BFA Exhibition 2021 by Hatton Gallery

BFA EXHIBITION 2021 HATTON GALLERY DEPARTMENT OF ART AND ART HISTORY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

BFA EXHIBITION 2021 HATTON GALLERY VIRTUAL

Released to accompany the BFA Exhibition 2021

May 10 – Dec 11, 2021

Anna Bernard, Director, Stanley G. Wold Resource Center Dr. Catherine DiCesare, Undegraduate Coordinator Silvia Minguzzi, Director of the Hatton Gallery and Catalogue Designer Photography by BFA Students Students: Dom Baca, Jenna Ball, Emma Corwin, Noah Dalbow, Jade Federlin, Abigail Flitton, Kaija Hedman, Isabel Heiland, Meghan Hickey, Asher Korn, Rachel Macias, Katie McNaught, Meg Metzger-Seymour, Grace Morris, Julia Nguyen, Amy Noble, Nick O'Dell, Sean Papile, Morgan Rosebrock, Gianna Santucci, Sarah Schemmerling, Laurel Sickels, Elliot Stemen, Makala Tucker, Libbie Urwiler, Allie Watkinson, Gabrielle Andreozzi, Olivia Brett, Conner Dobson, Emily Gayle, Anne Geisz, Claire Goldstrom, Maiya Hannon, Wren Macdonald, Taylor Morrow, Maria Nguyen, Cassidy Reed, Elise Ribaudo, Emma Russell, Luis Santacruz, Seirra Swanson, Tyler Wilson, Jared Zaccaro, Sienna Bosch, Logan Bruner, Andrea Buer, Preot Collins, Lindsay Gomez Banuelos, Taliesun Landrey, Seojung Lee, Johnny Ly, Heather Matthews, Anna-Maria Meiser, Brittany Micho, Kenzie Nelson, Jayleen Serrano, and Britt Thompson. Virtual Exhibition: art.colostate.edu/bfa-exhibition-2021-virtual

I N T R O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 BFA CAPSTONES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 ©2021 Hatton Gallery, Department of Art And Art History, Colorado State University Visual Arts Building, 551 W. Pitkin, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1770 art.colostate.edu/hatton-gallery

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

BFA EXHIBITION 2021 HATTON GALLERY VIRTUAL

Even under normal circumstances, completing a studio BFA degree requires adaptability, perspective, and a willingness to be challenged. This year, tasked with completing their degrees under the singular circumstance of a global pandemic, to say our graduates were “challenged” would be an understatement. And yet, the graduates featured in this show, all of whom f inished their capstones in Fall 2020 or Spring 2021, were able to apply their training to create artistic works despite changing modalities and radically limited access to their studios, venue spaces, and creative communities. I believe I can speak for the Department of Art and Art History in writing that I’ve never been more proud of the fortitude and creative individuality of a cohort of students as I am with those whose works are shown in the BFA Exhibition 2021.

A n n a B e rn a rd Di re c to r o f th e Sta nl ey G . Wo l d Res ource Cen ter

ANDREA BUER Fall 2020 Capstone – Electronic Art Artist Statement: An integral aspect of my growth as an artist has been an insatiable

phenomena of cryptids. Cryptids are creatures like Bigfoot or Hidebehind

curiosity for how things function and how they can be combined to

that have eyewitnesses, but little to no evidence to prove their existence.

create something new. This goes hand in hand with my foundation in

There are countless cryptids around the world, varying f rom one location

traditional sciences thanks to my intended goal of becoming a doctor,

to the next and they are often more prominent in rural areas that are

which has given me a unique perspective to explore. The diversity of

inherently closer to nature. Humanity has this uncanny ability to create

my educational background shows up in my work. For example, my

our own boogeymen out of the unknown and I want to analyze why this

piece Presence used live tracking of a person in a space to effectively

is and how it has changed over the centuries. Technology has advanced

translate their movements into an audio and visual glitch that appeared

alongside reporting’s of cryptids, and in some cases has given them an

on a prerecorded video. This utilized studies in anatomy and physiology

even stronger presence. I am interested in researching and creating

alongside coding and f ilm to create the effect. Presence was a critique on

art that digs into the phenomena of our created boogeymen and our

the impact that we have on our surroundings, sometimes unknowingly,

relationship to them as our relationship with technology deepens in turn.

a concern f requently addressed in my artwork this past year. Presence is but one of many pieces that require an interdisciplinary approach to

My most recent works explore coding of interactive stories and games,

realize the concept while addressing the issue that I am interested in.

using f ilm to push the narrative of a world that intersects our own,

My art has always focused on the human experience alongside nature but

bringing the cryptic and unsettling into a more personalized experience

has recently been ref ined to a more specif ic idea related to ancestry and

for the viewer/participant. This has been used in various projects of mine,

local legends.

f rom a coded website (Cryptids’R’Us) to surreal videos (Merging) and my biggest undertaking, a work in progress titled Cryptic Calling which will

Growing up, I was raised on stories and lore specif ic to not only my family

be a fully interactive game made in Unity. I hope to get people thinking

heritage but to the mountains and rural plains we came f rom. This

about their own folklore and how, despite advances in technology and

reconnection to my childhood resulted in an exploration of the spiritual

medical understanding, our modern minds continue to adapt and

realm. Specif ically, I have begun to analyze both the modern and ancient

maintain these cryptic traditions in our lives.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Andrea Buer Still image f rom 12-5-1, 2020 https://vimeo.com/485706628

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Anna Maria Meiser Still image f rom An Unimaginable Human Tragedy, 2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy0XcjYgPdo&feature=youtu.be

ANNA MARIA MEISER 2020 Fall Capstone – Electronic Art Artist Statement: I am an electronic artist who explores relationships and examines shared

At CSU I have explored many more relationships between topics such

human experience. I enjoy observing the pull between opposing forces

as micro and macro destruction, humanities survival versus the climate

and creating bridges between subject matter through electronic art. I

crisis, and most recently the relationships between humans and

build digital expressions through sound, video, code, and stop motion

technology such as female identity within the digital age.

works. As an artist I am often drawn to creating works that discuss unique

Discovery, exploration, and connectivity unify my various bodies of work

aspects of my identity or human experience.

and have become a signif icant part of my process. As a student, I have spent most of my time researching other great artists and movements,

My earliest work as a student often explored loss and the division between

focusing on experimentation, and pushing my work out of my comfort

running out of time and time continuing without you. I tried to make

zone. As I grow in my skill and adopt new software’s such as Unreal

sense of the loss of my parents through digital imagery and sound. I used

Engine and P5.js I f ind my focus narrowing. I am currently feeling inspired

props f rom my time in hospitals and arranging funerals to create stop

to create works that express the volatile nature of our current pandemic.

motions that told my story in playdough and colorful antihistamine pills.

While my most recent works are videos pieces discussing it, I am also

As I continued my studies in electronic art, my interests broadened and

undertaking projects in which I am learning how to create art in three

I felt the influence of other electronic artists such as Yayoi Kusama, and

dimensional digital environments and VR. My goal is to incorporate these

Kristin Lucas impacting my art.

new skills into future artistic endeavors.

LANDREY TALIESUN Fall 2020 Capstone – Electronic Art Artist Statement: Ever since I was young, I always adored editing videos. I started out on a

acknowledgement on multiple issues, we often focus too much on

Movie maker and imovie and I always wanted to push that limit.

mundane issues with the online world, but are not always able to

I wanted to explore past the capabilities of those programs. I would see

recognize past that. One of my most successful pieces revolves around

something on television and I wanted to learn how to achieve that. Soon

Amber Alerts and how we lack compassion or acknowledgement toward

I was asking my parents for video editing software with more capabilities,

these. I often found myself asking questions like, “What am I supposed to

such as Adobe products and Sony Vegas. Thus began my journey on

do about the Amber Alert? The chances of me f inding the suspect is slim.

what I wanted to study for my undergraduate degree, which led me to

That is when I realized that not only do I ignore these alerts, but others do

the Electronic Art concentration. In the past, my work was more about

too, despite me wanting to advocate for children. Although, I am not sure

my personal interests in nature. For instance, I completed a past piece

how to improve upon the Amber Alert system, the least I could do was

called, Flower/Flour, which was a short stop animation, that had a flower

raise awareness to the situation, which is the goal of my current work.

turn into flour. Since then, my work has taken a more serious approach in

I also recently focussed another piece around the publicity of 911 calls and

terms of topics, than my original playfulness.

how we are desensitized to the horrid events happening around us, that we are able to perform normal tasks while we hear these events through

Recently, my work has been focused on social issues around how the western society often responds to events. I feel as there is a lack of

our radios and see them displayed on our televisions.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Landrey Taliesun Still image f rom Stalking 911, 2020 https://vimeo.com/462638868

LOGAN BRUNER Fall 2020 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: I use art as a way to help people. By creating designs for clients, I am able

Combining and experimenting with new techniques allows me to create a

to express myself while benef iting others. To f ind inspiration, I look to my

style of my own.

love for music. By listening to a song, I can transform rhythm and lyrics

My goal is to create designs that resonate with people emotionally.

into a visual work. I gain a lot of inspiration f rom a variety of other artists,

Whether this be moving others to act on an exigent cause, or to

such as Saul Bass, who has led me to using warm background colors in

get people excited for an artist’s upcoming concert. If I can do this, then I

my digital illustrations.

am doing my job well.

I plan to explore many illustration styles and continue to create innovative work as my career progresses. My goal is to capture the maximum amount of information into a work with as much simplicity as possible. I like to keep my creations simple, whimsical, and playful.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Logan Brunel Still Image f rom Rebirth (2016) https://vimeo.com/487855047 Rebirth 2016, 2020

Rebirth (2016) Animation https://vimeo.com/487855047

Animation

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Amy Noble Still Images f rom Bobby Seale Animated Speech https://www.youtu.be/8RSaVWr67c4

AMY NOBLE Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement I am a firm believer that there is a difference between being an artist,

The opportunity for my work to reach others on a public platform for the

and being a designer. Simply put, an artist creates for themselves, while

purpose of good, impactful, and truthful journalism is an indescribable

a designer creates for other people. The differences between the two,

desire I have, and while I am not there yet, I will be there soon.

however, in my mind, are interchangeable and just because someone is a

While I am often inspired by the work of others, drawing from the best to

designer, doesn’t mean they aren’t an artist.

create even greater works of art and design, my cultural identity is where I

I consider myself an artist, a designer, and a journalist.

draw a lot of inspiration from. I identify as what is known as a “Third Culture

While the work I create for myself lies closely to the work of a true artist,

Kid” - I am an American citizen, born in Australia and raised in England.

journalistic design is where my strengths are grounded. On the other hand,

This is a huge part of who I am, and because of my cultural experiences, I

as a design intern at the branding experience company, Monigle, I am able

have a broader understanding of the world around me, from which I often

to develop my skills in branding and identity creation, a realm that is more

find myself referring back to when coming up with new concepts and

typically considered when thinking of graphic design.

ideas.

My true interest lies in the visual identity of printed publications. Great

I am genuinely inspired by the world of art and design and with everything

journalism has the power to make each reader’s life richer and more

I create, I do so with determination, purpose and true passion.

fulfilling, and I believe that it can be greater with exceptional design.

TAYOR MORROW Spring 2021 Capstone – Electronic Art and Sculpture Artist Statement Art is derived from basic forms found in nature, crafted and stylized with

This essentially lets the viewer f ind themselves lost in the artwork, f inding

our own complex perception of reality. Using simple lines of metal to form

intentional, or unintentional meanings in the art whilst still being able to

trees, creating large stone circles, or making wooden cubes allow the initial

return in a larger composition.

framework to be universally recognizable.

A diversity of materials allows the art to portray a variety of aesthetics

Details such as the addition of paint, smaller wires, glossy beads, dynamically

ranging f rom something raw and organic, like the look of plants, stone,

cut wood, or pools of liquid resin can be added to these basic, or more

or burnt wood, to something entirely artif icial, with the use of industrial

abstract forms to create a new layer or dimension of realism.

parts, polished metal, glass, fluorescent paints, digital fabrication, and

The placement of smaller materials helps the eye flow across the overall

computer animation. This allows the art to tell a multitude of narratives.

form, with accents such as resin seeming to flow like rivers, clusters of beads

In many cases, it is a physical representation of our evolution f rom the

stretching outward, and various carvings of shapes pointing in certain

primitive to the modern.

directions, organizing together in patterns and recognizable symbols.

Furthermore, the synthesis of these materials in unconventional ways allows for environments to form that only exist in imaginative space.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Taylor Morrow Still Image f rom Garden of Skyler, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJuunSIjWg&ab_channel=TaylorMorrow

DOM BACA Spring 2021 Capstone – Electronic Art and Graphic Design Artist Statement My journey as an artist can be explained in three similar words,

Within my personal explorations as an artist, I am constantly looking for

Communication, Community, and Computers. Visual arts to me has always

ways to communicate my message with the audience while hoping that

been like standing on a stage with a megaphone in f ront of a crowd of

it will spark a conversation of their own. I believe the best artwork is work

people. Design is a way to communicate with others and connect with

that gets people talking. As of right now, I am experimenting with virtual

them emotionally. When I f irst began my journey as an artist, I didn’t quite

clothing and its effects on our online personas. Within my work, I have

know what to say.

been digitally modeling clothes and working on ways to bring them to

With limitless possibilities and an unknown number of listeners, I often

life by mixing them with digital photography as well as augmented reality

questioned what I wanted to communicate through my art. In recent

software. Within this, I am looking at ways we can change our online

years, I have begun to f ind my voice in standing up for what I believe in

appearance and what that means in relation to those around us within

and that at its core is creating community. I have used my art to fuel my

online spaces. In my work I am always looking to spark up a conversation.

passion for standing up against the oppression and injustices we see in

When working with clients to help bring their visual messages to life, I

the world today in the hopes it will educate others to help make change.

always try to use my knowledge of design to help effectively communicate

I believe when we have equality and equity within our society, we will

their messages and the emotional undertones behind them. I am an

be able to thrive as a community. Since then my interest has grown

active listener who understands the importance of the client’s voice

and I found my message to communicate, my next step was to f ind my

within the project. I always see through that the client’s vision, passion,

megaphone, also known as my medium. I began to learn how people

and messages are the center focal point throughout the design process.

communicate online in virtual spaces with the changing digital world.

Additionally, I f ind it important to make sure that I am transparent and

This has led me to explore more electronic and computer-based arts

explain my process thoroughly, so the client feels involved and welcomed

such as graphic design and the electronic arts. I am interested in the

within the design process. I see the project through to completion and I

aesthetics, functionality and the ease of communication working with

always give an expected timeline, so there is always transparency within

computers brings.

the design process.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Dom Baca The Holy Trinity, 2021 Digital Print

SIERRA SWANSON Spring 2021 Capstone – Electronic Art Artist Statement I often f ind myself seeking out nature for clarity and artistic inspiration.

My works mainly 3D modeling, animation, video, and the occasional

My body of work intertwines nature and technology, creating a

code used to distort images. I often use the organic shape and

dichotomy between the wonder of the natural world and the industrial

movement of the environment as a starting point. The icons resembling

uses of technology, though recently I f ind myself experimenting with

nature will later become distorted, as this nature is manmade much

the different visuals I can create only occasionally turning back to the

like the technology destroying it. Through processes like drawing,

natural environment.

animating, and 3D modeling I can deconstruct and reconstruct the idea of the natural environment in a digital form.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Sierra Swanson Flower Distorted, 2021 Distorted, 2021

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Nicholas Scott O'Dell Pretty Lights, 2021 Cards

NICHOLAS SCOTT O'DELL Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement With an artist and avid painter for a mother and a father with a passion

For a long time, I believed that I needed to f ind my own artistic style to

for world travel, becoming an artist might not sound like an unlikely

set myself apart f rom others and establish my own identity as an artist.

career choice, but art is just one of the many possible career paths I could

Yet I’ve since realized that this artistic flexibility is one of my biggest

have followed in life. From an early age, science and space exploration,

strengths and my appreciation for such a wide variety of arts f rom

the nature of human consciousness, and the variety of landscapes and

throughout time and across the world is exactly what I bring to the

cultures that make up our natural world have all fascinated me. It wasn’t

table with my designs. The art that I create draws f rom my repertoire

until my college studies in psychology and an examination of my own

of diverse influences and work experience and will continue to explore

existence and place in this world, that I was led back to the subject of art

any mediums and methods at my disposal. Whether through the use

and realized its vast potential as my chosen professional path in life.

of typography, illustration, branding materials, or product design, my

When people ask why I became a graphic designer, I usually tell them

skill set as a designer will continue to evolve by utilizing both traditional

it is because design is an opportunity to creatively blend all of these

and cutting-edge techniques to expand what is possible with modern

diverse subjects. My work is a reflection of these varied interests and my

design. I strive to create the best design solutions possible, both for

captivation with the natural and man-made visual world that surrounds

myself, the team I work with, and our customers in the community and

me. This integration of our collective story as humans, transcribed

around the world.

through visual art, enhanced by today’s technology, and building on the influence of the talented artists that came before me, is the aim of my work and what gives it so much possibility for the future.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Emma Corwin Frank Sinatra, 2021 Digital Print

EMMA CORWIN Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement I am a creative. As a child, I would fill an entire page with tiny scribble-

My process often begins off screen. I sketch and ideate. I journal and

marks in every color, going every direction. I would wear striped tights

research. Considering all viewers and inclusivity is important in my design.

with a scarf tied around my waste with my head held high. I’ve sold t-shirts

I often give hierarchy to imagery, with my primary goal being to pull the

and stationary with my wonky little imaginings. I am inspired by the

viewers in so the information becomes relevant. Some of my favorite work

unconventional and approach challenges with an interesting eye. Graphic

has been my hand drawn illustrations, including the book I wrote and

design has become my outlet for expression. I have always sought unique

illustrated, titled, “Sentiments and Small Interruptions.” Keeping the artists

avenues to use my passion, my talents and my voice for the betterment of

hand in my work has remained important to what I produce. I treat my

my community. Currently, I design for the Women and Gender Advocacy

designs as a fine artist approaches a canvas. They are not mechanical, they

Center at CSU; an office that supports assault survivors. I have also done

are touched, and cared for. But just as important as they are as works of art,

graphic design work for the Milwaukee Tennis and Education Foundation,

my designs are clean and professional.

and I have volunteered with the Black Lives Matter mural project on the

This piece is titled Frank Sinatra. It is an editorial image inspired by

Colorado State University campus. Creating socially conscious design is my

his young life. He was expelled from high school for having, “general

top priority.

rowdiness.” He also was always seen in a tweed patterned suit. This pattern makes up the background, and is created by the lyrics from his song, “My Way.” These words and this portrait aim to encompass his persona.

MAK TUCKER Spring 2021 Capstone – Fiber Artist Statement Through material, I explore my own very personal experience with

This creates a complicated relationship between the internal and physical

queerness and gender expression. Growing up I developed an aversion

self, especially when it feels as though the body is not an accurate

to things that are seen as girly and feminine because of my own struggle

representation of our internal experience. It becomes diff icult to treat the

with gender and feeling wrong as a woman, the gender I was assigned

body kindly when it is something that causes f rustration, loss of control,

at birth. Through a more thorough investigation of my own identity,

and in some ways doesn’t feel like your own. In my work, I investigate

I have been able to settle into a more comfortable understanding of

the symbolism of the body in representing emotional experience, and

myself as a nonbinary individual. I have come back to societally feminine

anxieties surrounding the way it fails us and the ways we fail it.

materials with an understanding of how they relate to my experience

The subject of my work often deals with longing, despair, overwhelming

being genderqueer and knowing that I can love feminine things and

emotion, and loss of control. I explore these themes through the

express myself through their use without subscribing to their association

integration of narrative and character. Fiction, I believe, is often better at

with womanhood. In my work, I include things like pearls and beads

expressing truth than reality. I think it is easier to experience emotion and

and integrate soft colors and imagery to create objects that express my

understand diff icult feelings in a real way when seeing them through an

tastes in a way that is in my own control. Through this, I can make new

invented narrative that is disconnected f rom the complications of reality.

associations for these materials that are disconnected f rom expectations

These emotions are felt very deeply, and I include fantastical elements in

of femininity.

my work to portray the experience of this feeling more accurately.

I use imagery of the body in my work to discuss discomfort and alienation f rom the self, as well as the successes and failures of the physical form in representing the internal self. The body holds our place in the physical world and plays a part in expression and how others view us.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Mak Tucker Embodiment, 2021 Installation shot Fiber

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

ANNE GEISZ Vase, 2021 Ceramic

ANNE GEISZ Spring 2021 Capstone – Pottery Artist Statement: Material can be formed with our bodies to convey an idea. Clay in

around them, such as a mother holding a child. In this way they act

particular is a material that we are able to mold and shape but that still

much like a ceramic vessel that is meant to fulf ill a dual purpose; to have

possesses boundaries and limits. This material, much like our own physical

both an aesthetic value and act as a tool for practical life. By creating

bodies, is capable of resistance and is often easier to discuss and observe

representational body parts that simultaneously act as a functional object,

than the ideas we possess within ourselves.

I hope to create a space for questions surrounding the body, its function

These pieces serve as vessels that have the capability to hold. The human

and its beauty, and what it means to hold.

form is capable of holding both internally and externally -our bodies hold our consciousness and organs while also holding onto the world

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Wren Macdonald The Fox Cackles (The Rabbit Laughs), 2021 Installation shot Pottery

WREN MACDONALD Spring 2021 Capstone – Pottery Artist Statement I have been searching for a sort of quietness in my work, like that of a

I think many artists do this; let the work speak.

person-less forest, or of a small beetle crawling across soil, or of a wary deer

The intersection between illustration and sculpture is intuitive and

- because I think my mind is most often loud and troubled with thought.

immensely important; a single rabbit can constitute a muffled shrubscape,

Perhaps this is why I choose to construct animal bodies f requently. They

in its absoluteness. I think through illustration; through an abundance of

are good at being without existential anxiety.

detail, a space of and beyond the given picture plane opens.

I make work that urges a form of attention attuned to overlooked details. Minutiae, both tangible and intangible, are boundless and wonder opens a space in which beings interact and collaborate. I work towards trusting the intelligence of objects to accumulate a kind of unfolding vastness within their intimacy. Ideas strike me that cannot be explained, so I must make them, in a physical form, and let the work speak.

GIANNA SANTUCCI Spring 2021 Capstone – Pottery Artist Statement As an artist, I have always been interested in the magical and the weird.

communicate through nutrients and electrical impulses. Mushrooms have

Nature has been a powerful force in my life, and I have always associated

a unique type of intelligence compared to what humans have. The form of

nature with the idea of enchantment, strangeness, and the extraordinary.

the mushroom is also very alluring with its curves, shapes, and textures. My

Our planet and our universe are cyclical and diverse. I incorporate the

fascination with this has led me to incorporate many textures and colors

idea of that energy, flow, and movement into my work. One specific way

into the mushroom sculptures.

that I create this is through my use of glaze, particularly culling glazes

The faces on my mushrooms connect the idea of human communication

with movement. When I find an intriguing glaze, I continue to explore its

and experience. I am making large-scale mushroom sculptures to try and

potential because each change and interruption within a glaze is inspiring,

connect the two very different worlds, one world close to the ground, and

complex, and unique. I want my artwork to create a feeling of wonder for

one much taller. I’m making a statement about how people need to start

the viewer where they have the opportunity to create their own story of

relating themselves to nature, plants, animals, fungi, and the land. If people

what it means.

continue to live with the mindset of the human experience being the only

Within my pottery practice, I make sculptures and wheel-thrown pottery.

thing that matters, then we are going to lose so many of these beautiful,

In my current body of work, I am creating large mushroom sculptures.

intricate, flowing life forms. It is important for humans to decentralize

As a whole, the body of work is titled Mushroom Social. I feel that

themselves from the experience of life.

mushrooms are a good representation of how nature can send energy and communicate bidirectionally. Mushrooms are known to function as the internet of nature, the mycelium is like wires that allow plants and trees to

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Gianna Santucci Mushroom Social, 2021 (detaill of) Mushroom Social, 2021 Pottery

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Nelson Kenzie Queen of the Rodeo III, 2020 Copper, brass, vinyl

NELSON KENZIE 2020 Fall Capstone – Metalsmith Artist Statement: My work focuses on crafting objects that are diff icult to interact with,

symbol into masculine objects is something I explore in my work as a

to express my fears related to intimacy and vulnerability as a woman.

source of self-empowerment and to provoke conversation about gender

Interactions that have robbed me of feelings of safety and personal space

dynamics.

have left me with the desire to defend and protect my body. Creating

I am fascinated by the way our society deems certain places, objects, or

something untouchable or sharp speaks to this protective stance, visually

people worthy of protecting and neglects others. Religious sites reveal

and physically deterring the viewer f rom overstepping boundaries.

a variety of ways that these messages can be communicated. It can be

Power associations applied to objects is also something that interests

more straightforward in the form of spiked decorative fences around a

me, particularly within objects that are gendered. These objects can be

cemetery or more coded with symbols such as quatrefoils integrated

in place to hold power over external things/people or give power to the

into the decoration of churches. Relating these themes of protecting

wearer. Objects like belt buckles are essentially trophies on display at the

structures and the physical body continues to be a source of inspiration

waist aim to exude male dominance in an effort intimidate others and

as I am creating these objects.

demonstrate strength. Incorporating traditionally feminine image and

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Conner Dobson Drinking Habits, 2021 (details of) Drinking Habits Metalsmithing

CONNER DOBSON Spring 2021 Capstone – Metalsmith Artist Statement

and my body. Rather than a burden, each story is instead a lesson, and it's

Over the last four years, I have been through three separate abusive

vessel a way to open up. Yet I am not ready for the world to hear my story,

relationships, each one leaving me with worsened depression, anxiety, and

at least not all of it.

body image. Combined with an inability to conf ront my past derived f rom

In achieving a much-needed balance, I looked to a font that I had

toxic masculinity, this negativity dominates my mental state. Since finally

designed early in my art career. Though initially a child of boredom, this

admitting all that I’ve been through, my work has been driven to fight the

font ended up being the perfect way to open up about my struggles.

emotional and psychological weight that I have carried for too long.

The font reads as English (it is not a completely new language), but it is

By shaping vessels, I f ind that I am able to share this weight. In the same

nonetheless something only I can read. By using the font, I am able to

way, my body carries the burden of my story, each vessel I create bears a

overtly place deeply personal stories into each piece without the viewer

unique story f ragment, either a single event or an arduous journey within

judging me for my past, as so many in my position have been before. In a

my life. At once, the story f ragment is memorialized and stored away, the

sense, the font and the work enable me to open up and share my stories

associated feelings and their baggage now shared between the vessel

with the world, but not necessarily the people in it.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Gabrielle Andreozzi My Goddess, 2021 Rebirth, 2021 Remember, 2021 Copper and brass

GABRIELLE ANDREOZZI Spring 2021 Capstone – Metalsmith Artist Statement Gabrielle Andreozzi is a metalsmith and photographer in her f inal BFA

I make. I am fascinated by art that brings power with it, as well as the use

semester at Colorado State University. Before moving to Colorado in 2007,

of narrative imagery that speaks to my deepest, most vulnerable states.

she spent her early years of life living in the small artist community of

Every single artistic endeavor I take on has a specif ic purpose for myself,

Taos, New Mexico. The picturesque southwestern landscape and

and through that, I intend for my audience to connect with my work on a

extensive amounts of creative minds around her - including those of her

very personal level. I want my pieces and imagery to emulate the power I

father and grandmother - sparked her own interest in becoming an artist.

have given them in their creation, and through that, I want my audience

Originally focused on drawing and painting, she came to college with the

to feel that power in their own subjective way.

goal of becoming an art educator, but with some turbulent experiences

Spending my adolescence growing up in Northern New Mexico among

along the road, she found herself seeking solace in the metalsmithing

the picturesque high desert landscape, diverse culture, and ever-flowing

studio and through photographic self expression. Not only is Andreozzi

creative energies have greatly impacted how I create and think about art. I

inspired by the land of her origins, powerful women and her own

constantly find myself incorporating subtle hints alluding to Southwestern

experiences as a woman have shaped her ideals and vision and this is

influence - through stylistic choices, symbolic imagery, and color.

clearly reflected in her work. As she continues to grow and evolve through

Copper and brass being materials that emit earthly energies through

young adulthood, her art continues to do the very same thing.

their coloring, especially over time, as they age and change colors in reaction to their surroundings, and as they take in the oils of the people

The process of creating objects and pouring my heart and soul into

that interact with them, has been something that I have always been

everything I create has been something that has helped me immensely

drawn to. The contrast between the deep yellows and oranges of the

on my journey in discovering my artistic vision. For me, my art is deeply

metals I use and the warmth of those two tones together is something

rooted in my personal experiences as a woman. I have had to process

that can be seen in most of my pieces.

a great deal through various experiences of heartache that I haven’t been able to express vocally, but through creation. I see art as a personal meditation, almost a form of therapy, and the safe space I create for myself in hand building a piece or capturing photographic imagery are where I go to learn more about myself. Goddess imagery and feminine symbolism are the basis for most of what

JONATHAN LY Fall 2020 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: The scope of my art ranges f rom brand design, digital art, to design

This gives the patron many choices and iterations to explore a building

communication. My greatest growth as an artist during this time,

block for the entire project. Using these sketches and exchanges as a

however, was not learning these complex programs but rather the

foundation of where the project is going, I go through multiple rounds of

foundation of graphic design. My studies have led me to better

prototyping through various adobe products and programs to better help

conceptualize my initial ideas and exploring them to get to the f inal

translate and visualize my client’s ideas. Only after these various rounds of

project. Without this foundation, my art would not be able to

prototyping will I begin my f inal designs with the client’s blessing.

communicate its themes and statements through interesting visuals as it

It is important to be clear and concise with the client as graphic designer,

does now.

since the quality of the project depends on it. Having a complete

As a graphic design artist, I see myself as someone who works to create

understanding of every part of the project is key because it ensures

quality and innovative designs for my client’s wants and needs. My job

that the client is happy in every possible and that the integrity of my

as an artist provides me unique opportunities to create art based on

art remains at the highest quality possible. From the simplest designs

my patron’s needs and imaginations. I take this on as a challenge, like

like a simple sticker set, to even a complex logo rebranding project it is

a puzzle, trying to f ind a solution that fulf ills all requirements that have

important to create the quality content that speaks for the client in the

been laid out to me. One of my responsibility as a graphic design artist

way they see f it.

is to have the highest quality communication with the client to get the best possible end product. My process starts by offering multiple pencil sketches and ideas to provide as many possible routes as possible.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Jonathan Ly Special Interest Super Pac, 2020 Digital printing

ASHER KORN

The colors aren’t really there. I am dedicated to teaching others about

Spring 2021

synesthesia, the umbrella term for this condition, where any two parts

Capstone – Graphic Design

of the brain touch and two senses become combined into one. It’s both a very common condition and not well known because many people

Artist Statement

who have synesthesia don’t realize they have it. This led me to host a

The Color of Music

radio program for three years which has been dedicated to talking about

My artistic work is reflective of different types of artistic creations I have

chromesthesia. I answer various questions f rom my listeners and give my

been exposed to throughout my life. I use many traditional art practices,

impression of what different songs look like in real-time.

as well as everyday objects I find in the street or random places to

Other work includes mixing and matching various everyday items that

create something new, unique, and original. I utilize skills I have learned

are often overlooked as a form of upcycling in addition to using existing

from printmaking, photography, painting, illustration, fiber, woodwork,

media to create something f resh. Recently, I have been very into making

collage, writing, and audio, as well as experimenting in metalwork,

earrings as a hobby and I have been using objects like key tags, tabs f rom

bookbinding, batuque, calligraphy, basketry, mosaic, stained glass, pottery,

energy cans, safety pins, childhood toys/accessories, mysterious keys, to

and stone carving to name a few. I started creating at a very early age,

name a few. I also have some small experience with how to print some

and I remember some of my first pieces were made by drawing and

of my earing ideas using a 3D printer. I love the “do it yourself ” attitude

cutting out paper doll characters, outfit ideas, and anything else that I

and I always try to use what I have on hand before I incorporate new

wanted to explore on paper. The more I started making things the more

elements into my work, which bleeds into my passion for the 90s and

I started drifting toward abstract expressionism, using art as a form of

punk subcultures. Luckily, my day jobs also reflect this passion, which has

self-expression to communicate feelings I wasn’t able to put into words.

allowed me to also become a concert photographer, audio producer, and a

Sometimes these pieces are incredibly meaningful to me and serve as a

published writer. I love the local music scene here in Fort Collins, Colorado

reaction to what I am feeling or thinking at a given moment.

and a lot of my work is inspired by local music and I have worked with

A large body of my work is dedicated to learning and exploring the concept

various artists and helped them with some of their projects like album

of chromesthesia; a neurological condition that I have where I experience

design, promotional photography shoots, and lending audio help or my

sounds as having corresponding colors. I try to communicate this

voice for a few audio tracks.

experience through paintings, pastel illustrations, and simple line drawings

I am majoring in Graphic Design, and my recent body of work is largely

to explain the complexities of what music looks like. It’s an incredibly

digital. I like to make posters, logos, and I do enjoy partnering up with

nostalgic feeling, like thinking about a memory where you can visualize

clients to make their vision a reality in unique and interesting ways. I love

what happened, but you can’t physically see it. I can see colors, patterns,

learning about different aesthetics and am always open to learning more

and textures with sound, but it’s not occupying my physical space.

about design forms and ideas.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Aher Korn Love is Love, 2021 Mural Design Concept

JARED ZACCARO Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: Design is everywhere. From the hundreds of advertisements we see daily

the court before it f inally reaches the basket. Sometimes it takes a lot of

to the streets signs on our way to work. From almost every image we see

different looks and perspectives on a goal before it can be achieved to its

on our phones to the clothes on our backs. Someone, somewhere made a

full potential.

conscious decision to make something look the way it looks. In the world

This process is rarely achieved alone however. It takes the cooperation of

of design, things rarely happen by accident. Shapes, lines, and colors are

an entire team as well as the clients in order to reach the best possible

all placed in a way to achieve a certain function in a specif ic context. This

solution. In my own work, the collaboration and communication between

component of design is why I fell in love with it and more specif ically

my team and our clients is at the utmost importance. Discussing the goals

graphic design. Also, the way design can communicate complex ideas and

to be achieved as well as possible solutions is in my opinion the most

emotions has always appealed to me.

crucial part of graphic design. Dedication and consistency are two aspects

Studying graphic design at Colorado State University is an experience

of my process that I hold dear to my heart. Putting the time and effort into

that I certainly do not take for granted. The program’s focus on planning,

something that I am passionate about like design is something that I hope

sketching, and the ref inement of ideas has allowed me to take my design

I never stop doing and continue to love.

and artistry skills to places only imaginable. My work means a lot to me. I love starting with an idea, sketching it out into something visual, and then reacting/adjusting to how it looks in reality. In a perfect world the process of a project would be a linear line, point A to point B. In my own work however, the journey resembles more of a basketball being passed around

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Jared Zaccaro BLM Mural Concept, 2021

SEOJUNG LEE Fall 2020 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: I’ve drawn ever since I could hold pencils. The living room of my childhood

f inancial stress and food insecurity. This program offers a f ree food pantry

was f illed with my scribbled drawings. In addition to constantly drawing, I

once a month on campus but it did not advertise very well and many

developed a peculiar habit in elementary school where I enjoyed reading

students did not know about the program. For Rams Against Hunger,

and observing snack packing and labels— even the chemical components

as with all my projects, I start with pencils, a sketchbook, and least f ifty

and product descriptions. I didn’t know who created it and how but I liked

thumbnails. Because of the serious matter of food insecurity, I wanted

f inding connectivity between the snacks, it’s packaging, and fun design

to take away the shame by using the humor. I designed three different

elements such as, small cute illustrations. This childhood interests in

posters which depicted a massive amount of food falling f rom the sky. In

package design and constant love for drawings led me to pursue a degree

addition, I pictured the different brown bags and made several collages

in graphic design.

with Adobe Illustrator. While these are individual, they are clearly using

Graphic design is a craft. It creates beauty as well as usefulness and gives

brown bags to create cohesiveness. I used the scribble lined font to

delight and satisfaction to people everyday just as it did to me as a child.

convey the important of the issue.

Moreover, graphic design has the power to transform identity of products

Design is the greatest pleasure and joy in my life. I love to work and

and companies and create a more vibrant visual culture. Therefore,

see the realization of my ideas as posters, web pages, murals, and app

graphic designers make invisible things visible in useful and entertaining

designs. Furthermore, I enjoy brining happiness to people through

ways that can inspire and convince people something better is possible.

designs with an aesthetic quality, convenience, and practicality for who

The most memorable project I worked on was when I made three posters

use my design. I aim that my creations can materialize invisible things,

for the Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry, a program for students with

give new identities to products, and create a better society for all.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Seojung Lee Musical Hero, 2020 Posters Design

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Cassidy Reed Breeze of the River, 2021 Digital Imaging

CASSIDY REED Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement My name is Cassidy Reed and I am a graphic designer. I find that art is a way

I mostly focus on digital using adobe programs such as Illustrator and

that I can express myself in a way that writing down my thoughts would take

photoshop. I also have some knowledge in animation which I am continuing

place. It is a passion and a drive of mine to add color to the world.

to learn more about. I always like to start with an idea and play around with

At a young age, I would wander around my grandparents' photo lab

it on paper until I feel really good about it. After that, I will move into the

admiring the art on the walls. It ranged from photography to paintings. The

digital or physical art of the piece working my way through each step. If it

colors would change the way the wall looked and the subject would create

is a physical piece first then I will go in on photoshop and make the work

a story. I soon realized that art is everywhere. From the design that you see

more vibrant and brighter so that the original color comes through more.

on your school textbooks to the way the type is organized in a simple Coke a

Sometimes I will also combine it with other physical art to create a montage.

Cola logo and I fell in love.

Being able to make the world more colorful than I left it is my passion.

In my work, I try to explore many different techniques physical and digital to achieve my desired outcome. I am always trying to learn new processes.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Jenna Ball Taking it Back, 2021 Posters Design

JENNA BALL Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement Throughout my time as a design student, I have found that illustration

I approach my illustration and graphic design in a methodical way,

is where my passion lies. For me, illustration is a way to capture the

breaking down our environments into simplistic shapes and limited

emotions that surround a specif ic moment in time. Through intimate

colors. This simplistic aesthetic evokes a feeling of nostalgia. Additionally,

perspectives, my illustrations seek to capture a sense of memory,

the simplicity of my work helps to convey its message in an eff icient

placing the viewer directly in the scene. By combining illustration with

manner. Through my graphic design work with its focus on illustration, I

typography and design work, I believe we can shift our perspectives and

hope to create an exciting design that ultimately makes the world a more

create a new, exciting look at life.

lively, engaging place.

MEG METZGER SEYMOUR Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement In my work as a designer, I aim to balance organic illustration with unique

I am inspired by movements for social equality and change, including the

typography solutions to produce positive change in the world around us.

recent BLM movement, the Women’s March as well as LGBTQ movements.

I see typography as a form of art in itself. I love working with letterforms,

Each is equally important and inspiring; I feel particularly connected to the

challenging myself to create new, imaginative forms of type that are still

women’s and LGBTQ movements identifying as a bisexual woman.

legible. I do not distinguish typography from illustration. I see each element

The designs created for each of these movements motivates me as a

as equal; each is essential to the other, working as a pair to balance my

designer, from handmade protest signs with sharpies and poster board

compositions.

to beautiful, intricate posters, individuals using design for social change is

I believe that design is one of the most powerful, influential

inherently inspiring.

communication tools. I believe that it is important to harness this power

It is these influences along with my passion for illustration and lettering

to create positive change.

which drives me as a designer, to create the best possible, meaningful work.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Meg Metzger-Seymour ‘Neptune’ Musical Poster Triptych, (red, yellow, blue posters), 2021 Posters Design

OLIVIA BRETT Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement Maybe it seems strange, but when I was a child, I can remember being

I enjoy researching projects and it is fun learning about how art and

attracted to certain posters, pieces of art, furniture design, and even

objects have always been used to influence society. Art can be enjoyed as

product packaging. I did not understand the specif ic factors that play

part of pop culture or f ind a permanent place in documenting history. I

into good design, but being very opinionated, I really knew what I liked or

enjoy discussing and answering questions about my art because it means

what I did not like. Whether it was bottled water or lipstick, I always had a

I have brought interest to a subject or event. Art is always a learning

comment. I visited galleries and art museums a lot, and even remember

process, and it never gets boring. And so, even if I no longer cry at a

crying when I saw my f irst Picasso. Why - I don’t know - but I always had a

Picasso, I still ask - why?

strong reaction to art and had lots of questions. The art that I create often pays tribute to history and culture. Sometimes it happens on an iPad, or sometimes on canvas, but despite medium, I try to capture a snippet of time through design and color.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Olivia Brett War in Words, 2021 Posters Design Digital Print

ELISABETH URWILER Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement I’ve always valued quality design, looking at everything with a critical

In my training, I’ve learned the value of drawing, trying different things,

eye in order to improve my own design skills. I have an aff inity for

and trying as many different designs as possible in order to create

organization. This has led me to work with typography as often as I can.

my best work. I’ve always valued other opinions, making my work a

I enjoy organizing information, choosing typefaces that work together,

collaborative effort between myself and other artists, f riends, and

and making everything as perfect as possible before deciding a project

design colleagues. I enjoy the feedback f rom others as if I’m still in

is complete. I love working with type, it allows me to use my lifetime of

class doing critiques. Working with clients, I like to give options, ask for

working on my organizational skills to create a design.

feedback, and come to a decision for the ultimate design together.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Elisabeth Urweil NoHomo, 2021 Traveling Museum Exhibition Poster Digital Print

NOAH DALBOW Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: In my Graphic Design practice line is the most important factor I use to

The minutiae of working in traditional mediums just cannot quite be

accurately convey a message. The thickness of the line and the angle it takes

replicated digitally. I particularly favor traditional penciling and inking as in

are just as important as spelling the words out through type. The other factor

comics.

I view as most important is an irreverent sense of whimsy. Too often I feel that

The largest influences on my work are artists such as Dave Mckean who is

the Art world especially, but also in graphic design where everything must be

known amongst other things for illustrating the Sandman Comics by Neil

dealt with in utter seriousness.

Gaiman and Johnen Vasquez who is known for creating Invader Zim.

While digital art is an important tool that I use frequently in my illustrations I find myself often returning to the pencil and the pen as my preferred medium

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Noah Dalbow Carried Away, 2021 Gluttonous Beaver, 2021 Revenge!, 2021 Digital Print

EMMA RUSSEL Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: I create for the sake of communication. All forms of art are a conversation

In my personal work, I f ind myself drawn to media. The way that we

between the creator and viewer. To me, graphic design is all about

function through technology today has sculpted our relationships, our

considering the viewer and how to best communicate a message about

expectations, and even our lifestyles and careers. A person can make

an idea, brand, or product through imagery. On top of that, it is about

a living solely by posting pictures and videos on social media. Our

catching the eye and initiating a want to act. What I love about graphic

relationships function around social media and we expect each other

design is the back and forth between the client, the viewers, and the

to follow, continuously like, and share. We continue and strengthen our

creator. The communication flows through each step of the creative

connections through our technology, it is the only “how” we know. As

process. As I work, I consider the ways people may view the artwork,

humans who naturally communicate on our own, we seem so reliant

whether they are the client or consumer. The foundation of the creative

on this tool to form or maintain relationships. What interests me, as my

process is the research and investigative questions to f ind what a client

profession is engrained within technology and media. My interests assist

wants. I aim to learn all that I can about the brand, product, message

me in better creating for the sake of catching the eye because in the

being represented because my job as a designer is to f irst characterize

overcrowded digital marketing world we need to work harder to attract

and def ine the project to then form an aesthetic.

and bring people in. The instant nature of social media has impacted the

The rest is sketching, some more communication, and f inally bringing the

way I approach each project, as well as showing the importance of making

idea to life.

imagery easy to read, engaging, and include a call to action.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Emma Russel The Hedwig Project, 2021 Posters Design Digital Print

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Sarah Schemmerling Embroided Page Design, 2021 Digital Print

SARAH SCHEMMERLING Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement I’ve made art for as long as I can remember. As I’ve grown I have

At the same time, I love color and try to f ind the best ways to effectively

experimented with many different media of art including, painting,

incorporate it into my work. My work often involves a combination of

photography, drawing, and many more. However, I f ind myself

these two passions.

particularly drawn to graphic design because of its ability to incorporate

When it comes to working with clients, I strive to f ind the best possible

multiple media. For me, graphic design is the perfect medium that

solution. This starts with a conversation and some rough sketches as I try

allowed me to practice many different forms. I enjoy being able to draw

to get a sense for the client’s style and taste. It is extremely important

out an idea on paper or even take photographs and bring them into a

to me that my client is involved in the process every step of the way

digital format and continue to work on them.

because, even though I love making art, when I am working with a

I always f ind myself particularly inspired by nature. As someone who

client, what I design is for them, not for me. I want to make sure what I

was born and raised in Colorado, I have a deep love for nature. This often

design aligns with their hopes and visions for the design and is not just

results in a lot of organic shapes and other earthly elements in my work.

something that I like.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Sienna Bosch Evolution II, 2020 Cotton, rusted steel

SIENNA BOSCH 2020 Fall Capstone – Fibers Artist Statement: My work seeks to understand and give value to the individual as it

methods. I use a variety of processes, however I always seem to come

becomes a part of the whole. In weaving, I’m drawn to the process of

back to rust dye. This process uses rusty objects to develop patterns and

using thousands of individual strands of yarn to create a whole. So often,

color on textiles. Textiles innately have a sense of f ragility. Rust dyeing

as a part of the human experience, we think about major events that

yarn pushes this to a new level. It compromises the integrity of the yarn,

happen in our lives. My intent is to bring importance to each moment in

allowing for change and deterioration over time. Throughout our lifetime,

the evolution of life, just as I bring value to the individual strand.

our past memories begin to fade, however there is still value in those

I work to incorporate a sense of time through a variety of forms. Life has a

moments of time.

great deal of uncertainty, but it’s important to think about the paths we

While yarn and fabric are malleable in their natural state, metal has a

have already created. Through this, I work to create a path or timeline like

presence of strength and stability. This metal dictates the movement

form, that reflects upon history, time, and evolution.

of the weavings while they maintain their softness. The fabric works to

Each of my weavings is made up of hand-dyed yarn using natural dye

portray this history, while the metal creates structure throughout it.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Heather Matthews Kristen, 2020 Handwoven brassard cotton

HEATHER MATTHEWS Fall 2020 Capstone – Fibers Artist Statement: Reflection, reverence, relationship—again and again, these underlying

Meanwhile, I regularly turn to other media to expand my ideas and

themes rise to the surface in my work.

explore multi-layered ways of expression.

• Reflection on my experiences as I engage with my environment, people around me, and ideas.

Just as a writer must read to improve her craft, I insist on regular involvement in the art community as an avenue for enhancing my art

• A reverence for beauty, whimsy, and hope in the everyday.

practice. I take annual pilgrimages to major art centers in order to see

• Above all, engaging in relationships with ourselves and each other.

master works in person, I pore over art books and visit local artists in their studios.

My values and beliefs are made tangible in my creations. At this moment

Artists who inspire me include Alice Neel, Judy Chicago, Jennifer Moore,

in time these values and beliefs feel challenged by the unrest of a

Shan Goshorn, Kehinde Wiley, Barbara Gilhooly, Anne Bossert, Jan Carson,

worldwide health pandemic, our culture’s reckoning with race and bias,

Jenny Seville, Theaster Gates, Eric Fischl, Bisa Butler, and Hung Liu, just to

and the questions around our political leadership. Along with that is my

name a few.

slow transition out of art school and into a new career that feels more

Most recently, I have practiced letting go of expectations by giving in to

aligned with my present life goals. For comfort and consistency, I turn

on-the-loom lessons, studying color and texture, and simply putting more

to making things. The making becomes a meditative practice on this

hours into both weaving and drawing without intention of a particular

moment of personal and global transition, a search for hope and beauty,

f inal outcome. These activities push me to learn more about myself and

and an overwhelming feeling of gratitude.

ways of making in ways that surprise me and enrich my pieces.

My process engages many media, though primarily I create works in f iber. The pure pleasure I take in the softness and analog quiet of f iber art has instilled my conviction that I can use the medium to communicate.

MORGAN ROSEBROCK Spring 2021 Capstone – Fibers Artist Statement Over the last four years, I have learned so much about myself and my

With this new insight, I began to create art not only with the purpose

identity not only as an artist but as an educator. On this journey, the

of use and to be functional but for it to be meaningful and intimately

connection between myself, my peers, my family, and my students has

personal to the person to whom it belongs to. I want to create objects

been everything. When times would get tough these groups of people

that people can create their own personal connections and memories

were the ones that got me through it and my f iber work began to

through their uses. During this exploration of personal use, I found

reflect that. Even when it did it never felt completely right or like that

that texture went hand in hand with this guided various explorations.

was my art and what it should be. I never saw my art going to galleries

Ultimately I landed on something that gets drilled into our heads about

and being shown and off-limits and then being stored somewhere to

children and education. If we make learning personal and pertinent

only be seen every once in a while. It wasn’t until I made a set of kitchen

that’s how we get through to students and they learn best.

towels for a project that I realized that function was missing f rom my

My goal as an artist and an educator is to create art that is personal and

connections.

pertinent to the viewer and is something that they can f ind use through

Growing up I practically lived in my parents' small business and I was

and give that object life. I want my dish towel to be there when you bake

fascinated with my father's studio. Instead of going to college my father

Christmas pie and blankets to be what brings comfort to people at their

took up an apprenticeship with a master goldsmith and mastered the

lowest. Those personal connections are everything.

trade to become one himself. So every day I would watch him create these beautiful pieces of jewelry that had meaning to the people who received it and to the people who gave it. Once I realized that my own practice was missing a deeper personal connection to other people I f inally felt like my art had a purpose.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Morgan Rosebrock Untitled (Memory), 2021 Fiber

KATIE MCNAUGHT Spring 2021 Capstone – Fibers and Photography Artist Statement My relationship with my family, my heritage, and my own past life

Work with f ibers has been a common theme throughout the women on

are very complicated. Common themes that made an appearance

my mom’s side as a means of survival and expression. I learned to sew

throughout my formative years include divorce, abuse in every sense

f rom my grandma, and crochet f rom my great-grandma. My grandma

of the word, purity culture, and general religious trauma. I feel like my

made my mom’s clothes as a kid as well as her bridal veil. My great-

childhood and teenage years were stunted in many ways as a result of

grandma crocheted our baby blankets and worked in a sewing factory

the actions of my family and the things I had to see and live through

in the early 1900s. Her mother before her sewed quilts made out of

while I was still a developing kid, like I had to grow up much sooner

depression-era flour bags we still have in our house. The matrilineal

than everyone around me. I’m painting my upbringing and familial ties

passing of knowledge and skill has been something that’s been present

to be somewhat of a nightmare (sometimes it def initely was), but I also

throughout many aspects of my life and manifests strongly within f ibers.

had a fairly normal childhood and family dynamics in many ways, and

The subjects of matriarchy, family lineage, and the concept of heirlooms

have a lot of nostalgia for the things missing f rom my past, or that were

and hereditary passing are common themes that appear throughout

severed f rom me later in life. And while I still dread going to family get-

my work in many different forms. My work varies widely in composition,

togethers because of the dinner table conversation, I still love my family,

materials, and techniques used, but there’s a strong emphasis on

and I still see a lot of strength and beauty in their lives.

embroidery and sewing throughout many pieces. My emotions relating to my family, religion, and marriage are complex and conflicting. Making art that explores these different aspects helps me to come to terms with the past, heal, and process my feelings in different ways.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Katie McKnaught Tying the Knot, 2021 Mixed media

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Abby Flitton, House No. 2, 2021 Photo Image-Making

ABBY FLITTON Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement I am a photographer who focuses on analog materials and processes

Currently, I am exploring memory through photographing houses and

within my work. I feel that the process and medium in which the work is

manipulating the negative to print cyanotypes to create soft-focus

created inform the conceptual aspect of the work immensely. Through

images. The ethereal and evocative result is heightened by the hand-torn

the use of f ilm capture and alternative processes such as cyanotype,

printing paper, brush strokes, and toning processes.

I often discuss issues of memory and other intangible emotional conditions. Artists such as Todd Hido and Ruth Thorne-Thomsen inform my practice in how I express these intangible conditions through color, light, and composition.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Kaija Hedman Simple Wonders #2,2021 Photo Image-Making

KAIJA HEDMAN Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement: What conditions make a perfect snowflake? This was the question

The images themselves reveal my technique of taking images. The

that drove Wilson Bentley, an American Meteorologist, to f ind what

images displayed a sense of electrical energy that is chaotic and has a

condition makes a perfect snowflake. I came across Bentley’s work while

quite beautiful form.

researching macro photography and fell in love with his approach of

They hold my vision of photography, that it can be imaginative and

capturing ice. The way Bentley documents snowflakes and the f ragile

f rees the mind to react instead of me being proscriptive. I want to open

delicate details that are described within the photographs energized me

people’s eyes that there is beauty all around them and can be

to do my own study of ice. Creating, abstracted ice drives my photography

something as simple as ice.

and enlivens nature.

As I concluded my time at Colorado State University, my ice images are

What I f ind fascinating about making ice images is how indef inite these

the start to my lifelong portfolio. I, thematically like to pull at the idea

images can be.

of people stopping and smelling the roses. Seeing the ice specif ically

With these images I can activitate people’s imaginations and emotions.

continue to hold other people’s gazes. Ice has so many uses like keeping

My images can take people to a distinct world, where they may feel

your drink cold, being a dangerous element in the winter, or a part of

different emotions like anger, chaos, and/or a sense of nostalgia.

f rozen history. As I continue on this journey I hope that I can travel to winter wonderlands and capture their unique ice structures.

JULIA NGUYEN Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement Where does the food you put on the table come f rom? Some people just

What I have seen is amazing- how much they care about their products!

assume it is all in the grocery store—right? We don't think about all the

Edward Weston once said, “The camera should be used for a recording of

hard work that gets put into production or in pasture-raised meat. This

life, for rendering the very substance and quintessence of the thing itself,

is where my body of work comes into play. I am hoping that throughout

whether it be polished steel or palpitating flesh.” This quote inspired me

my work, I display a behind-the-scenes view of farming and sustainable,

to not only care about the produce but about what life means to you. This

regenerative agriculture. By capturing this process, I am hoping to

body of work shows the behind the scene of what it takes to get f reshly

enlighten us all so that we may have a

grown food and products to our table. I hope to express the moment of

better appreciation for the food that we put on our table. I put pride into

time we don't get to see.

this work of art. I have chosen to use a digital camera to capture these moments of time. I visited local farms and a local kombucha warehouse in order to capture behind-the-scenes moments.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Julia Nguyen New Beginnings, 2021 Photo Image Making: Inkjet Print

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Gabrielle Andreozzi Stop Being Open, 2021 Digital Photography

GABRIELLE ANDREOZZI Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement Gabrielle Andreozzi is a metalsmith and photographer in her f inal BFA

counteract this. Something I am very much aware of now is that I spent

semester at Colorado State University. Before moving to Colorado in 2007,

a very long time completely burying the feelings I had felt during this

she spent her early years of life living in the small artist community of

time because they were some of the most intense physical and mental

Taos, New Mexico. The picturesque southwestern landscape and extensive

emotions I have ever felt.

amounts of creative minds around her - including those of her father and

This photo series is gathered f rom a collection of several thousands of

grandmother - sparked her own interest in becoming an artist.

images I took during several late-night photoshoots in my bedroom over

Originally focused on drawing and painting, she came to college with the

the course of a semester spent in solitude - where I had to face some

goal of becoming an art educator, but with some turbulent experiences

of the darkest things I had never truly faced within myself. I left each

along the road, she found herself seeking solace in the metalsmithing

session sweating and raw f rom the emotional and physical intensity I

studio and through photographic self-expression. Not only is Andreozzi

had put on my mind and body with each movement I had made, feeling

inspired by the land of her origins, but powerful women and her own

like I had revealed too much and struggled to even look at each image.

experiences as a woman have also shaped her ideals and vision and this is

Going through and working on each image caused me to break down at

clearly reflected in her work. As she continues to grow and evolve through

several moments, out of happiness for how far I've come, mourning over

young adulthood, her art continues to do the very same thing.

the past, forgiving myself for pushing people and myself away, and f inally understanding and coming to terms with feelings that I had buried for

Vulnerability, opening up.

such a long time.

Those ideas have been at the foref ront of my reality for the past three

This series is a reminder to myself of what I had felt several years ago, an

years. I crave closeness, to be able to reveal myself fully and deeply both

ode, a paying of respect to my past self for what she had gone through.

with others and with myself, but I also reject it with feelings of fear,

This is a physical incarnation of what it has felt like for me on my journey

sadness, anger, and resentment. Within the f irst few months of my

to womanhood.

f reshman year of college, I was sexually assaulted by someone who I had let myself get close to, someone who I had let get close to me. This caused me to completely close myself off to the world for quite some time, and since then I have been doing an immense amount of work to

LAUREL SIECKLE Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement Throughout my photography practice I have become very interested in

Later on in my practice, I found an interest in product photography and

focusing on composition creation. I came into college unsure of if I wanted

set design. I loved having control over exactly what I was photographing

to go down the path of creativity and art or analytics and math. I chose

and how it would be placed within the image. The ability to f ind objects

art, but the analytical side of me very strongly shines through within my

and balance them against each other using color, form, and shape is

creations. Many of my early works focus on geometric forms found in

very structurally pleasing to me. I have been able to adapt those same

society: small f ragments of buildings or interestingly formed landscapes.

sensibilities into more abstract photography where I create images that have the same focus on composition but with a heavier focus on a greater meaning to myself.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Laurel Sieckle Adumbration, 2021 Digital Photography

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Sean Papile Return to Earth, 2021 Digital Photography

SEAN PAPILE Spring 2021 Capstone – Photography Artist Statement “Return to Earth” is a narrative photographic series that explores the

Humankind’s connection to our own world seems to be just as delicate.

dichotomy of human technological achievements since the space

Our direction drives this project, as we are making more technological

age and the potentially apocalyptic consequences of consumption,

advancements every year, and yet the future is increasingly concerning.

ecological disaster, and war. Isolation, as we’ve seen in the last year

We’ve already seen the effects of climate change and yet it seems that

can be massively destructive to human psychology and it’s a concept

we are accelerating to a climate crisis that could change the course

explored aesthetically in this body of work. The suit represents

of human history. Is mankind fundamentally self-destructive? Are

these emotions I associate with isolation. Safe f rom the outside, yet

we meant to explore the stars? Was it ever possible to do both? This

devastatingly alone. The images are meant to tell a story of a lone

is a directorial body of work, using the language of cinematic visual

astronaut returning to a scorched earth hundreds of years in the future,

storytelling in still images to see the end, a foregone conclusion to

to f ind what became of mankind after decades of consumption, greed,

human existence.

and war. It also explores the more nebulous ideas of the isolation of consciousness and how our senses are our only nexus to reality, a delicate bridge between ourselves and everything we’ve ever known.

MAIYA HANNON Spring 2021 Capstone – Drawing Artist Statement Trauma is def ined as a ‘deeply distressing or disturbing experience”. I

Each print, twist, and chemical reaction is extremely unpredictable which

gather inspiration f rom the trauma that resides within. Flashes of pain

prevents me f rom knowing exactly what a f inished piece will look like.

and intense emotion cloud my mind as I attempt to navigate throughout

This evokes a process within me: the process of letting go. The

my daily life. Through my artistic practice, I face the entity within with

process of letting go is crucial to my personal healing process, and I

grace and conf idence. I see it for what it is: the result of an experience.

demonstrate this vulnerability through creation. By leaving aspects of my

This experience is impactful, yet it does not def ine me. I reclaim my mind

work to chance I surrender to the piece, allowing and accepting any and

and body through abstract self-representation within my work. I use

all “mistakes” that occur.

my own face and body as inspiration and as a tool, which forces me to

Previously, I have struggled with the idea of how to address my trauma

essentially face my demons as well as reality head-on.

and healing process through my practice, however, I feel that I am in a

My work is also driven by an element of process. I demonstrate various

position to do that now. My work not only serves as a visual representation

processes through anatomical monoprinting, chemically altering

of my experience but also a representation of how trauma can affect

materials, hammering metals, and integrating metallic elements in

people in general, even to the point of deterioration, leaving only an

contrast with clear or opaque surfaces. While these techniques can be

imprint of themselves behind.

tedious, they are not perfect, placing emphasis on the element of chance.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Maiya Hannon Physical Awareness, 2021 Drawing

EMILY GAYLE Spring 2021 Capstone – Printmaking Artist Statement Naturalistic expressionism evolved from regional and experiential

Compositions often interpret the Poudre Canyon to recreate landscapes

processes is illustrated in my printmaking developments. Each print

that have imprinted on me. Experiences I select translate through

considers material, method, concept, and visual design to create

gestural abstract marks. Reproducing a moment in time repeatedly with

impressionable outcomes. Materials I employ may include ash or essential

printmaking allows me to share this intimate experience with others

oils sourced from the state of Colorado. Lithographs assembled with the

and honor the existence of patterns in the world. My documentations

entire stone, woodcuts researching wildfires, and screenprints evaluating

holistically explore my identity as an artist in relation to my vast

sustainability show my attention to the earth’s human connection. The

environment.

visual designs I choose are dependent on the concept demonstrated and my recognized emotional state.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Emily Gayle Big Rock, 2021 Lithography Lavander Fields, 2021 Lithography

NOAH DALBOW Spring 2021 Capstone – Printmaking Artist Statement: My work explores the role that technology plays in society by creating

To some extent, it almost seems like we have replaced tangible

an unsettling futuristic world that reveres technology to the point of

relationships with hollow imitations. Technology has also allowed the

disconnection f rom the external world. The pieces that I’ve created I

spread of some of the most terrible and virulent propaganda possible,

view as almost sort of icons f rom the futuristic world with the f igures

replacing knowledge with illusion.

representing various entities in these people’s pantheon. The f igures'

I use more antiquated printmaking techniques to make most of my work

integration into the environment by power cables and electrodes

as the tactile nature just gives better feedback and the resulting images

represents their transcendence or integration with a sort of cosmic

have more detail than digital work is capable of. The compositional and

consciousness or god. This also ties into the horror of the loss of

technical complexity which I attempt is influenced by 17th artists like Doré

individuality and autonomy to a power greater than oneself as well as the

and Goya. While I enjoy making and viewing less representational art I

simple body horror of having your body invaded.

truly enjoy the challenge of trying to make things look ‘believable.’ The

The advancement of technology has led to great things for society

content of my work is influenced directly by the works of more modern

increasing life spans and preventing disease. We can now chat with people

artists such as Giger and Bekinski whose horrifying and psychological

halfway across the globe and travel there in a few days. We are no longer

work I f ind inf initely fascinating. Outside of the visual arts, I’m influenced

constrained to meeting people through physical proximity, unfortunately,

by my love of fantasy, sci-f i, and mythology, and writers like Neil Gaiman,

people are also no less depressed and isolated than before, if not more so.

Lovecraft, and Mike Mignola.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Noah Dalbow Unplugged, 2021 Lithograph with Chine-Collé

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Grace Morris Old Main Fire - May 8, 1970, 2021 Printmaking

GRACE MORRIS Spring 2021 Capstone – Printmaking Artist Statement Preservation and more specif ically the act of keeping an event or

When portraying a building that is decaying and being reclaimed

structure in existence is the driving force behind my research and

by nature, I research to f ind the reason why humans abandoned the

creativity. I create visual representations of specif ic historical events and

structure. The condition of the building provides further context to the

architectural sites through various printmaking techniques. Recently,

changes in society and the issues humans were facing at the time of

the focus of my art pieces has been on decaying structures and historical

abandonment. For example, changes in the economy such as depressions

events resulting in destruction. I am captivated by the structure of

or shifts in modes of production have resulted in the abandonment of

architecture, but knowing the historical signif icance of a structure along

buildings that no longer serve a purpose in society. If the building was

with its degradation furthers my motivation to preserve it through

destroyed by a natural disaster or human violence, I research to learn the

art. I research sites and occurrences in the United States, with a more

historical event behind the deconstruction. These pieces are based on

recent, narrow focus on Colorado. I utilize a combination of linear marks

primary sources such as photographs, personal accounts, or newspaper

with gestural, painterly marks to depict recognizable architectural

articles to best interpret the event. This work of damaged structures

structures amidst chaos and disorder. Structures that are visually unsafe

represents and symbolizes human unrest, inaction with natural disasters or

and unstable influence my work and challenges the perception of

societal anger and violence that is seen multiple times throughout history.

permanence and indestructibility.

BRITTANY MICHO Fall 2020 Capstone – Painting Artist Statement: My works explore the idea of the soul struggling to remain within the

While the body and the soul are intricately entwined, I feel that there is

human form. The grotesque and abstracted features are used to highlight

a clear difference between the two. My aim is to engage with how the

the moment the soul begins to escape. The soul does not know how

soul feels within the body when it is conf ronted with depersonalization,

to make sense of being human and therefore longs to escape f rom its

derealization, dissociation, estrangement and defamiliarization.

stressors. It mimics a boiling point where it explodes into broken and

I use oil paints on metal surfaces such as copper and steel while also

distressed forms. The Soul keeps trying to remain and look human but

applying chemical solutions to create rust and patinas on the piece. I use

parts of its ethereal reality slips in with ours, even obscuring the majority

those natural colors and shapes to help form the atmosphere in which

of the bodily f igure itself. I enjoy the idea of intertwining the narrative of

thesesouls live. The use of metal only adds to the pieces, connecting

the body versus that of the soul.

them to natural decay, rust, putrefying states, melting, dissolving and

It allows for an environment where the f igures are eternally menaced

dissociation to express the impermanence of their bodily life. I want the

by some invisible and sombre power. The insecurity of torment and fear

viewer to be immersed in this extreme environment and feel the tension

pervade the world in which the f igures move.

for themselves.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Brittany MIcho Drift in the Wisps, Wander and Wane, 2020 Oil and patina on copper

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Emma Corwin An that's how it makes you feel, 2021 (detaill of) An that's how it makes you feel Oil on Canvas

EMMA CORWIN Spring 2021 Capstone – Painting Artist Statement Journey of Devotion- Painting Series

This is a series of oil paintings on canvas. As I progressed on this body,

What is a pilgrimage? A pilgrimage is a journey of devotion. It is a search for

motifs and perceptual challenges drove how the paintings were

transformation. It is not easy or simple. The destination is not always direct.

approached. The speed and application varied and the solutions that

One may hear the word “pilgrimage” and think of themes like saints, and

arose relied on balance; a balance between energetic and controlled

walls, and religion, but pilgrimages should not be viewed so narrowly. There

compositions, a balance between flat and organic marks, a balance

are religious pilgrimages, but there are also individual pilgrimages, and

between delicate and abrasive applications and colors. This balance was

pilgrimages that seek cultural and systemic progress. This body explores all

echoed in the broader theme of pilgrimages to reflect the energy they

of these journeys and the places they take us.

possess. This series is an ongoing quest for recognition and transformation in journeys of devotion.

TYLER WILSON Spring 2021 Capstone – Printmaking Artist Statement I create paintings and prints with busy compositions that employ

The texture draws the viewer in close while the narrative makes them take

def initive strokes and lines, emotive color, and thoroughly layered

a step back. My color palette sways towards red and warm colors because

textures. Using these physical techniques, my large-scale, mixed

they are more violent and expressive. The technique of my mark-making

media artworks portray the fatigue of everyday rapidity, the struggle

is loose with a brush and harsh with a palette knife. Recently, I’ve picked

of existence, and the interactivity between individuals. To do this, my

up the practice of a cycle of addition-removal-addition which allows

paintings employ ordinary materials of everyday use that promote decay,

me to be subtractive with painting and create dirtier-looking images.

variability, and the “human” in the craftsmanship of my work.

In addition, most of my works are large because I want the viewer to be

I’ve always been attracted to the cracks in the paint rather than the

absorbed into the piece rather than feel like they are looking through a

painting. I would go into museums and look at the way the paint would

window. My work would almost shrink if placed into a f rame which is why

decay on old oil paintings. I would bring this lens of the imperfect out into

I prefer to keep them unf ramed.

the streets and notice all the dirt on the ground, the lichen growing on

My practice is inspired by countless art historical f igures such as Jean-

the walls, and the slight differences of texture in the concrete. My main

Michel Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, Jean Dubuffet, Barnett Newman,

themes revolve around the ordinary person, perfect imperfections, and

Sigmar Polke, Anselm Kiefer, and many more that I cannot list for the

the blessings of mediocrity. I connect dirtiness, normality, and the typical

sake of brevity. I think perhaps the biggest inspiration is Jean Dubuffet

person together to create a less perfect art that doesn’t pander to the

and his idea of the art brut, and since I am already too corrupted in the

mediocre but attempts to mimic it. From my perspective, the less perfect

art historical world, I can only emulate Jean Dubuffet's vision and attempt

a piece is; the more interesting it becomes. The flaws and imperfections of

to marry art culture and art brut. I put a contemporary spin on this and

an object are what makes that object what it is, and to idealize an object

address hopelessness, loss of identity, and the creation and destruction of

is to make what it is not.

meaning in ordinary people while creating art that attempts to convince

The idea of imperfection is presented in two ways: 1) the treatment of the

ugliness and naivety to look beautiful. This is in direct conflict with the

materials (physicality), and 2) the narrative of the piece (informativeness).

contemporary push towards the corporate and the clean with brands

Both elements are key to having an interesting artwork because they lean

controlling more and more of the public attention.

on each other and cater to different viewers, which increases the piece’s accessibility and viewer retention.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Tyler Wilson Footstool, What Can You Do?, 2021 Printmaking

CLAIRE GOLDSTROM Spring 2021 Capstone – Painting Artist Statement: Liminality contains all that lies neither here nor there. Places, items, and

This occipital pulse pushes the viewer into the thresholds of binary

moments that exist in terminals of undef ined. Moved by the qualities of

responses; intrigue and uncertainty, recognition and confusion.

the liminal and transition, I created this collection of works to operate as

Flat blocks of color establish structure and recognizable forms,

the sower.

counterbalanced by thin, washes of blended imagery. Overlay of these

The work zaps sparks of recognition into clouded f ields; phonetics into

binaries causes the viewer to receive the work in its liminality: reaching

breath. Eerie, but warm pastels create domestic routines and spaces

for phantoms and impressions of what once was, impenetrable feelings of

as they unfold into memorial flashes. Much like when the eye projects

wind caught on skin.

previously viewed imagery onto the backs of eyelids, these works have familiar shapes and form, but the complete thought of the image is lost.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Claire Goldstrome Draft, 2021 Installation shot

ELISE RIBAUDO Spring 2021 Capstone – Drawing Artist Statement Much of my work is focused on material exploration and experimentation.

I’ve always found art to be my most effective means of communication.

I'm always testing out different unconventional materials and methods of

Art allows me to express and explain myself when words fail me. Creative

creating. A common theme throughout my work is the distortion of the

expression is a power that I am so grateful for; one that I want to share with

familiar into the unfamiliar, whether it be through materials or imagery.

as many people as I can. I want others to see the beauty in the grotesque

I want viewers to be intrigued yet disturbed when they look at my art;

the way that I do. There is always something beautiful to be uncovered, and

to simultaneously want for more and for less. This collaboration of the

there is always something ugly to be uncovered as well. My work is about

beautiful and the grotesque reflects my perception of myself and much

finding them both and showing them to the rest of the world.

of the world around me. I see myself as a complex and confusing mess of different layers, much like my work.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Elise Ribaudo EAtME, 2021 (detail of) EAtME Drawing

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Luis Santacruz Los Hombres, 2021 Las Mujeres, 2021

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LUIS SANTACRUZ Spring 2021 Capstone – Painting Artist Statement I have forgotten the memories of my Mexican home. My family and I

My identity as an immigrant has given me limitations. I cannot visit

embarked on the journey to America when I was four. We were part of

family in Mexico or leave the country, I can’t vote, and I cannot apply

a Mexican diaspora, where violence, poverty, and corrupt politics would

for citizenship. I am having to f ind part of my cultural identity through

push us out, and the greener pastures of American capitalism would

means of technology and the resources I have available to myself.

pull us in. During this transition, we had to leave everything - family

I begin the paintings by looking at Mexican artists like Frida Kahlo,

pictures, furniture, heirlooms, and the very home that my father built for

Nahum B. Zenil, and Jose Maria Valesco. I also look to classical artists like

our family. We had to make it seem like we were only visiting the United

Diego Velasquez and contemporary artists like Njideka Akunyili Crosby,

States to avoid questioning by immigration agents. My Mexican identity

where a lot of my inspiration for subject matter and composition comes

and history stayed trapped in Mexico, caged by the politics that have

f rom. This results in the use of photo media to create my composition

def ined our lives. This has caused a deep desire in me to connect to my

through layers that are reflective of different parts of my identity. I rely

Mexican heritage and unravel the identity that has been suppressed by

on old family photos to give me a glimpse and idea of life in Mexico.

the idealization of the successful American.

I also take photos myself to capture my family in the poses I feel are

In the United States, I have always felt marginalized – “ni de aqui, ni de

best for the composition. The plants and wildlife that surround my

alla”, (I am neither f rom here nor there). This idea of being the outsider

family are symbolic of the great virtues and positive attributes that my

has prompted me to shift my artwork to depict myself and my reality.

family has provided to our host country and as a reminder that we are

I hope to infuse my work with the beauty and grace that I see in my

a part of nature. I hope this work will make the viewer rethink what role

identity and that of other immigrants - which is in stark contrast to what

immigrants have in shaping the American landscape.

the media and politics have shaped us to be.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Isabel Heiland Unknown Planet, 2021 Drawing

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ISABEL HEILAND Spring 2021 Capstone – Drawing Artist Statement: Recently, I have found that I am still learning about what art means to me

I want to encapsulate that same gravity that nature holds, like a thousand-

and what my artwork encapsulates. Art, in a general sense, is constantly

year-old tree standing strong in a forest, and also the gravity surrounding

changing the more I learn about myself and through my education. I am

the situation that is global warming and the destruction of our planet. My

conf ident in saying, however, that I use my art as a means of release. I

pieces are somber, but they are also a celebration of planet Earth.

want to be able to communicate to others how I see the world. This is one

Art helps me process the trauma Mother Earth is going through and helps

of the best uses of art, in my opinion.

me f igure out what I can do about it. From start to f inish, working on a

One of the ways I view the world has to do with the environment- nature

project leads me down paths that further inform my practice and pushes

has a big influence on my everyday life and helps keep me grounded

me out of my comfort zone, material-wise. Art is, of course, also a creative

and curious. Because of this, I wish to use my art as the vehicle for my

outlet, where I don’t have to communicate with words (something I’m not

environmental and sustainability work. I minored in Botany here at CSU,

great with at times). I really enjoy looking at the world through different

which gave me even more of an appreciation for the natural world than

lenses as it broadens my language, so to speak. It’s not so much of a

I already had. The more I learn, the more I want to help aid in the battle

literal language, but a cache of feelings, and it simply adds more into my

against climate change and the negligence of humans. By using materials

“vocabulary” of how I experience the world, the environment, and my life.

such as ash, recycled paper pulp clay, and dried natural matter, among other typical 2D mediums, I wish to convey a sense of gravity in my work.

ELLIOT STEMEN Spring 2021 Capstone – Painting Artist Statement My work shows repetitive imagery, compositions, subject matter, and

I show motion through unsteady lines. Using imagery of industrial waste

colors as a critique of the echo chamber of ideas that are presented on

spawned by COVID-19 acts a metaphor for the limitation of ideas that

social media and media at large. There are mannerisms that people

we succumb ourselves to when failing to question simple ideologies.

follow, habits that get formed all in a quest to be seen as a better, or

Social media platforms in particular fail to offer us the motivation to

more humorous, or more genuine, or more intelligent human being.

engage with deeper conversations that we have in our daily lives. And

The idea of needing to act a certain way or look a certain way or talk a

at times can push a narrative that deeper conversations and better

certain way to gain the approval of others deeply f rightens me. It takes

understandings are inherently less important because of manipulative

away what makes us each unique and can limit new approaches to

functionalities like ‘likes’ and ‘comments.’ This is worrisome when social

intuitive thought.

media has become a major, or the major, means of communication for

Using flat oils and acrylics to depict scenes of human and animal

many of us.

interaction, I aim to show the monotony of ideas proposed through

The flat composition of the works also acts as a representation of what

media. I enjoy working with large spaces of color, but deliberately shying

is happening in the images we view without the application of a perfect

away f rom using stencils or tape to create my linework. This is because

f ilter, witty caption, or predisposed attitude towards the person who is

I f ind it important to show my hand in the work, as I believe there is life

posting. I f ind it paramount that as a society we view social media sites,

behind these rather static compositions.

not through fantastical lens, but as they are.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Elliot Stemen Untitled (Culling Scene), 2021 Acrylic on wood

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BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Preot Collins Extinction Codex (Pages Eighteen & Nineteen), 2021 Devonian Extinction, 2021

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PREOT COLLINS Spring 2021 Capstone – Drawing Artist Statement I have always been interested in storytelling. From listening to NPR in

movies, graphic novels, and animation in the ’80s.

my f ree time to watching foreign cartoons, I f irmly believe there is a

There's a certain energy and rawness within these works I wish to

story in all knowledge that comes my way. Absorbing that information, I

encapsulate into my own pieces. Using the same medium as many of

create stories complete with various creatures and characters. Art is just

these creators, I have adopted ballpoint pens, watercolor, and occasionally

what brings my phantasms into reality. Another key element outside of

digital painting programs into my own practice.

storytelling is science. Reality and science often inform my fantastical

In recent years environmental protection has become a strong theme in

ideas. Having a balance between fact and f iction is important to me,

my work.

making my work relatable.

My current art pieces focus on humanities’ destructive nature, animal

The story is f irst priority in my work, making my medium second.

extinction, and new ages dominated by our distant great-grandchildren.

Recently, creating maps, f ictitious f ield guides, and medieval-inspired

There is a charm to each piece however a grim undertone upon

manuscripts aids me in pursuing my creative needs. I feel as though

inspection, all acting as forewarnings to prevent environmental

these items bring reality into my work when it strays too far into the

catastrophe.

fantastical because these items are objects viewers can interact with and are recognizable. This is especially the case with maps and manuscripts. However, these pieces don’t often follow traditional conventions and thus are unique to my creative process. I’ve likewise always been inspired by concept art and the roughness of its appearance, particularly f rom

JAYLEEN SERRANO 2020 Fall Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: Many people think of art as a tangible product, a visual and tactile

When coding a website, I consider the colors, the shapes, and the form.

experience. Others expand art to include the conceptual, like

I believe traditional art techniques and styles can—and should—be

performance art and social experiments. And for most, art is perceived as

applied to digital media. I experiment with this interaction in most of

antithetical to STEM. The dichotomy of liberal arts and STEM f ields is often

my work, including the graphic design pieces submitted to this show.

f ramed as being antagonistic—both general camps are purported to be

The relationship between modernity and tradition, often wrought with

contemptuous towards the other.

tension, is one that can be pushed, pulled, and transformed.

I gravitate towards the intersection between these two seemingly

My art is all things I impart on space with intentionality. Whether this is

dissonant subjects. From constructing a functional Gameboy with 3d

digital, physical, or conceptual, I take my time with each creation and

designed and printed parts to coding a meticulously designed website, I

release it, carving out a space in this world for the art I wish to share.

f ind that the two are not mutually exclusive. A soldering iron becomes a pen, melting metal the way I crosshatch a shadow.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Jayleen Serrano Osun Osogbo, 2020 Box mockup

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BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Rachel Macia Medical Gameif ication Timeline, 2021 Infographics

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RACHEL MACIAS Spring 2021 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement My work involves the relationship between art, design, and narrative,

This experience has shown me a lot about how illustration and design

and explores the way visual mediums can enhance the storytelling

can enhance the storytelling of journalism. Concerning education,

and visual branding experience of viewers. I often consider my artwork

I come f rom a family of educators and have always appreciated the

as an extension of a larger narrative. When I am in the process of

unconventional, dedicated, and passionate approaches our educators

creating an illustration or design, I consider the context of the larger

take to make a difference in people’s lives. Many of my projects

story or ideas it will represent. I think of my work in correlation to these

have been centered around the idea of art and design as a means

narratives, and not as a separate entity that would clash with or detract

of enhancing educational materials, such as museum branding,

f rom them. As a designer, I need to keep in mind that my work serves

creating promotional materials for children’s programs, and illustrating

alongside a client’s vision, and is often a result of a collaboration rather

for children’s storybooks. I consider the impact that my visual

than an individual endeavor.

communication can have on the informative experiences of others and

Some of the driving forces behind much of my work include my interest

I actively choose to make that impact a positive, more impactful one

in the professions of journalism and education. Concerning journalism,

through my art and design.

I have been illustrating for print media for six years and page designing for print media for two years, so my artistic and design skills have grown alongside and been informed by my print media experience.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Britt Thompson I Dreamt a Dream, 2020 Book design Digital print

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BRITT THOMPSON Fall 2020 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: Art has always been a huge part of my life. I was about nine years old when

In my art, I am primarily drawn to digital illustration. I love digital art

I decided that I wanted to be a graphic designer when I grew up. Being an

because it allows you to create works of art that can be easily shared to

artist was something I’ve always wanted and have been striving for since I

many different audiences. Sharing my artwork via social media has been

was a little girl.

my favorite method of reaching a multitude of audiences these days.

I’m constantly inspired by artists showing their work to the world and

Lately, a majority of my art has looked like children based illustrations.

creating art that makes people feel and experience things. Sha’an

Children’s books have been a massive inspiration for me this past year and

d’Anthes is one of my favorite artists of all time who does this. Her art is

the art I have been creating reflects that. These illustrations are one of my

illustration based and childlike which is something that I’ve always been

favorite things to put on social media and share with the world. My hope

drawn to. She has this ability to create youthful artwork that talks about

is that when people, young or old, look at my art they will be able to sense

important issues when needed and that is so powerful. This is something I

the childlike nature behind it and f ind joy in that.

am striving for in my own work. Being able to create childlike art that also contains an underlying meaning or story is something that drives me in my creation.

BFA EXHIBITION 2021

Linsday Gomez Banuelos La Llorona, 2020 Book Covers Digital print

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LINDSAY GOMEZ BANUELOS Fall 2020 Capstone – Graphic Design Artist Statement: My work as a designer and illustrator combines elements of both

As an illustrator, I believe diversity and experimentation are incredibly

practices to create communicative and engaging work.

important. Diversity is a key factor in my work because I want to be

As a designer, I believe in the importance of communication and

able to create pieces that share specif ic experiences in a way that many

attention to detail. My work focuses on the initial message a design

can understand. Illustrative work has the power to connect people

conveys to the audience. This communication begins very early in my

f rom many different backgrounds and can start important discussions.

process as this message should be what the designer wants the audience

Experimentation allows me to work with different material as well as in

to perceive. The attention to detail comes in the adaptability of the design

both digital and traditional art settings to create unique solutions.

to work in different media and for different audiences.