From the baby’s car seat covered with Cheerios and baby bottle nipples, to the body made completely of chocolate, to another made of clay, FAU art students find different ways to express themselves.
Prior to graduation, three graduate students and 14 undergraduates had a chance to show the community just what their art was made of, be it chocolate, clay, or the more typical oil paints. The artwork was showcased for the semi-annual Bachelor of Fine Arts and Masters of Fine Arts shows.
“This exhibition is a hallmark for the art department and Schmidt College. It shows that another part of the university is growing, there are hot, young artists that can compete with artists all over the US,” said Ron Faulds, director of the art galleries.
While it’s too late for you to see these exhibits in person — they ended last week — the UP wanted to give these artists a final sendoff. The artists, now FAU alumni, composed the artwork on the cover of the paper, and on these pages.
The three graduate students became the first three recipients of FAU’s Master of Fine Arts degrees. FAU says that the graduate coursework promotes “viewing the world conceptually, aesthetically and with a regard for the extraordinary and unusual. The students are encouraged to challenge the boundaries in theory and practice in the development of a distinct body of work.”
To all of the artists, their pictures, sculptures and animations express far more than a thousand words.
For Scott T. Niemi, who received his masters in visual art with a concentration in painting, he explained his work “as a journey. I begin, never completely knowing where it will lead me. As I work, I work with whatever tools may suit me at the moment.”
He added, “My work is a creation that speaks of body and mind. There is chaos and order, reaching a common or workable ground. The white canvas presents itself to me as blankness, which needs alteration.”
Giannina Coppiano Dwin, who received her masters with a concentration in ceramics, used flour, spices, lard, and clay slip to make her masterpiece.
Dwin said, “My work originates from thoughts about the maternal body, mother/daughter relationships, food, and passage of time. I use multiple objects, installation and performance with a blend of odors, flavors, and colors all of which transform, reminding us of time elapsing. With them, I hope to engage the viewer in the discourse of the work.”
Patricia June Beasley, who also received her masters with a concentration in ceramics, said, “In my work there is a tension between connections, non-subjective forms, uninhibited space, and pressure.”
Art professor Adam Posnak was very impressed by both of the exhibits. He said, “It’s remarkable. It’s diverse and speaks of strengths of different concentrations of the department.”
And for Jayne French Dubinsky, who created a sculpture out of chocolate, her pending success is all up to her.
“If it’s to be, it’s up to me,” said Dubinsky, one of the newest recipients of a bachelor’s degree.
