Moore College Magazine
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No. 38 FALL /11 Teaching Excellence Inside: Internship Senior Show & Visionary Woman Commencement Snapshots Fashion Show Awards 2011 CONTENT President’s Letter 2 Historic Fox Gift 4 Internship Snapshots 5 ON CAMPUS Visionary Woman Awards 6 BFA Commencement 2011 8 Senior Show 10 Fashion Show 12 In The Galleries 14 Campus News 17 FACULTY NEWS In Studio: James Johnson 20 Faculty & Staff Notes 22 ALUMNAE NEWS & NOTES Career Profile: Renee Reeser Zelnick 24 Alumnae News 26 On The Cover Alumnae Notes 27 Detail of And Suddenly the Memory Revealed Itself by Mallory Lawson, class of 2011, mixed-media, 78” x 84”on view in Emerging Artists and Shop Style 35 Designers: Senior Show 2011 April 27 – May 14, 2011 in The Galleries In Memoriam 36 at Moore. Lawson writes, “I am interested in neighborhoods and communities and how they evolve over time… Through layering of different imagery, I want my work to be a map like palimpsest that shows what was, what is, and what is yet to come.” Mission Statement Moore College of Art and Design is dedicated to excellence in art and design. Founded in 1848, Moore is the first and only visual arts college for women in the United States. Through its undergraduate bachelor of fine arts degrees for women and its coeducational graduate programs, Moore cultivates creativity, promotes scholarship and prepares its students for professional careers in the arts by emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, risk-taking and strong communication skills. Moore is dedicated to producing graduates that distinguish themselves as leaders in their fields. As a cultural leader, Moore promotes access to the arts throughout the broader community. The Galleries at Moore introduce the work of significant regional, national and international artists to the community through distinctive exhibitions and educational programs. The wide-ranging continuing education programs also serve the community by providing opportunities for men and women to learn new skills for personal and professional growth. Through Moore’s acclaimed Young Artists Workshop, founded in 1922, the lives of children and youth are enriched through creative arts education. Building on its historical legacy of educating women for successful careers in the visual arts, Moore is committed to adapting to the needs of future generations of artists, designers, scholars and educators throughout its diverse educational programs. Penny and Bob Fox Make Historic Gift to College This spring Penny and Bob Fox made a historic gift of $2 million 4 to Moore College of Art & Design. The gift funds Moore’s first Endowed Professorship and five new Internship Fellowships. Visionary Woman Awards 2011 This year, Moore’s Jane Zimmerman Walentas ’66 is one of three 2011 Visionary Woman Awards honorees. On October 12, she will be honored alongside political cartoonist Signe Wilkinson and artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith. 6 Career Profile: Meet Renee Reeser Zelnick ’89 Meet concept artist and illustrator Renee Reeser Zelnick ’89. She now splits her time between two studios, one in Los Angeles and one in Lancaster County, PA. 24 FALL 2011 1 TEACHING EXCELLENCE Teaching Excellence This past spring, I announced my intention to resign in May 2012 at the end of this academic year. As this final year as president of Moore begins, I look back to my arrival twelve years ago. When I came to Moore as the ninth president of the College, there were opportunities along with challenges. I am pleased to say that thanks to the efforts of a dedicated team of faculty, staff, board and alumnae, many dreams and goals have been achieved. Having been a professor at Temple University for 20 years, I know that excellence in teaching is the cornerstone of any academic institution. So announcing the first endowed professorship for the College was a special pleasure. At the BFA Commencement May 15, 2011, The Penny and Bob Fox Distinguished Professorship was awarded for the first time to Moe Brooker, Professor and Chair of Foundation. Professor Brooker exemplifies excellence in his teaching, his artistic practice, and his service to the arts community. He challenges students through example, leadership and hard work to pursue their own artistic vision and dreams. Earlier this spring, we had the “ Hiring faculty who are opportunity to acknowledge another outstanding faculty member: Assistant Professor of Illustration Rich Harrington, who was recognized with the Lindback Distinguished working artists, designers, art Teaching Award. Moe Brooker and Rich Harrington are only two examples of the many historians and art educators excellent dedicated teachers who challenge their students and lead by example as working professionals in their fields. is part of Moore’s promise to Hiring faculty who are working artists, designers, art historians and art educators is part educate students for inspiring of Moore’s promise to educate students for inspiring careers in the visual arts. Faculty careers in the visual arts.” investment in the success of our students underscores this commitment. Moore’s small college advantage means that students build strong ties with faculty, staff and peers, and that students benefit from mentoring that continues long after graduation. Moore alumnae continue to be part of a strong network of support as they develop their professional careers. Moore’s focused investment in academic excellence while also addressing fierce economic dynamics has been a challenge. We have met our goal of academic excellence by working as a team to decrease administrative costs and expand student financial aid. The goal is to keep a Moore education as affordable as possible while keeping our eyes laser-focused on teaching excellence. Happy Craven Fernandez, President 2 MOORE PRESIDENT HAPPY CRAVEN FERNANDEZ to Resign in May 2012 Happy Fernandez chats with students in the Dining Hall at Moore in 1999, “ She has been pivotal in raising Moore’s reputation as a respected educational institution and as a major cultural force in the Philadelphia region.” —Penny Fox On May, 20, 2011, Moore College of Art & Design President Under Dr. Fernandez’s leadership, the College completed a Happy Craven Fernandez announced her intention to resign successful $30 million capital campaign. Since 1999, the College following Commencement in May 2012. Since her inauguration has invested over $27 million in sustainable building renovations in fall 1999, Dr. Fernandez has been a tireless champion of and improvements. Under her oversight, renovations of Wilson Moore’s mission to educate students for careers in art and design. Hall doubled the college’s classroom, studio and public spaces. Moore Board of Manager’s Chair Art Block commented, “Dr. Dr. Fernandez was also instrumental in the introduction of Fernandez has transformed the College. Moore is a stronger, more the Visionary Woman Awards at Moore. This signature event resilient institution today due to her extraordinary leadership, honors women leaders in the arts, brings national visibility to energy and commitment. Her creative vision has led to academic the College and also raises significant scholarship funds for innovation, capital improvements and financial stability. Under Visionary Woman Scholars. her leadership, enrollment has increased 29%. She has raised As President of the nation’s first and only women’s art college, record amounts of money that have resulted in the college’s first raising money for leadership programs and new scholarships capital campaign, the college’s first endowed professorship, and and fellowships has been a particular focus of Dr. Fernandez. many new endowed scholarships and capital improvements. During her tenure she has secured more than $3.5 million in new Thanks to her guidance, the College has a greater capacity to scholarships and fellowships. Two initiatives that have expanded address future opportunities and challenges.” women’s leadership development are the Emerging Leaders in the “I feel it is the right time to make this transition with the Arts and Business Scholars in the Arts. College in such a strong position,” stated Dr. Fernandez. “I Penny Fox, Chair Emerita of the Board of Trustees, said, “On have enjoyed my years at Moore seeing students of all ages behalf of the Board, it is with great reluctance that we accept discover their talents and strengths and pursue careers and Dr. Fernandez’s resignation. I extend my deepest gratitude to leadership in the visual arts. As a life-long educator, that is a President Fernandez for her exemplary service. She has been great pleasure and joy. As President, I have focused on growth pivotal in raising Moore’s reputation as a respected educational and innovation to enable Moore to become an even more institution and as a major cultural force in the Philadelphia vibrant educational and cultural institution.“ region. We look forward to the opportunity over the next year to During her tenure, Dr. Fernandez introduced graduate celebrate her distinguished service to the College.” programs, the College’s first co-educational degree programs: On May 20, the Board acted to constitute a Search Committee an MA in art education and MFAs in studio art and interior who will assist the Board in the search for President Fernandez’s design. She also launched two new innovative undergraduate successor. The Committee is made up of eleven members: six majors: the Curatorial Studies major, the nation’s first current and former board members, two members of the faculty undergraduate program of its kind, and a major in Photography and one representative of each of the College’s administrative staff, and Digital Arts. Her commitment to the College’s career- alumnae and student body. The College anticipates announcing focused mission led the College to require internships in all Dr. Fernandez’s successor in the spring of 2012. majors and the funding of a unique Internship Fellowship for every junior, as well as the addition of a business minor.