Another year of amazing student work and a great time had by all!!!

This year’s show was headed by our Fine Arts faculty and ceramicist, Jessica Gardner.  Jessica is also an artist in her own right and teaching has allowed her to pass on her professional experience to the students, for both creating and showing your work.

Our Juror, Blare Clemo, is a professional ceramicist as well and works as an Assistant Professor of Craft and Material Studies at VCU.  He was absolutely wonderful with our students.  Great advice to everyone he met.

We had many submissions for this year’s show and his job was challenging.  He was impressed with our student work. “Shy Love” by Monique Gurruchaga uses cut out paper and phenomenal craftsmanship!

Xueting Tong’s wonderful, “Scent of a Curve” installation guides the viewer into the gallery by having half of the curving swirl, on the each side of the window.

The gallery at The Center of Design, Media and the Arts, still feels brand new, even though this is our 2nd year since moving into it.  The gallery is wonderfully designed with separate alcoves to view the works.

The Show is based on student work that fulfilled an assignment for at least one of our classes over the past year.  One of my favorites is the Tie-Wire Project, where students learn about thinking in 3-D and how to see line in a more deliberate way.  Sydney Strickland’s rebar tie wire piece asks, “Why Are You Like This?”

It’s always a joy to walk around and see what our students are doing and amazingly talented they are!

The Ceramics were lovely as always! Dogwood Casserole Dish by Britt Brooks.

The show allows many of our students an opportunity to exhibit for the first time.  They invite family, friends and support one another.

One of my favorites from the show is the “Robed Guardian” by D’Arcy Dean.  I just love the texture.

The great aspect of the show is that the visiting art audience really delves into the works.  Every year, the art matters.  These viewers are enjoying “Reflected light” a pastel, by Thuy Le Chung Nguyen.

Rightfully so, the students are so creative! This teapot by Katherine Gaynor mixes ceramic and string to express, “War of the Mind.” On one side the teapot looks normal, but when you turn it around you see the inner workings of the mind.

Our students are all passing through this school.  They are working hard and deciding what to do with their lives, careers and artistic voice.  This show is also a great place to see the creative output of other students and get inspired for new ideas.

It’s a great chance to see varying techniques and processes, up close.  This is especially true of Christopher Hanley’s “Swells” sculpture.

Students get to voice their tastes and opinions for the night and put their own work in a new context. Thuy Le Chung Nguyen discussing her art.

Overall, its a wonderful evening.  Students visit throughout the evening and in-between classes.

The big draw, however happens at 6:30, when the Juror in introduced and the winners are announced!

This year Jessica wanted to give a huge thank you to the Cafferky family. Tanagra Cafferky is the daughter of Lois Long and she and her family are the ones who are generously donating the art supplies from Lois’ estate, to the students here at NOVA. Louis Long had an inspiring career in the arts exploring ceramics, metal enameling, photograph and much more.  She was the author of two books about ceramics.  Her passion for the arts will be continued by the continued use of her tools, supplies.    Thanks so much Cafferky Family!

3rd prize went to Cecilia Bergh for her lovely pastel self portrait.

Ishta Hurtado won Second Place for her “Chess Inspired Trio.”

Ishta Hurtado’s “Chess Inspired Trio.”

The First Prize went to Oz Bender for “Skelefem.”

His “Skelefem” is made of painted steel.

Everyone had a GREAT time.  The food was great, the art is great and    everyone came to enjoy a wonderful opening reception.

Jessica and Clemo pose with our honorable mention  winner, Xueting Tong.

She won for her Blue and White Tea Pot.

Jeff Pounding also won an honorable mention for his work titled, “Generations.”

We had some visiting teachers from Annandale as well!  Thanks to Michael Dowley for supporting us tonight!

Nathan Johnson enjoying speaking with students at the opening reception.

Our Dean, Jimmy Mclellan came by to visit with the students as well as Dr. Haggray, our Provost.  We are so fortunate to have such supportive people helping make the NOVA experience a wonderful one.

Jennifer Webster created a lovely small vase in clay.  The glaze is just beautiful.

Art asks for conversation and tonight started many new ones.  Joann Ackerman’s vase, “My Kind of Woman” is a engaging piece.

Bavarian Vase in oil by Elizabeth Good

One of my other favorites are these wonderful figurines created by Miyuki Matsuoka.  She made these in response to visiting the Terracata Warriors show in Richmond.  She decided to create new ones and put them in a different context, relaxing around a fire.  Their new world is titled, “Once upon a war time in China”

The show work is fun, rich with color and texture! Malik Stanley’s Autobiography Project as wonderfully charming.

So great to find friends at the reception!  Mary sings in our NOVA Community Chorus and Elizabeth is our is an amazing photographer and volunteer for our photo department.

Tim Buffalo poses in front of his very cool album cover style artwork, T3rminal 3rror above Emily Schneider’s “Neutral” collage.

Stephan made a sale!!! Need I say more.

Taryn Lyons was thrilled with the show!

Every artist should be very proud.  This is the start of many new opportunities! Marjorie Henriquez rocked her, graphite “Interior Design Project.”

The show is up until March 4th! Come on by!  It’s worth the visit!

Xiomara Fontanez posses in front of her work, “Heaven’s Gate Memorial.”

The Cafferkys were thrilled to see the art supplies having been used in our student artwork already!

Yohan Cho created a lovely pastel work titled Plush Reflection.

For more information about department events, please visit our Facebook Page! www.facebook.com/TylerArtsLife

Our Associate Dean, Karly White enjoying Lyle Priddy’s “Provence House.”

Haruko Greenberg discussing her work, “Tea for Three” to a very appreciative audience.

Well, I’d say this year’s show was a hit! For all of you students that are currently working away… Anything from this semester to Spring 2020 is eligible to enter the 2020 Student Fine Art Show.  We hope to see you next year, even if you are graduating before then!

Blog post by Britt Conley, Studio Assistant to the Fine Art Department, Admin. Assistant to the Music Department.

 

I love being able to see what everyone is up to creatively.  This annual show collects those creative works from the Photography, Fine Arts and Graphic Design department faculty and staff.  This year proved to be another amazingly prolific year for everyone.

The show runs August 27th – September 20th, 2018.

Although more are busy teaching, everyone still carries on with their creative lives.  Nataliya Gurshman is a specialist in color.

There are numerous amazing graphic design works including a wonderful one from Angela Terry, which she created for Mount Vernon.

We all had a great time.   The turn-out was wonderful! Art lovers poured in throughout the evening to celebrate our student’s work, free food and be a part of our awards ceremony.

Each year, after everyone works hard creating all of this wonderful work,  they are reminded to invite friends and family.   Afterall, this is often their first show.  Family support and pride, is always a joy to see : )

And friends celebrating one another is also the best : )

We were thrilled to see our Provost, Dr. Haggray : )

She has attended all of our shows, since she took office here, and is an avid appreciator of everyone’s works.

Dr. McClellan, our Alexandria Dean of Liberal Arts is a long-time  supporter of our art program, students and department events.  He’s come to nearly every show for so long that I presume, that  ‘decades’ would be the appropriate time frame descriptor.

Our two jurors were Nikki Brugnoli and Jon McMillan.

Nikki Brugnoli, our 2D Juror, is the Assistant Graduate Programs Coordinator, at George Mason University.

Our 3-d juror this year, Jon McMillan, is the Assistant Professor of Ceramics at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

They not only determined this year’s award winners, they were kind enough to come and hand out the award certificates.

The best part of the show is watching the surprise on our students faces.  They work so hard all year and rewarding them is inspiring.

After the list of honorable mentions, which included:

Sophia Woolston, D’Arcy Dean, Allen Beland, Daniel Rivas, Nala Ktzleb, Nora Drake, Mohamed El-Haddad, Lyle Priddy and Wesley Walker, we had our 3rd place prize, which went to Ireen Clayton-Jones for her piece “Nyquil Haze”

Our second place prize went to Christopher Tait, for his “Artifacts”

With our first place award going to Miyuki Matsuoka.

Her ‘Warriors’ made out of clay,  were thoughtfully conceived and wonderfully executed.

After the wards ceremony, there was plenty of time to enjoy the art and celebrate one another.

Mohamed Elhaddad won an honorable mention for his photo and string work.

A beautiful painting always brings great pride.

Stacy Slaten is so proud of her students!

It’s a great show as always and we can’t wait to see what the students produce next year!

So much Art to take in.  Hopefully everyone is inspiring the next art maker.

Pete Van Riper, our advanced drawing teacher, was thrilled to see the works, and our Dean, Dr. McClellan and Jessica Gardner were loving the entire reception.

The faculty are always big fans of everyone’s work.  Stacy and Jessica did a great job getting their students involved and working on the show.

Supportive friends are the best!

The show will be up until May 4th, 2018!  Come on over to see the art, the new building and perhaps say hello to us, at the new Fine Arts Office, in room 342.

Post by: Britt Conley,  Fine Art Department Studio Assistant

 

Crowns was proposed as an exhibit examines the transition that occurs while “crossing into motherhood,” as a “monumental shift in a woman’s life” The exhibit not only addresses how women’s roles shift when they become mothers, but also who they are as women and artists.  The role on motherhood can be all encompassing and does not come with an easy path for most.   As artists, the eight women visually reflect, “on their experiences in the currents of motherhood.”

The “Crowns” tour is being spearheaded by NOVA’s own, ceramics faculty, Jessica Gardner.  She has been driving around setting up and striking each show at every new location.  The show began it’s first showing at the Ann Arundel Community College’s Gade Gallery from January-February before traveling to  exhibit with the National Council on Education of Ceramics Arts (NCECA) conference which were on display at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – Homewood, where is was on display in March.  It’s next stop opens on April 3rd at the Foster Art Gallery at Westiminster College, in New Wilmington, PA.  The show goes through August 3rd.  From August-October the show will arrived back in the area at the New Gallery for Contempoary Craft at NOVA’s Woodbridge Campus.  After that the show travels to the DuPont Gallery at the University of Mary Washington, in Fredericksburg, VA from October 25th-December 2nd.  After that it’s off to NOVA’s Manassas campus.  There is bound to be more additions to the list before the exhibit gets to The Canton Museum of Art in Canton Ohio from November of 2019- March 2020.

Jessica is not only the organizer of this grand tour, she is also one of the artists.  Jessica explains her art, “has traditionally been a subtle reflection of the introspective nature and self-assessment that form the pillars of my personality…and then I had children.

Suddenly, my tendency toward diplomacy in life and in my art gave way to exhaustion and turmoil. This body of work reflects the simultaneous elation and emotional erosion that coalesced into my experience of motherhood in modernity.”

The other seven artist’s include:

Stephanie DeArmond, who’s work, “explores language, taking slang phrases, colloquialisms, and snippets of over heard conversation and abstracting them into sculptural form, where meanings are revealed and obscured through typography and letter forms.”  Her description is clearly evident in her teapot, shown below.  He adds, “In this way, it memorializes everyday language in a larger-than-life forms, functioning like signage, oversized tchotckes, or the doodles in a notebook.”

The third artist, Carole Epp, states,  “Since beginning, this body of work,” (originally) from 2005, “…has evolved in different ways, both thematically and visually. The impact of having my own children and working with imagery of children and childhood has propelled the work into a more personal realm wherein issues of motherhood, identity, and child-rearing have become part of the larger discussion of the work. My aim with this work has always been to find a space of dialogue for issues of political and social relevance; to tap into the humanity behind the headlines, to address concerns we face in day to day life, and to create an active desire for change in our world. “

Janis Mars Wunderlich’s work, “expresses the complexities of intimate relationships in traversing the trials and triumphs of our human experience.  As we grow and mature,” she expounds, “we gain awareness of our sexuality, passions, instincts, and desires to form intimate associations in our transition from childhood into the role of adult and nurturer.  Through this growth our weaknesses, dependencies and vulnerabilities are revealed, and our experiences and relationships transform us as we gain maturity, charity, wisdom, and strength.”

Kate Fisher thinks of her art as, “as domestic art: it is either for or about the home.  I make work to be used in daily life or to reference utilitarian objects. The kitchen, in particular, is a home’s command central, where we congregate, nourish ourselves, and share our histories and culinary traditions. My mentors instilled in me the importance of creating a domestic environment that enhances personal research and understanding of clay and self. By using, washing, touching, and serving others and myself from handmade objects, I complete the circle of craft. This practice continually informs the work I make and the work I won’t make.”

Summer Zickefoose, describes her work as addressing, “the middle of nowhere; observed from an interstate. The sticks, the hicks, the mind-numbing boredom. The absence of culture, of progress, of significance. The rural American landscape is often the setting both literally and figuratively for my investigations as an artist. This landscape is representative of its human counterparts and their codes of language, ethics, traditions, and behavioral traits. As with any archaeology, there is the place, its culture, and the objects and

materials used by that culture. I believe that these objects and materials hold within them a multitude of secrets.”

Rhonda Willers ponders experience.  “A poetic power manifests itself in silence.  Strength and subtlety intertwine during our encounters with the contemplative. Using these deafeningly subdued experiences, I explore metaphoric and physical relationships with my ceramic vessels, drawings and mixed media works that allude to sacred rituals.”

The final artist,  Eva Kwong, says, she searches,  “for the interconnections between things in the world, similarities as well as the differences.  I am interested in the concept of one in many and the many in one.  My hybrid art forms are influenced by my observations of the natural world and what I experience in my life.”

For more information on Crowns, contact Jessica Gardener at JGGardner@nvcc.edu

Post by: Britt Conley,  Fine Art Department Studio Assistant