TRANSITION

Above: Professor Bill Bukowski with students in drawing class.

Change in studio art brings back familiar face

BY ANDY OVERN • PROFESSOR, GRAPHIC DESIGN / MEDIA ARTS / STUDIO ART

It goes without saying that change is the new normal in higher education and in the Bethany community. Recent international events notwithstanding, these are unusual times and the pace of change sometimes seems unprecedented.

A particularly momentous change for our campus this fall will be the absence of Art Professor William Bukowski. Bill has been a consistently influential presence at Bethany for forty years, and his impending retirement marks a significant milestone in the College's history. To say that the visual arts programs at Bethany have flourished under his leadership would be an understatement. The traditional arts curriculum is his design. His “Art Army” has followed him on sometimes grueling marches through museums and cities around the world. And perhaps most significantly, several generations of professional Christian artists and designers can trace their artistic lineage back to the Bukowski School.

Bill's ability to energize and inspire his many students over the years is difficult to exaggerate. Moreover, the entire Bethany community has gained not only from his activities in the classroom, but also

from his constant advocacy for art in all its many forms. He has never missed a Bethany theatrical production. Neither has he missed a single Christmas at Bethany. He is the principal judge for the Speechless International Film Festival, and he has even formed his own rock band, Midlife Crisis, with several of his, uh, middle-aged colleagues.

So how do you go about trying to replace someone as prominent and effective as William Bukowski? Enter Bethany graduate Jason Jaspersen ('97).

Jason brings a lot to the table. He is an accomplished professional artist with a comprehensive portfolio that includes sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, video, and even animation. He is a Bethany alumnus with extensive experience in education, working with students at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School for more than seventeen years. Most importantly, Jason has successfully integrated and actively models two potentially antagonistic vocations: artist and Christian. Bethany students will be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.

Professor Jason Jaspersen in sculpture class.

The core mission of the visual arts at Bethany Lutheran College has been, and will continue to be, engagement. If we desire a cultural environment that is more sympathetic towards a Christian sensibility, it is our responsibility to do what we can to make that happen. Furthermore, Luther's doctrine of vocation implies that our talents, intellect, and even our preferences are gifts from God that nudge us in the direction He would have us go. Artistically-minded Christians therefore have a unique responsibility to engage with, influence, and support the arts and culture.

Despite big changes, the visual arts programs at Bethany Lutheran College remain uniquely capable in delivering the theoretical and practical training necessary for a career as a contemporary creative professional. Our broad curriculum encompasses painting, sculpture, illustration, photography, graphic design, motion graphics, film and video production, animation, and broadcasting. The visual arts faculty remains firmly committed to the preparation of students for fulfilling careers as meaningful contributors to the art and design communities, and to the maintenance and strengthening of their Christian integrity.