Online artisanry students bring works to life

Online students from across the country recently gathered in person for the culminating exhibition of the Graduate Certificate in Artisanry at UMass Dartmouth, marking the first time many of them had ever met face-to-face.

The exhibition featured work from seven students completing the university's online Artisanry certificate program, a one-year, nine-credit graduate-level experience designed for artists seeking to deepen their studio practice, prepare for professional artistic careers, or continue toward advanced degree options. 

“What makes this cohort especially noteworthy is that they had never met in person until flying in for the exhibition,” said Professor Rebecca Hutchinson. “While the work is extraordinarily diverse, the students share many connective themes. They have bonded deeply and are incredibly supportive of one another.”  

The exhibition serves as the culminating experience for the certificate program, showcasing accomplished work presented in a professional gallery format. Students traveled from across the United States to install and celebrate the exhibition together. 

For artist Christine Goh, the program became a transformative experience that reshaped both her artistic process and creative identity. 

“I approach clay as an active collaborator,” Goh explained. “The resulting forms exist at the intersection of duality: a balance of rigorous control and the wonder of surprise.” 

She described the online graduate experience as “transformative in every sense,” crediting the flexibility of the program with allowing her to integrate her home studio practice into her development while building meaningful creative relationships with classmates. 

“The weekly seminars and dedicated studio time created a collaborative space to exchange resources and critical insights; it was incredible to finally meet everyone and see their work up close.” 

Artist Lisa Evans said the certificate program provided the ideal opportunity to pursue a major career pivot while developing her artistic voice. 

“As a ceramic artist, I have begun exploring multimedia work and the intersection of materials as they relate to porcelain, the work I produced in this program was both surprising and deeply gratifying.” 

Evans emphasized that the accessibility of the online format made the experience possible and allowed strong personal connections to develop despite the physical distance between students. 

“The cohort became close and connected. Meeting in person was delightful to all of us. I believe I will have these connections for many years to come.” 

Cheryl Mincone credited the program's multidisciplinary approach and the influence of her fellow artists with expanding her creative perspective. 

“The dimensional focus of ceramicists had me thinking beyond two-dimensional wall hangings, while the color sensibility of painters led me to consider my own palette choices,” she said. “I'd recommend this program to any maker seeking to build momentum and evolve their creative practice in a meaningful way.” 

For Moonju Kim, exhibiting alongside artists from varied backgrounds broadened the meaning of the experience. 

“The experience of exhibiting with people from different cultural backgrounds will become a steppingstone for future artistic activities that extend beyond the U.S. and into the world,” Kim said. 

Despite working remotely throughout the year, the students shared commitment to experimentation and creative growth culminated in an exhibition that celebrated not only individual achievement, but also the strength of artistic collaboration made possible through online learning.

Online artisanry students bring works to life

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