Spring ARTwalk

Here are some images from the April 18th, Artwalk that students and some faculty and staff took part in. I was a great success and for the most part the gallery was jammed with viewers. I tried to get a few pics when it was a bit more quite. I can't stress how important it is to show your work, as a student or a professional. People need to see what we do and I know the folks of Hattiesburg are very appreciative of the work that they see. Shows and exhibitions are also very important for resumes and can help a great deal in getting more shows, grants, into grad school, jobs, commissions, to name a few. Take advantage of every opportunity to show, you'll be happy you did!

Wood, Wood Everywhere and Not a Bit to Burn!

Last week the Sculpture I class finally finished their wood projects. A few delays and some extra time and everybody had something to show. I really wasn't sure what I was going to see; so many folks decided too early on they hated wood, but in the end we got some good stuff. My overall opinion is that we had some very good ideas but could use a bit of work on the execution. No doubt wood is one of the harder materials to learn to use, some folks had an easier time than others but overall and I think the students did a fair job of working with it.

Student Scholarship Competition

Just in... the applications and portfolios for next year's scholarships are due TOMORROW!!! Talk to the folks in the main Art Office or there are some applications on the bulletin board in the 3B Bldg.

Work About the Enviornment

3D students from Jen Torres' class had group installation projects where they had to pick a subject that dealt with current issues about our environment. They had over a week to get their works together and only a few hours to put them up so we could interact and critique them. There were four works, dealing with the human footprint, pollution of our oceans, party pollution and overpopulation. They were very interactive, had some performance aspects and best of all broadened the student's concept about the type of impact art can have on a wider audience. It was by far one of the more fun projects!

Cupolas!!!

A Selection of student cupolas from the student cupola contest at Sloss, The National Conference on Cast Iron Art, 2009. The last furnace on the bottom of this post is the one made and run by our USM students, Taylor and Nicole, with the assistance of Dustin and Scarlet.

Students from all over the US, 14 teams, design, build, and then run their furnaces in this national level competition. There is a competitive feel, and everyone gets a bit crazy, but to just be able to build your own small-bore furnace and have it melt and pour iron is a pretty big feat for all of the teams. Our folks did a fine job!

Spring Pottery and Art Sale

Spring Pottery and Art Sale
+ Friday, May 1, from 1 PM to 6 PM
+ Saturday, May 2, from 9 AM to 1 PM

At the 3D Arts Building on West 4th Street, USM campus, Hattiesburg, MS.

All students currently taking upper level (300, 400 and grad classes) in the 3D area are invited to participate in the pottery/art sale. We had great success last time and many members of the local community expressed great interest in coming to another. Last time everybody made some money. 15% of all sales goes back to the area to help purchase a new clay mixer so badly needed.

The work does not need to be just pottery and/or sculpture, if you make jewelery or do printmaking, those kinds of works will be accepted as well. The most important thing is that we have quality work, no cracks in pots or glazes, no sharp edges on sculpture, 2d work must be matted or even framed, that kind of stuff.

Everyone who participates must put in several hours of work during the sale, minimum.

There will be a sign up sheet on my door this week, get your name down, reserve a space!

More Sloss...

The Internet connection I had at the hotel was pretty much non existent. And of course I don't really remember everything that happened every day, so I'll post some more images and summarize.

Our students did GREAT! Their cupola worked just fine during the competition and they worked well together and were calm and professional. I am very proud of them, I know James is too.

The whole conference was exciting and the performance pieces on Friday night were totally out there. I felt like I was in Fellini's 8 1/2. I ran the workshops and was supper busy all week as was James who was teaching the large mold workshop. He did a great job as well; after a near disaster with a large mold he magically pulled it all together to get the job done. I would have freaked out. It was a tough week, we all worked very hard, physically and mentally, but I also got to see my Sloss Family, there is nothing better than that!

Sloss day 3

More later...

Sloss Day 2

Some pictures, more later.