Department of Art Spring 2020 Newsletter

SPRING 2020

PHOTO BY ALEXIS HOFTIEZER FRESHMAN ART MAJOR

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ART.EDU

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ART EDUCATION STUDENTS GAIN EXPERIENCE THROUGH STUDENT TEACHING

BROOKLYNN VINCENT B

rooklynn Vincent is a senior double majoring in Art Education and Graphic Design.

She is doing her student teaching in the Lamar R-1 School District. Brooklynn is from Nevada, MO and hopes to either teach art or graphic design after her May graduation. Brooklynn has been heavily involved in campus activities such as Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honor Society), Sigma Alpha Pi (National Honor Society of Leadership and Success), Gamma Epsilon Tau (Graphics Honor Fraternity), Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society), Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education), Gorilla Rotaract, PSU KAEA, and Graphic Arts Club.

Brooklynn served as Vice-President and President in Graphic Arts Club and Secretary in Omicron Delta Kappa.

While at PSU, Brooklynn has received the National Engaged Leadership Award, Certification of Completion and Medallion

REYNA GABRIEL R

eyna Gabriel is a senior art education major, doing her student teaching in the Olathe School District. Reyna came to Pittstate from Raymore, MO and hopes to teach elementary art in the Kansas City Metro area after her December graduation.

Reyna has been very involved in Kappa Pi Art Honor Society and was a founding officer in the

PSU student chapter of KAEA, serving as Vice-President for two years. Along with all of her school responsibilities, she has found time to attend both state and national conferences for art education. In the Fall of 2019 Reyna was awarded the Teacher of Promise award, a statewide initiative developed by Kansas State Department of Education.

for Global International Leadership Program, and completed the requirements to achieve Departmental Academic Honors for her Bachelor of Fine Arts. With all of her responsibilities, she has still found time to freelance as an artist and graphic designer.

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MADISON FLEMING M

adie Fleming is a senior art education major preparing to do her student teaching in the Blue Valley School District. She came to PSU from Fort Scott, KS and is hoping to teach secondary art in the Kansas City Metro area following her graduation in

SHEA DALTON

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hea Dalton is a senior art education major from Diamond, MO. She is currently student teaching in Diamond. She enjoys giving back to her community and hopes to return to the area as an elementary art teacher after her May graduation. Shea is a part of the Honors College Association and Kappa Pi Art Honor Society. Her paintings about love, marriage, and religion were a part of the university’s recent Teachers as Artists exhibit in Porter Hall.

JAELINA JONES

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aelina Jones is a senior art education major, doing her student teaching in the Joplin

School District. Jaelina is from Webb City, MO and hopes to stay within the Jasper county and surrounding areas after her graduation in May. Jaelina served as secretary for the Pittsburg State University’s Kappa Pi Art Association as well as an active member of the PSU chapter of KAEA (Kansas Art Education Association). Jaelina, along with other Art Education majors, organized and presented a group art show featuring their artwork last December.

May. Madie is very involved in the department and has been an active member of Kappa Pi Art Honors Society and KAEA for two years. She has been specializing in metalsmithing for several years but has a deep love for all forms of art.

KINSEY CASLEY

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insey Morgan Casley is doing her student teaching in Pittsburg, KS and will graduate in May. Kinsey is originally from Pittsburg, KS and choose Pittsburg State University for her degree in Graphic Design and Photography. She returned to Pitt State in 2018 for an additional degree in Art Education because of her love for kids and a passion to teach. Kinsey has served as the Vice-President of KAEA spearheading many fundraising events like face painting at the home football games.

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JESSICA DAVISSON

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essica Davisson is an aspiring art teacher who is doing her student teaching in Fort Scott, KS. She is from Pittsburg, KS and graduated from Pittsburg High School, where she then decided to attend Pittsburg State University. Jessica

was a founding member of PSU’s chapter of KAEA and the first President. She has been to both state and national art education conference and is currently seeking a job where she can continue to grow as an art teacher and artist.

KARRIE MATHES K

arrie Mathes is a senior Art Education major. She is from Southeast Kansas and is completing her student teaching in Coffeyville, KS. Karrie prefers to stay in this area to teach and make an impact on her extended community. As a mother of two children with Autism, she has experience working with children that have special needs. She also participated in a year-long internship through Pittsburg

State University in cooperation with Greenbush, preparing lessons and teaching Art classes with differentiated instruction to students with special needs through Project Alternative.

While studying at PSU, Karrie also managed to successfully initiate local community projects for the safety of children and volunteered time and support for local children in the foster care system.

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR G

reetings from the PSU Department of Art. The Department of Art’s primary goal is to emphasize the importance of creative skill sets, experimentation, and critical thinking, merging the classroom with the professional world.

With students as our focus, the Department of Art offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in art with 4 emphasis areas: 2-D Art, 3-D Art, Illustration and Visual Storytelling, and Art Education. Within these emphases the interdisciplinary-focused curriculum integrates perspectives from faculty, visiting artists, real world projects with clients, internship programs and other professional development to ensure that students receive

a comprehensive education, shaping them into culturally and civically minded artists.

I am excited, in this edition, to highlight the Art Education emphasis, specifically the students who are currently student teaching. I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. I can be reached at 620-235-4301 or emailed at: joliver@pittstate. edu.

Sincerely, James Oliver, Chair/Professor

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VALERIE WEDEL

RECOLLECTION MARCH 1 - MAY 1

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allerie Wedel’s installation envelopes the viewer into a serene environment with picturesque clouds on delicate, multi-colored strings. This creates an ethereal landscape that requires the viewer to participate by navigating through the narrow pathways carefully and with grace. The tranquil clouds have a lulling effect that puts your mind at ease, while sitting below are flowers and clay vases, that ground you as you move gracefully through the restful surroundings.

Valerie Wedel earned her BFA

in Painting and Drawing at Columbia College in Columbia, MO in 2002. She received her MFA in sculpture with an emphasis on installation at The University of Missouri in 2007.

She has exhibited across the country with solo and group shows that include faculty exhibits, installations, and the set design for Falling, commissioned by the Missouri Contemporary Ballet and performed at the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts in Columbia, MO. In 2019, Wedel was included in two-person installation, Emanation with Nicole Petrescu for

the Faculty Art Show, William Woods University, Fulton, MO. Wedel’s solo exhibit Sloughing Off was at the Atkins-Holman Student Center, Columbia College, Columbia, MO in 2018. Wedel was the art curator and textbook co-editor for the third edition of Drawing the Human Form.

Wedel is an Assistant Professor of Ceramics I, Weaving & Fiber Arts, Introduction to Art, Portfolio Development, Animation, Fundamentals of Graphic Design, Graphic Design History at William Woods University, Fulton, MO.

Image: Valerie Wedel, When We Tread Lightly, Voile Fabric, Embroidery Thread, 2016

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FACULTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS JAMES OLIVER (STUDIO & CHAIR)

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liver has been appointed to the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, by Governor Laura Kelly. This is a three year appointment. In 2019 he had work selected to the Seven- States Biennial, a

juried exhibition including artists from Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. The traveling exhibition includes stops at the Nesbitt Gallery on the campus of University of

Science and Arts in Oklahoma, Chickasha, OK; The Museum of the Red River, Idabel, OK; and the Charles B. Goddard Center, Ardmore, OK.

S. PORTICO BOWMAN (STUDIO)

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owman was selected to present an hour-long lecture on Paulus Berensohn and his Pebble Ritual for the 54th Annual NCECA Conference in Richmond, VA this March. As well, Bowman was a finalist for a $25,000 grant from Canada Council to support the writing of her creative non-fiction book, Dig: Paulus Berensohn, A Natural Life. Bowman is

waiting to hear if she was selected as a Tyson Scholar at Crystal Bridges Museum for Fall 2020 while on a Leave Without Pay to write the first draft. As well, Bowman will apply to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for a writing mentorship program in August. She is scheduled to teach “Drawing Towards the Earth: Making Journals for Life” at Hollyhock, Canada’s

Leadership and Learning Centre in July. The program will teach participants how to draw, make Coptic Stitch journals and Bargello tapestry bookmarks. The program is modeled after the life and work of Berensohn. Please visit the Hollyhock website: www.hollyhock. ca/journals for more information.

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JANET LEWIS (INSTRUCTOR)

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ewis earned her Foundations in Design Thinking Certificate through IDEO U, an online learning resource center established by the award-winning global design firm IDEO. IDEO U was created to share the methods and mindsets that IDEO has practiced for decades

and to empower individuals, teams, and organizations to become more resilient, adaptable, and innovative. Additionally, she and her business partners were invited to the KS State Capitol in Topeka in March of 2019 to receive an Emerging Small Business Award for their

efforts in establishing and operating ArtForms Gallery LLC. Open to regional artists, ArtForms is a cooperative gallery in downtown Pittsburg where member artists display and sell their artwork and offer handson workshops for the public.

CHARITY-MIKA WOODARD (ART EDUCATION)

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harity-Mika Woodard became Dr. Woodard by earning her doctorate from George Fox University in Higher Ed. Leadership. She also presented at the state (KAEA) and national (NAEA) art education conferences, taking art education students to both conferences.

Dr. Woodard was appointed southeast regional coordinator for KAEA and has hosted several workshops for local art teachers’ professional development. Her artwork was featured in a group exhibition on food culture at the Salina Art Center in Salina, KS. Finally, Dr.

Woodard co-wrote a chapter in the book, How Shall We Then Care? A Christian Educator’s Guide to Caring for Self, Learners, Colleagues, and Community edited by Shotsberger and Freytag.

JACQUE MCDONALD (ADJUNCT STUDIO)

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cDonald had solo exhibitions in 2019 at the MossThorns Gallery on the campus of Fort Hays State University in June and in Neosho, MO in Oc-

tober. She is listed on the Fort Hays State University Scholars Repository. She is currently, researching Native American Art, Crafts, Storytelling and soon to

exhibit in San Antonio, TX as a Native American Artist. She has recently been named one of the Three Sisters of the Delaware Tribe representing Art.