WINTER + SPRING 2015

ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STUDENTS AT MECA HELP MAKE COMMUNITIES BETTER MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 1 LEADERSHIP TEAM DONALD TUSKI, PH.D. President IAN ANDERSON Vice President of Academic Affairs contents & Dean of the College ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE BETH ELICKER 4 Executive Vice President 10 ARTISTS AT WORK REBECCA SWANSON CONRAD Vice President for 15 BFA SHOW Institutional Advancement 16 ICA FACULTY SHOW SETH CLAYTER winter + spring 2015 Director of Technology 18 FACULTY ACHEIVEMENTS RAFFI DER SIMONIAN Published twice a year, the goal of this Director of Marketing & Communications publication is to instill institutional pride 19 INSTITUTIONAL NEWS ELIZABETH JABAR 20 MFA Assistant Dean, Director of Public Engagement & by informing and engaging students, 22 ALUMNI NEWS + OPPORTUNITIES Chair of the Printmaking Department ADREA JAEHNIG alumni, faculty, staff, trustees and 24 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES Director of Student Affairs 30 MAT LIAM SULLIVAN friends of the MECA community about Director of Admissions 32 CONTINUING STUDIES MELISSA SULLIVAN exciting developments on campus and UPCOMING AT MECA Executive Assistant 34 JESSICA TOMLINSON around the world. We encourage you 35 ANNUAL APPEAL Director of Artists at Work to submit feedback, news, class notes CONTRIBUTORS and story ideas for consideration to ANNIE WADLEIGH Assistant Director of Development [email protected]. Tessa O'Brien, MFA ’16, studio view JILL DALTON ’99 Associate Director of Artists at Work & Director of Alumni Relations ALUMNI COUNCIL MECA’s Alumni Council is a leadership group that works to help enhance connections Welcome DIETLIND VANDER SCHAAF between alumni and the College, identify paths of engagement for alumni and provide Development Officer support for the work of the Director of Alumni Relations. The 2014–15 Alumni Council FROM EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT BETH ELICKER members are: SERENA JOYCE ’15 Maine College of Art is a hub of creative innovation and transformation. FERN TAVALIN, ED.D. LEON ANDERSON ’83 SABRINA METIVIER ’11 Since arriving in 1988, I’ve witnessed MECA evolve and grow into one of the most dynamic Chair of Art Education ELAINE ANGELOPOLOUS MFA ’09 JOHN POWERS ’95 art colleges in New England. It has been truly inspiring to be part of this creative community EVE BENNETT ’00 ELIZABETH PRIOR ’82 where I am surrounded by talented students and educators dedicated to honing their craft ASHERAH CINNAMON ’08 ANDREA RAYNOR ’92 through rigorous studio practice, harnessing their creative voice and becoming an artist for life. JEFF DIEUMEGARD ’97 GABRIELLA STURCHIO ’12 DESIGN One of the defining moments of the MECA experience is when a student discovers the power KATE KATOMSKI MFA ’02 ERIN SWEENEY ’94 associated with influencing their community. Through the experiential learning required in BETH TAYLOR ’08 MARY SCHMALING KEARNS ’98 Assistant Director of Marketing & Design First Year and Sophomore Seminars, the electives in public engagement, the Artists at Work program, and the Public Engagement minor, students are given the opportunity to gain the skills and confidence to directly impact their community, and in turn, themselves. PHOTOGRAPHY Considered one of the first programs of its kind in any art college, MECA has been weaving BOARD OF TRUSTEES the interdisciplinary pedagogy of Public Engagement across our curriculum for over 25 years. GABRIELLA STURCHIO ’12 Deborah Spring Reed (Chair) Judith A. Kane, Ph.D. Teddy Stoecklein As evidenced throughout the pages of the Winter/Spring issue of MECA Magazine, our ALIK VERSOCKI ʼ15 Margaret Crane Morfit Erick Lahme Cynthia Thompson commitment to improving and contributing to our communities through artistic excellence, (Vice Chair) Alison Leavitt William Thornton creative entrepreneurship and civic engagement has never been stronger. ON THE COVER Joan L. Amory Paula Crane Lunder Andres Verzosa ’92 Sincerely, Heidi Bement Lynda Means, M.D. Katharine Watson The Grow Cart was created by HANNAH MERCHANT ʼ13 Jane G. Briggs Kenneth M. Nelson Brian Wilk ’05 (WWFD, Public Engagement Minor) Ronald Buford Daniel E. O’Leary Paula Zeitlin This mobile farm stand was designed in partnership with Cultivating Daniel Crewe Jac Ouellette ’02 EMERITUS TRUSTEES Community for her Public Engagement Ben Devine Claudia C. Pachios Betsy Evans Hunt Capstone project. The Grow Cart is used to deliver local organic produce Deborah H. Dluhy Daniel Poteet Candace Pilk Karu PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI ʼ15 PHOTO: Beth Elicker and supports Cultivating Community's Annette L. Elowitch Susan Rogers Eldershare and Farmshare distribution efforts in the city of Portland. Ralph L. Harding Susan Schraft PHOTO: GRETA RYBUS 2 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 3 ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Using the pedagogical tool of service learning for the past 25 years, MECA students have been creatively solving real world problems, building collaborative community partnerships and strengthening professional skills. Assistant Dean and Director of Public Engagement Elizabeth Jabar explains, “Students are propelled into situations that tap their creative potential. MECA’s dynamic project-, Art for problem- and research-based courses give students the skills and confidence to affect their culture and society. Considered one of the first programs of its kind in art Social Change school this interdisciplinary pedagogy is EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE AT MECA integrated into various studio and liberal arts courses, into the newly launched Public SHAPES A NEW GENERATION OF Engagement Minor, and into the FY-In (First Year Initiative) and SYL (Second Year Lab) ARTISTS, CITIZENS, ENTREPRENEURS WANG CHE-WEI PHOTO: seminars. Through these initiatives and links AND CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVERS to co-curricular education, the entire MECA community engages in larger conversations It is hard to imagine a community without visual art. Visual art with the world.” stimulates, pleases and challenges citizens of all ages. The largest Catherine D’Ignazio MFA ’05 cities and most rural towns embrace art in public places. Galleries Beginning in 1989, with a mural project at HACKING THE BREAST PUMP and artists’ working studios drive economic development and attract Brighton Medical Center’s Oncology Unit Catherine is a researcher at the Massachusetts maternal or family leave policy in the country. people to gather. One only needs to see an artist working with a under the guidance of Sculpture Professor Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Civic It was an opportunity to discuss cultural and group of children who are intently asking questions to know that Regina Kelly (now Khenmo Drolma, an Media who has three children and suffered social norms around pumping and how those artists create dialogue across social and economic boundaries. Abbess of the Vajra Dakini Nunnery), through negative breast pump experiences need to change. For me, coming from an arts MECA faculty have encouraged students But how do artists, through their work, intentionally engage with each one. When she brought this up with background, bringing these things into public to engage in these “conversations with the communities to think, to see things differently and to provoke us to fellow artist Alex Metral MFA ’04, they tried to discourse was a priority. Usually these are world” as part of their studio practice. act on what we see? What stimulates MECA students to continually imagine an art project around the topic. They private things that we don’t talk about in public reflect on the meaning and purpose of their work as they pursue their MECA asks students to consider their work mentioned it to Catherine’s MIT co-worker, or innovate around, but then breastfeeding as degrees? How do MECA students discover that learning is a moral as part of the larger social fabric, grounded Alexis Hope, she remarked that it could be “a a choice has huge public health ramifications. activity that carries responsibility beyond the self? in the world and applied to real world legit thing—it doesn’t have to be just an art There’s a significant policy dimension.” project." After holding a small, unpublicized problems. Among all college and university “I think MECA had a huge influence on how The pursuit of a BFA, MFA or MAT degree at MECA follows a hackathon in May of 2014, their blog posts first year seminars, MECA’s FY-In is unique broadly I conceived the role of art to be curriculum guided by MECA’s educational philosophy, which is based went viral on Facebook and Twitter and they as a required course for all first-time, in the world. I’ve always been inspired by on five tenets: studio, agency, place, community and ethics. soon picked up a number of collaborators who first-year students. Jabar describes FY-In movements like Fluxus, which combined art wanted to work on the mission of redesigning “At the core of a MECA education is the belief that an artist’s life as a distinctive part of every new MECA and everyday tasks like making soup. It is the breast pump. centers on the studio practice. MECA defines the studio as a public student’s education that fully immerses really lovely that the making of soup can also as well as a private students in art and design, involves them in In September of 2014, the “Make the Breast be an artistic gesture that has an impact. That’s place where the artist Art is the signature the MECA and Portland communities, and Pump Not Suck” Hackathon took place at MIT the kind of wonderful thing about it. I’m an undertakes research, places their creative efforts into a real- and the weekend-long quest included about ‘undercover artist’ on this project. It doesn’t experimentation, reflection, of civilization. world context. FY-In teaches the critical 150 engineers, designers, midwives, parents have to be recognized as art, but for me it collaboration and problem importance of combining research and and babies. Who knew breast pumps were definitely comes out of an art process. The solving, all in preparation –BEVERLY SILLS practice and serves as an introduction to so complicated or so reviled? Moms, that’s hackathon was a design project, but for me for creating and presenting who. Traditional breast pumps are bulky and it was completely an art project as well, even meaningful work. Students learn that a lively and enduring studio awkward and may have many parts, all of down to the way we named it. I learned a lot at practice will make them creative agents in the world of today,” notes which need to be cleaned. Even costly ones my time at MECA about the social role that art Ian Anderson, VP of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. can be loud and mechanical, eroding any joy can play in bringing people together. The MECA curriculum supports the creative spirit of students, from the experience. The hackathon was a I think that MECA had a huge influence on empowering them to become artists, citizens and entrepreneurs. Students are propelled huge success, with sponsors awarding prize me in that regard. The MECA MFA faculty MECA offers a structured, sequential program in visual language, money to help teams pitch their ideas to were instrumental to how I think about art in academic studies and public engagement that prepares students into situations that tap investors. The top prize went to the “Mighty the world.” Mom Utility Belt,” a “fashionable, discreet, to transition into viable careers. According to Dean Anderson, their creative potential. Learn more about the project at hands-free, wearable pump that automatically “Faculty, serving as both mentors and co-learners, work diligently to breastpump.media.mit.edu ensure that students become effective artists – in the studio, in the MECA’s dynamic logs and analyzes your personal data." Second community and in the world.” project, problem and prize was awarded to “Helping Hands: a sturdy, easy to clean, minimal parts, hands-free MECA also offers the Public Engagement Fellowship, which is a research based courses compression bra designed by nursing moms.” financial award in addition to the responsibility of conceiving of, give students the skills The project received widespread media From the Ground Up, a community art and landscape project in Portland's designing and implementing a community based project. Chloe coverage from multiple science journals and Libbytown neighborhood, facilitated by MECA faculty Christina Bechstein Beaven ’15, a 2014–2015 fellow, notes, “I see Public Engagement and Elizabeth Jabar, with MECA students and community partners Friends of and confidence to blogs as well as CNN, The Atlantic, and The the Ballpark, and the West School. Photos by Sean Alonzo Harris. at MECA as a pedagogy for the investigation of the intersection New Yorker. between art and social change. Through my work as a PE fellow and affect their culture and minor I have noted that the line between art and social change has society. Catherine said, “The hackathon was a nice blurred, allowing me to confront issues of social injustice and cultural way to focus primarily on the pump itself, while –ELIZABETH JABAR, also having all these other side conversations conflict directly in my own art practice.” ASSISTANT DEAN + DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT about just how we support families during the postpartum period, with no mandated 4 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 5 PHOTO: CHE-WEI WANG CHE-WEI PHOTO: ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE collaborating with other students and with a community partner. Students read, write, research and make, discuss and critique work Community Partners while pursuing projects specific to their section. MECA'S 20-YEAR HISTORY OF PUBLIC Today’s MECA students experience the intersection of studio, agency, place, community and ethics both inside and outside of the studio and ENGAGEMENT PARTNERSHIPS IS VAST, classroom. Then, as alumni, they bring this experience to communities DEEP AND DIVERSE. WE ARE GRATEFUL around the world. FOR WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND Artists are acknowledged as public intellectuals, a term broadly defined as individuals who engage with multiple ideas and translate CO-CREATED WITH THEM. those ideas through accessible­—and in the case of artists, visual and NON-PROFITS, PROJECTS LOCAL BUSINESSES + aural—concepts. + COMMUNITY STUDIOS Professor Jabar has witnessed first-hand the transformational ORGANIZATIONS Aurora Provisions power of connecting MECA students with meaningful community This mutual relationship allows Acorn Productions Dead Skin Press projects,“From my very first Public Engagement course I witnessed MECA students to explore and practice Avesta Housing Diversified Communications my students experience deep learning when they were given the Arts & Equity Initiative Local Sprouts opportunity to apply their creative imagination and skills in a real social change through facilitation Bayside Neighborhood Peregrine Press world context. Through this work students grapple with an expansive Association Rose Contemporary set of social, cultural, political and environmental questions, and and dialogue, while allowing Seeds Bicycle Coalition of Maine The SOAP Group begin to see their roles as artists and creative thinkers in new and of Peace students to practice art as Camp Susan Curtis Wright Ryan Construction previously unimagined ways. It goes beyond the idea of 'making a Center for Cultural Exchange difference' to the design of concrete actions and real outcomes that a vehicle for understanding each Center for Grieving Children SCHOOLS contribute to a more just world we all want to live in. After 15 years other and promoting social change. City of Portland Adams Elementary of doing this work with my students, I am convinced now more than Company of Girls Cathedral School ever that this pedagogy and socially engaged art practice are the core This multi-generational project uses Crossroads for Women Deering High School to art education in the contemporary world.” Cultivating Community East End Elementary School printmaking, new media and sculpture Creating Multicultural Alliances Hall School Many Rivers Program ● REBECCA SWANSON CONRAD, IAN ANDERSON, ELIZABETH JABAR AND ANNIE WADLEIGH Dress for Success Institute of Fine Art, Ulaanbaatar, CONTRIBUTED TO THIS ARTICLE. to promote its own third step to the The Edge Mongolia greater community. Environment Maine King Middle School – ABI MAY, MAINE SEEDS OF PEACE COORDINATOR Friends of the Ballpark Lincoln Middle school Good Shepard Food Bank Long Island School Green Memorial Church Longfellow Elementary School Heart of Biddeford Nova Scotia College of Art Island Institute and Design Libbytown Neighborhood Portland High School Association Real School Portland Neighborhood Reiche Elementary School Association University of Southern Maine Noah Frigault ’05 League of Young Voters West School LAWYER WITH AN ART DEGREE Literacy Volunteers of Maine Maine Farmland Trust VISITING ARTISTS Noah Frigault ’05 graduated with a degree in know that while at MECA, I had the same desire Maine Historical Society Myron Beasley Painting from MECA, but soon became immersed to ‘save the world’ that many young people have, Maine Seacoast Mission Gregg Bordowitz in the field of social justice. Now a California- and I attempted to carry that out through both my Mayo Street Arts Astrid Bowlby licensed attorney “committed to advancing senior thesis and my volunteer work in the years Museum of African Culture Liz Chalfin the rights of low-income communities in the following my graduation. I learned best practices NAACP Portland MLK Fellows Khenmo Drolma Bay Area of San Francisco,” he is currently for critical thinking at MECA, which were useful Partners for World Health Harrell Fletcher a consultant for the Department of Fair in law school as well as life. From my own Portland Museum of Art Amy Franceschini Employment and Housing, while also serving experience, I have found that the link between Portland Public Library Aaron Frederick on the Housing Residential Rent & Relocation traditional notions of art and social justice does Portland Trails Erica Harris Board for the City of Oakland. He has worked not really hold up anymore. Art plays an ancillary Preble Street Teen Center Derek Jackson for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission role. To effect change, you have to be direct PROP Rick Lowe and as a law student did internships for the about it. I love art with a capital ‘A,’ and art- Project Safe and Smart Marty Pottenger Refugee and Human Rights Clinic and the making, but when it comes to social justice, I am Rippleffect Tim Rollins Homeless Advocacy Project in San Francisco. a results-driven person. People have a tendency Seeds of Peace Alexander Rose Noah earned his JD in 2013 from the University to overestimate the importance of art in social Shalom House Jon Rubin of California Hastings College of the Law. He has justice because it was so important in the past, Shelter Institute volunteered for the Common Ground Collective, but those were different times.” SPACE Gallery a disaster and humanitarian relief organization Nonetheless, Noah’s art education has had a South Portland Public Library for homeowners affected by Hurricane Katrina; deep impact on his work. “As a lawyer, I have Spindleworks the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project; and found myself involved in many nonprofits and Spiral Arts Habitat for Humanity East Bay (teaching and local government agencies. My background is TEDx Dirigo leading volunteers in green construction). He often very different from that of my colleagues, Tides Institute was also involved in the Fair Chance Campaign, so I think I bring a fresh eye to community The Telling Room which spearheaded the Fair Chance Act and projects within these organizations. At MECA, VSA Arts of Maine now provides protections for people with arrest I was educated by students and teachers who Woodfords Family Services and conviction records seeking housing and seem much more radical than the people I see YWCA Portland employment in San Francisco. in government, and sometimes even in legal Youth Build/LearningWorks It Starts With Me: Exploring the power of art as a tool for social change, “I continue to struggle with defining the aid, and I think that has helped me keep a a collaborative project with students from the Maine Seeds of Peace Program and MECA Public Engagement relationship between my time at MECA and my perspective that is more in line with community ‘real world’ work after graduating,” Noah says. “I values than government ones.” MECA students and faculty led a series of workshops focused on self- expression, story telling and skill building in art and media as tools for social change. 6 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 7 CORE PROGRAM ELEMENTS PE FELLOWS FY-IN: INVOLVE/INFUSE/INSPIRE SYL THE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MINOR Public Engagement Fellows are The FY-In seminar is required for Second Year Lab is an interdisciplinary is a four-year curricular pathway that MAINE CAMPUS COMPACT (MCC) campus leaders and are charged with all first-year students and involves class, designed to immerse students in integrates art, real world problems and Maine Campus Compact is a coalition building student capacity, participation studio work, academic research and a sustained project with a community community partners. Students take of 17 member campuses. Their purpose and civic engagement through involvement with a community partner. partner in order to develop each action as citizens, artists and designers curricular project-based work and co- Its intent is to fully immerse students student's ability to take an idea from to solve and address real, complex is to catalyze and lead a movement to curricular programming. in art and design, and the life of the inception to completion, and introduce problems. The minor is a model reinvigorate the public purposes and College and Portland communities, professional skills necessary to be an for interdisciplinary education and A History of civic mission of higher education. and to place their creative efforts into a artist at work. prepares students with professional real-world context. and interpersonal skills to work in the PUBLIC world as creative and social agents. PE program receives the Maine Campus Compact President’s Leadership Award AWARDS MECA students receive Student in Service Awards to DONALD HARWARD lead civic engagement efforts on campus and help build ENGAGEMENT (PE) FACULTY AWARD FOR student capacity for community partnership work SERVICE LEARNING at MECA EXCELLENCE Christina Bechstein Elizabeth Jabar Paul Gebhardt + Faculty develop new + Faculty design and propose + President Don Tuski + PE and Student Affairs initiatives and curriculum the Public Engagement Minor, joins the MCC board collaborate on developing FACULTY DEVELOPMENT integration which is unanimously approved by quality co-curricular education MECA has partnered with Maine Campus Compact college community–faculty, staff, +Launch FY-In course since 2001 to deliver faculty trainings on service administration and board FACULTY learning pedagogy and curriculum development. + New administrative hire, Elizabeth INVOLVEMENT Jabar, Assistant Dean + Director of OFFICIAL Public Engagement, created to CONFERENCES MEET US ON THE FRONT CULTURAL Faculty present CONVERGANCE: support and lead PE + MECA hosts PORCH, presented at Creative CO-CREATION: on PE program at THE INTERSECTION STAFF THE PRESIDENTIAL SUPPORT ARTISTS AT WORK Tensions in Building the COMMUNITY BASED WAKING CITY, RISD OF ARTS + ACTIVISM, LAUNCHED SUMMIT ON Engaged Campus, Northeast EDUCATION IN THE FOUNDATION Public Engagement aligns SUSTAINABILITY Regional Campus Compact ARTS, TEACHING, CONFERENCE, Tufts for MCC with Career Services, Alumni MAKING, RESEARCH, CREATIVE Relations and Special Projects BOWDOIN COLLEGE COMMUNITY to form Artists at Work PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM (CCP) ESTABLISHED PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT ENGAGEMENT PE STUDENT MINOR IS INTERNSHIPS CREATED PROGRAM CROSSROADS LAUNCHED PE Minors work with the PE Director Service Learning pedagogy embedded New Public Engagement/Service to support and lead PE curricular and across studio programs and courses Learning faculty team sustains and co-curricular programming ART IN SERVICE supports integration of service Faculty member Regina learning into courses. + SYL Second Year Lab, Kelly creates and leads Art PROGRAM BUILDS 2001–2007 Course release for lead support sophomore seminar PE FELLOWS in Service, considered one faculty and VISTA staff support. course integrates PE/SL ESTABLISHED of the first art in service Over a six-year span the Creative Community Partnerships program included courses across 11 studio programs in the country disciplines and connected with 50 new community partners. The program is studied by other art schools + First Public Engagement as a model of dynamic service-learning integration. Minor graduates

ART IN SERVICE CREATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS (CCP) PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

1989 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

PUBLIC HARRELL ASTRID BOWLBY TIM ROLLINS RICK AMY JON RUBIN BEEHIVE ENGAGEMENT FLETCHER, part of Collaborative project Alternative Spring Break LOWE FRANCESCHINI COLLECTIVE VISITING Playground ICA MECA + Cathedral School Program with The Edge ARTISTS SERIES exhibit + curriculum LAUNCHED TIM ROLLINS collaborative project MECA + EdGE + A Company of Girls

GRANTS Helen and George Maine Kay E. Dopp Maine Arts Virginia King + Jean Maine Maine Edward H. Daveis EPA Grant / Focus on Ladd Charitable Humanities Charitable Commission Hodgkins Somers Cummings Campus Campus Benevolent Fund of Climate Change Foundation Council Remainder Unitrust Foundation Charitable Compact Compact the Maine Community Maine Community Foundation Helen and George Ladd Trust Foundation, Partners for Charitable Foundation Morton-Kelley Charitable Trust King + Jean Cummings Charitable Trust World Health + Cole-Haan Levine Family Foundation, Inc. 2001–2004 Maine Campus Compact 2001–2005 Cole Hahn ARTISTS AT WORK ARTISTS AT WORK

and lead projects and initiatives that focus on building relationships between campus Creative and community. The fellowship is supported Entrepreneurship with a grant from the Helen and George Ladd Foundation. Several MECA artists are creating work for the new Press Hotel in downtown Portland, Does your organization want to partner with Maine: Chair and Associate Professor of MECA students? Contact Elizabeth Jabar at Woodworking & Furniture Design MATT EAT, RIDE, SLEEP, REPEAT [email protected]. HUTTON is building the lobby reception wall THE MAINE BIKE COALITION and furniture for the lobby with assistance from RANGELEY MORTON ’14. JENNY DOUGHERTY ’03 has been commissioned to create a site specific piece. Student artists TESSA O'BRIEN MFA’16 and staff member at DIETLIND VANDER SCHAAF will have work work Every day, we get requests from individuals, nonprofits and businesses looking for creative talent. We connect them with designers and makers, problem Adjunct Asssistant Professor of Printmaking MICHEL DROGE MFA’10 and students in her FY-In class, Climate Change and Maine Island Communities, partnered with The Island solvers and entrepreneurs. Our Institute to study climate change and its impact in Casco Bay. The goal was to bring local students, faculty and alumni are fishermen, artists and scientists together through a mutual concern for the future regarding the risk-takers and innovators climate change and to share their research with the public through the visual arts. Students who dare to think differently and traveled to various islands throughout the semester studying ocean acidification, ocean warming, rising tides, storm surges, new species and fishermen's oral histories. They shared change how we see the world. 12 their findings about the impact and vulnerability of Maine's islands in regard to these topics Don’t you need an artist? through an exhibition of their photographs, maps and hand-crafted artists' books. This [email protected] exhibition will be traveling to the State House in Augusta and some of the work will be published in the state's Ocean Acidification Commission Report next month. Visiting Assistant Professor BENNETT MORRIS MFA’07 and students in his FY-In class Public Engagement Out of Place partnered with the Bicycle Students in MECA’s innovative first year Coalition of Maine on two educational events seminar course (FY-In) worked with the in Portland, including the Bike Light Giveaway PHOTO: GABRIELLA STURCHIO ’ STURCHIO GABRIELLA PHOTO: following community partners on a variety and Slow Ride event, and Farmers’ Market outreach. The events focused on educating of creative projects throughout the city of The annual MECA Holiday Sale provided a sales venue for 55 selected alumni artists and commuters and residents about bicycle Portland in the fall semester: students in the majors. Thousands of shoppers attended the two-day event and spent more safety. MECA students screen-printed and PORTLAND TRAILS | THE ISLAND INSTITUTE than $100,000 on unique handmade art, crafts and gifts. PORTLAND BRICK | THE BICYCLE COALITION OF MAINE distributed custom-designed T-shirts in ENVIRONMENT MAINE | CAMP SUSAN CURTIS Longfellow Square and Deering Oaks Park. Associate Professor of Graphic Design Chair + Professor of Liberal Arts DANA CHARLES MELCHER and students in his SAWYER and students in his Envisioning a FY-In class, Community Action: Design and Sustainable Society class partnered with Activism, created posters to encourage Environment Maine on projects to highlight citizens to "Get out the Vote” in response to food scarcity and climate change. Students the brief set out by the AIGA "Get Out the created a photo booth where people could Vote" Campaign.The posters were exhibited have their picture taken and communicate at the Portland Public Library and will be why climate change is an important issue promoted nationally through CEEP (Campus for them. The photos, along with signed Election Engagement Project). Students postcards, were delivered to the national will see their posters distributed to other office of the Environmental Protection campuses in the country for the next election Agency, in support of the EPA's Clean Power in 2016. Plan to reduce carbon emissions by 30% (of 2005 levels) by 2030. The public could also Jon Rubin was a visiting artist in Public Students in Adjunct Assistant Professor of Printmaking PILAR NADAL MFA’13's FY-In class sign a petition to urge their Maine legislators Engagement this fall. He is an interdisciplinary Transporting + Capturing the Intangible partnered with Portland Brick. A project of local to explore ways of growing a new food web artist who creates interventions into public artists Ayumi Horie and Elise Pepple, Portland Brick is a multifaceted public art project that that would help small farmers get their crops MICHAEL MCSWEENEY PHOTO: life that re-imagine individual, group and marries community, function and history through technology, live performance and the to market, so people can buy local. institutional behavior. Jon gave a public fabrication of sidewalk bricks. Students gathered stories from residents of the India Street Design Workshop students worked with the Maine Red Claws to design a T-shirt. The lecture, participated in a BIG THINK facilitated neighborhood and stenciled elements from these stories onto bricks. In 2015, these stories of CHLOE BEAVEN ’15 and CAITLIN ERVIN ’16 design needed to capture the notion of the fans as the "sixth man" on the basketball team. The dialogue with first year students about the past, present and future histories will be carved into bricks and inserted into area sidewalks. A are the Public Engagement Fellows for 2014– final design, by AUTUMN FRANTZ ’16, was featured on the shirt given away to the first 1,000 role of humour in contemporary art and website will include audio of the full stories. Ceramics student ROCHELLE GARCIA ’15 is working 2015. HANNAH HOWARD ’17 is the Project fans who attended the opening night game. Red Claws president Dajuan Eubanks was excited worked with students on various strategies on the project as part of her Public Engagement capstone for the minor. New Media student Assistant. They will receive a financial about the result. “The students came up with terrific and creative ideas, and responded well to for socially engaged art. SAM RICHARDSON ’15 is using the 3-D printer to fabricate plastic typefaces to print text into clay. scholarship and academic credit to design our critique and input.”

10 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 11 ARTISTS AT WORK in the collection. Through Artists at Work, ERIN HUTTON '98 will oversee a team to create a typewriter installation. Attending national conferences is an excellent way for students to network, learn Graphic Design students in Visiting Assistant about issues in their field and new techniques. Professor of Graphic Design SAMANTHA This spring, students will participate in a HAEDRICH’s Design Workshop class were variety of conferences. Ceramics majors will tasked with rebranding WCYY (Portland’s travel to Providence, RI, for the National "rock radio station") to WCYY.com. The Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts new project resulted in a series of dynamic conference. Printmaking majors will concepts and a happy client. Station attend the Southern Graphics Council Manager Herb Ivey said, “MECA students conference in Knoxville, TN. Metalsmithing rock... we were absolutely thrilled to work & Jewelry majors will attend the Society with such unbridled creative talent on this of North American Goldsmiths conference important project.” in Boston, MA.

INTERNSHIPS Professional Internships provide real world experience, on- site training, and an opportunity to test-drive Development a career. Students intern locally during the Artists at Work presented a series of school year and seek national internships in workshops this fall to help prepare the summer. Internships run from September undergraduate and graduate students for life to December, January to May, and June to PHOTO: LIBBY HOFFMAN LIBBY PHOTO: as an artist. Presenters included staff, alumni September. They require a supervisor who and local professionals. is skilled in the tasks assigned to the intern. Students earn three academic credits in PUBLIC SPEAKING | HOW TO INSTALL ARTWORK exchange for 135 hours of work. RESUMES FOR ARTISTS | MOCK INTERVIEWS Chloe Beaven ’15 YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT | TEACHING AT THE FALL 2014 INTERNSHIPS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FELLOW + NEW MEDIA SENIOR COLLEGE LEVEL | CHOOSING A RESIDENCY TEACHING ASSISTANT, MECA PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FELLOW PROJECT The workshops were supplemented by Chloe transferred to MECA for the Public Engagement minor after studying Anthropology visiting artists talking about their career ASSISTANT, MECA and Visual Arts at the University of British Columbia. During her time at MECA she has paths. Sharon Louden, author of Living and PRODUCTION ASSISTANT, Community utilized her public engagement minor to leverage leadership positions on campus, in the Sustaining a Creative Life, spoke about what Television Network community, and around the globe. She is partnering with Waynflete School and Seeds she learned from the 40 artists interviewed STUDIO ASSISTANT, Kris Johnsen of Peace on her capstone project. The project will focus on issues of race, dialogue and for her book. Jakob Crane and Timothy DESIGN PRODUCTION, Christopher David Ryan civic responsibility. Her projects will include implementing the Big Think Series, monthly Decker, authors and illustrators, talked about STUDIO ASSISTANT, Chickadee Games conversations hosted by an artist or academic within the field of socially engaged art or the publishing process related to their DESIGNER, Impact Custom Apparel social justice; revitalizing the MECA C.A.R.E diversity group; leading workshops with the graphic novel Lies in the Dust. STUDIO ASSISTANT, Bennett Morris Seeds of Peace students; and launching an exhibit focusing on issues of race. Her capstone STUDIO ASSISTANT, Metalsmithing & Jewelry culminated in a public dialogue and slam poetry event and workshop led by visiting Department at MECA scholar Don Sawyer that took place at MECA on February 5 and 6. Do you need an intern? Contact Jessica SOPHOMORE YEAR Tomlinson at [email protected]. + Field organizer for marriage equality initiative + Secretary of MECA H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People to Equality - LGBTQIA Group) + Founding member and co-president of MECA C.A.R.E. (Celebrating All Realms of Ethnicity) + Merit Exhibition Award Recipient + Curator of Nothing Major Exhibition + Maine Campus Compact Award Metalsmithing & Jewelry major MARY FORST '15 was a 2015 finalist for the student JUNIOR YEAR division of the NICHE Awards. Her piece + Internship with nonprofit Catalyst for Peace “From Their Garden” was featured in the + Traveled to Sierra Leone American Made Show in Washington, D.C. + Co-President of MECA H.O.P.E. in January. + Co-President of MECA C.A.R.E. MECA hosted a three-day workshop with + Professional Development and ShopBot, the makers of MECA's CNC router. Entrepreneurship Grant Two days were dedicated to faculty training + Merit Exhibition Award Winner and one day was open to the public. + Summer coordinator for Continuing Studies summer programs Visiting artist Andy Brayman provided + Student assistant for Artists at Work multiple workshops and lectures during his 16

’ four-day visit. He demonstrated new uses SENIOR YEAR of the CNC router. He collaborated with + Working for nonprofit Catalyst for Peace MECA on producing a limited edition print + Public Engagement Fellow, partnering with that will be available for purchase at the 2015 Seeds of Peace and MECA annual art sale. + Capstone project, Partnering to the student group Racial Awareness at Wayneflete (RAaW)

+ Student assistant for Artists at Work BARNARD TABITHA PHOTO:

12 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 13 ARTISTS AT WORK BFA SHOW AWARD WINNERS

BEST WORK BY A FRESHMAN BRIANNE SHEA

BEST WORK BY A SOPHOMORE ALEXANDRA KUEHNE

BEST WORK BY A JUNIOR IVA MILOVANOVIC Ceramics

BEST WORK BY A SENIOR CARTER SHAPPY Printmaking

HONORABLE MENTION GILLIAN DOTY Junior in Ceramics HANNAH PARRETT Senior in Painting KATELYN DRAKE Senior in Metalsmithing & Jewelry DYLAN HAUSTHOR Senior in Photography ELIZABETH LEWIS PROJECT WINDOW FALL EXHIBITIONS Junior in Metalsmithing STARTING POINT Junior Metalsmithing & & Jewelry Jewelry students mounted an exhibition of 100 brooches. FOURTH PLACE PETE DORE MECA: NOW WITH MORE PULP! Junior Junior in Illustration students in Adjunct Assistant Woodworking & Professor of Illustration JAMIE HOGAN's class Furniture Design created an installation in conjunction with THIRD PLACE The Pulps exhibition on view at the Portland TABITHA BARNARD Public Library. Junior in SEA HAG Alum CHRISTOPHER PATCH ʼ98 Photography

created paintings and prints centered around SECOND PLACE the fictional Sea Hag character from Popeye. GRACE HAGER Senior in Painting STUDENT EXHIBITIONS BEST IN SHOW JOSEPH LENDWAY Based on a two-day workshop with visiting Senior in artist Ben Van Dyke, graphic design students Woodworking & mounted an installation in a vacant Furniture Design 15 storefront on Oak Street for the November First Friday Art Walk. MECA AWARD Work the jury has chosen to recognize for innovative distinction. IZABELLE PROVAN

PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI ’ PHOTO: Senior in Photography All sophomore students participated in on-campus exhibitions related to coursework in their Second Year Lab class. The purpose of the class is to introduce students to project-based assignments that span the entire semester. Exhibitions were mounted in Artists at Work and the Joanne Waxman Library.

Iva Milovanovic ’16, 15 ’ 9"h, coil built white stoneware, 2014 PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI ’15

Veronica Rose Jones ’18, Maine's Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, handmade book, watercolor, ink,

PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI PHOTO: pencil, 4.5"w x 4"h x 4.5'l, 2014

14 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 15 ARTISTS AT WORK ARTISTS AT WORK

ICA Faculty Show 12

The ICA at MECA is a contemporary art museum located at the threshold of the Porteous Building. Visiting artists frequently conduct student studio visits and participate in critiques, reflecting MECA's educational philosophy that a lively and enduring studio practice helps students become creative agents. The ICA’s faculty exhibitions provide opportunities to appreciate MECA’s faculty as working artists. The recent ICA faculty exhibition South of No PHOTO: GABRIELLA STURCHIO ’ STURCHIO GABRIELLA PHOTO: North included insightful commentary on how artists and audiences interact and featured work by Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture Sean Glover, Professor of Painting Honour Mack, Visiting Assistant Professor of Printmaking Bennett Morris MFA’07 and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art History + MFA in Studio Art Christopher Stiegler.

SEAN GLOVER focus on formalist principles of design (born from the Bauhaus) to post-modern investigations, such as identity work, installation and Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture relational aesthetics. “I make objects. The objects I make combine traditional processes and materials with contemporary ones. I think about how we HONOUR MACK communicate with each other though objects." Professor of Painting How do observation and public engagement intersect? Can one be When does the tipping point from private perception to an awareness a vehicle for the other? I am interested in how observation and site, of public perception occur in your work? How do you know this point as it relates to the public and space, can inform each other. They has been reached? As a painter, I spend all of the creative process shape each other. With each different person that approaches a site, alone. I think all artists wear two hats. One is as a maker and different ways of observation are enacted. These differences are the other is as a seer. These two occupy the studio together, ideally reflections of the histories and backgrounds that each observer comes not at the same time. As a maker, the studio is where questions are 12 from. People act on those observations and engage in activity on that addressed and answered. When I begin paintings, I try hard to only site accordingly. Back to my initial statement about observation and allow the 'maker' in the studio. I really need to have an anything goes site, how does observation relate to the tension between objectivity attitude toward the work. It is important that I have the freedom and subjectivity? Can one be truly objective when observing? to experiment (and fail or succeed) without judgment. The seer is the objective artist. Learning to see your work as others see it is an You have exhibited in places as distant from each other as San Francisco and Helsinki. How does public engagement change with essential skill. I can’t really pinpoint the moment that the 'seer' geography? When does public engagement shift from being artist- arrives, it’s different every time, but this is when I start to ask myself whether the work is communicating what I’m thinking and also when centered to work-centered, if it does? Each region has its own ’ STURCHIO GABRIELLA PHOTO: histories and cultures. If one were to create work that addresses the I consider public perception. public without a sensitivity to the specifics of these locations, then an What role does public engagement play in your work process? If none, Sean Glover, lets not think about tomorrow, 60" x 86" x 48," fresco on foam, Honour Mack, Martyr Structure: Agatha, mixed media on paper, 50" x 40," 1995 artist must frame the work or gesture as if it were in a bubble. Usually, why not? I am interested in communicating ideas. Artists offer up foam scraps, ribbon, balsa wood, balloons, helium, 2014 these on-site works are installed in a way that subjects the viewer to a alternative ways to communicate with others. It’s our job to engage limited experience (such as a statue in a square). Work that addresses with the public. they learn to use their own ideas and concepts with their acquired seek public engagement they generally are looking for bodies in their the public with a sensitivity towards site will always have the artist's skills to reach out to the world. I think this process teaches them exhibitions. Public engagement has been a concern of museum and name attached to it, but the experience resonates between the viewer What evolution/change, if any, do you see in students from their first to last year in their awareness/perception of the world outside MECA problem-solving skills that go way beyond work. It teaches them gallery staff longer than it has been a form for artists to employ. The and the work. It naturally takes hold. and their capacity to engage with it constructively? In their first year, how to grapple with life issues and how to be contributing citizens in artist, you see, co-opted the term. our culture. What evolution/change, if any, do you see in students from their first students are deep in the process of gaining skills as makers; basic skills What role, if any, has public engagement played in the valuation and to last year in their awareness of the world outside MECA and their like drawing and design, as well as intellectual skills such as expansive monetization of art? In both senses of the word public engagement capacity to engage with it constructively? This is only my second thinking and communication. It takes time and practice to learn these BENNETT MORRIS MFAʼ07 has broadened the audience for contemporary art. It has therefore year at MECA. I cannot speak for the students in other departments. things. It’s almost always a bit bumpy for them as they figure this out. Visiting Assistant Professor of Printmaking led to a democratization of the art world. This is a good and bad thing The greatest shift I see for the sculptors is a departure from a narrow As they advance, through experiments that both succeed and fail, How does the quote, 'Who will guard the guardians?' relate to depending on who you ask. To my eyes, it is bringing more perspective your work, if at all? It raises questions about our intentions around to the field without necessarily altering its configuration that much. 15 autonomous machines and how much we intend to control them. How does that bear on the bottom line? The more people we have in our audience, the more value (cultural and monetary) we can find Is surveillance a form of public engagement? Why/why not? Yes, to in our work. The trick is to make sure that all those involved in these the degree that it has a psychological effect on the population under public engagement projects are adequately compensated. its watch. What evolution/change, if any, do you see in students from their What evolution/change, if any, do you see in students from their first first to last year in their awareness of the world outside MECA and to last year in their awareness of the world outside MECA and their their capacity to engage with it constructively? Graduating students PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI ’ PHOTO: capacity to engage with it constructively? As students hone in on the should always feel like they can change the world. For too long art content and concept behind their work, they must consider the larger schools reinforced the idea that artistically, all ideas have precedence 12 ’ audience they plan to engage with. in history and therefore have been done before. Couple that with a society that does not value the labor of artists and the picture can CHRISTOPHER STIEGLER be dim. But as initiatives for public engagement spread from the Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art History + MFA in Studio Art classroom to the studio, so too does the ability for young artists to How does the term 'public engagement' differ from artist to curator? see and make change within their communities. They, as artists, Public engagement is a form that an idea can take in the same way can find publics, activate them creatively and hopefully find some that a painting or a photograph or a table is a form. Artists who avenue to get paid in the process. This is part of the development of make work in this way seek to highlight the interactive qualities that our students.

PHOTO: GABRIELLA STURCHIO STURCHIO GABRIELLA PHOTO: exist between the idea or the maker and the viewer. There are as many ways to make a work of public engagement as there are ways of Chris Steigler, Sebastian Black for the Institute for American Art Bennett Morris MFA’07, Nightfall, cut plastic with video projection, 2014 engaging in public, ie parties, talks, craft workshops. When curators

16 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 17 INSTITUTIONAL NEWS INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

BRYAN GRAF, Adjunct Assistant Professor of Faculty Photography, had his fourth solo exhibition, Achievements Prismatic Tracks, at Yancey Richardson Gallery in New York City. Words After War is a literary program that provides veterans, their families and The New Yorker reviewed the show in its civilian supporters with the tools they November 24, 2014 issue: "The inventive need to tell their stories. Co-founded by photographer, who works in Maine, has Adjunct Instructor of Liberal Arts MICHAEL dispensed with the camera in his beautiful MCGRATH, the project was featured in a new pictures, which were made using Critic’s Notebook article in the Books Section colored gels, mesh netting and light. Graf’s of The New York Times. photograms feel in-process, as if the fabric were still moving, refracting and layering Chair and Professor of Liberal Arts DANA gossamer passages of magenta, rose and acid SAWYER had an article published in the green. Walead Beshty has made similarly Aldous Huxley Annual, the journal of the color-rich abstractions on this scale (the Centre for Aldous Huxley Studies at the largest piece here is just over six feet high), University of Munster in Germany. He but Graf’s materials give his work more gave a workshop called "Touching the texture and an exhilarating buoyancy." Void" on the overlap between spiritual and aesthetic experiences hosted by visionary In conjunction with the exhibition, Bryan artist Alex Grey at the Chapel of Sacred published his third monograph, Prismatic Mirrors sanctuary in New York. Dana was Tracks. The book was published by Conveyor also selected as a featured speaker for the Editions and featured an essay by Daniel annual conference of the Association for Fuller, former director of the ICA at MECA. Personality Type International (APTi), to be Associate Professor of Graphic Design MARK held in Miami in July 2015. His lecture will be JAMRA has founded a studio partnership on using Jungian personality types to decide with designer Neil Patel. Jamra Patel LLC is one's spiritual path. a creative collaboration in various aspects of letterform design, concentrating on typefaces Chair and Associate Professor of Ling-Wen Tsai, Numeral Series (installation view), ink on panels, 12” x 12” x 1.5,” 2014–15 Metalsmithing & Jewelry SHARON for underserved language communities in the U.S. and abroad. PORTELANCE ’82 is spending part of her Center for Maine Contemporary Art Biennial ROB SULLIVAN, Visiting Assistant Professor of spring sabbatical as artist-in-residence at the in Rockport, ME, and his work was featured Illustration, had a solo show of paintings and Estonia Academy of Art in Tallinn, Estonia. in Staying Put, a solo show at SPACE gallery drawings titled A Troubling Calm at Skylight She plans to visit museums and historic sites in Portland, ME. Adam spent the 2013–2014 Gallery in Chelsea, NYC. He participated Institutional News in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; academic year as department head of in the invitational Portland Biennial with MECA sponsored The Pulps! exhibit at the Munich, Germany; and Lisbon, Portugal. furniture at UMass Dartmouth’s Program work at Greenhut Galleries in Portland, ME. Portland Public Library’s Lewis Gallery. JAMIE HOGAN, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Artisanry. Rob also had numerous paintings in the Free and open to the public, over 15,000 group show The Figure in Water at Shaw of Illustration, had three original illustrations Chair and Professor of Painting and Chair visitors enjoyed the world’s largest collection Contemporary, Northeast Harbor, ME. In from the book Here Come the Humpbacks! of the MFA in Studio Art GAIL SPAIEN had of Pulp cover art. MECA hosted a talk by February and March, Rob will be showing featured in the Secrets of the Sea exhibit at work featured in New Acquisitions, at Joshua Bergey, Pulps expert and grandson of a large body of work in a solo show at the University of Southern Maine's Lewiston- the University of New England gallery in renowned Pulp Fiction artist Earl K. Bergey. Auburn College Atrium Gallery. The Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA. Portland, ME, and in Dozier Bell and Gail MECA’s second art sale fundraiser, 12 non-fiction picture book about humpback He will give a lecture in conjunction with the Spaien at Aucocisco Galleries in Portland, COLLECT, held from October 8–11, was a migration was selected as an Outstanding show. As of September, 2015, under its new ME. Her work will be included in the 2015 tremendous success, featuring over 700 Science Trade book for children by the Director, Rob will be officially represented by New American Painting publication as well as pieces of diverse work by over 200 artists, National Science Teachers Association. Three Skylight Gallery NYC. the upcoming Maine Art New: Contemporary including 113 alumni. The sale raised over new books forthcoming in 2015 that feature Perspectives book. PAUL GEBHARDT, Visiting Associate $131,000 to benefit MECA and support her illustrations are John Muir Wrestles Professor of Foundation, presented his paper Chair and Associate Professor of working artists. The 2015 COLLECT: MECA’s a Waterfall by Julie Danneberg, Tiger Boy Collaboration through Public Engagement at Woodworking & Furniture Design MATT Fall Art Sale will take place October 7–10, by Mitali Perkins and Island Birthday by the 2014 AICAD Conference at the Columbus HUTTON will have six pieces of furniture 2015 in the Porteous Building. Eva Murray. College of Art and Design. The presentation ’ STURCHIO GABRIELLA PHOTO: showcased under his Studio 24b brand at focused on MECA’s approach to teaching Maine Campus Compact held a Presidents’ Co-Chair of Illustration SCOTT NASH recently the Architectural Digest Home Design show students about social practice through our Summit on Environmental Sustainability designed the new Family Guide for the in New York City this spring. This is a juried public engagement classes and minor. for Maine college and university presidents, Portland Museum of Art in Portland, ME. He platform of makers who present their work Restoration of Mierle Laderman Ukeles' RESTORATION TEAM: administrators and sustainability coordinators Flow Thru Out sculpture was completed in is creating a monthly cartoon for Down East to the interior design field as well as the GEORGE LAROU, Chair and Professor of Erin Hutton ’98, Project Leader on December 9. There were over 40 the fall. The sculpture is located on the Phillip Tuttrow ’02, Project Assistant Magazine called “Red Clawde." He created a general public. New Media and Professor of Graphic Design, participants from 16 Maine-based higher street level of Congress Street, adjacent to Doug Doering, Facilities Management graphic identity for Gemr Inc., a Portsmouth, recently launched a game in Google Play John Nelson ’12, Steel Metalwork HILARY IRONS, Adjunct Instructor of Painting, education institutions at the summit to discuss the main entry doors, between the MECA NH-based online social community for called Phytomite. The goal is to navigate Cat Bates ’09, Small Metalwork exhibited recent paintings in the solo show connecting core purposes of higher entrance and the ICA. A large wooden box collectors. Illustrator STEPHEN COSTANZA, your planktar (singular of plankton) to the Sarah Trudel ’17, Small Metalwork Green Window at FOLK shop and gallery education to address environmental issues; covered the sculpture and two entry doors Nicole Farrand ’11, Wood Adjunct Assistant Professor in Illustration, optimal light level to achieve haploid heaven. in Kittery, ME, which included works made and the challenges and opportunities for for one week while a team of alumni Jonathan Novak ’15, Graphic Design will be joining the department faculty. The game contains a series of 18 navigational during her residency at MECA's Stephen campus sustainability efforts. MECA was restored the work. puzzles, each with progressively challenging Adjunct Assistant Professor of Foundation Pace House in August and at her Hewnoaks a supporter of the program and MECA sets of obstacles and competing life forms. ADAM MANLEY, who is also an MFA advisor residency on Kezar Lake, both in Maine. President and MCC Board Chair DON TUSKI, Flow Thru Out is a permanent public artwork commissioned by Portland's Percent for recently completed a four-month residency LING-WEN TSAI, Chair and Associate Ph.D. made welcoming remarks and facilitated Director of Continuing Studies COURTNEY Art Program. Ukeles' proposal was awarded in 1994 following a national competition and as Windgate Fellow Artist in Residence Professor of Sculpture, exhibited in both the event. ● COOK, who is also an actor, was featured in was installed at MECA in 1997. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Collision and Confluence, Asian Cultural the Maine premier of Love and Information where he embarked on the project Itinerant Center, New York, NY, and citydrift: Portland, by British playwright Caryl Churchill, which Landmarks, a series of environmental Old Port + SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME. sculptures. He also had work included in the was staged by the Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective at SPACE Gallery in Portland, ME.

18 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 19 MFA MFA mfa PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

NOW AVAILABLE–FULL RESIDENCY TRACK MECA’s MFA in Studio Art program continues to evolve with students’ needs. MECA was among the first art schools in the country to offer a low- residency program. We have recently modified our curriculum to launch a full-residency track so we can integrate MFA candidates into the vibrant life of the MECA community. If students choose this track they will have individual studio space, full use of MECA’s resources and facilities, and opportunities for teaching assistant positions. Response has been high, with many students eager to take advantage of MFA Alumni Profile this new option. meca.edu/mfa 2014 HIGHLIGHTS SUSAN BICKFORD MFA ’01 has been a full-time practicing artist for over 25 years. Jay Sanders, the Whitney Museum of American She often works in new media, creating installations that utilize video, animation, Art Curator of Performance, opened the MFA sound and theater. She is an Adjunct Professor of Visual & Electronic Art at the Summer Visiting Artist Lecture Series, which University of Maine at Augusta besides teaching at MECA and the University of featured a dynamic ensemble of artists and Maine at Orono. Her practice has a strong emphasis on collaboration, as evidenced curators with varied critical perspectives and by the Collaborative Portrait Projects: Farmers Edition exhibit at UMA’s Danforth art-making strategies. Other visiting artists last Gallery, which featured 10 large-scale portraits of local organic farmers produced summer included Michael Oatman, Richard collaboratively by 200 students from 10 area schools. Susan was a driving force Renaldi, Abigail DeVille, Rick Lowe, Sharon behind the project and the opening featured an actual farmers' market. Each portrait Hayes, Lisa Sigal and Trevor Smith. These began with a photograph of a farmer that was enlarged and divided into a grid of artists and scholars provide powerful input 36 squares. Individual students used a variety of techniques to interpret each square and connections for our MFA students through before reassembling them to create the final portrait. “The project allows students ongoing critiques and studio visits, often with to experience the transformative power of assembly and offers an opportunity profound long-lasting results. to incorporate civic lessons into art techniques and vice versa,” said Susan. IN HER OWN WORDS Recent graduate CHARLEY YOUNG MFA ’14 “The MFA program Working as an artist-in-residence was named one of ARTINFO Canada’s “30 at MECA completely Under 30” artists. MFA students and faculty reinvigorated my art at Rippleffect and teaching and also hosted a dinner for Skowhegan School practice. I turned 40 while working on these community projects of Painting & Sculpture's residents and faculty. I was at MECA, and had have deeply invested me in a much This fall MFA students will travel to Venice a three year-old and a for the Biennale and to visit a number of metalsmithing business. larger community. I have touched other sites, including the Pinault Foundation’s The MFA program taught thousands of people —it is a privilege. art collection at the Palazzo Grassi, and the me to devour art history, And they have touched me. Fondazione Prada exhibition spaces. The to read and write as an trip will provide students with an in-person essential aspect of my perspective on global art practice guaranteed practice. I was reimmersed in the contemporary art world and exposed to a method to enrich studio practice. of expeditionary exploration and art making. I don't think I ever recognized the preciousness of ‘studio time’ when I was an undergrad at RISD. At MECA, I was more Tessa O'Brien MFA’16, Project Tina (Your Ideas Are Sound), 18' x 30,' latex and spray paint on concrete, 2014 ready; every moment was like being inside a diamond­—it was synergistic. The MFA gave my practice and teaching a whole new life. Now I am not afraid to take on any kind of project, large or small, community-oriented or very personal. I make whatever the moment calls for: interactive immersive video and sound installation or apple pie. JUNE 18 JULY 6 JULY 20 Growing up in Maine, I have always been involved in the community and with the MFA Ben Street Mary Reid Kelley + Inka Essenhigh environment. But working as an artist-in-residence at Rippleffect and teaching and Art historian, museum Patrick Kelley Painter working on these community projects have deeply invested me in a much larger educator, writer Video, poetry, animation, inka-essenhigh.com community. I have touched thousands of people —it is a privilege. And they have benstreet.co.uk LECTURE performance, painting touched me. JULY 27 JUNE 22 maryreidkelley.com Right now, I am working on five collaborative portraits of notable UMA alumni to patrickkelley.org Chungie Lee celebrate our 50th anniversary. I had spent a whole day putting filters on a portrait of The MFA faculty has SERIES Adam Brown Fiber artist and writer Conceptual artist Mary Herman [a prominent businesswoman and the wife of former Maine Governor inspired and fostered my JULY 13 chunghielee.com and current Maine Senator Angus King]. Out at dinner I ran into her, and because SUMMER adamwbrown.net Christopher Whittey I had spent the entire day looking at her image, I felt as if she was an old friend. I practice in socially engaged AUGUST 3 JUNE 29 Artist, professor, was connected. I know that the energy spent on her portrait in some way drew us art. I can tell that the arts administrator Robert Hobbs together. After you experience this kind of synchronicity enough times, it is clear that 2015 Laura Larson cia.edu/academics/admissions/ Art historian, scholar, MECA community really Photographer it is not simply coincidence. I think that most of the 36 people that worked on her faculty/christopher-whittey teacher, curator cares about their students. lauralarson.net portrait will have the same kind of feeling when they see her at the opening. Making roberthobbs.net art is energy, it is powerful and it is magic, especially when we do it with intention –AUDRA CHRISTIE ’15 and love.” 20 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 21 ALUMNI ALUMNI BELVEDERE GRANT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF CRAFTS Alumni working in the field of crafts who hold a BFA degree and have graduated within the last 10 years are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded through a competitive review process. Application deadline is March 4, 2015. Visit meca.edu/apply for more infomation.

STEPHEN PACE HOUSE, STONINGTON, MAINE Artist Stephen Pace and his wife, Palmina, gave their home and studio, overlooking Stonington Harbor to MECA in 2007 to be used as an artist residency and gallery. This four-bedroom, turn-of-the- century sea captain’s residence with a large attached barn is available during the spring, summer and fall months at the Pace House. This opportunity is open to individuals, groups and families. Preference for this residency is given to painters.

BAIE SAINTE MARIE ARTIST & FAMILY RESIDENCY AT THE JENNY FAMILY COMPOUND The family of BARBARA RITA JENNY MFA ’02 established the MECA Baie Ste Marie Artist & Family Residency in 2008. Located in New Edinburgh, Nova Scotia, the Baie Ste Marie Residency is open to MECA alumni, faculty and staff. This residency is not only distinguished by its incomparable location on the rugged Atlantic Coast of Canada, but because residents may bring their families to stay in the large house on-site.

FAMILY RESIDENCY STIPEND Through a generous grant from the Sustainable Arts Foundation, a Nikki Farrand ’11, Canecealment, white oak, acrylic, 19" x 4.75" x .75," 2014 stipend of $500 is available to help support the residencies of artists with families who attend a MECA residency. Apply for the stipend through the residency application form.

BIG INK CALL FOR ENTRIES alumni news + A Big Ink event will take place at Pickwick Independent Press in Portland, ME, in June. Big Ink is a collaborative project initiated by printmaker Lyell Castonguay that encourages the practice and understanding of large woodcut. Artists are invited to submit a opportunities proposal to create a woodcut, at least 24” x 36” in dimension, through Allen West ’10, Charlotte Dress (detail), merino wool roving, 2014 2015 MECA CERAMICS ALUMNI EXHIBITION an open call for entry. If accepted, the artist is given two months to MECA is thrilled to showcase some of the finest work of our carve his or her image into a piece of plywood. At the end of the two Curt Clominger MFA’08, novaScotia transCryption Engine #4 (installation view), crabs, doll, multichannel video and audio, 2014 Ceramics faculty and alumni in the 2015 MECA Ceramics Alumni months, selected artists meet at Pickwick and help each other print Exhibition, which will take place at ArtProv Gallery in Providence, their woodcuts onto paper, under the supervision of Castonguay. On Rob Licht ’84, One Rope, found line spliced together, dimensions variable, 2014 RI in conjunction with the National Council on Education for the June 5th and 6th, Pickwick Independent Press will invite the public Ceramics Arts (NCECA) conference. The exhibition was organized by to witness the printing of large-scale woodcuts by printmakers from MECA Associate Professor of Ceramics MARIAN BAKER and juried by New England and beyond. For more information visit lyellcastonguay. FOR A FULL LIST OF ALUMNI BENEFITS, visit meca.edu/alumni. Susan Dewsnap, Professor of Ceramics, Bates College. The exhibition com/big-ink. will run from March 10 through April 3, 2015. Selected alumni artists CALENDAR OF ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES include: CHRIS ARCHER MFA ’08, ADAM BOGOSIAN ’08, ADAM CHAU STRUGGLING WITH STUDENT LOANS? Belvedere Grant Competition March 4, 2015 ’10, JULIE CUNNINGHAM ’00, KAITLYN DUGGAN ’07, ADRIAN KING ’12, MECA has partnered with SALT to bring our students and alumni Opportunity Application Deadline March 23, 2015 SARAH KITCHIN ’10, SHERI INEZ KOTOWSKI ’81, RUCHIKA MADAN ’93, financial education resources, advice and self-paced courses. SALT is Ceramics Alumni Exhibition Opening Reception MATTHEW MCGOVERN ’97, JAMES MITSCHMYER ’05, LEEANNA MORRIS a program developed by the nonprofit American Student Assistance, in Providence, RI March 27, 2015 MFA ’14, EMILY DIAZ NORTON ’07, HOPE ROVELTO ’01, MILES SPADONE which offers live, one-on-one counseling by trained advisors and Alumni Biennial Application Deadline April 15, 2015 ’13, SAMUEL THOMPSON ’13, ERIK WILHELMSEN ’05, NATHAN WILLEVER online tools to help students and alumni develop financial skills and Big Ink event at Pickwick Press June 5 + 6, 2015 ’11, and SARAH CAMILLE WILSON ’07, and faculty members MARIAN an understanding of debt management. Membership to SALT is a COLLECT Participation Deadline August 1, 2015 BAKER, LUCY BRESLIN, MARK JOHNSON and KARI RADASH ’97. free benefit to all MECA students and alumni. Learn more about loan forgiveness programs, repayment options and more. Visit saltmoney. Holiday Sale Vendor Application Deadline September 18, 2015 COLLECT Art Sale October 7–10 2015 2005 MECA PAINTERS 10 YEARS LATER org to register for your free account. Alumni Biennial Opening October 9, 2015 2005 MECA Painters 10 Years Later is an annual exhibit at the June Alumni Weekend October 9–11, 2015 Fitzpatrick Gallery at MECA featuring MECA painting majors a NEED AN INTERN? Alumni Print Session October 9–11, 2015 decade after graduation. This year the participating artists included MECA students can earn three academic credits for a supervised learning experience with a creative professional. Internships are REBECCA BRANDT, THOMAS COOK, NICOLE DUENNEBIER, ELIZABETH INTERNSHIPS 135 hours long over the course of 15 weeks, beginning September REID, and HILARY STEPHENSON. January 24–February 13 Post a Spring Internship November 1, 2015 1, January 15, and May 15. If you would like to offer an internship Post a Summer Internship March 1, 2015 opportunity, contact [email protected]. MECA 2015 ALUMNI BIENNIAL Post a Fall Internship August 1, 2015 The MECA Alumni Biennial will take place in October in the ICA at MECA. This themed exhibition is curated by three distinguished jurors and features the work of three to five BFA and MFA alumni. Application deadline is March 31, 2015. Visit meca.edu/biennial for more infomation and to apply.

22 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 23 ALUMNI ALUMNI Line/ Language at the Corners Gallery in MECA’s Scholarship Fund the beneficiary Ithaca, NY. of $10,000, raised by Down East Magazine at the Art of Giving Gala. Renee also had her alumni JULIE CRANE ’86 had an exhibition titled work included in Seven Women Painters Song of the Spies at Wallwork Gallery in at BigTown Gallery in Rochester, VT, and Rockport, ME. class notes participated in a gallery conversation For more than a hundred years, MEREDY HAMILTON ’87 had a two-person exploring the questions of life, work, family MECA's alumni have made show with Peter Bucklin titled Touching and creativity. Sky at Running With Scissors Gallery, outstanding contributions in CHAYA CARON ’99 of Chaya Studio Jewelry Portland, ME. their respective fields. In the was selected for inclusion in three major 21st century, they now bring the LOUISE BOURNE ’88 had her work included in craft shows last summer, including Three the 10 x 8 Group Summer Exhibit at Greene/ Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburg, PA, the qualities of creative problem- Ziner Gallery in Deer Isle, ME. Her work 57th Annual Allentown Outdoor Artfest in solving blended with an is also carried at Gallery B in Castine and Buffalo, NY, and the Wanderlust Festival at entrepreneurial spirit to continue Cynthia Winings Gallery in Blue Hill, ME. Stratton Mountain, VT. MECA's legacy of excellence. JACK SABON ’99 had his work featured in 1990s the 2013–14 winter/spring issue of Stowe ELIZABETH “LIZ” PROFFETTY ’90 had one of Guide Magazine and his painting School 1950s–60s her teapots featured in Ceramics Art and Street was the cover art on the Stowe Guide Jonathan Balzano Brookes ’02, Dandoon In Teacup, Perception magazine. Magazine summer/fall 2013. In 2014 his 10" x 10," acryla gouache on paper, 2012 SYLVIA BANGS (attended) ’58 exhibited work was accepted at Salutations, the 1st black and white pen and ink drawings at the FRANCINE SCHROCK ’91 exhibited new Biennial Public Art Exhibit at the Institute of Centre Street Arts Gallery in Bath, ME. landscapes, portraits and abstractions in her American Indian Art (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM, exhibition The Discerning Palette at The and he was juried into the new Indigenous “Tropical Moon:” The first Phantom Buffalo 1970s Sharpe Gallery in Kennebunk, ME. Fine Art Market in Santa Fe. He was awarded Group (art) Show at Mayo Street Arts in Portland, ME. The exhibit included original MARY “POOGY” BJERKLIE ’77 had her work GISELLE GAUTREAU ’93 is represented by the ML Woodard Award at the Red Cloud Phantom Buffalo album art, paintings, included in a group show at Sears Peyton Hang Art Gallery in San Francisco, CA, where Heritage Center in South Dakota in 2014. drawings, sculptures and video games. Gallery in New York City. she had a solo exhibit in January 2015. He showed his work in the Netherlands and Belgium in the summer of 2014 as part of the ALLISON COOKE BROWN ’01 had her work MATT BLACKWELL ’77 had his paintings of RACHAEL EASTMAN ’94 had her work Indigenous Brilliance Annual European show. included in International TECHstyle Art cars installed at Pierogi Gallery in Brooklyn selected for inclusion in an exhibition juried He also produced a piece for the Imago Mundi Biennial at the San Jose Museum of Quilts for the Brooklyn Gravity Racers event, which by David and Carl Little titled 49 Artists Project, which collects work worldwide by and Textiles in San Jose, CA, and Unraveled: featured races of over 200 toy-sized art cars. Inspired by Katahdin at Harlow Gallery in indigenous artists. He is a member of the Contemporary New England Fiber Art at Hallowell, ME. Rachael was an artist-in- board of the Arts Resource Association in the Museums of Old York Remick Gallery in residence at Hewnoaks in Lovell, ME, and 1980s central Vermont. He shows his landscapes at York, ME. participated in a group exhibition titled CONNIE HAYES ’80 will teach two painting The Artisans' Gallery in Waitsfield, VT and lives Maine Northern Skies: Clear Light at The L.C. GINA ADAMS ’02 exhibited her work at the courses this summer through the JSS and works in Stowe, VT. Bates Museum in Hinckley, ME. Nordamerika Native Museum in Zurich, program in Civita Castellana, Italy: a two- DENISE KARABINUS TELANG ’99 became Switzerland, where her work is now part of week course, called Measurement and Color JOSHUA FERRY ’94 had an exhibit at Art an instructor at the Honolulu Museum of their permanent collection. She had work Language, and a three-week course called House Picture Frames in Portland, ME. Art School in Hawaii. The Honolulu Star included in an exhibition titled Beautiful Borrowed Views. KEARY ROSEN ’94 was included in the Advertiser ran an article about the print Games at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, JEFFREY HERMAN ’81 was elected into the Summer/Fall edition of TriQuarterly literary exhibition that she curated at the Honolulu AZ and had a solo exhibition at the Nerman prestigious Fellow category of the Institute magazine. He has been teaching at Rutgers Museum of Art School. Museum in Kansas City. of Professional Goldsmiths in England. He University for nine years and at Raritan STEVEN LUBECKI ’02 had his work included in is the only Fellow living outside England. Valley Community College for 13 years. 2000s Naughty or Nice, a group exhibition at Yellow "This is my 30th year in business operating ERIN LEON ’95 exhibited her work in a three- VIVIAN BEER ’00 spent two months Peril Gallery in Providence, RI. as a silversmith specializing in restoration, person show titled Explicit Form at Sanctuary researching the design history of American conservation, and preservation, and MECA Trustee JAC OUELLETTE ’02 recently Tattoo in Portland, ME. aeronautics at the National Air and Space 25th year as the Founder of the Society Museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy installed and unveiled a large rooftop kinetic of American Silversmiths (SAS). It's a MARI DIEUMEGARD ’97 teaches workshops Center as a member of the Smithsonian Artist sculpture at Coffee by Design’s Diamond wonderful feeling to be recognized for one's at her studio, Raven’s Roost Studio, in Research Fellowship program. She also gave Street location. Coffee by Design co-owner accomplishments." Standish, ME. Her work has been shown a lecture at the Museum of Contemporary Mary Allen Lindemann said, “This project throughout Maine, most recently in her solo was a true collaboration between so many CATHERINE “KAT” TAYLOR ’82 self-published a Craft in Portland, OR, taught a metal forming show Excavating Your Family Narrative at people who turned our dream into a reality. book called Froggie’s Mysterious Dream that workshop at Anderson Ranch, and was Birthroots in Portland, ME. Everything we do is about our love for coffee, features twelve of her pen and ink drawings featured in Korea's Interior World Magazine. our coffee farmers and their families, local and accompanying stories through her LISA DOMBEK (attended) ’98 had an She had a piece included in The Balvenie artists and organizations and most of all, our publishing company, White Cat Publishing. exhibition of her paintings and mixed media 2014 Rare Craft Collection, which traveled to customers. Jac’s sculpture is the next step work at Make Sense Productions, a new Chicago, Boston, Washington DC, New York, MARY ANNE LLOYD ’83 was featured in an for us.” media production company in Portland, ME. and Aspen. article on designer Angela Adams’ blog. MICHELLE WEINSTEIN ’02 was granted a SARAH MCNEIL ’98 is the manager and STEPHEN QUIRK ’00 coordinated a ROB LICHT ’84 installed his Cazenovia Social Science and Humanities award of teacher of FabLab of Imagination, an arts Wordcamp event at MECA. He works Landforms sculpture at Stone Quarry Hill $17,500 by the Canadian Government for mentoring program in Baltimore, MD. for Automattic, the parent company of Art Park in Cazenovia, NY, for the show All WordPress.com, as a Content Engineer the second year of her MFA program at the Things Cazenovia. This piece is on permanent RENÉE BOUCHARD ’99 was selected as the for the plug-in Jetpack, one of the most University of British Columbia. She had a solo loan. Rob also gave a talk at the Weymouth winner of Down East Magazine’s Maine downloaded WordPress plug-ins. exhibition titled Mars Pamphleteer at Gam Library in Digby, Nova Scotia, following his Julie Crane ’86, Fox Amid Diatoms, 8.25" x 8.25," monoprint on plexi and aluminum plates, 2014 PHOTO: JANE KURKO College of Art Emerging Artist Contest. Gallery in Vancouver. three-week residency at the Baie Ste-Marie Her winning art was featured on one of the TIMOTHY BURNS ’01, JONATHAN BALZANO Giselle Gautreau ’93, Incoming, oil on panel, 36" x 48," 2014 MIKE MARKS ’03 taught a class called No Artist Residency, and exhibited new works interior commemorative covers for Down BROOKES ’02, SEAN NEWTON ’02 and Philip More Boring Intaglio! at Pickwick Press in from his residency in a group show titled East Magazine’s 60th Anniversary issue Willey, band members in Phantom Buffalo, Portland, ME. in August. In addition, Bouchard named had an exhibition titled The Search for

24 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 25 ALUMNI ALUMNI fund Maine Audubon's outreach programs in Racked National, a fashion website/blog, All of the boursiers are French, but each year Waxman Library at MECA. Lesley was for underserved preschools. Jada also had a chosen by the editor of Racked NY. Her work one American is also chosen to be part of also a subject of a Salt Institute student’s show at the Maine Audubon Center called can be found in a boutique called The Rising the program. documentary project. Recently Extinct Birds of North America. States in the Lower East Side of NYC. MARGARET “MAGGIE” MUTH ’11 held a studio MOLLY FEOLE (attended) ’13 is currently She has done work for the Humane Society, ASHERAH CINNAMON ’08 created a Sukkah sale at Mayo Street Arts in Portland, ME, employed as the Associate Art Director at Cambridge University Press, and Esquire, for the Oregon Jewish Museum's Sukkah PDX to raise funds to purchase art supplies for Dispatch magazine in Portland, ME. Reals of Fantasy and Appleseeds magazines. 2014 installation. SANDRA OBERDORFER MFA workshops that she is now offering to people Jada’s drawings have also been featured on KRISTEN FITZPATRICK ’13 exhibited her work ’08 and former MECA Sculpture Professor in Moldova, a small country near the Ukraine. Juxtapoz.com, in the Pasadena Weekly and in Fall Salon at June Fitzpatrick Gallery in TRACEY COCKRELL assisted her in completing The Portland Phoenix. ELIZABETH “ABBETH” RUSSELL ’11 had an Portland, ME. the installation. exhibit of her work at Hope.Gate.Way in TAYLOR FRANKLIN ’06 had his first solo ISABEL KELLY ’13 joined 10 other Maine JENNIFER “JENNA” CROWDER ’09 organized Portland, ME, entitled Land of the Guardians. exhibition, titled Out the Window at A1 sculptors in creating new works for the Viles a three-day city-wide art event called "city Gallery in Astoria, NY. WYATT BARR (attended) ’12 had his work Arboretum's new sculpture trail in Augusta. drift/Portland" that took place at over 100 included in a three-person exhibition, In All work was made from Maine granite. KRISTEN GINGRAS ’06 recently graduated with locations throughout Portland, ME. The Nature’s Realm, at A Fine Thing: Edward T. The symposium was open to the public for an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from happening concluded with an exhibition of Pollack Fine Art in Portland, ME. viewing artists at work and artist lectures. Falmouth University in Falmouth, England. the installed drift documentation at SPACE Gallery. CHAD CREIGHTON ’12 had an exhibition HANNAH ROSENGREN ’13 worked with EDWARD “TED” LOTT ’06 had his wearable titled Pallet Habitat at Sharon Arts Center in Greenpeace on the design of an informational home project called "Temporary Residence" BEN GABOURY ’09 was the featured artist of Sharon, NH. poster that highlighted the diverse included in a three-person exhibition at the month at TL6 Gallery in New Bedford, MA. ecosystem of the Tongass National Forest. Artisan Gallery in Paoli, WI. Ted created a HARLAN CRICHTON ’12 gave an artist talk MOLLY VOGEL ’09 had work included in The objective was to illustrate the ecosystem scale replica of his childhood home in Door titled For the Love of Dolphins at the Bakery Unorthodox Crafts, a four-person exhibit at of the forest with a focus on the Alexander County, WI. This wearable sculpture was on Photographic Collective in Westbrook, ME, the Maine Jewish Museum in Portland, ME. Archipelago Wolf, which Greenpeace has display with video documentation of following a cross-country motorcycle trip. recently petitioned to protect under the its travels. 2010s KENYON GRANT ’12 and Kelsey E. Moore co- Endangered Species Act. This poster was ZACHARY REESE (attended) ’06 presented founded Axe Factory Press in 2014. The Axe sent to their numerous supporters. EDWIGE CHARLOT ’10 exhibited her work some of his recent work at an invitation- Factory is a quarterly online literary journal in Works Above Water at Saccarappa Art MILES SPADONE ’13 exhibited his work with only thought leader summit hosted by the that publishes contemporary poetry, prose, Collective in Westbrook, ME, in Inheritance Jeff Kellar at Icon Gallery in Brunswick, ME. American Press Institute in Arlington, VA. and visual art in any 2-D medium. GRETA at Chester Village West in Chester, CT and in The summit was called “Truth In Politics GRANT ’16 is the staff photographer for the CHUN-HUA “HANJI” CHANG ’14 shared the Ink, Press, Repeat 2014 at William Patterson 2014: A Status Report on Fact-Checking journal. Kenyon also works as an Admissions news that her cartoon series Temp Tales, Galleries in Wayne, NJ. Edwige also had her Journalism.” He currently works as Content Representative at MECA. which she started with her husband during work featured in Old Port Magazine. Edwige Manager at the Annenberg Public Policy her years at MECA, was selected by Down works as the Program Director and Education JOHN HUCKINS ’12 had his work included Center, University of Pennsylvania. East Magazine's Editor's Choice of "Best Viral Coordinator at Engine in Biddeford, ME. in the group exhibition On The Horizon at Viewing" in their 2014 Best of Maine issue. KELSEY VANCE ’06 is a founding member of Brooklyn Metal Works in Brooklyn, NY. JENNY LEE MAAS ’10 was a featured artist at "The Bearded Lady Project: Challenging the MITCHEL KEHE ’14 is attending the Piet Zwart the Merge arts show in Philadelphia PA, and LESLEY ANNE CORBETT ’13 had an exhibition Face of Science," a documentary film and Institute’s MFA program in Rotterdam, The Jada Fitch ’06, Bachman's Warbler, acrylic, 2014 had her first runway show at Atlantic City of her constructions and collages titled photographic project celebrating the work of Netherlands. Fashion week. A six-page photo editorial of female paleontologists and highlighting the Out of the Winter Doldrums at the Joanne her work appeared in Jute fashion magazine, challenges and obstacles they face. Proceeds ELIZABETH “LIZ” LONG ’14 painted a mural in issue XII. She hosted a mini film festival at BRENDAN MULLINS (attended) ’03 gave ME. She taught Life Drawing for MECA’s Pre- from the project will go to a scholarship fund the Artists at Work space at MECA, and had Kongo Kanvas, where she premiered the an artist talk on his recent work created College program last summer. to support future female scientists. her work included in the Super Awesome during his residency at Little Paper Planes newest films in her ongoing “Psyche's Lullaby Record Cover Art Show at Pinecone & AHMED ALSOUDANI ’05 had an exhibition in San Francisco, CA. BRETT WALKER ’06 had his work included Project.” Jenny was chosen as a residency Chickadee in Portland, ME. of his paintings at Gladstone Gallery in in a group show at Gary Francis Fine Art in artist to work with Teen Lounge at Fleisher New York. RACHEL ROMANSKI ’14 is participating in KEN MURPHY ’03, owner of Murphy Empire, Alameda, CA. Art Memorial in Philadelphia. Two of her designed the Portland Museum of Art’s an arts administration internship at SPACE KIMBERLY CONVERY (attended) ’05 had an sculptures were featured in the Mural Arts TONY BRAGG ’07 had his work included in a Gallery in Portland, ME. member magazine. Staff Show at the Thomas Eatkins House exhibition titled Carlotta Valdez Presents: group show titled RISD MFA 2015 Painters at in Philadelphia. She had two short films in NOLAN STEWART ’03 started a new company The Bearded Strangers at Pinecone + 11 Front Street Galleries in Brooklyn, NY. called Coastal Root Bitters that uses Maine- Chickadee in Portland, ME. Shooting Wall Film Festival located at the MFA based ingredients, and was featured in an ARTHUR HALVORSEN ’07 gave an artist talk PhilaMOCA in Philadelphia. One of her films JENNY DOUGHERTY ’05 was awarded a 2014 article in the Bangor Daily News. Branding at Harvard University as part of their New was used in a video collage that accompanied RICHARD METZ MFA ’00 had a solo show at St. Botolph Foundation Emerging Artists and labels for the company were designed Voices Lectures. The Fresh Cut Orchestra for the Solstice Allens Lane Art Center, in Philadelphia, PA, Grant for Visual Arts. by ROBERT “BOB” JORDAN ’02, through his festival at The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. LISA PIXLEY ’07 runs Pickwick Independent called Curious Creatures, which included design company Factory 808. She worked with The Mural Arts Program on PATRICIA BRACE ’06 and her collaborator Rita Press in Portland, ME. She also taught a class his recent linoleum and woodcut prints of Laduc constructed an interactive exhibition three public art pieces; two mosaics and one characters inspired by plant forms. An article MARIA WOLFF (attended) ’03 organized Roots called Printmaking for Artists Who Love to titled I Like You Better Now, which utilized mural and she worked with Chelsea Skidd, about his work appeared in the Chestnut of Intoxication, a dual exhibit at Congress Draw, Relief Carving & Printing at Pickwick. site-specific performance, installation, and Miss NYC USA, and actor/ director Melanie Hill Local. Bar & Grill and The Bar of Chocolate Cafe media in the 14,000 sq. ft. space of High MICHELLE STUCKEY ’07 had an exhibit titled Kannokada on recent photo shoots. featuring local artists interpreting their SIMON VAN DER VEN MFA ’01 exhibited Temp Fabrication in Buffalo, NY. The artists From the Heart and Hands, Mainescapes by favorite drinks in wearable art forms. The BRITTANY MARCOUX ’10 and GABRIELLA works that he made in collaboration with completed a successful Kickstarter campaign Michelle Stuckey at Frost Farm Gallery in exhibit included works by MATT AHLSEN ’02, STURCHIO ’12 were selected to be part of Mark Bell in a two-person exhibition titled to fund their project. Patricia also performed Norway, ME. HOLLY GOOCH ’08, MICHAEL HOFHEIMER ’92, a publication called Paper Safe, Issue Two: A Collaboration: van der Ven and Bell, at a piece called "Than We Am" at Hooloon NAOMI MCNEILL ’08, EMILY PERCIVAL-SNYDER ADAM BOGOSIAN ’08 opened Fresh Cup Keepers of the Dark. CRAFT gallery in Rockland, ME. He also Gallery in Philadelphia, PA. Gallery in Belfast, ME, which features his ’06, REBECCA SHELLY ’04 and MARIA WOLFF ’03. ADDISON DE LISLE ’11 received a fellowship had his work included in Our Cups Runneth JADA FITCH (attended) ’06 is currently own ceramic work. He recently hosted an Over: Sculptural and Functional Cups, at REBECCA SHELLY ’04 created an art studio in to the Fondation de Coubertin to work and working with the Maine Audubon Society, exhibition of work by fellow Maine potters the Society of Arts and Crafts in Boston, a vintage trailer that was featured in Studios study metalsmithing in France for a year. author Melissa Kim and Islandport Press on a PAIGE PRIDE ’09 and NATHAN WILLEVER ’11. the 38th Annual Philadelphia Museum Magazine. Her work was included in Coming This fellowship is for approximately 30 young planned series of four childrens' board books, of Art Contemporary Craft Show, and at Home, the Kingswood Regional High School’s MAEVE BROOME ’08 had one of her latest professionals between the ages of 21 and 29 called "Wildlife on the Move." Ten percent CraftBoston Holiday. 50th Anniversary Art Show in Wolfeboro, dress designs for her small clothing company, who work in metalsmithing, foundry, stone, of the proceeds from these books help to Myfawnwy, featured as an "editors essential" fine woodworking, plaster and boiler making. Jenny Lee Maas ’10, Autumn's Muse, mixed media NH, and in an exhibit at Umbrella in Portland, hand-painted gown, 2014 PHOTO: DAN CUELLAR

26 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 27 ALUMNI ALUMNI

KATE KATOMSKI MFA ’02 was one of nine Gam #1, Spoken Words Exhibition, curated which she will use to create large-scale artists selected to exhibit in Sculpfest 2014 by Alessandro Facente, about the concept works in cut paper featuring the species of at the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center of displacement. Sandra also created an raptors being rehabilitated at the Carolina in Rutland, VT. She and her collaborator installation at Gowanus Loft in Brooklyn, Raptor Center. Ingrid will also be an artist- Judd Mulkerin installed a multimedia quarry presented by The Vanderbilt Republic titled in-residence at Harrisburg Elementary in installation titled "The Quarry Piece" and her Evanscence, and had her work included in Harrisburg, NC, where she is facilitating a solo exhibition Quarry Project: Then & Now Art From the Heart at Gowanus Loft. Her collaborative large-scale cut paper piece was held at the Gallery at 259 Marble Street event "Art Happening" took place at the with 125 third graders. The school has also in Rutland. Brazilian Consulate in New York, where commissioned a work in cut paper by the Sandra, Carlos Pileggi and Carolina Paz, São artist to display in their Confucius classroom. AARON T. STEPHAN MFA ’02 had an exhibit Paulo based artists, curated a collective Ingrid will be an artist-in-residence at The called To Borrow, Cut, Copy, and Steal, an exhibition of their works combining artist Rensing Center, in Pickens, SC in March. homage to the behind-the-scenes process of books, ephemeral paper sculptures, drawings, art, at the Portland Museum of Art as part of ASHLEIGH BURSKEY ART EDUCATION ’13 prints and video. their Circa exhibition series of works by living recently founded an online art criticism artists with a strong connection to Maine. CARLOS EDUARDO PILEGGI MFA ’13 created journal for Maine called The Chart. She was Aaron was interviewed on MPBN, Maine’s an installation titled What Happens When awarded a $5,000 grant from SPACE Gallery’s NPR news source, about his new exhibit at Nothing Happens, Open Gate Project: Part Kindling Fund, a re-grant program through the PMA. 2 at 101 Hall Street in Brooklyn, NY. He and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual SANDRA LAPAGE MFA ’13 had an exhibition Arts, to pay artists, create the website, and MAYSEY CRADDOCK MFA ’03 had an titled Interference at St Joseph’s College, NY host experimental art criticism events in exhibition titled Strand that spanned both and gave an artist's talk. Maine. She is also the co-founder of Buroko, a the Memphis and Nashville locations of David website design and online branding company Lusk Gallery, TN. JOHN FIREMAN MFA ’14 had his feature film in Portland, ME. Her latest project is "Films Sigrid on Her 14th Birthday reviewed by The in The Square," sponsored by The Friends of ELIZABETH “LIZ” SWEIBEL MFA ’03 showed Portland Phoenix. her drawings and new sculpture at Gowanus Congress Square Park, an artistic film series in Arts during Gowanus Open Studios in NY. LEEANNA MORRIS MFA ’14 was hired for the heart of the arts district. Ashleigh is also Her studio was included in a themed tour of dual roles as an Admissions Representative, a committee member of 2Degrees Portland multiple artists' work by curators Benjamin and a Coordinator of Student Involvement and the First Friday Art Walk in Portland, ME. Sutton and Jason Andrew. Liz also exhibited Toni Jo Coppa MFA ’13, Lefty Loosey, Bright-eyed at MECA. Blue See, 13”L x 7”w x 5”h, prosthetic eye and clay ANNE SAFFRON ’13 MAT ’14 has been working her work in a group show titled The Girls on carved polyurethane foam form, 2014 at Wachusett Regional High School in Next Door at Ground Floor Gallery in Park central Massachusetts teaching foundations Slope, Brooklyn, NY. MAT/ART ED SANDRA LAPAGE MFA ’13 and CARLOS and clay classes to grades 9–12, and now RANDY REGIER MFA ’07 had his installation EDUARDO PILEGGI MFA ’13 were artists-in- INGRID ERICKSON ART EDUCATION '08 is teaches elementary art for grades K–6 at piece "NuPenny's Last Stand" selected for residence at New York Art Residency and currently the Education Coordinator and Quinsigamond School, in Worcester, MA. ● inclusion at the State of The Art (SoTA) Studios (NARS) Foundation in Brooklyn. They Lead Teacher at Waterworks Visual Arts exhibit at the Crystal Bridges Museum participated in the group exhibition Layers Center in Salisbury, NC. She is also the of American Art in Bentonville, AR. The of Response, which highlighted the work of recipient of a 2015 Regional Artist Project exhibition featured 102 artists from every the artists-in-residence, and Curaticism, The Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, region of the U.S. CBS Evening News and CBS Sunday Morning aired segments about the exhibition, which featured footage of Randy’s Wichita studio and an interview regarding "NuPenny's Last Stand." in memoriam REENIE CHARRIERE MFA ’09 had her work included in a group multimedia exhibition JAMES ALBERT ROLLINS ’63 of Boothbay Northport to Herbert and Hazel (Hodgdon) writes, “Hal’s talent was mind-blowing. But titled Water World at Alter Space in San Harbor and Clearwater, FL, died on Feb. Staples. He was raised in Belfast and it wasn't until I graduated and founded the Francisco, CA. 10, 2014 in Palm Harbor, FL, at the age of graduated from Crosby High School in Society of American Silversmiths in 1989 74. Jim was born in Portland in 1940. He 1964, after which he enlisted in the Marines when I fully understood Hal's uniqueness GINA SIEPEL MFA ’08 had her project graduated from Deering High School in 1959 and served in the Vietnam war, where he in the world of silversmithing. What set Hal ReSurveying Walden included in the group Aaron Stephan MFA’02, An Awkward Meeting of Painting and Sculpture, mahogany, bronze, and received his diploma from the Portland earned a purple heart. Before and after he apart from all other silversmiths was the exhibit Walden, Revisited at the DeCordova and silicon rubber 20" x 32" x 34," 2012 PHOTO: LUC DEMERS School of Fine and Applied Arts, with an returned from the service Ralph attended enormous number of techniques he mastered. Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, emphasis on commercial art, in 1963. In Maine College of Art. Known to be a caring, Though Hal described himself as a silversmith, MA, curated by Dina Deitsch. Also included 1965, Jim married fellow art student Dolores generous and helpful person to all who the fact is he was a fantastic all-around in the show was "After Winslow Homer," broadcast, co-hosted by Anne and Pilar. TONI JO COPPA MFA ’13 had a solo exhibition Chretien ’64, and they moved to Boothbay knew him, Ralph was always willing to help metalsmith. From granulated jewelry with a series of photographs she made with Each episode is recorded live on cassette titled Toni Jo Coppa at the Denmark Harbor, where Jim was employed by the someone in need. He was a lover of art and pearls, to the elimination trophies for the Monika Sziladi. tape every Sunday. The half-hour-long Arts Center in Denmark, ME. She had her National Marine Fisheries Service. In the history, and leaves behind many works of art America's Cup race, to a six-foot silver-plated, MICHEL DROGE MFA ’10 exhibited her work show is a platform for discussion on a wide work included in several multiple group following years, Jim established Rollins Signs to be enjoyed for years to come. In addition to hanging cross for a church sanctuary, every in CHAOS at Saccarappa Art Collective in variety of topics, including but not limited to: exhibitions, including Sacred & Profane, and Graphics and later worked for Bigelow his parents, Ralph is predeceased by his sister piece he made was beautifully designed and Westbrook, ME, in Fall Salon at the June contemporary art, literature, films, holidays, Battery Steele, Peaks Island, ME; Wish You Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. Recently, Sharon Reynolds of Belfast and his brother of the absolute highest technical standard. Fitzpatrick Gallery in Portland, ME, and in a underwear, celebrities, sex, monsters, food and Were Here 13 at A.I.R. Gallery in Brooklyn, he was employed by Harbor Realty. In their Issac Staples of Belfast. He is survived by his Hal also has five pieces in St. Peter's at the two-person show with Michael Shaunessey outer space. NY; citydrift/Portland in Deering Oaks Park retirement years, Jim and Dolly formed a son Erick Staples, his wife Jamie Staples and Vatican and was known for his prodigious and SPACE Gallery, Portland, ME; I dream of… musical group, performing at various events. granddaughter Sidney Staples of Bradley, ecclesiastical work in America. He was a quiet at Gould Academy in Bethel, ME. PILAR NADAL MFA ’13 taught a class called at Incline Gallery in San Francisco, CA; ArTik Dolly sang songs of her Franco-American his sister Gayle Staples and her partner Dan worker, rarely drawing attention to himself, Screenprinting Mayhem, and co-taught a ANNE BUCKWALTER ’12 and PILAR NADAL and Civil Academy in Freiburg, Germany; Heritage in French, accompanied by Jim on Wilson of Belfast, his brother Herbert Staples but that's changing as his name is spread workshop with ERIN SWEENEY ’94 called MFA ’13 had a two-person exhibition of their Dear Holly at Knox City Centre, Victoria, the accordion and other musicians. He is Jr. of Swanville and many nieces, nephews throughout the silver world.” Schremmer is Instant Letterpress! at Pickwick Press in individual and collaborative works, including Australia; and Free for All 4, SPACE Gallery, survived by Dolly, his wife of 48 years, their and extended family. survived by his ex-wife, son and grandson, Portland, ME. She partnered with Friends drawings, prints and a backyard installation Portland, ME. Toni Jo also completed a Public children Timothy Rollins and Christina Saylor, all living in Germany. of Congress Square and SPACE Gallery to HAROLD SCHREMMER, who taught jewelry that involved tents, forts, and flags at Mayo Art Commission at the Denmark Arts Center, and other relatives. create a project called “Rocking Chair Prints making and metalsmithing at Portland School Gifts to MECA in Hal's memory will support Street Arts in Portland, ME. The exhibition Denmark, ME, and completed a residency in Congress Square, Portland.” RALPH S. STAPLES (attended) ‘66, of of Art (now MECA) from 1978 to 1987, passed the Department of Metalsmithing and also featured a live "npilar" fake radio called “Something Rotten” in Denmark, ME. Waldo, ME, passed away Aug. 6 in the away December 4, 2014, after a long illness. Jewelry. Visit meca.edu/donate or call company of family at the VA hospital His former student Jeffrey Herman ‘81, who 207.699.5017. ● in Augusta. He was born Nov. 8, 1946, in kept in close touch with Hal for 35 years, 28 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 29 MAT MAT

art education TEACH WHAT YOU LOVE MECA’s newly accredited 10-month Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program offers an exceptional program for artists who wish to teach. The MAT, which grew out of MECA’s Art Education certification program, has been approved by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and the State of Maine. The program is designed so that participants meet Maine’s requirements for initial teacher certification Soon following her lesson with while getting the critical and creative Tess, Ashleigh purchased engagement expected at the graduate level. a watercolor set of her own and continues to experiment with From the first day of class, teacher her newfound medium. PHOTO: TESS HITCHCOCK candidates interact with children and youth in a variety of schools and community settings, such as museums, summer school programs and nonprofit organizations, to provide a rich learning environment for MAT STUDENTS AT MECA arts-integrated explorations. MAT candidates also learn education theory, INSPIRE + HEAL THROUGH history and methods. Student teaching internships in the spring semester prepare candidates to begin their careers as TEACHING VISUAL ART confident art educators. Candidates are selected on the basis of a strong art Making art transports the mind, body and soul to places of and realize they are not alone. Our hopes were exceeded when portfolio and the academic potential to imagination and inspiration. While the Master of Arts in Teaching we had more children than we expected and their family members complete a master’s program. To learn program at Maine College of Art primarily prepares teacher participated in the painting, laughing and playing around with the more about our innovative Art Education candidates to teach in K-12 public schools, opportunities for teaching puzzle pieces.” art in local community-based settings abound. As part of the initiatives, please visit our blog After the puzzle activity, the MAT teacher candidates worked Alternative Settings class with Assistant Professor and Director of arted.meca.edu. with individual patients, designing lessons that focused on art skills Art Education Outreach Kelly McConnell, a group of MAT candidates, that would bring out personal expression and be fun to do. Each For information on the Art Education program including Adrienne Kitko, Debra Schaeffer, Lia Petriccione, Shaun teacher candidate used a medium that the children wanted to at MECA, please contact [email protected]. Alyward and Tess Hitchcock, selected a placement at the Barbara learn something more about. When describing the experience, Tess Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Hitchcock noted, “Ashleigh wanted to learn how to paint, so I brought Adventures in Art (AInA), a multi-layered The group shared their enthusiasm for collaborative and individual watercolors and a smile to the hospital one Saturday morning.” Tess’s program that combines visual and verbal art making by planning a group activity, followed by one-on-one lesson built on Ashleigh’s desire to paint and extended her thinking literacy with art-making, was hosted by projects tailored for each person. by posing age-related provocative questions about art making like, “Is it okay to make a mess?” and “Does your painting have to look MECA's MAT program in early December. To begin, they set up a station for the children to learn and explore. like something real?” Soon following her lesson with Tess, Ashleigh AinA starts with visits to public school Their lesson plans included providing the young patients with various purchased a watercolor set of her own and continues to experiment classrooms that feature mini-lessons and paints, colors and brushes to design unique puzzle pieces that would with her newfound medium. hands-on activities. These visits set the form a whole. “Tess, Lia and I got to the hospital early to set up,” stage for day-long workshops at MECA that explained Adrienne. “While we were waiting at the nurses' station, The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital reflects the experience of include tours of the ICA with gallery games, I heard doors slowly open, and saw tiny eyes peering at us through teacher candidates in all of the Alternative Settings class art-making and critique. Exhibits of student the sliver of the open door. We put our stuff down and immediately placements. Provide art, provide expertise, provide excitement and work with corresponding documentation is a curious little girl came up to us, exclaiming that she loves to paint the rest follows. then hung in the partner school(s). This year, but only has 10 minutes before her next IV treatment. We all Maine College of Art’s nationally accredited Master of Arts in the MAT's AinA served seven classrooms reacted quickly and set this little girl up with a palette of various Teaching program is designed to prepare artists to recognize how and over 150 children in grades 1-5 from the Learning from each other is part of the fun. MECA: molding and colors of paints, brushes and a water cup, and let her pick out her own their personal attributes and talents enhance and strengthen the Hall School, Portland. shaping the educators of the future. PHOTO: FERN TAVALIN puzzle piece." learning environment. It is an intensive, 10-month program that Adrienne further explained their planning process: “Our hope was blends the worlds of art and education. ● for the children to get to know one another, make a friend or two For more info, visit meca.edu/mat.

30 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 31 CONTINUING STUDIES CONTINUING STUDIES

Images from a previous trip to Greece through CS. Join the upcoming class "Impressions of Greece: Drawing and Painting on site in Athens and on the Island of Kea. The trip runs June 16–30, 2015

secondary elective from Illustration, Painting, receive free arts programming through our Photography, Textile and Fashion Design, Youth Summer Camps. Jewelry and Metalsmithing, Printmaking and On select Sundays this winter and spring, CS Ceramics. The Theater Arts Pre-College is offering a free film series titled “FORAGED: track offers a concentrated immersion in Films About Food and You” in partnership acting and life in a professional theater while continuing with Rosemont Market & Bakery. Films, also selecting from a variety of specialized talkback and snacks provided. A $5 suggested courses that focus on scene study, voice and donation will benefit Cultivating Community. studies movement, text analysis, design and theater production, with an emphasis on personal and CREATE III: The Third Annual Continuing professional growth through hands-on training. Studies Exhibition was held in September. news It featured over 90 student and faculty Continuing Studies offers a wide variety of CS is offering two international trips this year. participants. The Best in Show prize was arts-related courses year-round to people Participants may choose from a one-week awarded to Sally Wagley for her work Aging in of all ages and experience levels for the retreat in May to an ancient castle, Château Place, silkscreen and embroidery on muslin, purposes of personal enrichment. Our de la Napoule, perched on the French Riviera 15" x 19", 2014 and Days of Wine & Roses, mission is extended to bringing members through the La Napoule Art Foundation where embroidery on canvas, 15" x 19", 2014. Brian of the community into MECA who might participants will explore the historical and Farm (featured on the opposite page) and not otherwise have access. We’ve recently Brian Farm, Two Fish in a Bottle (Alosa sapidissima), cultural riches of this majestic locale while Betsy Dawkins were selected as runners-up. oil on cradled birch panel, 14" x 14", 2014 secured a Coffee By Design Rebel Blend Grant also pursuing self-guided art practices. A Betsy’s Leaping Frog will be featured in the that will allow immigrant and refugee women two-week drawing and painting course in Summer 2015 Continuing Studies catalog. and girls to participate in the “Our Stories: June to Athens and the Island of Kea (Greece) I started taking painting classes at MECA through the Continuing Studies A Narrative Collage” weekend workshop is also available. See meca.edu/cs for more this spring. Continuing Studies will also offer program in 2007, and have taken Diane Dahlke’s The Practice of Painting infomation on these exciting opportunities. CS WINTER/SPRING 2015 TERM (several times) and Janet Manyan’s Painting the Portrait Head. The summer courses tailored specifically for local instructors and coursework were invaluable, as was interacting with the UPCOMING veterans, helping veterans explore and share ADULT COURSES + WORKSHOPS MECA’s three-week residential Pre-College their stories through the healing powers of art. January 26 to April 17, 2015 other students and seeing the great variety of approaches to painting. program is expanding. In addition to our Among several new professional development growing Visual Arts program, high school YOUTH COURSES I am a scientist by training, and spent many years studying fish. I have classes this Winter/Spring is a five-week series students can now choose a Theater Arts track February 7 to April 4, 2015 for artists titled “The Artist’s Toolkit,” designed produced a number of pen and ink technical illustrations of fish for in a unique partnership with Portland Stage to support the practical skills required for research publications. Long hours spent working with preserved specimens Company. Both programs provide students professional working artists. Topics include with the skills to embark on a rigorous CS SUMMER 2015 TERM in museum collections, and the fascination I have with the fish themselves pricing artwork, residencies and artist packets, study of the arts while offering additional and the process of studying them, have inspired paintings such as Two Fish professional documentation and image ADULT COURSES + WORKSHOPS interdisciplinary workshops to augment the in a Bottle (Alosa sapidissima). management, marketing, blogging, websites June 8 to August 9, 2015 intensive arts experience. and more. YOUTH COURSES Participating in Continuing Studies exhibitions is always a thrill; it provides The Visual Arts Pre-College program was Our second annual “Summer of Youth” essay June 22 to July 31, 2015 an opportunity to share one’s work with a wider audience and to meet created to help students develop their art contest is now open for submission from and design skills while experiencing what PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM fellow artists. I am planning to take more coursework through MECA’s students ages 8 to 17. Interested students it means to be a full-time art student. All July 12 to August 1, 2015 Continuing Studies as time permits, both in painting and other media such are invited to respond to the prompt, “Tell us students participate in a foundation curriculum as printing and sculpture. –BRIAN FARM about an art experience you'll never forget. that focuses on observational drawing and How has it inspired you to want to make art at For more information on CS programming, design, while choosing a primary focus and MECA?” by the April 1, 2015 deadline. Winners please visit meca.edu/cs or call 207.699.5061.

32 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 33 2015 Upcoming Events INVESTING IN ARTS EDUCATION MECAmorphosis BFA Thesis Exhibition MECA + PechaKucha MAY 1 APRIL 27 – MAY 16, 2015 Portland I’ve taken Continuing MECA’s Spring Gala, Fashion Show + BFA Bachelor of Fine Arts students present their OCTOBER 29 Studies classes at Thesis Exhibition hosted in conjunction with Thesis work in the Porteous building of Presented in collaboration with Maine First Friday Art Walk MECA MECA for the past 20 Center for Creativity and the PechaKucha meca.edu/mecamorphosis index.meca.edu Portland Committee, this special edition years. The facilities— PechaKucha will feature storytelling from the MECA community. including the library— Commencement MFA Thesis meca.edu/pk are excellent. Taking MAY 9 Exhibition: classes at MECA made Hosted at the State Theatre, class of ‘15 MAY 8 – MAY 31 Commencement for BFA, MFA and MAT me aware of what Masters of Fine Arts students present their students thesis work in the Institute of Contemporary Please note this is not a comprehensive list the College is doing Art at MECA meca.edu/commencement of upcoming events at MECA. Dates and to build a community index.meca.edu times may be subject to change. To receive information about our events, of artists in Maine Thomas Moser: lectures and other news, please sign up to and beyond. I am very A Legacy In Wood COLLECT receive our monthly MECA eNews. You can sign up by adding your email to "Join Our glad to support arts JULY 23– SEPTEMBER 21 OCTOBER 7 – 10 Mailing List," on the bottom left of our Connecting the past to the future through A benefit for MECA’s scholarship fund and to meca.edu webpage. education and this arts fine wood craftsmanship support local artists For more info, email [email protected] or call community through meca.edu/moser meca.edu/artsale 207.775.3052 donations to MECA’s 15 annual fund. –JENNY SCHEU PHOTO: ALIK VERSOCKI ’ PHOTO: In honor of nationally known artist Dahlov Ipcar (b. 1917), in Artist Jenny Scheu with her painting Downtown, watercolor, gouache, and prismacolor on collaboration with master printer Arches paper, 12"x12," 2014 David Wolfe, of Wolfe Editions (wolfeeditions.com). Each print is available for $1,500. Proceeds benefit MECA’s Student Scholarship Fund. MECA Matters. SO DOES YOUR SUPPORT. Making a one-time or recurring gift online is Maine College of Art relies on annual fund gifts safe and secure. Visit meca.edu/donate. Call 207.699.5015 to purchase or to sustain and grow our programs. The annual There are many ways to support MECA. For for more information. fund supports student scholarships, visiting other giving options, including gifts of stock, event sponsorships, the monthly sustainer Odalisque, woodblock print, 15”h x artist lectures, Continuing Studies classes, art program, or including MECA in your will 27”w (draft image), 2014 education programs and more. Every gift has a please contact: Limited edition of 100, signed and Rebecca Swanson Conrad, Vice President for numbered by the artist. direct impact on our students and is used in the Institutional Advancement Maine College of Art MAINE COLLEGE OF ART PRESENTS year it is received. 522 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101 A Limited Edition Print by Dahlov Ipcar 207.699.5017 | [email protected]

34 meca.edu MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 35 522 CONGRESS STREET PORTLAND, MAINE 04101

WINTER + SPRING 2015

May 1, 2015 meca.edu/mecamorphosis

SAVE ART FOR SOCIAL CHANGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT STUDENTS AT MECA THE DATE HELP MAKE COMMUNITIES BETTER MECA MAGAZINE // WINTER + SPRING 2015 37