Kolt Sizer, ’19 BFA Fine Arts, has not stopped pushing towards success after graduation. Sizer is currently teaching drawing and painting classes at the South Bend Museum of Art and was accepted into graduate school with a full scholarship from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Sizer recently finished up his undergrade degree at IU South Bend, and his presence will be missed by the Fine Arts department, as well as the School of the Arts. “I was one of the co-founders and the president of the Fine Arts Club at IU South Bend, and we raised $25,000 for the Northern Indiana Food Bank as one of our biggest accomplishments together. Now, I am working at the South Bend Museum of Art teaching classes. It’s a non-profit organization, providing art lessons to the community, something I really want to do” Sizer explains. Before IU South Bend, Sizer received his associate degree at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) and then began working at a tattoo parlor in Mishawaka shortly after. “I decided that I didn’t want to continue to be a tattoo artist. I was not that great at what I was doing, and the passion was missing from my work. I had only done a couple dozen tattoos, and mostly working on fake skin or grapefruit. I didn’t feel confident in my art skills as a tattoo artist” Sizer recalls. This led Sizer to look into the Fine Arts department at IU South Bend. He first took fundamental 2-D drawing to see what the program was like. The Fine Arts department welcomed Sizer to the program, and that passion that was missing was reborn. Sizer’s passion has led him to teaching others the joy of art. Sizer has been working at the South Bend Museum of Art since 2016. Because of his commitment and work ethic, the museum is allowing him to oversee and teach some classes. This also includes a pop-up drawing class that he mentors. As his graduation from IU South Bend drew near, Sizer began looking at graduate school, and applied to five universities.
16
arts.iusb.edu
“I have received a full-ride scholarship offer from Bowling Green State University, which is still blowing my mind. I visited the campus, met the professors and everything just clicked for me. I am extremely excited to start this chapter of my life. That wouldn’t have been possible without IU South Bend and the amazing support from the faculty and staff of the School of the Arts” Sizer says. Sizer will begin the next step in his academic journey this fall, as he works towards his MFA in painting and drawing. Sizer is determined to teach and help the community once he graduates from Bowling Green. “I would love to have a studio practice. Part of the graduate program I applied to, I get teaching experience through and, I am sure, some collegiate level teaching or nonprofit work. I would love to start a nonprofit someday. In the South Bend area, we only have one or two” Sizer recalls. South Bend Museum of Art is the biggest art nonprofit in the area, and next would be in St. Joseph, Michigan at the Box Factory of Arts. “If I were to start my career in this area of Indiana, I would like to eventually try starting another nonprofit where more people can exhibit works. I’d like to try and expand that. Honestly, just try to connect the community more. There are so many great artists in the South Bend area” Sizer explains. At IU South Bend, fine arts students are required to take art classes outside of their concentration, making them well-rounded in more than one area of art. Sizer used this to his own advantage, becoming established in painting and drawing, sculpture and printmaking. “One of my favorite things about the program at IU South Bend is you have to work interdisciplinary. So, I am a painting and drawing major. However, I still was able to minor in
