About CVPA Points of Pride

FACULTY & STAFF FEATURED NEWS

Art History Professor Memory Holloway received the University of Massachusetts President's Public Service Award for her work in the New Bedford community, including her contribution to the feeding program of the Salvation Army where she has cooked with students and inmates, and her commitment to teaching adults in New Bedford as part of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities. Holloway also published Making Waves: Cape Verdean Whalers and the Photographs of Clifford Ashley (Amsterdam University Press). The book offers perspectives on the Cape Verdean migration and diaspora. Finally, Holloway recently delivered a paper at the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora Conference in Barbados with fellow Art History Professor Anna Dempsey.

Recently, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) in Boston unveiled four new 4'x8' panels of lithographic images depicting various scenes of Dorchester's Savin Hill neighborhood by Boston artist James Hobin. These panels, mounted permanently at the Savin Hill station on the Red Line of the 'T', were created through the team efforts of Hobin and Professor of Digital Media Mark Millstein. Mark was responsible for the digitization and enlargement of the original lithographs and the layout for the four large enamel on steel panels.

Arlene Black Mollo, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Art Education will co-present a talk with Sherye Weisz, Executive Director of the Southeastern Massachusetts Arts Collaborative, Inc. at a conference hosted by Brown University's Teacher Education and Urban Education Policy Programs in late March 2008. They will speak on Building a Systemic Coalition: A Dynamic Model for Education. In exhibition news, Mollo's work has been selected by the New England Watercolor Society for inclusion in their New England Juried Exhibition, to be held at the Cotuit Center for the Arts in April 2008.

Steve Whittlesey: Tables & Shelves, a solo exhibition at the New Bedford Art Museum by Artisanry Professor Steve Whittlesey, was featured in the December 2007/January 2008 issue of American Craft Magazine. Whittlesey was also profiled in the March 2008 issue of New England Home. In addition, Steve was recently given a monetary award for his work in the 29th Annual Contemporary Craft Exhibition at the Mesa Contemporary Art Center, in Mesa, Arizona. This award also includes the opportunity for a solo show at the Mesa Center in 2009. Whittlesey's work was also included in the Members' Exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. This biannual show ran through March 2008.

Recent work by Fine Arts Professor Bryan McFarlane will be on view at the Ferry Art International Center in Beijing, China. The solo exhibition, featuring thirty large-scale paintings, was created in part during McFarlane's Summer 2007 residency at the Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. The exhibition will be accompanied by a forty-page catalog featuring remarks by Chinese scholar Dong Xiu Wau and Director and Curator of the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Dr. Edmund Barry Gaither. McFarlane's work in China will also be the subject of an article written by the Ambassador to China from the artist's native Jamaica.

Spring 2008 is shaping up to be a busy season for Chancellor Professor of Design Elaine Fisher. Fisher's photographic prints will be seen in no less than five juried exhibitions--including shows at The Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, Colorado), The Museum of the Southwest (Midland, Texas), Upstream People Gallery (Omaha, Nebraska), Maryland Federation of Art (Annapolis), and Cambridge (MA) Art Association. Fisher was also invited to participate in the State of the Art Exhibition at Bunker Hill Community College, and donated work to support an auction fundraiser held by the UMass Dartmouth Women's Studies Program.

Skude 360°, a solo exhibition of paintings by Fine Arts Professor Sig Haines, recently enjoyed an incredibly successful opening at the New Bedford Art Museum. Nearly 400 friends, colleagues, and art lovers celebrated Haines' impressive exhibition, which features Haines' landscape paintings inspired by his native Norway. Later this year, the exhibition will travel to the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, and open there in December for an exclusive engagement.

A brooch by CVPA Professor of Jewelry/Metals Alan Burton Thompson was recently added to the permanent collection of the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. The gallery features decorative arts and crafts from early America to the present. The piece was donated by Lloyd E. Herman from his personal collection. Herman is the former curator of the Renwick Gallery, and a writer, juror, and curator of many major exhibitions--including the Trashformations exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum that featured the work of several CVPA faculty members.

Cape Cod-based Fine Arts instructor Don Beal heads into Spring with a packed exhibition schedule--on the Cape and beyond. Beal's work was recently accepted into the Berta Walker Gallery in Provincetown and is currently on view at the Cotuit Center For The Arts as part of Self Portrait Cape Cod. This summer, Beal will exhibit alongside several of his longtime friends and colleagues in a group show at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, curated by painter Paul Resika. Finally, Beal is in the process of curating a show from the Metropolitan Museum of Arts collection featuring the drawings of Hans Hoffman and his students. This traveling exhibition will appear at the Provincetown Art Association, the University Art Gallery at Star Store, and a location to be announced in New York City.

Work by Chancellor Professor in Design Harvey Goldman was featured as part of The Art of Digital Show, held in Fall 2007 at the Lyceum Theatre in San Diego. This world-class international exhibition featured digital painting, computer based illustration, video art, digitally manipulated photography, computer animation, and interactive installations. Goldman was featured in a two-person exhibition at 5 Traverse Gallery in Providence. Finally, an animation/music collaboration with Music Professor Ken Ueno, entitled Sabinium, was selected as part of the Athens International Sci- Fi Fantasy Short Film Festival, to be held Greece this April.

Several publications and lectures highlight an exciting period of professional activity for Art History Chancellor Professor Magali Carrera. Her essay, 'Fabricating Specimen Citizens: Nation-building in Nineteenth-Century Mexico,' was part of The Politics of Dress in Asia and the Americas; while another essay, 'The Visual Culture of New Spain: An Introductory Lesson,' was included in Dieciocho, vol. 30.1. Carrera also gave lectures focusing on cartographic studies at Middlebury College, the University of Virginia, and Harvard University.

Fine Arts instructor Andrew Nixon made the journey 'across the pond' to Scotland in Fall 2007, where his paintings were on display as part of an invitational exhibition entitled France/America. Nixon's work, which was on view at the Tolbooth Arts Centre in the town of Kirkcudbright, represented the 'America' of the exhibition's title. 'France' was represented by the work of French glassmaking and painting collective La Galerie Du Bois D'Amour, which was on view at Kirkcudbright Town Hall. As part of the exhibition, Nixon received the prestigious J. Bannigan Sullivan Award for Excellence in Painting.

Winter Break 2007-2008 saw a flurry of performances, workshops, and professional activities for Music professor royal hartigan. hartigan presented workshops in African drumming, dance, and songs at DeAnza College and San Francisco State University; and gave performances a number of venues in the Bay Area. Professor hartigan took advantage of the break to refine some of his upcoming projects, including an instructional book entitled West African Eve Rhythms for Drumset; and a double compact disc recording, blood drum spirit, the royal hartigan ensemble in China. This Spring, hartigan and his Kekeli African Drumming and Dance Ensemble were the subjects of an online profile by the Town of Westport. Finally, this summer, hartigan will present a lecture and demonstration performance in Beijing, China.

Finestra Parigi, a mixed-media print by Fine Arts Professor Anthony Miraglia, was accepted into a March 2008 national juried print exhibition entitled American Impressions at The Ben Shahn Center Galleries at William Patterson University in New Jersey. Miraglia's piece was one of 33 selected from hundreds of entries. Miraglia was also invited to participate in the recent State of the Art Exhibition at Bunker Hill Community College, and will exhibit his work alongside CVPA alumni Maura McGurk (MFA '07, Painting) and Judith Westlund Rosbe (BFA '07, Photography) at the Marion Art Center this Spring.

Assistant Dean and Textile Design/Fiber Arts Professor Charlotte Hamlin has been active on the textiles lecture circuit. Recent lectures include Power and Politics of Tapestry and Lace at the Pioneer Valley Weavers' Guild in Northampton, and In the Beginning: Materials and Techniques of Historic Significance at the New England Weavers' Seminars at Smith College in Western Massachusetts. Later this month, Hamlin will offer a Kasuri workshop and lecture on early Islamic textiles at the Weaver's Guild of Boston.

Allison Cywin, shares some exciting recent news from her post as curator of the Visual Resource Center (VRC). The center received a Academic Technology Grant to integrate the VRC image and multimedia digital asset management system with the UMass Dartmouth LDAP system. The new Luna system will be available via VRC's new website by June 2008, and faculty training will begin in Fall 2008. The vast collection of VRC's digital images will be available on both campuses.

Design Professor Janine Wong was recently featured in a solo exhibition at The Artists Foundation in Boston entitled Quotidian Practice. The show featured 122 of Wong's images, which represented a daily practice of searching, thinking and creating visual ideas. This Spring finds Wong's work on exhibit in two group shows: Artist's Books at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and Memory and Art at Emmanuel College in Boston. Wong was also recently awarded Provost's Publication Subvention Grant for the of publication of her work, and will serve as juror for Shelter, a traveling artists' book exhibition that will be on view at Lasell College, the Fleet Library at Rhode Island School of Design, Montserrat College of Art, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Maryland, and Wells College in Aurora, New York.

Spring has seen a flurry of scholarly activity for Art Education Professor Kathy Miraglia. A recent article, Attitudes of Preservice General Education Teachers Toward Art, will be published in the Summer 2008 Issue of the Journal of Visual Arts Research. Miraglia presented her research at the National Art Education Association Conference in New Orleans and the New York University Conference (with Professor Cathy Smilan). In April, Miraglia will join Smilan and Department of Art Education chairperson Arlene Black Mollo as they present research entitled Looking at the Arts: Dynamic Methodological Trends as part of the New England Educational Research Organization Conference.

FACULTY & STAFF IN BRIEF

A recent exhibition by Fine Arts lecturer Anthony Fisher was the subject of a review in the January issue of ARTnews. The exhibition, Anthony Fisher: New Paintings, was on view in Fall 2007 at Galerie Mourlot in New York City.

This winter, Marc St. Pierre, Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Fine Arts, served as juror for the Annual Winter Exhibition at the Duxbury Art Association in Duxbury, Massachusetts.

In Fall 2007, digital arts festivals in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Bahia Blanca, Argentina, presented selections from image vs media, a recent work by Design Professor Shawn Towne.

Fine Arts Professor Rick Creighton recently finished a commission for the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Public Library. The commissioned sculpture, a slightly larger-than-life bronze bust of a library patron, will be dedicated this Spring.

The monotype prints of Fine Arts Professor Kurt Wisneski were featured as part of Printmaking Now, a national invitational exhibition held earlier this year in the Grimshaw-Gudewicz Art Gallery at Bristol Community College.

Fine Arts Professor Stacy Latt Savage is currently preparing a solo site-specific outdoor sculpture installation in conjunction with the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust. The installation will be on view throughout Summer and Fall 2008.

Fine Arts Professor Alma Davenport wrote a review of the 2007 publication No Caption Needed: Iconic Photographs, Public Culture and Liberal Democracy, in the journal The Historian. Additionally, Davenport was an artist-in-residence in January 2008, painting at the Pigeon Key National Historic Foundation in Marathon, Florida.

The work of CVPA Illustration Professor Bruce Maddocks was recently on view as part of an invitational group exhibition at the Hudson Walker Gallery in Provincetown, MA.

STUDENT FEATURED NEWS

The ceramic works of MFA students Jennifer Datchuk, Megan Mullins, Bethany Rusen; and Post-Baccalaureate Program student Corrine Beardsley have been accepted in the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Regional Student Juried Exhibition. The exhibition features 82 pieces selected from over 400 entries. The show was on view in conjunction with the national NCECA Conference at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. NCECA promotes and improves the ceramic arts through education, research, and creative practice.

Pulp Function, an exhibition featuring works of paper art, is now on the road after its inaugural showing at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton. Over the next two years, the exhibition--featuring pieces by MFA Printmaking student Eden Reiner and CVPA alum Deb Baldizar (MFA '06)--will be on view in Casper, Wyoming; Fargo, North Dakota; and Park City, Utah; among other venues across the country. The exhibition received an enthusiastic write-up by well-known Boston arts writer Christine Temin in the September/October 2007 issue of American Craft Magazine. CVPA is home to its own Papermaking Studio, which was instrumental in the creation of these acclaimed pieces.

Master of Art Education (MAE) Program student Debra Smook recently concluded nearly four years of work as a research assistant to Dr. Fred Gifun on the UMass Dartmouth history book project. She served as photo editor and designer for UMass Dartmouth 1960-2006: Trials and Triumph, which was published late last year. Debra was responsible for all aspects of the 'look' of the book--from concept to design--including researching, choosing, and procuring the nearly 600 photographs which appeared in the book. In addition, Debra announced the launch of Secret City Graffiti, a documentary website that highlights the graffiti artists of New Bedford and beyond.

An essay by undergraduate Textile Design/Fiber Arts student Olivia Ostiguy was selected as one of the top entries in a student writing contest by The RITE Group (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment). For her winning essay--which examined the importance of environmental considerations in textile practice--Olivia was offered a complimentary delegate place at the RITE Group Conference, held in October 2007 in London. The student essay contest was sponsored by the Society of Dyers and Colourists.

STUDENT IN BRIEF

Exciting news from Asia, where the work of MFA Printmaking student Zhandi (Andy) Zhang was featured as part of a recent juried exhibition, Infinite Horizons, at the Ku Art Center in Beijing.

Two students in the Textile Design/Fiber Arts studio, undergrad Megan Scanlon and MFA student Jodi Stevens, received scholarships from the Barbara L. Kuhlman Foundation--$1400 and $500, respectively.

Undergraduate Textile Design/Fiber Arts student Ashley Joyce recently completed an internship with Boston-based firm Mod Green Pod, manufacturers of sustainable home decor--including organic fabrics and vinyl-free wallpaper.

Work by MFA Jewelry/Metals student Julie Brooks Price was recently featured in the book 500 Wedding Rings: Celebrating a Classic Symbol of Commitment, published in January 2008 by Lark Books. The book is available at bookstores nationwide or online at Amazon.

Undergraduate Textile Design/Fiber Arts student Rhonda Fazio recently teamed up with the Children's Museum in Easton to launch a new visiting artist program, Art-full Endeavors. The program was established to introduce children and adults to various creative outlets. Rhonda served as the program's inaugural visiting artist.

ALUMNI FEATURED NEWS

And the winner is... Alum Colin Elliott (BFA '99, Electronic Imaging) is part of the visual effects team from Rhythm & Hues Studio in Los Angeles that took home the Visual Effects Oscar for their work on the feature film The Golden Compass. Led by Visual Effects Supervisor Bill Westenhofer, Colin was a member of the set-up team that prepared CGI sequences for final animation.

Sacatar Institute in Brazil awarded artist residencies to CVPA alumni Dawn Stetzel (MFA '07, Ceramics) and Jon Taylor (MFA '05, Wood/Furniture) during Winter 2007/2008. Their project, Personal Connection through Material Sensitivity, documented vernacular building techniques within the local community that embodied simple and innovative uses of regionally specific materials. The pair examined the aesthetics that are born out of necessity. Their research is currently being compiled into short video episodes and in print format as part of a larger book project.

Alumna Laurie Carlson (MFA '98, Fibers) is preparing an exhibit entitled Women Protecting US at the USS Massachusetts BB59 at Battleship Cove in Fall River, MA. This unique installation, which focuses on women's military history, is permanently located within a 1,500 square foot compartment on the battleship and includes vintage uniforms, oral histories, photographic collages and memorabilia that spans the Revolutionary War to the current conflict in Iraq. A preview opening was held in conjunction with the conference Female Faces of War, an event to celebrate Women's History Month.

Alumna Mi-Hyun Kim (MFA '06, Graphic Design) was the recipient of an Award of Excellence in the 37th Annual University & College Designers Association (UCDA) Design Competition. The winning work was an exhibition catalog entitled Billy Roper: Visual Storyteller created for the folk artist of the same name. The catalog was published by University Press of North Georgia.

Alumna Erin Treacy (MFA '07, Painting) recently completed two international residencies in the Slovak Republic. Additionally, her work was named Best in Show out of twenty artists featured in the Inter/National Exhibition at the Box Heart Gallery in Pittsburgh. In addition to the honor, Erin will have the opportunity to mount a solo exhibition in the gallery as Box Heart's 2009 Artist of the Year.

New Bedford Public Schools art educator Nancy Hawes (BFA '89, Art Education) was recently named as one of the nominees for the Standard-Times Teacher of the Year Award. Nancy was recognized for her ability to inspire creativity at all levels, and encouraging all students to participate and do their best.

ALUMNI IN BRIEF

Since Fall 2007, CVPA alum Daniel Buckley (BFA '07, Digital Media) has been working as part of the web design team for WGBH-TV, a PBS affiliate in Boston. Dan's work can be seen at the PBS Kids website.

Sarah Kendrigan (BFA '06, Graphic Design) recently accepted a position as Chief Graphic Designer for YMCA SouthCoast. In her new position, Sarah is responsible for designing printed materials and websites for all five YMCA locations between Wareham and Fall River.

Alumna Catherine Carter (MFA '97, Painting) continues to highlight the accomplishments of CVPA faculty through her column for the New Bedford Standard-Times column, entitled 'In the Studio.' Recent articles have featured CVPA Fine Arts Professor Sig Haines and University Art Gallery Director Lasse Antonsen.

Maura McGurk (MFA '07, Painting) moved to Boston upon completing the MFA Program at CVPA. She is currently teaching part-time at Curry College and working at the DeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park.

Aimee Arsenian (BFA '07, Textile Design/Fiber Arts) recently began work as a color coordinator on the design team at women's apparel retailer J. Jill, part of the Massachusetts-based Talbots Clothing Company.

Brian Fox (BFA '90, Illustration) was selected as the 2007 Major League Baseball World Series Commemorative Artist. A limited edition of the series is available online through Upper Class Collectibles.

Work by alumna Colleen Ellis (MFA '06, Graphic Design) was selected to be part of a February 2008 national juried exhibition of small works of art at the Todd Gallery at Middle Tennessee State University. The juror was Dave Hickey, nationally acclaimed, Las Vegas-based critic and curator, and recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship.

Recent graduate Brandon Strathmann (MFA '07, Drawing) in currently in his second semester as Assistant Professor of Drawing and Animation at Cal State Fullerton.

Renée Monteiro-Bernard (MFA '07, Jewelry/Metals) is currently teaching courses three-dimensional studies through the Continuing Education Foundation Program at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. Renée has also been hard at work launching a new website, and is will offer her leaf jewelry for sale at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA, starting in April.