The presumed consequence with which I disagree, however, is that the ternary confluence of College, Career and Citizenship is sufficient. While obviously self-serving for an art/design administrator to claim, I believe that adding “C” #4 – Creativity – to the mix provides an effective and efficient accelerant to the three-C imperative that institutions must provide. The dynamic global context not only allows, but relentlessly demands that individuals accrue complex capabilities, versatility, and dynamic identities. Creativity can and should be taught to everyone. It is teachable
From
B rya n Ro g e r s , D e a n
and can be learned by everyone. In fact, once one has opened the doors of Creativity, it becomes a driving
The Four “C”s Not so long ago, College (“C” #1) was simply College –
force, not simply a vocational skill. It is a highly transferable approach to problem-construction and problemsolving. This is hardly a radical point of view. Social institutions of all
Even more recently, “C” #3 –
types, namely financial and industrial
Citizenship – or active engagement
institutions, are currently extolling
with a global society, has become an
the importance of Creativity.
expectation for both College and Career.
The stories of individuals in this
College must not only lead directly to
issue of Emergence testify to the value
a kind of loose and fuzzy stepping
a Career, the Career must engage the
of Creative thinking. Michigan Art &
stone to whatever was next –
pressing problems and possibilities
Design has set out to unleash Creativity,
a special time-out prior to fully engaging
related to environmental sustainability,
not only in our small, cloistered
one’s emerging future – typically reserved
social justice, public health, and other
community, but throughout the
for the privileged few. Individuals
global issues. Citizenship means more
University, and the broader community
pursued College with a blind faith
than simply having a lucrative job.
While the three “R”s remain
that it would facilitate a meaningful,
can “andCreativity should be taught
essential, the four “C”s must become
to everyone. It is teachable and can be learned by everyone.
Now it’s time to bring Creativity
even prosperous life. Fortunately, from my point of view, many vestiges of that enterprise remain, but the territory has become more complex. More recently, “C” #2 – Career – has developed an intimate kinship with College, which is now charged with preparing students for nameable,
imperative in higher education. College, Careers, and Citizenship have established their legitimacy. on board. It’s available to anyone.
”
Faculty across universities, especially in art/design domains, stand ready to lead the charge. Once the powers-
immediately lucrative jobs. College
While one could yearn for an earlier,
that-be at institutions of higher
is increasingly a training experience
less complex time, I do not. The
education acknowledge and enable
where high-priced professionals groom
national and global cultures we have are
this imperative, both individuals and
future generations for high-priced
the ones we have made. While Careers
the economic and social engines of
professional Careers. The escalating
have become equated with individual
the global culture will thrive.
cost of College and the consequent
identity and personal survival in
expectation of a Career return on
society, Citizenship is essential for
investment go hand-in-hand.
collective identity and survival.
1 • Emergence summer 2010
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Every grand American accomplishment,
every innovation that has benefited and enriched our lives, every lasting social transformation, every moment of profound insight any American visionary ever had has been the fruit of the creative imagination, of the ability to reach beyond received ideas and ready-made answers to some new place, some new way of seeing or hearing or moving through the world. — Michael Chabon
Fast Forward People in creative fields im mediately recognize the truth of this statement.
And professionals across the work spectrum are coming to acknowledge it as well. In the midst of a world characterized by accelerating change, the qualities of creativity, holistic thinking, and innovation — the hallmarks of an art and design education —are increasingly in demand. This is, in part, because preparing emerging professionals today means educating them for work roles in a future that we can’t even begin to imagine. In work, and in life, success is and will continue to be about being nimble, strategic, and fluid. Daniel Pink, author of A Whole
Whatever the field, “Art and design
with uncertainty, ambiguity, and the
New Mind concurs. He states that
processes help people develop fresh
paradox of invention.” - Linda Naiman,
while the Information Age was
thinking through aesthetic ways
founder of Creativity at Work.
characterized by logical and precise
of knowing, imagination, intuition,
These big picture statements are
left-brain thinking, we are now in the
re-framing and exploring different
confirmation of a new awareness.
Conceptual Age — “ruled by artistry,
But even more resonant are the real
empathy, and emotion.” Within this
world stories that demonstrate how
We asked A&D alums
new era, “the winners are designers, inventors, counselors, ethnographers, social psychologists, and other rightbrain folks, while lawyers, engineers, accountants, and other left-brainers will see their jobs migrate to Asia.” Pink continues, ”The ability to see the big picture, connect the dots, combine disparate things into something new —It’s a signature ability that is a great predictor of star
an art and design education prepares graduates for not just one professional outcome, but for many. We a sked A & D a lu m s — some who graduated decades ago and some who have just left school — to describe how they got from here (A&D) to there (a career), and the
— some who graduated decades ago and some who have just left school —
performance in the workplace. Visual
them find their way. It’s a snapshot of the variety, richness, challenge, and satisfaction that characterize a
artists in particular are good at seeing
perspectives. Art-based processes also
how the pieces come together.”
help people learn to be comfortable
michigan art & design
tools and techniques that helped
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life in art and design.
summer 2010 Emergence • 2
Making the case for Creative Thinking Linda Holliday BFA ‘79 Media, Internet and Marketing Entrepreneur
Getting through art school is, itself, an incredibly entrepreneurial process, from how
do I buy paint and pay rent? To figuring out what the assignment is, to transporting sculptures. You name it, art school is full of sink or swim experiences. After graduation, I definitely hit the ground running in my jobs, not just because I could think outside the box but because I really knew how to get things done. My industrial design education at A&D helped me put structure around the problemsolving process. Most complicated problems are design problems in that they are about reconciling incompatible requirements. So, design training is exactly what’s necessary for solving the big problems facing business, government, and ecology. Furthermore, most problems are too complicated to understand unless they can be visualized. The exact intelligence needed to visualize problems is visual intelligence! I had no career plan when I graduated. All I had was voracious curiosity. Curiosity and the desire to expose myself to challenges of all sorts—emotional, conceptual, physical, intellectual, sensual—this is the hallmark of the first- rate creative personality. Follow what makes you excited, juicy, scared. Learn everything you can. It has a way of all coming together in new challenges and
3 • Emergence summer 2010
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M a n y b r i l l i a n t p e o p l e leave school thinking they are not very smart. And that’s not their fault.
It’s because the culture of education is not designed to identify the full range of human talents. — Sir Ken Robinson
C r e at i v i t y is the process of bringing something new into being...creativity requires passion and commitment. Out of the creative act are born symbols and myths. It brings to our awareness what was previously hidden and points to new life. The experience is one of heightened consciousness–ecstasy. — R o l lo M ay, T h e C o u r ag e to C r e at e
new accomplishments. One of my
that time science had no status?
favorite quotes is ‘in the end, life
The humanities ruled. Thankfully the
is always right.’ It will happen.
monoculture era is winding down a bit
I actually went from art school to
and the value of whole brain thinking,
business school, which was unusual
visual thinking, beauty, design are
at the time. Now, John Maeda, Vice
all being re-evaluated. Intuition
President of RISD, is saying that MFAs
isn’t a dirty word anymore!
are the new MBAs. After graduation
I believe that a degree in art and
I went into cable television marketing,
design is one of the most practical
sports marketing, television production
degrees for the future. Professions
and then starting an interactive
and skills that don’t require intuition,
marketing agency, which I sold two
imagination and creative process
years ago. We had a creative department
mastery are in danger of being
of over 70 people, and obviously I used
automated or outsourced to lower labor
my education guiding the development
cost markets. The valued professions
of the creative. Lately, I’ve been working
and skills 10 years from now won’t
all consuming interest in a
as a seed stage investor, advising
look the same as 10 years ago.
particular field. Enjoying being
and investing in companies that
I also think it’s imperative for artists
immersed in a field of interest
specialize in media and technology.
and visual thinkers to be articulate
We’re moving from a mechanistic
about these distinctions and these
view of the world to a systems view
values, to be evangelists about their
I was lucky enough to have
of the world, from reductionism
contributions. It’s kind of shocking
worked with two Chicago art
to complexity, from linear to the
to me, actually, that many creative
quantum. With the recent emphasis
people I meet, even at high levels
on ‘mathandscience’ empirical
in their fields, can be uninformed
encouraged me to establish my
evidence, and ‘metrics metrics
and inarticulate about these issues.
own practice. Their mentoring
metrics,’ the visual and the intuitive
Who can we expect to defend us in
have suffered low status. Did you
this way of thinking and about the
know the term scientist was coined
importance of these contributions
from science + artist because at
if we don’t defend ourselves?
michigan art & design
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other voices
I believe any successful career is borne out of a passion or
will eventually bring about a successful career or at least reward one with happiness.
collectors early in my career. They believed in my approach towards interior design and
was key to my success.
– Leslie Jones, (BFA ‘83) Interior Designer Leslie Jones, Inc.
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summer 2010 Emergence • 4
Career Stories
Edible Art Baker
Heather Anne Leavitt BFA ‘07 on how painting, sculpture and food can all come together to make a career
Instead of being prepped to fit
learned lots of new techniques
into a specific career path, going to art school gave me the
and got a better sense for the ins
tools to figure out what I wanted to do, and the ambition to
and outs of the cake business.
figure out how to get there.
I currently run a cake
I went to art school thinking I’d go into graphic design.
business called Sweet Heather
But I realized pretty quickly that I had a lot more fun
Anne here in Ann Arbor.
working in three dimensions. I entertained the idea
(sweetheatheranne.com). I use
of going into industrial design, but a semester in Italy
the skills from my sculpture,
studying sculpture and falling in love with cooking
industrial design, and painting
changed my path. I came back, passionate about food, and
classes on a daily basis. My
eager to express this passion through my artwork.
time in CFC (an A&D core
I actually started making cakes for my senior thesis project
course on developing concepts)
at A&D. Being able to spend a full year on one project, after
has also had a large impact on
trying out so many different media, gave me the opportunity
my work. Most of the cakes I
to find something that I was really passionate about.
make are completely different
When I graduated, I went to a local cake shop and
from anything I’ve ever made
volunteered to help out on busy weekends. Then, the owner
before, so I rely heavily on
asked me to be her assistant on a series of Food Network
creative problem solving... and
Challenges. I met cake artists from all over the country,
perseverance.
other voices
No matter how talented you are, you will have to prove yourself to your employers on many levels in order to gain their confidence. If you graduate confident in your abilities it will carry you very far. Be confident. Be creative. Become successful. Give back.
– Jason Phillips (BFA ‘83), Furniture Designer
R e s e a r c h h a s s h o w n that in creativity quantity equals quality.
The longer the list of ideas, the higher the quality of the final solution. The highest quality ideas appear at the end of the list. — L i n da N a i m a n , F o u n d e r , C r e at i v i t y at W o r k
5 • Emergence summer 2010
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Photographer
Stephanie Seliskar BFA ‘05
on deadlines, fashion photography, and becoming an entrepreneur I am currently a fashion photographer in New York shooting fashion week runway shows, lookbooks, and stories for magazines. I have worked with Betsey Johnson, William Rast by Justin Timberlake, Charlotte Ronson, Diego Binetti, Michael Angel, Band of Outsiders
A&D taught me to build a portfolio, talk about art, and
and Sebastian Professional. My photos have been in Elle,
display work in a gallery setting. I started showing at
Cosmo, Seventeen, SURFACE and Glitterati magazines.
small gallery spaces and shops in New York, designed
The School of A&D helped teach me to be creative
an identity, and basically self-promoted for a few years.
as an artist and, just as importantly, to be creative as
Slowly but surely, I picked up clients through friends,
a business woman. I moved to New York City to start a
friends of friends, and through online promotion.
career as an art director in advertising. But once I was
A&D taught me to work hard, and accomplish (sometimes
established as a Senior Art Director, I realized I wanted to
seemingly impossible) creative tasks on deadline.
be more hands on and conceptual in image-creation. I took
Sometimes you hit a wall, and have to think differently
the jump and started a freelance photography business.
to accomplish what you set out to do. U of M gave me a
Three months later the economy tanked. So while I
background in being creative as an artist AND being
decided to start my own business at the wrong time, I used
a good business-woman by meeting deadlines.
creativity, both in art and in business to my advantage.
www.Stephanieseliskar.com
Director of Marketing
Jill Ellis BFADS ‘01
reflects on how her career goals have changed over time Leaving college, I h a d a vision
and development, as well as all aspects of the customer
for my career that included a glamorous job in advertising
experience for our suite of products and web-based tools.
where I’d ride a Vespa to work and pick up fresh flowers on my
Had I been asked eight years ago if I saw myself working
way home to my exposed brick loft. My journey has shaped
at a technology solutions company, I would have surely
up differently than I had imagined, but the well-rounded
said ‘no way.’ Joining a small early stage start-up gave me
education, creative problem-solving and analytical skill set I
the experience to wear many hats, find my strengths, and
harnessed in college equipped me to grow into business roles
carve out a niche for myself that amplified my strengths
that have proven challenging and extremely rewarding.
and encouraged me to step up to new challenges.
After spending a year as a ski-bum, I took a contract
I had a narrow view, initially, about how I could use
graphic design position with a start-up company in Santa
my degree, but ultimately, I’ve learned that an art and
Barbara, California. What began as temporary work has
design education has a much greater application in the
evolved into an eight-year career where I moved from sole
business world. I’ve seen how having a solid foundation
designer to Creative Director, and now sit as part of the
in good design, an attention to detail, a critical mind,
company’s executive management team. Today, as the
and an ability to adapt and provide creative solutions to
Marketing Director, I am responsible for the corporate
problems are relevant and valuable in the workforce.
brand and communications strategy, new product design michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 6
Career Stories
Film Director Kevin Smith BFA ‘78 on the benefits of backing into a career I gr a duated before new media beca me pa rt of the curriculum. And I was once asked if going to U of M School of Art & Design mattered given the seemingly unrelated field of television and film production I ended up in. A&D’s rich environment, however, fostered a creative way of thinking and problem solving that embraced all and transcended any specific medium at the time. While at A&D, I was most interested in areas that involved process as a big part of the aesthetic. I spent an awful lot of time in printmaking. It only makes sense in retrospect. My job now, as a director of television commercials and films, is a process driven occupation. We often start with the abstract problem of how to create a feeling about a product and end with something that becomes a part of millions of people’s lives and can change our culture. There are many steps in this process. I often fall back on everything from elemental problem-solving skills to different methods of visualization… skills I was able to develop in art school. I don’t think a vocational approach could have prepared me for the work I do now. When I was younger, I was frustrated by not having a specific job in mind, let alone one that paid well. I only knew what I liked and what I thought I was good at. I slowly backed into situations that seemed right. Looking back at it, this turns out to have been a very rewarding path. By taking smaller steps in the direction of your interests you make more well informed decisions toward a goal that will fit your changing personality, skill sets, and the current world situation.
other voices Be a risk taker. You learn from what doesn’t work and it can make what you do later stronger. Be open to every opportunity.
I think it is a mistake to look on an art education as job training, though there may be some who unlike me know exactly where they want to go. The best thing about a degree in Art & Design is having a foundation of creative thinking, which is personally rewarding and universally valuable. I can’t imagine a better background.
And never dismiss tiny moments. You just never know when something is going to jell, when that idea or opportunity is going to happen. Sometimes that thing that is not the most linear, not the most expected is that catalyst that transforms everything.
– Ruth Taubman (BFA ‘81), Jewelry Designer, Ruth Taubman, Inc.
7 • Emergence summer 2010
T o b e c r e at i v e m e a n s a sk i n g ,
“How do you see the world and how do you see it in a way that no one else does?” Those questions lead to innovation. — C r e at i v e T h i n k i n g i n t h e C l a s s r o o m , B o s to n G lo b e , F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 0 8
Footwear Designer Danielle Scarpulla BFA ‘06 “buona mano” gives her new opportunities at an Italian luxury footwear factory After graduating from Michigan I studied footwear
like accessories and weaving
design in both London and Milan before moving fulltime to Italy, where I found a job
sandal uppers. The designers
as a pattern-maker in a luxury footwear factory, Calzaturificio Della Vedova. The
we worked with also invited me
technical skills I gained at the School of Art & Design directly helped me to land the
to work in their studio when I
job, and opened doors for me within the company after I was hired. When I went for my
wasn’t needed in the factory.
initial interview for my job, the first thing that my future boss commented on was my
There I did technical sketches of
“buona mano” (good hand) – the precision and smoothness of my cutting. In this field,
lasts, consulted on shoe and heel
that skill, which I refined in my drawing, woodworking, and metalworking classes at
designs, and made color cards. The
Michigan, is invaluable. He hired me on the spot, despite the fact that I did not speak
past year of this work has been an
Italian and he did not speak English.
incredible education for me, but I
Once I began working, I was able to put to use not only my buona mano but also
would not have had the opportunity
the computer skills acquired in my many digital classes at Michigan. When my boss
to work in so many facets of the
discovered that I was trained in so many other subjects, I was given responsibility
company were it not for my broad
for managing and manipulating designs on Photoshop and Illustrator, creating line
design background from A&D.
sheets and technical spec sheets, and assisting on production – creating jewelry-
Freelance Illustrators Wendy Walters and John Brinkman BFA ‘84 discuss the winding road from hat design to children’s books As freelance illustr ators
Really nice ones. A lot of work though, especially for Wendy.
and designers living in Brooklyn under the name
One day, an accessories editor at Child Magazine who used our
“John & Wendy,” we work primarily on children’s
hats in photo shoots, suggested I show my drawing portfolio to the
books and products. Recently, Periwinkle Smith
magazine’s art director. That led to an illustration assignment. Then
and the Twirly, Whirly Tutu (PSS/Penguin, 2009),
the accessories editors strongly suggested that the art director give
which we both illustrated and wrote was published.
us the names of four or five other
In addition, for the past nine years we have
art directors, and that really got
illustrated the series Katie Kazoo Switcheroo.
the ball rolling for John & Wendy.
We’ve also worked on a variety of other projects
Is it a career? It’s been a modest and
for clients—including store windows for Barneys,
mystifyingly reliable livelihood so
packaging art and gift cards for Target, note cards
far. At the moment, the best I can say is
and prints for YeeHaw Industries, and illustrations
that I draw for a living, and that Wendy
and art for various magazines and department stores.
and I do our own thing, and work with
So how did we end up as a free-lance illustrators
a lot of cool people. And you get to
and designers? After getting a foothold in
listen to any music you want. All day
Brooklyn, Wendy and I started a little hat company.
long. Unless Wendy’s home, in which
We designed and made hats, mainly kids hats.
case no Mahavishnu Orchestra.
michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 8
The Power and Purpose of a Creative Life
Joan Sugihara BFA ‘72,
co-creator, with her daughter, of the Baggu, a reuseable, collapsible shopping bag.
I wish I had known
we begin to recognize, trust and encourage
sooner that there was more than
those embers that become the fires in our
one ‘successful’ outcome from
bellies. Rather than steering by trends, praise
studying art and design. My
from others, expert advice, or career plans, I
achiever’s orientation could only
found our training equipped me with real skills,
see one— creating a body of work
resourcefulness and creativity.
that would result in my being
Moreover, there is no career to build, there
famous! I thought doing the work
is only the daily returning to what are our real
was a means to that end. The
concerns, what do we really care about, which
tricky wonder of art training is
isn’t always what anyone else is going to be caring
in the fact that you can’t really
about at that particular time or place. There is no
make art (or a life) that way.
neat timetable—years may pass when we (and
Creativity arises in certain conditions, and fortunately those
others) may wonder what we are doing.
conditions require that you relinquish most of your smallish (and
“ It is not about
largish) ideas about yourself. Given my success perspective, there was so much riding on how good the work was at each minute. How can you
building an identity, but about accepting that we have one.”
possibly get good at something when you are so stressed about how good you are that you can’t work? Studying art and working at making art has turned out to be a way more radical activity than I imagined. And I have learned many secrets about how we can live well and happily. It requires that we
N e v e r has the need for
creativity been so compelling and never has genuine creativity been in such short supply. instead of experiencing the refreshing spray of authentic originals we risk drowning in a sea of iterations on imitations. — R ya n M at h e w s a n d Wat t s Wac k e r o f F i r s t M at t e r
9 • Emergence summer 2010
learn to live without
The challenge is and always has been the
constantly needing
courage to be simply who we are, following the
ego reinforcement.
interests we actually find arising in us. It is not
That is what actually
about building an identity, but about accepting
frees us to tinker at
that we have one. If there is joy in working with
something with no
our hands and eyes and materials and images,
idea whether it’ll
whatever they are, there is every reason in the
result in something
world to study art or design.
tangible or admired
What I value most that I learned in art school
or profitable. It
was finding the key to taking the elevator down
requires that
deep into myself—to see that my first ideas
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other voices
Find an internship for every summer/semester you have off. Don’t worry about pay. Many companies only offer unpaid internships, but the knowledge and ‘real life’ experience will out weigh any 9-5 job you can get that isn’t connected to the design field. Go to craigslist or visit sites of companies that you respect and you believe would be great to work for. – Shane Ward (BFA ‘96), Designer,
DETNY Shoe Design
were almost always irrelevant or not of sustaining interest; they were just jumping off points to begin the involvement. I used to agonize over what to draw, what to paint, and more broadly what kind of work to do, what kind of life to live etc. What I found was that there is a whole other level of involvement that only kicks in when we cede control, lose our idea, and land in some deeper water where we actually are more fully awake. Then we’re open, noticing something not even seen or felt before— and it is way more alive and interesting than what we thought we were interested in. Always follow that life. That is where the safety is. It isn’t in figuring out which careers are going to be in demand when we graduate. Training in the arts is really training in how to make authentic contact, from the belly, with our life— which is always right where we are.
T h e N o m u r a I n s t i t u t e of Japan classifies four eras of economic activity: 1) Agricultural 2) Industrial 3) Informational...
and now through the evolution of technology 4) Creative: constant innovation.
B e h a v i o r i s g e n e r at i v e ; like the surface of a fast flowing river... Generativity
is the basic process that drives all the behavior we come to label creative. — R o b e r t E p s t e i n P h D , P s y c h o lo g y To day J u ly/A u g 1 9 9 6
T h e f i r s t g e n e sequencing machine, developed by Leroy Hood while at
Caltech, was hatched by multi-disciplinary cross fertilization. “Hood needed the cooperation and assistance of computer scientists and electrical engineers,” says Hollingsworth. This kind of innovation is less likely to occur at a typical university where different departments don’t communicate with each other. — Rogers Hollingsworth , Universit y of Wisconsin Madison
michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 10
Career Stories
Owner of Motawi Tile
Nawal Motawi BFA ‘88,
decided first on lifestyle, and then, with help from UM’s College of Engineering, on a business plan I sta rted my business because I wanted to make a certain kind of
According
product, make a living at it, and be in control
to a coalition of
of my minutes. I wasn’t thinking about
researchers, 81 percent of corporate
customers or markets or anything. I wanted
leaders in America
a certain lifestyle and I went on a quest to
say that “creativity
make it happen. I was open to all sorts of
is an essential skill
options and struggled to make financial
for the 21st-century
headway. Even ten years in I didn’t feel like I
workforce.”
was making enough money for it to be worth
— C r e at i v e T h i n k i n g i n t h e C l a ss r o o m , B o s to n G lo b e , Feb ruary 23, 2008
it indefinitely. Thanks to help from Professor Liker in UM Engineering, and sustained
religiously. Matawi Tile is built on my
effort on our part, the company is now
aesthetic sense, which was highly
eighteen years old and healthy. I think about
influenced by my work at A&D.
succession, not survival.
One main concept that I use
The path to my current profession from
consciously from my schooling is
A&D is unusually direct. My concentrations
the idea that every aspect of the end
were in ceramics and figure sculpture and
product relates to the central idea.
after graduating I worked for an independent
The details should all enhance the
potter and then for Pewabic Pottery making
message. It’s important to provide the
tiles. After a few years at Pewabic, working
visual information needed to convey
in production and later bookkeeping, I got
the idea as clearly and succinctly as
restless and decided I needed to be my own
possible and no more. End products
boss. I received modest financial assistance
should be informed by the goal and
from my parents and started getting a
ideals of the maker.
The ke y to prize winning science
business education by reading Inc. magazine
is interaction and cross-fertilization. — Rogers Hollingsworth, Universit y of Wisconsin-Madison
other voices
My résumé never got me a job. The question people want to know is: ‘Do I like you?’ and ‘Can you do it?’ It’s ALL about who you know. And if you do a good job, one thing leads to another. Having anyone who cares about you at all will go a long way in the business.
– Belal El-Hibri (BFA ‘07), Film Colorist 11 • Emergence summer 2010
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I believe a creative mind is more
Gallery Owner and Painter
inclusive and expansive, and thus more open to seeing things
Augusto Arbizo MFA ‘97
and experiencing other ideas. The world today is complex. Being attuned with, and receptive to, new ideas are critical to being able to understand how we function individually and collectively, helping us to keep moving forward. I am lucky to be able to still paint and also work with artists as director of the New York gallery Eleven Rivington, a job whose
finds a balance between curating and creating his own work.
beginning I can trace all the way back to Michigan. It began as a required professional internship, while in graduate school, with an independent curator and art advisor; this evolved into opening an art gallery with her after I graduated and becoming the director. Later on, an opportunity presented itself to leave that position and to open and run a new gallery. It’s all been very organic: my job and my studio practice, while separate professionally, are intertwined, and navigating both is a constant challenge and source of great pride and accomplishment. www. Elevenrivington.com
Teaching Artist
Sara Holwerda BFA ‘06
finds challenge and flexibility
I’m working as a teaching a rtist in
A&D’s interdisciplinary program has helped me
Chicago. There’s a strong contingent of teaching artists in the city,
tremendously with one particular course that I teach
and I’ve gotten to make some great connections. As an undergrad,
periodically to adults and college students: The Creative
I didn’t really know how viable this was as a career option! It offers
Process. In all my art and writing classes there were
flexibility to make your own schedule, allows you to do your own art
general processes for generating and refining ideas. I made
work, and is constantly creative with curriculum, class proposals,
this process into a unique curriculum that I was recently
and various projects. I’ve also worked with a diverse group of
invited to share in a workshop with students through the
students in the public schools, homeless youth, and adult artists
Associated Colleges of the Midwest.
with disabilities.
Teaching art is a great way to share your knowledge and
My post-undergrad life has also been a lot of creative problem-
passion with others. It’s even more rewarding when your
solving in relation to my financial stability. The good thing about
students are eager for art. In one public school, where I
all the struggling and odd jobs is that, after only a few years, I
teach art to second-graders, a student exclaimed: ‘Art is
have established a professional teaching practice that has grown
better than gym!’ which I considered a high compliment,
enough to mostly support me, and has allowed me to have time for
and also proof that art is a vital part of early education.
developing my portfolio and selling my work. michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 12
Moving In Together The Benefits of
C r o s s - D i s cip l i n a r y C o h a bi t a t i o n
Encouraging students from all disciplines
to explore the creative possibilities of their studies is the goal of a revolutionary new interdisciplinary living-learning community in Bursely Hall on North Campus. Opening in Fall 2010, Living Arts is one of the first of its kind among American universities. It’s also the latest example of U-M’s emphasis on encouraging students to be entrepreneurial and innovative within an environment that fosters radically new ideas and creative insights.
While students will be drawn from across
introduction to creative problem solving,
“We’re providing an open,
the University, a core of undergraduates
an interdisciplinary independent study, a
interdisciplinary residential
comes from one of the four units on U-M’s
lecture series and the highly innovative
community that enables
North Campus: the School of Art & Design;
course, Creative Process, cited by the
students to pursue the kind
College of Engineering; School of Music,
Michigan Daily as “one of the University’s
of risky insights that might
Theatre & Dance; and Taubman College of
most intriquing courses.”
not occur in a traditional
Architecture and Urban Planning.
“This brings a new dynamic to living and
academic classroom
In addition to housing, Living Arts provides
learning at Michigan, and sets a standard
environment,” said Theresa
students with a large, well-equipped studio,
for the entire country,” said David Munson,
Reid, executive director of
individual and group practice rooms, wireless
dean of U-M’s College of Engineering.
Arts on Earth, sponsor of
study and collaborative-work spaces, and
“Catalyzing the creative, intuitive, analytical
Living Arts.
designated classrooms and meeting areas.
and intellectual, the program will provide
Students also participate in a set of
a unique experience in trans-disciplinary
shared course experiences, including an
collaborations among students and faculty,”
13 • Emergence summer 2010
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michigan art & design
Close Listening Lea rning the Language of Colla bor ation Cross - fert i l iz at ion, a k e y com pon en t of i n novat i v e t h i n k i ng, is t h e goa l of a growi ng n u m ber of cou r ses de v eloped by A& D facu lt y. By partnering with such fields as engineering, business, architecture, public policy, and anthropology in handson projects, A&D students and faculty learn to speak and understand other “languages,” sometimes creating new hybrid languages in the process. They also practice the arts of listening, learning, and problem solving together. What follows is a sampling of A&D courses that have trans-disciplinary teamwork at their core.
summer 2010 Emergence • 14
Close Listening Lea r ning the La nguage of Colla bor ation
Cross disciplina ry Tea mwork and real world problem solving a r e at t h e h e a rt of I n t egr at e d Product De v e lopm e n t ( I PD ) ,
a course that links Business Administration, Engineering, and Art & Design. Teamtaught by A&D Professor Shaun Jackson and Business Professor Bill Lovejoy, the course is designed to develop an appreciation for the process of customer-oriented innovation, design and manufacturing in a competitive context, working in multi-disciplinary teams where success depends more on the combination of disciplines than any one in isolation.
If student feedback is a guide, the IPD experience is exhausting, educational and very memorable. Each IPD team — consisting of students from art and design, business, and engineering— designs, manufactures and costs out a product. Then, each team pits its product against other teams’ products in two simulated markets (a web-market and a physical trade show). In both the web and physical trade shows, the public is invited to review the products and vote for their most preferred. In the past, teams have been challenged to design a disaster area portable hygiene station, an urban shopping cart, and a kitchen for someone with only one arm. The course is unique in the country in combining fully functional,
15 • Emergence summer 2010
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customer-ready prototypes with economic competition. If student feedback is a guide, the IPD experience is exhausting, educational and very memorable. And the press concurs. The course has been covered in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek as well as on CNN. In fact, for three consecutive years BusinessWeek has selected the course as one of the top design courses in the world.
Close Listening Lea r ning the L a nguage of Coll a bor ation Col l a b or at i v e t h i n k i ng a n d h a n d s - on
projects that have impact were also the goals of A&D professor John Marshall, Architecture professor Karl Daubman, and Engineering’s Max Shtein in developing the course, Smart Surfaces. Smart Surfaces’ collaborative, project-based learning environment asked undergraduate artists, designers, architects and engineers to come together to build a realworld project focused on sustainability. The goal, to create a heliotropic surface—that is, a surface powered by solar energy.
“If we’re going to solve
global issues like climate change, it will be by learning how to cross the boundaries of our disciplines, to think smarter and more creatively.” For John Marshall, this course
to-day they were also challenged
pointed to the future of education.
to negotiate and manage the
“If we’re going to solve global
differences among the cultures of
issues like climate change,
Art & Design, Architecture, and
it will be by learning how to
Materials Science Engineering.
cross the boundaries of our
As teams worked to complete their
disciplines, to think smarter
projects, another key element was
and more creatively.”
the cross-fertilization that occurred
Students had to learn how to
as discipline-based methodologies
harvest solar energy, how to do
had to be redefined and merged in
microcontroller programming,
response to concrete problems.
parametric modeling, digital
Was it successful? One Academic
fabrication and how to move
Services staff member exclaimed
beyond their usual intellectual
“You could auction off places for the
and disciplinary boundaries. Day-
next course, it was so popular!”
other voices
I needed UM to help me find my focus. I was able to explore many options, and find what I was passionate about and good at. I feel confident that I can do anything I want from this point on. If I want to be a fashion designer for the best companies in LA, I can. If I want to become a full-time artist making work for galleries, I can. If I want to continue with graphic design and become an art director for a firm one day, I can. It’s all about making these decisions, and pushing forward with what you want, and you can have it. No doubt about it. – Kevin Tudball (BFA ‘06),
Graphic Designer michigan art & design
summer 2010 Emergence • 16
Auditioning the Future
E x periential L earning at A & D “ R a r e ly d u r i n g o u r l o n g n i g h t s of finishing projects do we have the time to understand the bigger picture of our work, and reflect on the options we have as artists. However, this past summer, I was fortunate enough to have (an internship) opportunity, opening my eyes to an entirely new possibility for me as an artist.” — A l l i s o n Is e n b e r g , A & D u n d e r g r a d u at e
An a rt and design
freshman and sophomore years.
communicate with the public – all
education is a bout
“We know that employers state that
transferable skills. That project that
building skills – in concept
experience is one of their primary
was done in class, it can be used to talk
development, drawing, photoshop,
requirements, so we try to give
about your ability to problem solve.”
wood, metals, paint, indesign,
students as many opportunities as
He also applauds A&D alumni as one
ceramics, 3-D modeling, etc. But,
possible to get that experience.”
of his, and students, best resources.
ideally, it’s also about developing
Once a student has determined
“Whether it’s being part of the yearly
the skills students will need to
what s/he is interested in, the work
A&D career expo or networking
identify and pursue careers. And,
begins to make the internship a
with students, or giving advice, our
as with skill building in other areas,
reality —from training on where
alumni are invaluable. I couldn’t
learning how to become a professional happens over time, and requires
“ i n t e r n i n g
practice, practice, and more practice.
( a s a p h o t o g r a p h e r ) at the
This is where A&D’s internship
San Diego Union-Tribune was affirming and exhilarating.
program comes in. Led by John Luther,
Each week I shot from four to six assignments. Once I covered a Native American star gathering in the desert.
Career Development Coordinator,
I took photographs at a DUI checkpoint on a highway. I
the program begins its efforts to bring students closer to their post graduation futures as soon as they enter the School as freshmen. Every incoming student has an
gained a lot of confidence and I discovered that not only could I see myself taking the photos for a publication for my adult life, I would have a great time doing so, too.” — A n g e l a A n g e l a’ s Em p loy e r S ay s : “Angela
Cesere
showed she has a good working
individual orientation meeting where
knowledge of the technical skills needed in a newspaper environment.
s/he is introduced to the realm of
She also showed a very important skill: critical thinking. I wish the
careers and career development.
internship could have been longer.”
“We start out with a very open ended career exploration questionnaire that looks at students interests,
to look for opportunities and how
do my job without them.”
skills and values,” Luther explains.
to find resources to learning how
Once goals are defined and materials
“We explore what is important to
to network and develop materials
developed, students make the contacts
each person and develop a baseline
for each opportunity including
and secure the positions themselves.
that I have in mind when they
resume, cover letter, and portfolio.
“There are other universities where
come to talk with me again.”
For Luther, “My role is to show them
they have a team of people on staff
And, unlike many other schools
how to take whatever experiences
whose job it is to find placements and
and colleges that only offer
they have, whatever creative work
match students to placements. But
internships during the last two
they have, and describe it in a way
A&D’s curriculum fosters independent
years of undergraduate education,
that makes it pertinent to their job
thinking and entrepreneurship and
students at A&D can apply for
search. If you’ve waited on tables,
the internship program mirrors those
internships as early as their
you work well under pressure, and
values.” Because A&D students
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michigan art & design
“( w o r k i n g
at S c o u t P r o d u c t i o n s ) opened my eyes to
how I can apply my creative, out-of-the-box thinking and my digital and graphic design interests in the real world. It allowed me to gets hands-on experience in a creative and fast-paced environment where I could apply both my research skills and artistic/design knowledge.” — A l l i s o n Is e n b e r g ( B FA ’ 0 9 ) A l l i s o n ’ s e m p lo y e r c o mm e n t e d : “ In
addition to her can-do attitude,
Allison impressed us with her graphic arts talents. With very little supervision, Allison designed drafts of pitch books, relying on her own sense of creativity. She also contributed to many creative brainstorms, never afraid of jumping right in.”
take responsibility for their own
navigate the world independently.
If
you can provide an
internships, they get early and, we
As John sums it up, “Are the
hope, multiple opportunities to practice
internship results different than
the application process for themselves,
if a student had been part of a
just as they will once they graduate.
different program? Maybe. But the
The program provides students with
journey is definitely going to be very
resources, time, and support and, in
different. The person who graduates
please contact John Luther
return, they are expected to assume
is different — with bigger ideas, and
at jonel@umich.edu
a certain level of responsibility. The
more confidence in his/her abilities
or 734-647-7761
goal is to have graduates who can
to enter the working world.”
“M y
internship for an
A&D student, or know of an internship opportunity,
p h o t o i n t e r n s h i p in the Bravo digital department in New
York exposed me to so many new things. I was quickly thrown into the photo editing process, choosing images for various online photo galleries. I was also a part of weekly editorial team meetings, and even asked to contribute my ideas. I met new people, made great connections and came away with new skills and confidence.” — M e r e d i t h
M e r e d i t h ’ s
Em p loy e r s ay s :
Kramer
“ Meredith brought original ideas to
Bravo, and had a passion and eagerness for learning. She is an extremely dedicated and strong person and we at Bravo have all benefited from having her work here. We would love to have her back anytime.”
other voices I have always believed that you need to be smart, disciplined, tough, driven, and willing to say no. Additionally, you need to have a good handle on what you are trying to accomplish, how much risk you are willing to take, and what it really takes to build a leading company. Those are just a few of the skills that come to mind – in the final analysis, there is no substitute for hard work and a determination to outperform your competition.
speakers tell graduates to follow their passion. But to me, that is too simple an approach, and one that can often lead to disappointment. Realistically, it is hard to know with any degree of certainty what your passion is when you are 21 years old. I think the better advice is to try to figure out what you are good at, and then to do your absolute best at it. In your twenties, you need guidance to build the foundation for
I know that many commencement
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to get that guidance is a wellmanaged business with talented leaders and a commitment to growing its people. And once you are working for that business, you should try to set aside many of life’s distractions and focus on making your employer (and ultimately yourself) be as successful as humanly possible.
– Roe Stamps, A& D’s Dean’s Advisory Council summer 2010 Emergence • 18
Photographs by J a m e s ro t z A & D G raduate S tudent
Moving Out
A&D Seniors Enter the World In the midst of this global shift in work, the next crop of A&D seniors prepared for graduation, signaling their launch into the "real world.” Graduation is also the time each year when seniors unveil their Integrative Projects, bodies of work meant to synthesize their A&D educational experiences. Each senior has had the whole year to plan, conceptualize, and build a single project of his/her choosing. With the help of faculty advisors, students manage their own creative processes and working schedules. And they each do this work in an individual dedicated studio provided by the generosity of A&D donors Penny and Roe Stamps. This April students exhibited the fruits of their year-long efforts in galleries and theaters across campus and off-site.
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In April students exhibited the fruits of their yearlong efforts in galleries and theaters across campus and off-site.
michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 20
Alumni Updates
1950s
am a signature member of The Audubon
their own towns. Those interested can get
Artist Association, receiving an award at
information from www.oildrumart.org.
their fall exhibition in New York City.
Jim Adair (BSDES ‘52) I live in New Paltz, NY and work out of my
John Rieben (BSDES ‘57)
art gallery /studio. After a 42-year career
Jack Lardis
in New York City advertising as an art
I launched a nonprofit art organization
in Graphis Posters 2010. Graphis
director, I came to this wonderful upstate
in 2003 called Oil Drum Art. Its mission
features the best in design, advertising,
Hudson River Valley region to initiate a
is to recycle 55-gallon oil drums by
photography and Illustration. The Poster
15-year experience with viticulture and
having artists transform them into
Annual presents the best internationally
wine making at Adair Vineyards. Now
artworks. Part of our program involves
produced work from the previous year. I
that operation is sold and I have been
students painting drums and creating
have also reached that senior citizen
painting watercolors for the past 12 years,
public art for inner-city parks, municipal
category of emeritus professor. I now
a desire established and nurtured at UM
buildings and neighborhoods. Over
spend half the year in Florida and then
but not acted upon until moving to the
300 drum artworks have been created
migrate north to Wisconsin when I have
land of the Hudson River School painters.
and deployed throughout the state.
been assured Spring is in full bloom. I
(My wine label bore a reproduction
Recently, Oil Drum Art has partnered with
keep fairly busy creating trademarks and
of Asher Durand’s “Solitary Oak.” )
the Naugatuck Valley Arts Council to create
posters for whatever clients I can locate.
A recent exhibition of my work was at my
a “Drums For Troops” initiative, inviting
And when that is not enough, I paint.
Red Pump Studio/Gallery in August ‘09. I’m
15 schools to paint drums with patriotic
planning another show for August 2010,
themes. The drums will be filled with
in tandem with the new owner of Adair
donated goods and supplies and shipped
Vineyards. I am a signature member and the
to our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
first vice president of North East Watercolor
This is a pilot program. We hope media
Society where I received an award at their
coverage will help interest other groups in
33rd Annual International Exhibition. I
initiating “Drums For Troops” projects in
21 • Emergence summer 2010
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al u m n i
(BSDES ‘54)
u p dat e s
I recently had two posters included
•
1960s
pieces was a figure called “O.K., O.K., Lord!”
system that revolutionized the way offices worked and are planned. Yes, we invented the tools that created the cubicle.
Jules Strabel (BSDES ‘60)
And it was done in Ann Arbor as well! My contributions were many, including
I was in the Michigan Watercolor Show,
the product design of the first installation
the School of Art & Design Storm
of the system at the U of Tennessee in
Show, the Kentucky watercolor show,
1965 and the custom design of the first
and the I.S.E.A.International Society
human factored computer workstation
of Experimental Artists Show where I
for Dr. Doug Engelbart, the inventor of
received an award. I was also fortunate
the world’s first computer mouse in 1968.
to get into Charles McGee’s Urban Edge
In fact, as a result, I wound up designing
Show for the Grosse Point Artists, as well
the world’s first mouse pad along with
as Wayne County Community College’s
several major components of Action
Self Portrait Show. I need to live another 100 years to do all that I wish to do.
Office, recognized by the International
Russell Thayer
Society of Industrial Designers as the
(BS ‘57, MA ‘61)
best design from 1960 to 1985.
As the result of winning a Michigan State University competition, I recently completed and installed a large-scale sculpture, Windrapids II, on the MSU campus at the entrance of the BioMedical Physical Science Building. The smaller Windrapids I is in Birmingham, Michigan. Both were fabricated in our Franklin, Michigan, studio home that has been featured in both Style and Ambassador magazines.
Matthew Zivich
My wife Nancy, a painter with three pieces in the collection of the Detroit
(BSDES ‘60)
Institute of Arts, and I are also both
I was recently included in the School
currently teaching classes at the School
of Art & Design Work•Detroit show,
of Art & Design. We both recently
Migration. My art work, “Prairie
showed our work in a two-person show
Home Companion,” was featured on
at the Marshall Fredericks Museum at
the posters promoting this show and
Saginaw Valley State University, and my
also on the Work • Detroit web page.
sculpture was included in the invitational
Stephanie Duran (BSDES ‘64) My daughter, Gabrielle Lyon, received a Presidential Award for her non-profit organization Project Exploration, that works to ensure experiences with science by populations traditionally overlooked—
Michigan Masters exhibition at the
particularly minority youth and girls.
Kresge Art Museum in East Lansing.
www.projectexploration.org. I also have two sons. Raphael graduated from
Jack Kelley (BS ‘62)
Brown with honors and is a musician/
In 2009, the Muskegon Museum of Art,
sculptor and does installations all over
in cooperation with Herman Miller, Inc.
the world. He also finished a film, i film,
and the Ford Museum put on an exhibit
shot in Buenos Aires when Argentinian
of the design history of Herman Miller.
banks were all failing. His website is
I was fortunate to have been employed by
mudboymusic.com. Lucas works with planes
the Herman Miller Research Division in Ann
and cars and is amazing with machines
Arbor. I began as a student design intern
and engines. He graduated from Southern
in 1961 and was hired full time upon my
Illinois University majoring in avionics.
graduation from A&D. Through the early
Finally, I include a painting by my
‘60s I worked with Bob Propst, research
husband, Robert Duran. He passed
(bsdes ‘59, MFA ‘61)
director, in the research and development
away 5 years ago and was a well-known
C. Malcolm Powers participated in the art
of the world’s first modular panel furniture
painter and in many collections.
show at First Presbyterian Church, Ann
system, Action Office. Bob and I shared
Arbor, November 08, 2009. One of his
over 28 patents and created the furniture
C. Malcom Powers
michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 22
1970s
Norman Stewart (BFA ‘69, AM ‘72) and Susan Stewart (BSDes ‘70, AM ‘00) As you may already know, my wife, Susan, and I are partners of Stewart & Stewart and are both graduates of UM’s School of Art & Design (formerly the College of Architecture and Design when we earned our multiple degrees
Frank Ettenberg (BSDES ‘66) I have been working as a self-employed artist in Vienna Austria since 2003. I rent my studio from the city, which has seen fit to provide studios for qualified visual artists as long as they are official residents of the city. I am in the midst of a drawn-out visa application and review process, since the immigration department wants to make sure one more subsistence-level, foreign artist doesn’t get stuck here and turn out to be a ward of the state. I recently had an exhibition of selected works in the offices of BMM marketing, Gmbh in Graz, Austria. I would be happy to host UM art or other tours, since I know the German language and would be happy to arrange the itinerary ahead of time.
in the late 60’s and early 70’s). Since 1980, our studio in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan has been working with artists to print and publish fine screenprints. And, over the past few years, we have also
Diane Morgan
been showing other fine prints created
(BFA ‘70)
by artists from across the United States.
I started my own business, Diane
Most recently, we have been showing
Morgan Fine Art, four years ago.
the outstanding woodcuts created by
After many years in advertising and
Endi Poskovic, a new faculty member at
public art administration I decided
A&D. Endi’s work and the work of other
to take the plunge and go full-time as a
fine print artists were featured in 2009
fine artist. Since going full-time I have
Stewart & Stewart’s presentations at the
been winning awards and made great
IFPDA’s (International Fine Print Dealers
strides in my artistic career. I have
Association) international Fine Print Fair
been featured in International Artist
in NYC, and locally at Works on Paper
Magazine and The Artist’s Magazine.
IV at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art
F + W publications, publishers of Southwest
Center, and the Flint Print Fair at the Flint
Art, The Artist Magazine and Watercolor
Institute of Arts. We also presented at
Artist have used my art as a feature in their
the Capital Art Fair in Arlington, Virginia
advertising. I was selected as the poster
(Washington DC area) this April.
artist for the Indian Wells Arts Festival
The Detroit Institute of Arts mounted
and my art is featured in their advertising.
two museum exhibitions celebrating
One of my watercolors is on display in the
Stewart & Stewart’s accomplishments in
California State Capitol. Another is on a
a 10-year anniversary exhibition in 1990
year-long national tour with the National
and a 25-year anniversary exhibition
Watercolor Society. Starbucks recently
in 2005. Our fine print editions have
purchased three pieces for display in their
been exhibited in and purchased by
new location at the Palm Springs
museums, corporate collections, and
International Airport. If I hadn’t
private collections around the globe.
taken the risk, I would not have received the rewards. I look forward to every day and the new creative challenge. It’s so true…..if you do what you
Margot Jacobson Gotoff (AM ‘66)
love, you will never work a day of your life. I will never retire, because I love what
I want to share w/you the honor bestowed
I do. Art is my life, not my job. I’m also
on me by the State of Ohio via the Ohioana
teaching now because I’m always getting
Library Association. I was awarded the
calls to demonstrate my techniques.
Ohioana Pegasus Award for my cultural/ artistic contributions. This same award has been given to Maya Lin, Eric Kunzel, Doris Day, etc. I received it in October for my sculpture cast in glass and for my teaching.
23 • Emergence summer 2010
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at Boston in the “Gilded Age” as a center
writing through the first-person narratives
for reform, epitomized by the Aesthetic
of classic women authors, and examines
and the Arts and Crafts movements, and
how their experiences are relevant to
the evolution of the profession of design
writers, especially women, working today.
criticism in the 19th century. Brandt said. “I wanted to explore how people
Susan Hensel (BFA ‘72)
got those ideas, and shaped them. To tell
Julie Walters
the back stories of the objects that are
(BFA, AB ‘79)
part of the Arts and Crafts movement.”
I have been promoted to Senior Associate
For more information
at Brereton Architects, where I head
contact Brandt or Beverly at
one of two design studios. We focus on
(480) 443-3043 or brandt@asu.edu
commercial interior design for projects in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am working
In March 2010 Susan (McGaughan) Hensel
on projects for several insurance and
Gallery in Minneapolis, MN featured
engineering companies, along with
the tenth anniversary of the national
managing the tenant planning for over 30
survey show of artists’ books, Reader’s
office buildings in the Bay Area. I received
Art 10. As a part of this anniversary
my BFA in Interior Design in 1979 along
celebration, Susan invited long-time
with my BA in History of Art. I was dually
curator of books, Jon Coffelt, to shape the
enrolled in both LS&A and the Art School
show. Reader’s Art began in 2000 in East
during my final two years at Michigan. I
Lansing, Michigan at The Art Apartment,
also am involved in our local UM Alumni
an alternative space right across the road
club where I serve on the Board of
from Michigan State University. From
Directors. I recently hired a UM grad to
the beginning, it had national scope, showcasing handmade artists books from
work in our studio as a junior designer.
across the United States. In 2005 the
Jamie Joseph Alder
show moved to Minneapolis with Susan
(BFA ‘74)
as she opened the Susan Hensel Gallery.
In 2009 I had four pages of my work
The Susan Hensel Gallery maintains a
included in the book, Abstract Comics. I
robust online archive, which can be viewed at
also had four pages of my work included
www.susanhenselgallery.com
in the show, Silent Pictures, at the Amie
Elizabeth LaPorte
and Tony James Gallery at the Graduate
(BFA ‘81)
Center at the City University of New York.
Elizabeth LaPorte has been appointed
Editor’s Note: Jamie Alder
a member of the Michigan Sea Grant
passed away on March 22, 2010.
Management Team, effective December
1980s
2009. LaPorte serves as co-principal
Nava Atlas (BFA ‘77)
investigator of Sea Grant’s communications and education programs. She is the director
I’m participating in a traveling threeperson exhibition, In Retrospect: Artist’s Books and Works on Paper by Maureen
Grant’s strategic planning and program
It opened at the Abcedarian Gallery in
development efforts. Currently, LaPorte is
Denver in April, traveling on to Hope College, Holland, MI (August-Oct.), SUNYUlster, Stone Ridge, NY (Nov.-Dec.), and to
(BFA ‘73)
several other venues from 2011-2012.
Beverly Brandt, professor of design at
This year I’m also working on a new book,
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts,
The Literary Ladies’ Guide to the Writing
has just published a new book exploring
Life, to be published in May 2011, along
the Arts and Crafts movement and its ties
with its companion limited edition artist’s
to Boston. Entitled “The Craftsman and
book, Dear Literary Ladies, and the blog of
the Critic: Defining Usefulness and Beauty
the same name www.dearliteraryladies.
in Arts and Crafts-Era Boston,” (University
blogspot.com. This multidisciplinary
of Massachusetts Press) the book looks
project looks at the creative process of
michigan art & design
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Learning On the Web. For the past nine years, she has contributed to Michigan Sea
Cummins, Ann Lovett, and Nava Atlas.
Beverly Brandt
of the award-winning curriculum, Fisheries
managing the development of the Michigan Clean Marina Classroom, a web-based professional training program for marinas. LaPorte joins Jim Diana, Program Director and Professor in the UM School of Natural Resources and Environment, and others, in
•
the management of this statewide program.
See Michigan Sea Grant: www.miseagrant.umich.edu
summer 2010 Emergence • 24
review of it. I would love if A & D alums would submit possible “Grommets” to me. We look at everything from kitchen tools to outdoor gear, to green products, and we love anything with a deep social enterprise heritage. There’s a form on our site to tell us about the idea. Surely U of M A & D grads can find some pretty amazing products, and are also producing many themselves.
www.dailygrommet.com
Francie (Johnson) Hester (BFA ‘82)
Susan Wechsler
I paint on aluminum and last year I won
I opened my first museum exhibition,
a competition to create a piece for the
Integral Elements, at the Loveland Museum
American Speech and Hearing Association.
in Loveland, Colorado. This group exhibition
The underlying themes in this piece
included the work of four artists from
reflect the mission of ASHA to promote
across the United States — Liz Quisgard,
effective human communication. The
Hariete Estel Berman, Susan Weschler,
understanding that language is the
and David Chatt. The Loveland Museum
bridge to everyday life becomes the
is one of the top 25 small museums in the
cornerstone for the structural elements
country. Wayne Theibaud’s retrospective
of the painting and ASHA’s vision to make effective communication a human right spanning a lifetime is captured by linking themes of childhood learning to those extending to the end of one’s life. I am represented by Anton Gallery in Monterey CA, and EA Gallery in Port Chester, NY. I work just outside of Washington DC — I have an old auto body shop where I work in Kensington, MD.
My current work is on my blog linked from www.franciehester.com
(BFA ‘83)
was just there, then DALI. They took
Leisa Rich (BFA ‘82) 2009 was a busy year for Leisa Rich with the launch of her Etsy shop of creative items for body and home (www.richmade.etsy.com)
William MacArthur
and a solo installation exhibition (see it in
(AM ‘84)
the Installations gallery at www.monaleisa.
I am participating in Buckham Gallery’s
com). In addition, Leisa was included in the
25th Anniversary Art Exhibition in May
“Quilt National 2009” juried exhibition
2010 in Flint, MI. It’s a five-person show.
at The Dairy Barn in Athens, Ohio (the
I have created some rather unique works
exhibition is now travelling) and in the book
just for this exhibition! I’ve made glow-in
of the same name by Lark Books Publishers.
-the- dark relief-sculptures, modular photo-
The first in a series of exciting new work-
montage relief-sculptures and relief prints.
viewer interactive scenes- is also included
One sculpture is collapsible/modular and
in the Fiberart International at Pittsburgh
made without using any conventional tools,
Center for the Arts from April 16-August 22,
just scissors, cable ties and dowel rods!
2010. Leisa is the state representative for the Georgia chapter of the Surface Design Association and is on the board of directors and planning committee for the Southeast Fiber Art Alliance soon to open in Atlanta, Georgia. Leisa teaches art at The Galloway School, the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, in her studio and at Arrowmont in June 2010.
Jules (Julie Knittel) Pieri (BFA ‘82) I founded Daily Grommet, an online marketplace, in 2008. Given my degree in design, it is a natural that I created a business that finds one inventive product or service a day and produces a video 25 • Emergence summer 2010
Dali off the walls and put my work up!
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Christopher S. Smith
James Mott (MFA ‘85)
Jennifer Bostek
(BFA ‘84)
I just had an Itinerant Artist Project (IAP) 10-
(BFA ‘87)
During the month of September 2009,
year retrospective exhibit here in Rochester,
I have been teaching Design Concepts
my series of sculptures “Perfectly
NY including 60 of the best paintings from
in the Foundations Department at the
Naked” was exhibited at the Noyes
30 weeks on the road, along with text,
College for Creative Studies for 10 years.
Museum in Hammonton, NJ. Twenty-
maps, journals, sketches and a video loop
My 2009 exhibitions included The Detroit
five sculptures were shown.
of the Today Show piece. It got enthusiastic
Artists Market Small Show, Detroit Artists
www.christophersmithsculpture.com
reviews from other artists, the press and
Market Garden Party, Detroit Artists Market
the general public. It’s a great show for
All Media Exhibition 2009, The Anton
small museums and college galleries.
Art Center Michigan Annual Exhibition
My website has more about the
2009, and two commissioned portraits.
project and contact info. It was a good year for the IAP, with
Cary A. Zartman
a residency in Rome, NY; my first
Marco Lorenzetti (BFA ‘85)
workshop, in St. Augustine; and my
(BFA ‘87)
9th tour, which finished up with an
Recently, Logo Lounge announced that
invitation to paint at Prout’s Neck,
three Cary Zartman-designed identities
Maine – a stone’s throw from Winslow
have been included in its new Master
Homer’s studio. I also got a NY State
Library series of books, on the bookshelves
grant to do a local version of my project.
in February 2010. Included in its Initials and
In 2010 I’m considering a New York City
Crests edition are: Linkergy (a new business
tour: taking gift exchange into the heart
development company), Out of the Ballpark
of the commercial art world. Anyone
(an online business for the leisure and travel
out there want to host? Also... My wife’s
industry) and Z Factory (a creative studio
My photographs were recently included
memoir, “Ghostbread,” recently published
that challenges and inspires businesses to
in the Greater Michigan Art Exhibition
by University of Georgia Press, won
be inventive in their design and marketing
at the Alden B. Dow Museum of
the AWP award for creative nonfiction.
solutions). Communication Arts published
Science and Art. The photographs are
It’s strongly-written and an excellent,
its Design Annual 50 in December
36”x46” gelatin silver enlargements
unsentimental take on the subject of
‘09, which also featured the recently-
from original 8”x10” negatives.
growing up in poverty in Western NY.
redesigned Z Factory logo. (To see a more
The group is called Divine Intervention.
www.jimmott.com
in-depth exploration of each of these identities, visit www.zfactory.net.) In
Based on my submittal, the museum granted me a solo exhibition award. The show is scheduled for 2010.
Andy Ross (MFA ‘86)
addition, Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood has hired Cary to design a series of
Andy Ross has been busy creating web sites, presentations, and other interactive content using the Adobe Flash platform. In fact, he’s been so busy he’s looking for
wayfinding street kiosks to be installed this spring along popular retail districts within its area. www.zfactory.net
help. So if you know anyone with skills in Adobe Flash, have them contact Andy at andy@andyrossdesign.com. Andy recently finished a web site for the local Ann Arbor painter Nina Friday at ninafridayart.com.
michigan art & design
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summer 2010 Emergence • 26
1990s
time as possible with her three-year-old
May. Fellow A&D alum Angela Faris-Belt
son, Shea. www.eyeleveldesign.com
kindly included several of my photographs in her very successful book, The Elements
Robin Leventhal
of Photography, already used in many photography programs across the country.
(MFA ‘92) I was just on season 6 of Top Chef Las Vegas! www.bravotv.com/top-chef/
at Eastern Michigan University’s Art Gallery in March 2009, travelling to venues across
bio/robin-leventhal From the Top Chef website: While pursuing a Master’s in Fine Arts at the University of
the country over the next couple of years. I’m still good friends with my darkroom neighbor, Peter Finnemore, (MFA ‘95)
Michigan, Robin took a job in the catering department. It quickly became clear she had a passion for food. Robin’s Pacific Northwest roots are the foundation of her cooking,
Robin Weiss (BFA ’90)
An exhibition based on the book debuted
accented by the flavors of her world travels. Robin formerly owned and operated Crave,
Robin Weiss, founder and artist of Paint
a popular Seattle bistro. She currently uses
Your World, is celebrating her 10th year as
her cooking and culinary connections to
a muralist. Located in the New York City
help raise money for lymphoma research
region, Paint Your World creates custom
and is closely involved with the Fred
murals, faux finishes and furniture. Clients
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
have added custom details to bedrooms,
www.cravefood.com
and was privileged to write a catalogue essay for his Zen Gardener exhibition at Oriel Mostyn in 2004. Richard and I had a blast catching up with Peter and his Welsh entourage in Venice when he was one of three artists representing Wales during the Biennale in 2005. I’ve lost touch with many A&D friends but have fond memories of our time together in Ann Arbor and would love to hear from you and catch up.
www.cynthiagreig.com
kitchens, play spaces, stairwells and more. Paint Your World also services commercial clients such as restaurants, office spaces, schools and day camps. Visit her website: www.paint-your-world.com for a browse through the gallery and additional info. Robin also recently completed her MS-Art Education and is a NYS certified art teacher.
Cynthia Greig (MFA ‘95) I continue to work in photography and
a partnership with Macys and Endless.
photographs from my Representations
com. The shoes, which have the same
series were included in the exhibition,
fashion forward/comfort fusion design
Complicity: Contemporary Photography
elements as the core SHANE&SHAWN line,
and the Matter of Sculpture at Rena
debuted Jan. 1, 2010, and are selling well.
Bransten Gallery in San Francisco. I was
(BFA ‘91)
also happy that several images from this
For the past ten years, Lauren has been
body of work were recently acquired for
running her own successful company,
the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts
Eyelevel Design. She has designed many
Boston, Smith College Museum of Art and
websites, logos, corporate identity
the Wellington Management Art Collection.
packages, data sheets and catalogs. She
This year I’m in the group show,
also has been working as a part-time
Drawing Pictures, at the Camera Club in
instructor at the Academy of Art University
New York www.cameraclubny.org, and
and at City College San Francisco. When
I have a solo exhibition at DNJ Gallery
she’s not working, she is spending as much
www.dnjgallery.net in Los Angeles, CA in
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Shoe designers Shane and Shawn
collection of affordable fashion shoes in
on an independent basis. In 2009,
27 • Emergence summer 2010
(BFA ‘96)
Ward (BSEME ’96) have launched a new
video, occasionally writing and curating
Lauren Turetsky
Shane Ward
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Diversity in Design. Spring 2010 (http:// library.rit.edu/oajournals/index.php/ multi); “Sustainable Design Education Rethought: The Case for Eco-Modernism.” In Design Principles & Practices: An International Journal. Spring 2010; “Counterculture Green: The Whole Earth Catalog and American Environmentalism: A Review.” DesignIssues. MIT Press. Spring 2010; and “Designing the Immaterial.” DesignInquiry. Spring 2010. (http://
Paul Flickinger
Jason (Jay) LeVasseur
(MFA ‘97)
(BFA ‘92, MFA ‘97)
A lot has happened in my life. I left my
After graduating, I started freelancing
position at the Kalamazoo Institute of
as Applied Art Studio. Concurrently, I
Art to start a non-profit, Clean Water
worked on a one-year appointment for
for the World. Our mission is to provide
the Medical Illustration department on a
simple, adaptable water purification
book illustration project with McGraw-
systems, at no charge, to communities
Hill. After that, I moved to Fort Collins,
without access to potable water. We
Colorado (fall of 1998) and I’ve been here
have about 60 units installed around the
ever since. I met a wonderful woman here
world serving about 36,000 people.
soon after the move, and she became my
We recently partnered with the UM
wife in July of 2001. Her name is Celia.
College of Engineering to design a low
We had a baby girl on September 12,
cost pump to supply water to the systems
2005, and her name is Elise. She loves
in cases where water is not provided by
to draw, and is a tremendous joy to us!
other pumps. We also will be sending
I teach 2D design, and figure drawing at
one of our solar powered units to Ghana
a community college here, and I continue
with Engineering students next summer. I
to freelance from our home. My clients
traveled with my daughter Nicole (all grown
are mainly medical/surgical publishing
up and working in Mid-town Manhattan) to
companies, with a sprinkling of non-
southern India to install 5 water purifiers in
medical clients. As fot fine art, I don’t make
poor rural communities. Last spring break
time to regularly create pieces. However,
I travelled to Haiti to install our first solar
at the college, we have a faculty show
powered unit in a remote community on
about every other year, so this gives me
the Caribbean coast. Clean Water for the
an impetus to generate something new.
Janna Bissett (BFA ‘98)
Western Michigan University in ceramics and foundations. I have attached a photo of kids at a school in India getting their first taste of potable water. I am hoping that A&D alumni can help me spread the word about our organization.
www.cleanwaterfortheworld.org
michigan art & design
Eric Benson
Janna Bissett recently had a one-person show of her work “Photography by Janna Bissett” at Farmington Hills City Gallery in Farmington Hills, MI. Bissett credits her photographic style to the fact that she works in many other media, including charcoal, metalwork, paint and fiber. “Once I accepted that having a hand in all these different media can actually work for me rather than against me, I started to see my art grow in ways I never thought possible.”
World is a volunteer run organization with no paid employees. I am also teaching at
failagain.designinquiry.net/?cat=36).
(BFADS ‘98)
In some of her photos, a combination of media is used, as photos are shot
Eric Benson is an Assistant Professor
through a glass “painted” with cleaner,
of Graphic Design at the University of
and also manipulated after the shot.
Illinois – Champaign. He recently won an American Design Award for his design of
has an active exhibition record including
Andrea Urbiel Goldner (BFA, BS ‘98)
the group exhibitions, Less is More 2010
After graduating with a Master’s degree in
at Connexion Gallery-Design Studio.
Landscape Architecture from the University
Dunwoody, GA.; the Hello: Graphic Design
of California, Berkeley, I joined Hood Design
Group Invitational at the University of
(the studio of Walter Hood) in Oakland, CA.
South Dakota. Vermillion, SD.; and Art
The San Francisco Bay led me to Mexico
D’Eco at Gallery 125. Trenton, NJ. His work
City, Veracruz, Rome, and a very long walk—
has been published in “The Intersection
from the Pyrenees to the ocean—across
of Identity Within Pattern & Structure:
Spain for a traveling fellowship in landscape
A FLYSPACE Continuing Collaboration.”
architecture. Returning to Detroit, I’ve
Multi: The RIT Journal of Plurality and
now jumped with both feet into
the webiste www.renourish.com. Eric also
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summer 2010 Emergence • 28
my own landscape architecture practice,
I have been running a small design
Peregrine Workshop. I also occasionally
studio called Elevated Works for six
teach design and visual communication
years now, providing freelance graphic
in the Master of Landscape Architecture
design and web development services
program at UM. The threads through
(www.elevatedworks.com) and have
this work in the Bay Area, the traveling
also been working commercially as a
fellowship, and now in Detroit remain: the
photographer and continuing some
reconstruction of urban places, landscape
long term photography projects
design for the person on foot, exploration
(www.peterbaker.net), the latest
of the hinges between culture and ecology,
focused on Michigan itself.
and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
Michelle founded a letterpress printing
Peregrine Workshop 510.316.0261.
and design studio, Elevated Press
Yolanda Curry (BFADS ‘01)
(www.elevatedpress.com),
Jacquelene Steele (BFA ‘98) I am pleased to announce that I am an MD Candidate at Wayne State University School of Medicine Class of 2013.
Shawn Alexander (MFA ‘99) Shawn K. Alexander creates stories with
Since graduating my time has been spent
specializing in custom stationery and
creating jewelry and teaching youth art
wedding invitations, and her own
classes. I have been creating and selling
line of greeting cards and prints
jewelry in boutiques, galleries, online, and
(www.elevatedpress.etsy.com). Our
featured at special events. This has been
studio is on Felch St, near downtown
very rewarding, as I have always been
Ann Arbor, where Michelle holds public
interested in being an entrepreneur. My
letterpress workshops and where
Detroit line of jewelry, The D Collection,
we collaborate with local artists to
has been very successful, not only in
host small gallery exhibitions.
the city, but across the country. One
paint, words and film that meet at the Pan-
Kelvin Hongshin Pan
African crossroads of history, family and
(BFADS ‘00)
identity. He co-wrote the award-winning indie feature, August The First, distributed via Filmmovement.com, and co-produced the play, Raw Love, which ran at the Theater for the New City in December 2008. He’s currently developing an animation TV & web series via Gruntled Entertainment, LLC. and rewriting two feature-length scripts, and shooting a trailer short for another feature-length script.
2000s
reviewer commented, ‘The jewelry line pays homage to the City of Detroit, celebrating the rugged yet refined,
In 2008, Hongshin Pan was invited to
industrial and innovative, hard-working
join the startup company Healthcare of
and creative spirit of Detroit.’ Future
Today as the Chief Operating Officer
plans include a design studio where
(www.healthcareoftoday.com). Hongshin
other talented individuals can hone their
was able to apply his creative background
skills. I will once again be teaching, while
to think about healthcare in new and
still maintaining my jewelry business.
exciting ways. Under his leadership,
I am also blessed with an amazing
the young company quickly became an
daughter who turned three years old
aggressive force in healthcare, specifically
in March. Needless to say, I am busy!
senior care. Hongshin oversees the daily operations of the businesses and the unique vertical-integration model that they hope will pass savings to consumers. Over the course of less than 2 years, the holding company grew from four companies to over 30 businesses. Recently the company has acquired Xenotis, an advanced human tissue engineering company based in Australia.
Kimberley Ellsworth-Flores (BFA ‘02)
Peter Baker (BFADS ‘00) & Michelle Baker (BFA ‘00)
On June 6, 2009 Kimberly married fellow U of M alum Atticus Flores, BSME ‘02, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor.w
My wife, Michelle, and I, both born and
The couple and the wedding party took
raised in Michigan, recently moved
pictures at the Big House, the Law Quad,
back to Michigan from San Francisco. 29 • Emergence summer 2010
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Michigan Union, and Angell Hall before
photography and I show illustration and
design and building of the GM technical
heading to the reception at Kensington
design, a great reminder that I should be
Center, (which is also where Susan has her
Court on State Street. At the reception,
painting more while keeping my day job.
office.) Closer to home, a complete set of
“Let’s Go Blue” and “The M Fanfare”
www.etsy.com/shop/thesatisfiedant
the work from Susan’s solo exhibition at
played. The bride and groom entered to
www.fotoazzaro.com
Washtenaw Community College, Twenty-
“The Victors.” Several members of the
Six of 26: An Edition of 26 Alphabets, has
wedding party were U of M alumni.
been purchased by the UM Library Special
Kim put her graphic design degree to
Collections. Susan’s upcoming speaking
good use for the wedding. She designed
engagements include a presentation for
the engagement and wedding invitations,
the UM Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
the ceremony program, the hotel guest
concerning how artists continue to be
welcome bags, the logo for the Shutter
creative in times of economic hardship,a
Booth filmstrips, the wedding cake and
lecture at AIGA Celebrate Michigan Design
the groom’s cake—a replica of the U of M
2010 (also featuring Jody Levy (’02),
Rock, complete with squirrels. The graffiti
and Interview with EYE magazine about
on the cake included words and phrases
Susan’s work/career and the career of
that had meaning to the bride and groom.
fellow calligraphic artist, Carl Kurtz.
The honeymooners visited Disneyland before heading onto Hawaii for two weeks. Kimberly is a graphic designer at the U of M Law School. Atticus is a data transfer engineer at L & W Engineering in Belleville. The newlyweds reside in Canton, MI.
Lee May (BFA ‘03) studying for a Master’s of Art in Art
William (Matt) Tailford (MFA ‘04)
Education at the School of the Art Institute
I’m back in Michigan thanks to the state’s
of Chicago (SAIC). I also work as a graphic
film incentives, and we started a studio
designer in the Communications &
up in Manistee, 10 West Studios, to shore
Graphics department and as a TA for two
up what Detroit has been doing and offer
undergraduate classes at the SAIC. Once I
a little something different. I have been
complete my master’s, I’d like to become
working as a production designer, art
a college/university teacher with an
director, actor, and producer. It’s pretty
emphasis in design and art education.
quiet in the winter, which allows me to find
I now reside in Chicago where I am
time for my sculpture work. When I was at UM I studied the figure intensively in hopes of doing figurative work. I’m wrapping up work on my first commission bronze of a life size wildcat for a school in Sylvania, Ohio.
Benjamin VanDyke
Yen Azzaro & Nick Azzaro (BFA ‘04) (BFA ‘03)
(MFA ‘06) During 2009, Ben VanDyke (MFA ’06) has
Nick is a full-time working artist. His
been promoted to head of the graphic
site www.fotoazzaro.com shows some
design program at the University of
of his fine art. He is also working on
New York at Buffalo. He has had a solo
securing grants and funding for large-
exhibition *Lecciones de Anatom=EDa, at
scale projection installations. His
Susan Skarsgard
current project utilizes the underground
(MFA ‘04)
City, Mexico as part of ATypI, 09, and
advertising technology in the Chicago
Susan Skarsgard (MFA ’04) has recently
group exhibitions in Toronto, ON and at
subway tunnels that flashes a series of
been promoted to Global Industrial
I Space Gallery in Chicago, IL. He has
images as the train goes by at 30 mph.
Design Manager at General Motors Design.
lectured at Oberlin College and the UK’s
He is producing hundreds of photos for
In January she gave a presentation at
University of Cambridge Clare College.
a social commentary that will engage
the Museum of the City of New York, in
Ben has also received an NSF Grant
riders and pique the interest of those that
conjunction with the exhibition, Eero
for Science & Art: materials research,
normally do not see art in the public realm.
Saarinen: Shaping the Future, where she
typography and educational outreach;
We have also started a small business
took participants through a tour of her
had six projects published in Typeface:
through Etsy, a site that markets stores for
one of a kind, custom-made book, Where
Classic Typography for Contemporary
homemade and vintage items. Our store
Today Meets Tomorrow, detailing the
Design by Tamye Riggs // Princeton
Casa Vecina-Espacio Cultural* in Mexico
is called The Satisfied Ant. Nick shows his michigan art & design
Arch Press and had his work
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summer 2010 Emergence • 30
reviewed in Eye Magazine Blog
In Memoriam
not only contains exhibition space, but
*Dimensional Typography *by Leslie
is an International hub for revitalizing
Atzmon (www.blog.eyemagazine.com.)
exchanges within Asia, Europe, both North
Elected positions include those on the
and South America, etc. Boda wants to
Jamie J. Alder
Board of Directors of DesignInquiry and
expand cultural exchange so that anyone
the Society of Typographic Aficionados.
unfamiliar with different kinds of visual
BFA ‘74 March 22, 2010
art can easily raise his/her cultural fluency. Because of this cultural exchange with art and culture communities from all over the country, there will oftentimes be a chance for people who live in Korea to see the great international artwork domestically. If you are interested in having an exhibition in Korea or studying photography,
Marni Babas BSDES ‘66 August 11, 2009
Stuart P. Browne BSDES ‘53 September 19, 2009
Joseph L. Fiems
www.artcenterboda.com is our
BFA ‘70 June 7, 2010
Korean website, but it’s not fully written in English, so we use facebook
Margaret A. Gibson
as our temporary website.
BDES ‘40 March 11, 2010
Megan M. Greydanus (BFA ‘07)
Vivian S. Gottlieb
After graduating from A&D, I worked
BDES ‘52 November 8, 2009
in Athens, Greece as an Interactive Art Director at the interactive design company
Burton Kelly
Can Communication. That experience
BDES ‘50 April 17, 2010
was fantastic, but I decided to move back to Michigan where I worked at a few different companies before deciding
Bess T. Littleton
become a freelance graphic designer. I am
BDES ‘48 October 8, 2009
doing really well with my own business networking with other freelance designers and small businesses. I’m getting design
Edward Johnston
Warren F. Moore
work in the film industry that is coming
(MFA ‘08)
to Michigan. Last summer I worked as the
In 2009, I was the recipient of two Young
BDES ‘46 June 12, 2010
graphic designer for a Rob Reiner film,
Artist’s Program Grants from the D.C.
Flipped, filmed in Ann Arbor. I worked
Commission on the Arts & Humanities,
closely with Production Designer Bill
partly funded by the National Endowment
Brzeski. I also worked in Detroit on Master
for the Arts. My work was selected for the
Class, a film starring and directed by Faye
ArcheTime conference and exhibition at the
Dunaway. With my schedule I can now
Tank Space for Performing and Visual Arts
travel and visit A&D friends who are in
in New York. My work was also selected
other cities and I am able to bring my work
from the 2009 Artomatic Art Festival in
with me. www.greydanusdesign.com
Washington, D.C. for the Best of Artomatic
Doris B. Peter BDES ‘39 September 29, 2009
I work as an International Network Coordinator at The Center of Visual Art Boda in Seoul Korea. The Center spreads photographic culture around the world, selects and supports young artists, provides gallery space, promotes creative artwork, conducts academic research, and creates both domestic and international visual
Maryland. In November, my work was
BFA ‘72 January 28, 2010
included in the Urban Revolutions portion of
Arlene E. Schultz
the Video Arts Festival, Miden, in Kalamata,
BSDES ‘63 May 1, 2010
Greece. In February 2010 my work was included in The Matter of Time exhibition at the Philoctetes Center for Multidisciplinary Study of the Imagination in New York,
James S. Symons III BSDES ‘59 September 25, 2009
NY. Finally, I just updated my website.
Donald H. Weir
www.edwardsjohnston.com
BSDES ‘53 September 12, 2009
media based partnerships. The Center
31 • Emergence summer 2010
BSDES ‘ 59 October 19, 2009
James P. Schaffer
exhibition at the Fraser Gallery in Bethesda,
Yoon Ji Lee (BFA ‘08)
Dwight W. Presser
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Good fortune is recognizing opportunity when it comes your way and being ready and able to grab it. —Chris Van Allsburg, (BFA ’72) author and illustrator
A special incentive for gifts over $10,000
The Van Allsburg Undergraduate Scholarship Challenge Please Help Us Reach Our $400,000 Goal by June 30, 2011!
I
Donors of $10,000 or more to A&D’s undergraduate scholarship fund or to already existing named scholarship funds will receive a set of sixteen of Chris Van Allsburg’s childrens’ books signed by the author.
am very pleased to announce that two dear friends and graduates of A&D — Chris and Lisa Van Allsburg — have agreed to create the Van Allsburg Undergraduate Scholarship Challenge Match. They will match all
gifts for undergraduate scholarships, dollar for dollar up to $200,000. This is a wonderful opportunity, in effect, to double your donation. For every dollar you give to A&D’s Undergraduate Scholarship Fund, Chris and Lisa will give a dollar. Our goal is to meet their challenge by June 30, 2011. I can’t emphasize enough what a difference your help will make to A&D students. In many cases, it will be that boost that makes it possible for them to continue their educations. Please consider helping us rise to the Challenge. With sincere thanks, Bryan Rogers
summer 2010 Emergence • 32
Are you in?
How do I join?
Announcing inCircle, a free, online directory and social networking site for all University of Michigan alumni.
Go to http://alumni.umich.edu/networkingtools/social-networking
inCircle allows you to find old friends, roommates, studio colleagues, and some faculty. You can let alumni know about your work, exhibitions dates, websites, future plans, personal plans, etc. You can post as much or as little as you want. You can also search or post a job!
You will need a university assigned unique name and a password. To get a unique name and password email m.alumni@umich.edu or call 800.847.4764
inCircle houses the U-M Alumni Association’s job
Questions: contact Scott Creech at Art & Design: creechsc@umich.edu
board with more than 3,000 job postings.
We Want to Feature You and Your Work Now it’s easier than ever to have your event, exhibition, or announcement featured on the front page of the School’s website, and on our Facebook page. Just submit your news online at www.art-design.umich.edu. Click on “News/Events” in the left hand column, click on “Submit News” and then fill out the form. It’s as easy as that. It’s a great way to get your news out to former classmates, the A&D community, and beyond. Questions: contact Kate West at katewest@umich.edu
www.art-design.umich.edu/news/submit
33 • Emergence summer 2010
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{ R}e vo l u t i o n
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Dean’s Advisory Council
Ann Aikens Robert Aikens Linda Banks Thomas L. Dent MD Joan K. Rosenberg-Dent Debra Gorman Steve Gorman Bette Klegon Halby Gary Halby Gretchen Hoenecke Odette Maskell Richard M. Maskell Sally Angell Parsons Luke Raymond Ellen L. Rontal Maxine Snider Larry Snider Penny Stamps E. Roe Stamps IV Ilene Steglitz Marc Steglitz Chris Van Allsburg Lisa Van Allsburg Susan Smucker Wagstaff Reid Wagstaff Susan Isaak Wahl Eric Wahl
This issue of Emergence is brought to you through the generous support of Susi and Reid Wagstaff
Regional Alumni Co-Chairs:
Roddie Pistilli, Northern California Bill Reuter, Northern California Linda Banks, Southern California Arden Rynew, Southern California Kevin Smith, Southern California Perry Irish, Illinios Dick Maskell, Illinios Judy Maugh, Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Aikens, Michigan - Detroit Sally Parsons, Michigan - Detroit Ellen Rontal, Michigan - Detroit Janet Watkins, Michigan - Grand Rapids Bette Klegon Halby, New York Susan & John Brown, Wisconsin
The School of Art & Design is now on Facebook! Get in touch with old friends, network with alumni and receive news and information about A&D events. B e c om e a fa n at:
University of Michigan Regents
www.facebook.com/umartanddesign
Julia Donovan Darlow, Ann Arbor Laurence B. Deitch, Bingham Farms Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms Olivia P. Maynard, Goodrich Andrea Fischer Newman, Ann Arbor Andrew C. Richner, Grosse Pointe Park S. Martin Taylor, Grosse Pointe Farms Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/ affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 481091432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817.
michigan art & design
ed itor K at e W est
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designer Ca r l Gr eene
summer 2010 Emergence • 34
www.facebook.com/umartanddesign
www.art-design.umich.edu
Send Your Email Address to creechsc@umich.edu
Want A&D News By Email?
Em e r g e r e n c E
www.art-design.umich.edu/alumni/reunion
50 th Reunion - Class of 1960
Oc t obe r 14 - 17, 2 010
10 th Reunion - Class of 2000 5th Reunion - Class of 2005 Recent Grad Weekend - Class 2006-2010
S e p t e m be r 2 4 - 2 6 , 2 010
2010 a&d reunions
Universit y of Michigan 20 0 0 Bonisteel Boulevard Ann Arbor, M I 4 8 1 09 -20 69