By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibit, which opened Saturday in the Bryan Gallery, marks a first major step in a life long journey for the 38 School of Art graduates.
Based of the care with which they displayed their art and the concerns expressed through their work, Charles Kanwischer, director of the School of Art, has great hopes for them.
He said he saw “infectious levels of optimism and creativity” in the students’ work. As they begin their careers on this high note, Kanwischer anticipates that they will go on and use their work to address social concerns.
For Abigail Amundson, her concern expressed through her stained glass work “Romans 12:9” was the acceptance of all people into the church.
The three-paneled work with a kneeler, won the Medici Circle’s Best of Show Award. Amundson also received the Robert W. Hurlstone Memorial Art Glass Award.
In her artist’s statement, Amundson recalls as a child being fascinated by stain glass, tracing the lines of lead solder with her fingers as her mother chatted after services.
She was inspired by Romans 12:9 which asserts: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” That undergirds her depiction Ruth and Naomi from the Old Testament, which tells of Ruth’s undying faithfulness to her mother-in-law.
Growing up as a Baptist, but also attending other churches with members of her large extended family, Amundson came to believe that “it’s important for me to have representation of all different types of people, all different types of love. That’s something I didn’t see in the medium when I grew up” Through her work she wants o other people to see themselves in stain glass.
These concerns, she writes in her artist’s statement, grew as she explored her own gender and sexuality.
In her work, she portrays a more intimate relationship between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi. In her artist’s note she writes that their gaze “suggests an intimacy that exceed the bounds of platonic friendship.”
Inspired by Paul’s letter, she writes, “I seek to create a space for contemplation and reflection, exploring the intersection of faith, sexuality, and societal norms.”
As Amundson chatted with the reporter, another student, Sophie Pineau knelt before the stained glass image.
It was the artist said the kind of reaction she wanted to elicit.
Pineau said she found “Romans 12:9” to be “very compelling.
Amundson noted that stained glass was used in the Middle Ages to teach the lessons of faith to a largely illiterate congregation.
Amundson, who grew up in Waterville, came to BGSU in part so she could remain close to her family.
She didn’t have any interest in glass until her sophomore year at BGSU when she took an introduction to glass course with Alli Hoag. “I just absolutely fell in love with it,” she said.
Hoag is now her thesis advisor.
Amundson particularly liked the way light passes through the stain glass. She also does blown glass vessels.
Amundson said she plans to work in glass for a few years before going to graduate school with the intent to teach at the college level or operate a studio.
The Best of Show and other awards were announced Saturday night at the opening reception.
The night before the Medici Circle, a community support group for the School of Art, held a reception, The event gave members a chance to view the exhibit and talk with the student artists.
The show has an impressive selection of graphic design students who demonstrate Kanwischer’s view of students turning their talents toward addressing social concerns.
That’s Antonio Lee’s plan. “After college, I’m open to anything” though he wants to work for a nonprofit organization. “My whole goal to help people out with my style of graphic design.”
That style is evident in his work “GenTaiwan.” His thesis is to bridge the gap between Taiwanese generations.
Lee was born in the United States of Taiwanese parents, and has visited twice. He still feels a close connection to the island.
His great-aunt was the first member of the family who emigrated to the U.S. after she married a serviceman who served 9in the Vietnam War. Other family members followed.
Different generations have different views of Taiwan’s relationship to China. The elders see it more as China, in line with the Nationalists who asserted themselves as the legitimate rulers of all of China.
The younger generation, however, view Taiwan more as an independent country.
The regime on the mainland sees Taiwan as neither.
Lee hopes “GenTaiwan” helps Sur a conversation between the generations of Taiwanese.
Emily Sanders created a game, “The Healing Journey,” to help people exiting an abusive relationship.
Sanders said she herself was in such a relationship and that experience shaped the game. It can be played solo or with others within their support system.
She employs a nostalgic color scheme to help appeal to different players, whether a younger person who is seeking to escape from this kind of relationship or an older person who is helping them.
She also evokes contemporary role playing games.
After graduation she’s hoping to build on her current internship with Sweetwater, musical instrument retail company.
Yusra Ali presented website design Sweet Ties aimed at helping Pakistani brides and grooms planning weddings in the United States as well as promoting businesses run by Pakistanis. “I created a wedding planning website for Pakistani people living here.”
She notes that while Pakistani food and style seems similar to Indian they are very different. Finding vendors for everything needed for a wedding that typically would last three or four days is a challenge.
“So many people have small businesses like henna artists, make up artists. I wanted to create a website that connects everyone,” Ali said. “My whole thesis was bringing all Pakistani community together.”
She also plans to build on her internship which is with Erie Home.
On Friday art the Medici mixer, Karly Folger received the Medici Circle’s Thomas Hilty Travel Scholarship.
A sophomore art history major, she plans to use the grant to travel to Trinidad to study the culture, both visual arts and music.
Her interest in Caribbean culture is rooted in her experience playing steel drum. A graduate of the Toledo School for the Arts, she has performed with the TSA’s Glass City Steel ensemble.
She’s played the instrument since she was in fifth grade. The summer before Folger started sixth grade at TSA, her mother signed her up for a summer workshop on steel drum. She already loved music and became obsessed with the steel drum. She spent her time at TSA working up to a spot in the Glass City Steel, achieving it in her junior year. Folger now plays with the BGSU Afro-Caribbean Ensemble.
While in Trinidad, she plans to visit and study at as many museums as possible. Additionally through her advisor Rebecca Skinner Green, she hopes to get a summer internship at Trinidad’s National Museum.
The travel award, she said, “is definitely making a dream come true for me.”
Other award winners announced Saturday were:
- Aaron Macy Memorial Scholarship: Piper Stewart
- Allison Rednour Excellence in Ceramic Research Award: Citlaly Tobon
- Dave Cayton Memorial Scholarship: Paige Harmon and Amaya Boyd
- James W. Strong Digital Arts Achievement Award: Nick Larivee
- James W. Strong Graphic Design Achievement Award: Daisy Schwind
- James W. Strong Studio Achievement Award: Cariana Carrillo
- James W. Strong Outstanding Senior Award: Noelle Kostyack
- Marilyn Singleton / Medici Circle Leadership Award (Undergrad): Madelyn Junk
- Mark Borsz Memorial Scholarship: Matthew McCrae
- Tom And Jane Vanden Eynden Art Education Award:
- Laura Henry
- Tom And Jane Vanden Eynden Photography Award: Paige Harmon
- Dominick and Elizabeth Labino Art and Technology Award: Olivia Parr. Nominees: Yusra Ali, Abigail Amundson, Ashton Hyllengren, Nick Larivee, Olivia Parr, and Lizzy Varis.
- Monnier Family Foundation Outstanding Artist Award: Ella Ramsey, Nominees: Abigail Amundson, Paige Harmon,
- Antonio Lee, Ella Ramsey, Madison Van Tatenhove, and Maia Wilms.
