Behind The Bricks Magazine - Issue 2

MEET THE TEAM

Or: Editor/Photographer:

I’m a 2nd year Photography/Videography student I enjoy working with alternative photographic processes, film photography, video making and more.

I also work as a part time Youth Worker. In my free time I enjoy music, mix media, coffee(!!), hiking/travelling, thrifting and hanging out with friends and family.

What art supply would I be? An SD card. You can’t survive without it ;)

Lilli: Content Creator

I grew up on the coast of Maine, a place home to a vibrant community of artists and makers Being primarily exposed to small alternative education systems gave me a lot of freedom to explore my interest in the arts guided by local practicing artists I’ve always been drawn to photography and videography, but often find myself mixing medias. Although I mix up my materials I have a hard time straying from humans as the content of my artwork As for my free time- I adore stargazing, I love to dance, and frequent thrift stores, yard sales, and antique shops.

What art supply would I be? I’d be a ball of rainbow yarn because I love colour but couldn’t possibly pick a favourite!

MEET THE TEAM

Mar: Writer/Photographer

I’m a 2nd year jewelry/metal arts student. I enjoy working with silver, brass, and copper with aspirations to start working in gold next semester I love constructing pieces and bringing my sketches and designs to life Give me a plan, some music, and a torch and I’ll go to town! In my free time I enjoy listening to music, dancing, reading, snorkeling/free-diving, hanging out with friends and family

What art supply what would I be? I would be a torch. Fire and metal? Yes please!

Vic: Graphic Designer

’m an Fva student from Fredericton. I’m hoping to go into the graphic design program in the fall, but I love playing with all kinds of media! I’m currently really into crochet, but I also love to collage and play music I’m obsessed with sharks, moths, and (unfortunately) Glee! I’m really looking forward to working on BTB and to sharing it with all of you.

What art supply would I be? I’d be liquid glue, because I love to mix media but I also make messes.

Bradley: Graphic Designer

FVA student, with a previous background in advertising, journalism, social media and more Upon returning to the east coast this year and embarking on my journey as a student, yet again, and as an artist, rediscovering existing talents, while growing/evolving my knowledge, and hopeful to continue on to the Graphic Design program next year! I’m a dog-dad, love to travel, a huge movie and music lover, enjoy spending time with friends, and admittedly a hardcore coffee addict.

What art supply would I be? A 14B Graphite Pencil: Extremely versatile for many things, game-changer for drawing, and sometimes hard to find.

As a matter of fact, the first few weeks of classes made me realize that the NBCCD community provides a very supportive and encouraging environment to learn and grow. Aside from sewing, I learnt that I really enjoy pattern drafting and manipulation.

What’s the most recent project you’re proud of?

One of my biggest projects for the fall semester was a lehenga (an Indian-style ankle-length skirt), which was a very exciting, but challenging project as it was the first apparel I was making from scratch.

Hi! My name is Gurleen, I’m in the first year of my Fashion Design diploma, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Applied Arts. In the days leading up to me beginning my first semester in the fall I was feeling very anxious and doubtful because of my little to no experience in sewing compared to some of my peers.

It involved me making my own design, with materials that my mother had sent from India. The project allowed me to apply the techniques I was learning in my classes for the first time which was very invigorating. I’ve learnt since then to manage my time and projects better to avoid burnout, collect proper documentation, and ask for help when needed.

I ended up wearing the lehenga I stitched to a Diwali (festival of lights) celebration, which was all the more rewarding. This winter semester I worked on a pair of denim jeans, with brocade patchwork. I also came up with a design for a design challenge, where my principle of design was to attempt to present rhythm.

Any special projects planned for the future?

I am looking forward to walking the runway with my peers for the first time as we all present our unique designs at the upcoming NBCCD fashion show. Hope to see you there!

What inspires your art?

Hello! I’m Katie McDonough, a 2nd year student from the 3D Digital Design Studio, born and raised here in Fredericton! As a 3D student, one of my biggest hobbies is playing video games of course. Once you learn what goes into creating them, it’s hard not to appreciate all the effort that goes along with it, which makes them so much more fun to study and play! Outside of that, I’m also a black belt in karate which I’ve been doing for about 10 years now.

There’s so much that has inspired and influenced me as an artist, and funnily enough I’ve had people guess just by looking at my work that one of my biggest inspirations from my childhood was the book series “Warriors” by Erin Hunter. The books themselves don’t contain a lot of visuals, but it was the online community surrounding it, and all the fanart they produced, that really inspired me to grow and develop my skills.

My love of drawing animals and creating environments really stemmed from seeing other’s gorgeous visual depictions and interpretations of what was written in those books.

What’s the most recent project you’re proud of?

At the moment, the project I’m the most proud of is the piece I had created for our studio’s gallery exhibition, “Beyond the Flat”! The loose theme of our show was the question of how we could bring our work to life outside of how we usually see it within our studio, which would be on a flat monitor, using the tools we have as 3D artists.

I knew I had wanted to make something fun and playful, so I thought of creating a diorama that utilized a flat, printed image of a 3D render I had created within Blender, and filled the scene with 3D printed cutouts that would be painted as I would a 2D illustration. Painting on a smooth surface like resin was surprisingly tricky, but I’m in love with the results, and I was really excited to see my little animal characters really come to life during the process! The final piece is called “Gift for 12 Year Old Me”.

Any special projects planned for the future?

Circling back to my childhood inspiration, I’m planning on spending the spring semester continuing to work on a project for our Modelling and Texturing 4 course, which is to create a 3D environment and model two of the cat characters from the first book, “Into the Wild”. I’ve already been having so much fun learning ways to create 3D assets for all the plants and painting textures for them, and I’m really looking forward to completing the whole forest scene in the near future!

UPDATES

How was FVA? What studio did you choose?

My name is Kayra I am now a graduate from FVA, and I am now going into fashion FVA has been an incredible experience overall It had its challenging parts for sure, but the amount of knowledge I have gained in such a short time makes everything worth it. When it comes to choosing a studio it has been very hard for me personally A lot of people come to the school with an idea of what they want to pursue in the future, unlike me. Media exploration class was extremely helpful by allowing me to have a sneak peak into the studios, spend a month in each of them, doing awesome projects, and collecting memories It was incredible!

When it comes to how I chose which studio I wanted to go into, I was very confused at first and my options were fashion, photography, or jewelry. I loved making rings in media exploration courses as I am obsessed with jewellery and I wear rings every day It was an incredible memory When it comes to photography I really enjoyed learning different techniques and being in the darkroom.

Fashion has always had a special place in my heart as I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was little, but I didn’t really hold on to that dream. When I had my media exploration class in fashion, I felt connected with my younger self and even though I have no idea how to sew I was assured that they will be teaching everything from top to bottom, which made it promising in my eyes

At the same time, being able to spend time in the studio with the instructors gives you an overall idea of what your experience can be if you chose to go down that path FVA has been eye-opening for me and helped me understand art as well as create it It was one of the best decisions I have made for myself and I can't wait to start learning how to sew!

-Kayra

1st Year

What drew you to Ceramics?

My journey at the ceramic studio at NBCCD during the last term has been nothing short of transformative, profound exploration of creativity and skill development. Immersed in a community of fellow artists and guided by supportive instructors, I've experienced a transformation in my approach to ceramics. Through hands-on practice, I've refined my techniques in wheel throwing and understanding of glaze chemistry, allowing me to bring my artistic visions to life with newfound precision and confidence.

What’s one thing that surprised you about your studio?

The studio environment has been a source of inspiration and camaraderie, fostering collaboration and growth among peers. Whether experimenting with new forms or delving into advanced firing techniques, every session has been an opportunity for discovery and innovation. As I reflect on this transformative journey, I am grateful for the support and mentorship of the faculty at NBCCD, who have nurtured my passion for ceramics and empowered me to pursue excellence in my craft.

-Kshitiz

2nd Year

What drew you to ceramics?

I felt drawn to ceramics because of how tactile it is and the community that we have in the studio. I love the fusion between function and art The idea that a piece I crafted can be a part of someone’s everyday life is a special feeling

What are you working on? Any future ambitions?

We are currently learning how to throw large forms It has been one of the most exciting parts of my second year in ceramics We’ve been learning new techniques and ways of approaching a large scale piece that we’ve never tried before! I hope to eventually have my own studio that I can work out of!

What’s next for you after graduation?!

I am pursuing an education degree in the fall at UNBF After I graduate and start teaching, I plan to accumulate the materials I need in order to start setting up a studio!

And could you tell us what inspires you most about the studio / medium you work with?

Using clay as a medium is full of endless possibilities As someone who likes to experiment, ceramics is the perfect craft for me-I can never get bored! Everyday, I’m inspired by my classmates and instructors. The community in the studio is unlike any other I’ve experienced. We love to bounce ideas off of one another and I feel that it’s a very important part of what we do!

-Bryn

Behind The Bricks

1st Year

What drew me to this program?

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-Micaila

2nd Year

What drew you to your studio?

Like many students here, I’ve always been considered the “creative” one among my family and friends However, I struggled to envision how that creativity could translate into a ‘successful’ career path It wasn’t until I discovered NBCCD while studying at the University of New Brunswick that I realized there were in fact many options!

I was drawn to NBCCD’s Graphic Design program for its emphasis on personal exploration and the opportunity to tailor assignment outcomes to align with our individual career aspirations. It allowed me to combine my passion for design and art with my background in environmental sciences.

What inspires you?

With these two passions, I’m eager to merge my design skills with my love for the natural world. Throughout my academic journey, I’ve witnessed the challenges faced by many nonprofits and environmentally conscious businesses in effectively communicating their message to the public I’m inspired to use my talents/education to help bridge this gap!

What’s next for you?

I plan to kickstart my freelance career in Prince Edward Island, and I am excited for this next chapter in life!

1st Year

What drew you to Jewellery?

I was originally drawn to the Jewellery/metal arts studio because of how challenging it was for me during media explorations. Working with fire everyday can be a little intimidating at first but you get used to it.

What surprised you about Jewellery?

I was surprised how nice everybody was. When you first start out, everyone is very serious because safety is their first concern, but the more you get to know everyone, the more you start to realize how fun it can be

What inspires you?

The best part of the jewellery studio would be the amazing teachers you get to learn from The vast amount of knowledge in this studio inspires me everyday to further develop my jewellery skills There is no lack of inspiration here.

-Ryan

2nd Year

What drew you to Jewellery?

Honestly I wasn’t drawn to my studio at first I ended up being here after a talk with Brigitte Clavette, one of the Metal instructors, about my options after being waitlisted for the studio I had initially applied to. I ended up putting Metals as my second choice for the diploma program and when I got in, I stayed in Metals planning to reapply to my first choice again That didn’t happen because I fell in love with jewellery/metal arts within two weeks, and I knew that this is where I was supposed to be

What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation I am moving back to my home country, Mexico I am looking to start collecting tools for a small studio in the future, as well as starting to pursue a new adventure in tattooing

What inspires you?

I love everything about my studio My classmates have become my friends and my family The facilities are nothing short of amazing and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be taught by the amazing instructors that we have. The passion they have for their craft and for their students is truly a privilege to have.

Working with metal is such a cathartic experience! I have never worked with a medium like it; one that is so hard and requires rough tools to shape it, but also requires a gentle touch every once in a while, to avoid scratching or bending it. I believe working with metal is truly one of the most empowering things that there are and I am forever grateful to have found my place in the studio.

-Isel

1st Year

What drew you to it / possible future ambitions: I just finished my first year in textiles, in the weaving program! I have been knitting for 13 years, but over the pandemic I really got into it: dyeing, spinning, and designing my own knitwear. The textiles program felt like a natural extension of what I was already doing at home, so I picked myself up, left the city, and moved to Fredericton!

What’s one thing that surprised you about your studio, after starting in the program?:

How incredibly kind and supportive the studio environment is at NBCCD! I’ve had a number of friends go to other art schools over the years, and heard a lot of stories of how strict and intimidating it could be. There are already so many barriers to accessing the art world, and NBCCD does such an amazing job breaking those walls down, welcoming people from all kinds of backgrounds and experience levels

What inspires you most about the studio / medium you work with?:

I LOVE YARN. I LOVE IT SO MUCH, and in the textiles studio I am around it all day, everyday! Making yarn, dyeing yarn, weaving with yarn-I couldn’t be happier. I love playing with unexpected combinations of colour and texture, and learning more about the medium of weaving allows me to play with yarn in new and exciting ways.

-Grace

2nd Year

What are you working on?

I'm actually applying for the summer residency so I'm not going anywhere! Part of the residency is the opportunity to sell my work in the casemates over the summer so I'm excited about that! I'll be focusing on motifs to sell and I just put up my first batch for sale on my website (https://snugbugyarns.square.site/). I am going to use the residency to build a catalog of different digital patterns that I designed and created to sell These digital patterns will be used to guide the purchaser on a knitting machine to create the end product design.

What’s next for you after graduation?

I got some interest in consignment for my work so I will be exploring that further after graduation!

What inspires you?

I aim to explore the older side of things I like putting a contemporary twist on past trends, using fun and varied knitted works made with natural fibres. I frequently recycle old textiles and embellishments with the goal of using every last scrap.

1st Year

Which Studio you’re in and a bit about it or what drew you to it / possible future ambitions:

I'm in the Photography/Videography program! I've known I wanted to go into photography ever since NBCCD had a presentation at my high school. Now that I've been enrolled for a while, I’m thinking about going into pet photography, and I would also love to experiment with creative portraiture & macro photography.

What’s one thing that surprised you about your studio, after starting in the program? How fun everything is. It sounds silly, but it's true! I have never enjoyed a history class in my life until I came here. It also surprised me how versatile photography is- I've discovered things that I never thought I’d enjoy, like portraiture or still-life.

What inspires you most about the studio / medium you work with?

I think being surrounded by other passionate people, and being taught by them too, is inspiring for me. I've always been anxious about pursuing this-it felt like an unattainable dream. Being around other photographers/videographers is so motivating & joyful! Especially seeing what everyone else is up to and what they enjoy.

-Hailee

2nd Year

What studio are you in? What drew you to it?

I'm a second-year Photography/Videography student. I'm originally from Brazil, where I used to work in Advertising as a Graphic Designer. I always wanted to focus my career on photography because that's where my heart truly is, so I came to Canada to explore my knowledge and develop more confidence as a professional photographer

What’s next for you after graduation?

After graduating I will be working full-time as a photographer and content director at my current job, while also developing my own photography business on the side I am so grateful to have the opportunity to keep living here and being part of this amazing creative community.

What inspires you the most about the studio/medium you work with?

The opportunity to create my own stories I am very passionate about movies and literature, so my work tends to always try to tell a story through photographs. I love capturing people's personalities, discovering more about each person, and exploring new ways to capture who they are or who they want to be.

-Andressa

t resonates differently with each affinity for style and outfits, although ealistic However, when COVID-19 university, I seized the opportunity to designer. This experience provided me ofessional aspects of the industry.

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yself the time in our studio to ce, and I'm very grateful for it. ore and really work on getting my cters or other media, but in my time studying fashion I've really been able to explore other sources. Fun textures, colours, and prints often inspire my current designs the most, and has even found its way over to my costume work too.

-Ghoul

2nd Year

What drew you to this program?

Our studio primarily works with 3D programs, but we try to push boundaries with what we can create using our skills and programs, especially since our line of work is constantly evolving! We play with 3D modeling and printing, world-building, character design, and so much more

What’s next for you?

I’m continuing my studies after this! I’m hoping to go into the Advanced Studio Program and continue to a different school with an animation program after that. My overall goal is to work in the animation industry, specifically as a character designer.

What inspires you?

Storytelling is my greatest inspiration, all media with an impactful and meaningful story have always influenced me, the movies and games that pushed the boundaries in their industry and shifted the way artists work. Those made me want to create and want people to experience different stories through my art.

-Emma

What drew you to ASP?

ASP was great There's a lot of resources to help you in becoming an independent artist and make a living with your art. The program helps you create a tool kit with very helpful things like CV, how to apply and write a grant proposal, and to kick start your business website. The small size classes really create our own tight knit community, which I think is an amazing opportunity for forging lifelong friendship

What’s next for you?

For me, I'll look for a job in my field to further expand my skill set. In the meantime, I'll use what I've learned in ASP to create an awesome website and probably apply for tons of grants, residencies, and exhibitions to find a place for my arts

-Emily

Class of 2024 !!