PROFILES IN COURAGE ANTOINE WILLIAMS
TRANSITIONING THE THESIS:
Guilford is Preparing Artists of the Future B Y S O M M E R FA N N E Y ’ 1 8
IN MID-MARCH, plans for 2020’s Art Thesis Exhibition were heavily underway in Assistant Professor of Art Antoine Williams’ senior art class, cotaught by curator Terry Hammond. But amidst the growing threat of COVID-19, students who left for spring break were soon told not to return to campus. Antoine’s students were scattered from their studio, their printmaking blocks, their throwing wheels and other supplies needed for their work, and it was soon clear that the Thesis Exhibition couldn’t happen. “That threw them for a loop because this one thing you’ve been working on for a fourth of your career in college is
PHOTO BY JENNA SCHAD
not going to happen,” says Antoine, who
“You can work a 9 to 5 and be a practicing artist — it doesn't have to happen in the first year.”
noticed that this period where students were suddenly without the school’s resources was similar to the moment
— Antoine Williams, Assistant Professor of Art
they’d normally face as new graduates. “We decided to help students focus on transitioning from the thesis to their
letting them know [that] you can work
professional practice,” he says. “I told
Students rounded out the studio
them to find whatever resources they
thesis class with a 3-week course also
a 9 to 5 and be a practicing artist — it
had around them. Not everyone had a
co-taught by Terry, which equipped
doesn’t have to happen in the first year.
wheel to throw clay. I had one student
them with practical knowledge like how
[We’ve done] one, three and five-year goal
making six-foot oil paintings, but they
to write grant proposals, compensate
setting. So just making it, acclimating it
can’t do that in a small apartment...We
yourself fairly, navigate graduate school
to the realities that they may face when
had conversations on how to shift their
and more.
they get out of school” is a big part of the
practice.” Instead of the exhibition, students
But COVID-19 has made the future of these artists uncertain, as many
class, Antoine explains. Sophie McDowell ’20, a printmaker,
uploaded videos of themselves displaying
galleries and exhibitions are now closed
says the class has been rewarding
and discussing their work to simulate an
and students are unsure where to find a
during uncertainty. “I’m grateful to have
“artist talk.” Faculty gathered over Zoom
foothold for their professional career.
had Antoine as a professor; he’s been
to discuss and critique these talks.
“It’s worse because of COVID, but we’re
really supportive of all of us.” W W W. G U I L F O R D . E D U | 1 5
