract painter who lives and works in Brooklyn. In 2016 her work was included in Machines of Paint and Other Materials, 72 Front Street, Brooklyn; Conference of the Birds, Shirley Fiterman Art Center, New York; Surface Two, curated by Renee Ricardo, Arena, Brooklyn; and Inside Out, Art 101, Brooklyn. She has had solo shows at Jen Bekman Gallery, 1 GAP Gallery, The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, Lesley Heller Workspace, Bellwether Gallery and Victoria Munroe Gallery. Her work has been included in group exhibitions at Brian Morris Gallery, Fordham University, Lesley Heller Workspace, The National Academy of Art, The Weatherspoon Museum of Art, The New Museum and many others.
Publications include a catalog from NSCAD University with essays by John Yau and Amy Sillman, and reviews in The Brooklyn Rail, Artforum Magazine, The New York Times, and Bomb Magazine.
She has received fellowships and awards from Yaddo, The American Academy in Rome, the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, MacDowell Colony and The New York Foundation on the Arts.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, and educated at Cooper Union, the California Institute of the Arts, and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, she is an Associate Professor in the Art Department at Vassar College.
3/27 Spring into the Arts!
We are happy to invite newly admitted students to join our faculty and current students on Monday, March 27, for a special event: Spring into the Arts!
We’ll begin with a welcome reception at 2:00 pm, in the basement level of the Bishop Center, located at One Bishop Circle, Storrs. From there, we will proceed to two unique hands-on workshops with our faculty, followed by dinner with current students and faculty. We wrap up at 7:00 p.m., which is in plenty of time for you to take in an evening arts event on campus or explore our downtown.
This event provides a unique opportunity for prospective students to spend time with us, as part of our community.
As a side note, while we’re usually very happy to see parents and families, Spring into the Arts! is an event for admitted students only. However, we will be hosting a parents’ session from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. on this evening in Room 107 of the Art Building. Parents and families will be able to speak with Eva Gorbants, Assistant Dean and Director of Advising for the School of Fine Arts. Assistant Dean Gorbants is a great resource, and is very knowledgeable about all academic matters. Parents and families will also be welcome to join us at the general University Open House on Saturday, April 8.
3/9 Open Studios 2017
The UCONN MFA students invite you to the 2017 Spring Semester Open Studios Event! Current artwork from the graduate students will be on view and their studio doors will be open, this is a great opportunity to talk with the MFA students about their work and studio practice + there will be a taco bar provided by Moe’s Southwest Grill!
Thursday, March 9th from 6-8PM at the Visual Arts Research Center (VARC) located on UConn’s Depot Campus in the Lebanon and Colchester buildings.
Address is: 95 Ahern Lane Storrs Mansfield, CT, 06269
DIRECTIONS:
The VARC is located on the UConn Depot Campus, just off Rt. 44.
*BY BUS: From the UConn main campus, take the Purple Line and get off at the Lebanon Cottage stop
*BY CAR: From 195, take Rt 44 West.
At the stoplight next to the former prison, make a left onto Walters Avenue. Stay right at the fork to merge onto Ahern Lane.
Just past the abandoned buildings, you should see Lebanon Cottage and a blue sign that says “Visual Arts Research Center.” Parking is FREE and so are the tacos. See you there!
3/2 “Stampede” Solo Exhibition by Cate Solari
Join us for the Opening Reception of “Stampede”
Solo Exhibition by Cate Solari, OUR Idea Grant Awardee
Thursday, March 2, 2017
6:00pm – 8:00p
VAIS Gallery, Art Building Room 109
University of Connecticut, Storrs
Raccogliere Opening Reception
Join us for the opening reception of Raccogliere – A study of gatherings and public spaces in Florence, Italy” artwork by Louise Astorino.
Reception time is 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Vais Gallery, Art Building Room 109
Louise Astorino is one of the recipients for the UCONN IDEA GRANT.
Graphic Design Program Takes Home 17 Awards From This Year’s CADC Design Show
Master of Fine Arts Exhibition 2016 – April 9th-May 8th
This year’s Master of Fine Arts Exhibition is here! The exhibition will be in the William Benton Museum of Art at the University of Connecticut from April 9th – May 8th.
There is an opening reception on Wednesday April 20th from 5pm-7pm.
The exhibition features Amanda Bulger, Don Burton, Kacie Davis Kamar Thomas, and Neil Orians.
Meet our grads here!
Art History Major, Brandon Smalec Receives National Science Foundation Fellowship
Our very own Brendan Smalec was one of ten UConn students and alumni to receive a fellowship from the National Science Foundation. UConn Today writes this about the award,
Regarded as one of the premier awards in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, the NSF awarded 2,000 fellowships this year to support students in the early stages of their research-based master’s or doctoral careers. The fellows will receive an annual stipend of $34,000 for three years and $12,000 support for tuition and fees. The awardees also qualify for international research and professional development opportunities. The total value of the fellowship exceeds $138,000.
For this highly competitive award, applicants must submit research proposals, which are reviewed by expert scientists in their field. NSF fellowship recipients, as well as honorable mentions, represent the most promising young scientists in the nation, and the awards are seen as “investments that will help propel this country’s future innovations and economic growth,” according to a statement released by the agency.
Brendan’s research consists of examining cancer susceptibility and progression in a non-traditional mammalian model, specifically, the Peromyscus leucopus, or white-footed mouse. Working with an inbred line of P. leucopus found to be highly susceptible to developing an adenocarcinoma (cancer from a glandular origin) of the Harderian gland, the project seeks to determine what genetic signatures are present in the inbred mice line that predispose them to developing this cancer, and also what makes it so highly metastatic, since metastasis is usually the cause of death in most cancer-related fatalities.
Along with a BA and MA in Biology, Brendan is also receiving a second degree in Art History from the UConn School of Fine Arts.
See the full story in UConn Today
MFA Art Auction – 3/31/16
Join us for the MFA Art Auction in the Art Building Arena Gallery from 5pm-7pm on Thursday, March 31st
There will be a Silent Auction at 6pm and a Live Auction at 7pm with an Art Preview on March 29th
Take a look at some of the work that will be at the auction on MFA Auction Flickr
UConn Art and Art History Alumni Reception – Friday February 5th, Washington D.C.
Election Day Printmaking Workshop for High School Educators
Fresh experiences (and the opportunity to explore letterpress) as well as techniques and projects to take back to the high-school studio (including programs with little or no printmaking equipment)!
Participants will create letterpress prints using wood and metal type on the Vandercook proof press. Polymer plate letterpress will be introduced. We will also explore the use of PVC foam board to make plates that can be used to create both relief and intaglio prints.
“Printmaking Studio” will include: morning instructional workshop, 10:00 am-12:30 pm; lunch 12:30-1:30 pm; and optional afternoon studio time, 1:30- 3:30 pm.
The maximum size for this workshop is 12 people. Participants will work directly with UConn Printmakers Laurie Sloan and John O’Donnell.
Tuesday, November 3rd. Register through the Department of Art & Art History, 860-486-3930 or art@uconn.edu. The cost, including materials and lunch, is $25.00.
A boxed lunch will be provided. Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary needs.
Erin Wiersma, Visiting Artist – 10/29/15 at 3:30 p.m.
Visiting Artist Presentation: Erin Wiersma
Thursday, October 29, 2015, at 3:30 p.m.
Arena Gallery, Art Building, Storrs Campus
Erin Wiersma is an artist, born in Somerville, New Jersey. She received her Master of Fine Arts from University of Connecticut, Bachelor of Art degree from Messiah College, and studied at Instituto Lodovico in Orvieto, Italy.
Wiersma’s work explores the intangible aspects of the human presence using her own being as a point of reference. Through her drawings she seeks to discover a confluence of the spiritual and material.
Wiersma has exhibited throughout the US, including recent exhibitions at Mallin Gallery at Kansas City Artist Coalition, Kansas City, MO, Soho20 Gallery, NY, NY, Sarah A. Coyne Gallery at Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art in Novato, CA and Rebecca Randall Bryan Art Gallery at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC. Wiersma’s drawing practice is included in publications including OnVerge – CUE Foundation, Art21Online Magazine and Two Coats of Paint. Currently Wiersma’s work is being represented in Brooklyn, NY at A.I.R. Gallery and she lives in Manhattan, Kansas.
Wiersma is an Assistant Professor of Art at Kansas State University. Images of her work are at www.erinwiersma.com.
Please contact Professor Judith Thorpe at judith.thorpe@uconn.edu with any questions.
Education Abroad Expands Creative Vision and Enhances Professional Readiness
Higher education has embraced rigorous education abroad programs to encourage students to think like global citizens. The Institute of International Education notes that international experience is one of the most important components of a 21st century education.
Globalization is changing the way the world works, and employers are increasingly looking for workers who have international skills and experience. Alum Shane Milano (BFA Studio Art: Communication Design ’12), a designer at national ad agency Hill Holiday, notes that during job interviews prospective employers asked many questions both about his internships and also about his study abroad experiences. Art history students aiming to build careers in museums and non-profits need global experience to complement their studies.
Our Study Abroad programs are faculty-led and provide classroom and experiential learning opportunities that are directly integrated with our curriculum. The semester-long program in Florence, Italy, focuses on observational drawing, painting, and photography, and uses the city and its art traditions for inspiration. The semester-long program at Central St. Martins, London, takes students to a leading European art school to study design, typography, and book arts alongside their English counterparts. Art History students often participate in UConn’s Florence and Paris programs, both of which offer specialized art history courses. Learn more by visiting UConn Education Abroad.
Arts Internships: Laying the Foundation for a Career in the Arts
Internships are an excellent way to gain an inside view of the student’s chosen field, learn about different career paths, and start to build a network of professional connections. Internships can also provide valuable work-related experiences that give students a head start when they are ready to launch their careers.
Most AAH students undertake at least one internship, and many do two or more. Sometimes internships are taken during the academic year for credit, or they can be undertaken during the summer as independent professional-development experiences.
Students should consult their faculty advisors and the UConn Center for Career Services about internship opportunities. Career Services can provide assistance with resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn and other social media and networking tools, and interviewing skills.
These are some places that AAH students have interned:
| Lego | Winterhouse Studio | ESPN The Magazine |
| Artefact | The Taunton Press | Curbstone Press |
| Real Art Ways | Wadsworth Atheneum | Florence Griswold Museum |
| Conde Nast | Milestone Graphics | Threads Magazine |
| Frick Collection | Denver Art Museum | Once + Future (NYC) |
| Hartford Courant | Studio of Barbara McClintock, Illustrator | Studio of David Johnson, Illustrator |
| 9 West | Center for Contemporary Printmaking | |
Contemporary Art Galleries Recognized as Top Ten Place to View Contemporary Art
The Culture Trip, an influential website, has named the Department’s Contemporary Art Galleries as one of the Top Ten places to view Contemporary Art in Connecticut. The article notes that CAG focuses on “forefronting the biggest trends in contemporary art and exploring interdisciplinary crossover. Architecture, design, photography, performance, music, film, video and fine art all rub shoulders within and on its walls, and series of artists talks and art criticism also provide debate and discussion.” CAG is in good company on this list, which also cites the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, the New Britain Museum of American Art, and Real Art Ways.
Donate to the Gus Mazzocca Visiting Artist Program
The Art & Art History Department is pleased to announce the creation of The Gus Mazzocca Visiting Artist Program.
During his distinguished forty-two year career at UConn, Professor Emeritus Gus Mazzocca was a leader in promoting and developing artists’ residencies at arts schools and universities.
DOUBLE THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIFT!
Tom and Carol Dillon, in honoring Gus, are putting forth a dollar-for-dollar challenge up to $10,000 to match new donations to The Gus Mazzocca Visiting Artist Program Program Endowment.
Join the Art & Art History Department in nurturing new art and educating the next generation of artists by making your gift today!
Please contribute your gift online through the UConn Foundation.
If you have questions, please call the Department of Art and Art History at 860.486.3016.
Chronicle of Higher Education: Employers Value Humanities Grads with Digital Skills
According to a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, prospective employers highly value humanities graduates, in fields like art history and English, who also have digital skills, like building and maintaining websites and managing social media.
One career counselor interviewed noted, “For several years now, I have been meeting with the center’s faculty members, students, and internship directors to learn what they are hearing from employers about our students. Again and again they hear potential employers say things like, ‘We like liberal-arts graduates. They are curious and creative, they write well, they can do research, they are quick learners, and they are good critical thinkers.’ The best of them have the ‘ability to synthesize and distill large amounts of information.’ And ‘we especially need individuals who are good storytellers—who can convey the mission of our organization in a variety of forms.'”
Click here to see the full article.
Wall Street Journal: Art Grads Enjoy High Earnings and Career Satisfaction, Low Unemployment
The Wall Stree Journal recently reported the results of a 2011 Georgetown University study showing that the unemployment rate in the first two years for those graduating with bachelor of fine arts degree is 7.8%, dropping to 4.5% for those out of school longer. The median income is $42,000.
“Artists’ income is comparable to other liberal-arts majors,” noted Anthony Carnevale, director of Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. “They do a little better than psychology majors, since counseling and social work is a very low-wage occupation.”
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304402104579149060054918936
MFA Alum Siobhan Landry Praised in New York Times Review
MFA alum Siobhan Landry was praised by New York Times art critic Holland Cotter as a “stand out” for her work in a current Queens Museum exhibition. Read the full article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/arts/design/the-expanded-queens-museum-reopens.html?_r=0