in their words
Virginia Commonwealth Uni versit y School of the Ar ts Richmond , Virginia , USA
VCUarts: In Their Words What made you decide to come to VCUar ts? 7–9 What has impressed you most about your VCUar ts experience? 11–13 Student Inter views Ar t Foundation 15 Ar t Education 17 Ar t Histor y 19 Cinema 21 Communication Ar ts 23 Craf t/Material Studies 25 Dance & Choreography 27 Fashion Design 29 Fashion Merchandising 31 Graphic Design 33 Interior Design 35 Kinetic Imaging 37 Music 39 Painting & Printmaking 41 Photography & Film 43 Sculpture + Ex tended Media 45 Theatre 47 What ha ve you discovered about Richmond that you didn’t know 49 – 51 before coming to VCU? What ad vice would you gi ve to a new VCUar ts Student? 53–55 Clubs and Organizations 57 Resources 59 Detailed rankings information 63
Cover image by kathleen jones, department of photography & film
VCUarts is ranked the #1 public university arts & design graduate* program in the country by US News & World Report. vcu.edu/arts/rankings
* US News & World Report ranks only graduate – not undergraduate – programs.
student life at VCUarts How can you know what VCUarts is really like until you’re here? Well… you can’t. But we thought posing the same 13 questions to students from each VCUarts undergraduate major might help. These students are recent recipients of the much-coveted VCUarts Dean's Scholarship. There are similarities in their responses, and as to be expected, many differences. Those who plan to attend VCUarts will find their words and advice enlightening – and we hope – helpful.
5
craft/ material studies
There were a couple factors . The school is so much more di verse than any other school I visited , which was reall y impor tant to me. It was also the best option cost wise. To me , it really didn’t make any sense to come out of school with $ 200,000 wor th of debt and an ar t degree . Most impor tantl y though , VCUar ts was an ar t school within a larger uni versit y. I reall y wanted to be able to take whatever classes I wanted and ha ve more options than just ar t classes . I think that cross disciplinar y studies are reall y impor tant in developing my work and I ’m also just interested in a lot of dif ferent things .
what made you decide to come to VCUarts?
Catherine Gellatly Craft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors
I chose VCU af ter at tending the VCUar ts High School Summer Intensive program, for which I am now a counselor. The Intensi ve ga ve me an eye opening experience about college and the realit y of the work load . I loved ever y minute of it! Virginia Driggers Art Education major, Art History minor
M y choice to at tend VCU (other than my specif ic program of stud y) was for the experience of li ving in an urban environment. I am from a small town and wanted to broaden my horizons . Hannah Wray Fashion Merchandising major
VCU appealed to me because of its size, location , and price. I wanted to be par t of a huge and diverse student body in a fairly urban setting and I didn’t want to be paying of f loans for the rest of my life . The School ’s ranking was also a draw. Rachel Zoe Walters Fashion Design major
I am at tending VCU because of its location in the beautiful cit y of Richmond and the variet y of courses of fered to students . John Dombroski Kinetic Imaging major, Sculpture + Extended Media minor
I wanted to go to design school and VCU seemed like the most at tractive option . With our high national rating, relatively low class size, and access to a letterpress facilit y, students really do ha ve a great oppor tunit y here. Like any thing else though, it is what you make of it and you should alwa ys expect the rewards to be propor tionate to the amount of ef for t you put in . Brian Gartside Graphic Design major
Before attending VCU, I was a resident of Virginia, and a high school art teacher. As a teacher, I advised students who were seriously interested in art to investigate VCUarts before applying to RISD or SCAD or similar programs. I even took my students on a field trip to VCU. It just makes the most sense financially and academically. You have the same level of education at a state institution that you would get at a private ar t school , and you get to work with internationally renowned facult y. After teaching for 5 years, I decided to follow the same advice I gave my students. I believe I made an intelligent choice when I decided to return to school to live out my dream of becoming a better artist and a more educated educator. Michelle Clark Sites Communication Arts major
VCU combines the big universit y experience with all its resources and the smaller and more individual ar t school experience . Xuefei ( Sophie ) Yan Interior Design major, Craft/Material Studies minor
It was close to home and it invol ved something I LOVED to do. Also, I was the onl y person out of my circle of friends to come here and , I yearned for the individualit y and responsibilit y. Crystal Johnson Theatre Performance major
I transferred from George Mason University after my freshman year because I decided that I needed to live in a more urban environment. It also helped that VCU has such a great arts program! Andrea Manrique Interior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor
7
interdisciplinary research project
I was f irst drawn to VCU by the outstanding reputation of its music and ar ts school . U pon my first visit to the universit y, I had fallen in love . The atmosphere was palpable . I knew that Richmond and VCU would be places that would facilitate my ar tistic development. I knew I had set foot in breeding grounds of creati vit y. Thank full y, my instincts were correct! MATT JEWELL Music and Women’s Studies majors (Dual Degree)
I decided to come to VCU on my f irst visit to Richmond with my famil y. We were actuall y just passing through and stopped in Car y town before heading to the beach . We drove through Shockoe Bot tom to get on the highwa y and I decided while driving through downtown that if there was an ar t school there , I would be attending. It was just a coincidence VCUar ts happens to be the best public ar t school in the countr y.
what made you decide to come to VCUarts?
Kathleen Jones Photography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)
At first I was unsure that I wanted to attend VCU. I thought the dance program was all about modern dance and would be dry, which is so not me. I came to the audition because my mother, being a dance teacher herself, told me it was a great place to audition. During my audition, I had more fun than expected. At the end we got the opportunity to watch the Friday class which has all of the VCU dancers’ participation. This class changed my world. I saw some of the most phenomenal dancers I have ever seen – all four levels dancing together as a family. They looked so happy and into this life that I never questioned my decision of where to go again. Allison Day Meyer Dance & Choreography major
VCU has been the number one public ar t school in the nation for several years . Shazia Jasmine Aziz Art History major
VCU of fered me more money than any other school, which had a major impact on my decision . I was also drawn to VCU because it ’s the best of both worlds to have friends in other majors and be at a big school while still having a small communit y within my department . Conor Backman Painting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended Media (double major)
9
CINEMA craft/ material studies
What ’s impressed me the most is how much I ha ve changed as a person . I never knew that education could change who I was socially, physically, and even mentally. Believe it or not, the VCUar ts experience is continuing to reveal myself to me and without it, I would ’ve been in the dark on who I was for a much longer time. Crystal Johnson Theatre Performance major
I have been most impressed with the teachers I have experienced and the level of work they expect from us . I am constantly motivated by my professors and my fellow students to keep pushing the boundaries and make better and better work. Catherine Gellatly Craft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors
what has impressed you most about your VCUarts experience?
I ha ve been most impressed with the dri ve and passion displa yed by my professors and the many oppor tunities VCU has gi ven me to tra vel , learn , and grow. Hannah Wray Fashion Merchandising major
What has impressed me most about my VCUar ts experience is the access the students ha ve to the resources as well as facult y. There is a strong line of communication open for anyone to take ad vantage of, which leads to an expanse of oppor tunities . The ar t world is a ver y small one and the facult y and student connections the young ar tist makes will invariabl y aid her in future ar tistic endea vors .
What impressed me most about the VCUar ts experience was how much the school actuall y of fers . In the ar t school we can choose any depar tmental path that we want to follow. Yet, within that depar tment we can also pick up on a stream of consciousness which we feel is most impor tant to our personal development. I ha ve been greatl y rewarded by the di versit y and intellect of the Ar t Education depar tment and I feel conf ident that I am receiving an education here that could not be gotten any where else .
Kathleen Jones Photography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)
Virginia Driggers Art Education major, Art History minor
I have been most impressed by the VCU Music Department ’s incredibly strong commitment to the development of whole musicians, not merely performers or educators. We are trained to view ourselves as musicians that are competent in all areas of our craft, not in terms of preferred specializations or proficiencies; this philosophy is what is going to make us valuable assets in the music world. Whether we’re hired as performers in professional ensembles or we’re standing at the front of public school classrooms, our training as musicians, coupled with the knowledge of our specific mediums, will set us apart.
I ’m mostl y impressed in comparison by what other people in dif ferent f ilm depar tments around America sa y about their own program . VCUar ts Cinema is for tunate enough to be able to shoot in 3 5mm motion picture f ilm in our freshman year. That ’s something I never would ha ve dreamed of doing so soon .
Matt Jewell Music and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)
Duy Nguyen Cinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor
I ha ve been impressed by the amount of open doors bet ween depar tments and the amicable “one- on- one” facult y attitude toward students within the VCUar ts programs . John Dombroski Kinetic Imaging major, Sculpture + Extended Media minor
11
THEATRE
interior design
art history
The facult y ha ve been the most inspirational aspect of my experience, and form the base of my positi ve memories . A few facult y members I would like to thank in par ticular are Kimberl y Guthrie for her positi ve at titude, organization , moti vation; Madame Vernet for teaching me French and encouraging me to go to Paris; Henr y Swar tz and Janet Cole for believing in me so completel y, Linda Lee for pushing me so hard , and Holl y Alford for gi ving so freel y of her knowledge . Rachel Zoe Walters Fashion Design major
The community at the school here is really tight and supportive. This is one of the best aspects of the program I’m in. Conor Backman Painting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended media (double major)
I think the professionalism of the Communication Ar ts facult y and the work ethic that they instill in their students has impressed me the most. In our depar tment, if you don’t work as hard as you possibly can and take your studies seriously, then you will simply not progress in your terms of your thinking or your skills or even ha ve a future in the field . It feels ver y competitive, even if the pressure is sometimes internal. The Communication Ar ts Depar tment is a crucible that separates intellectually and creatively motivated professional ar tists from amateurs . Michelle Clark Sites Communication Arts major
What has impressed me more than any thing else about the design depar tment is the willingness of some of my professors (Eric Karnes , Christine Cof fey, Jamie Mahoney) to go above and beyond their responsibilities . Brian Gartside Graphic Design major
It is all encompassing. In addition to histor y classes , my major requires studio classes as well as the rigorous foreign language requirement which makes ar t histor y a challenging yet complete understanding of ar t. Shazia Jasmine Aziz Art History major
what has impressed you most about your VCUarts experience? I am most impressed by how hard the professors push us . VCUar ts is no joke . I am also impressed by all my hardworking fellow students working late into the night and of ten spending the night at Bowe Street (the Ar t Foundation building). Xuefei ( Sophie ) Yan Interior Design major, Craft/Material Studies minor
What has reall y impressed me about this experience is the camaraderie that has grown bet ween me and my studio mates . I ha ve never before had the pleasure of working with such talented people . Af ter a while, people warm up and star t to gi ve each other reall y great feedback . It ’s so much easier to learn when you are aware of people’s strengths and weaknesses . Other experiences that stand out ha ve a lot to do with the abilit y to cross over and merge disciplines . The sculpture and craf t classes that I ha ve taken ha ve been great exposure to dif ferent technologies and machiner y. Andrea Manrique Interior Design major, Craft/Material studies (Fiber concentration) minor
VCU has impressed me a great deal regarding how diverse our ar ts and our ar tists are , yet we all still mix our st yles to create new collaborations and friendships . Allison Day Meyer Dance & Choreography major
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Art Foundation My name is Xuefei Yan , but I like to be called Sophie . I ’m from Little Rock , Arkansas . My major is Interior Design . My minor is Craf t/Material Studies .
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
What h ave yo u discover ed abo u t R ic h m o n d th at yo u did n ’ t kn ow
Since I ’ve come to VCU, I ha ve been more open to using dif ferent mediums . Before at tending VCU, I was comfor table mainl y with drawing and painting and some sculpture. Now, I believe that I am well versed enough in all areas of f ine ar t that I can accomplish even some of my most ambitious projects . Time Studio was reall y eye opening for me because I ha ve never even considered time as an element of my ar t. I ha ve also noticed that my ar t has been progressi vel y more conceptual and ideadri ven . I def initel y feel more mature as an ar tist.
b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
Ever y thing. I didn’t know any thing about Richmond before I came to VCU so the last year has been an ex tended ad venture for me as I discover more new and interesting things and places in Richmond . What inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Music , video games , knit ting, cooking, and watching movies . What advic e wo u ld yo u g ive to a n ew VCUarts stu d ent?
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
M y fa vorite project that I ha ve contributed to as a student is the Honors project that my Ar t Worlds class accomplished while we were on a weekend trip to Mildred ’s Lane. The project was a ceremony/dinner with a focus on light. We were all wearing our own handmade illuminated costumes and we built a huge bonf ire in the middle of the woods in Pennsyl vania . It was by far one of the most conceptual projects I ’ve worked on and I enjoyed ever y minute of it.
Listen to criticism . Don’t be a jerk . What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
One of my fa vorite memories at VCU is sta ying up late at night at Bowe Street working on ar t with my classmates . What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I want to stud y abroad and volunteer abroad . I also hope to get a good internship.
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
It wasn’t much dif ferent from how I thought it was going to be. I was alread y anticipating a lot of hard work and progress .
Af ter graduate school , I hope to be an industrial designer designing protot ypes for new inventions . 15
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
M y work has def initel y progressed since my arri val at VCU. During high school I was interested in the realm of tex tures and how the metaphor of feeling meets the sense of feeling. Now my interest in the human experience has expanded to narrati ve, or rather how an adult uses narrati ve to explain something hard to understand to a child . What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
M y fa vorite project is one I worked on during the summer of 2010. I won a VCU Summer Fellowship grant to stud y ar t exchanges in the classroom and how they aid in teaching multicultural lessons . Recentl y I f inished put ting together a collaborati ve quilt which incorporates both the Ma yan and Gregorian calendar. The f irst time I stood back from the f inished product I was ama zed at the work the students had done, with their small paintings they formed a star design representing what they do during the year.
Art Education My name is Virginia Driggers . I was born in Shreveport , Louisiana . Because my family moved around so often, I would say that I was raised in the deep south and then was transplanted to the west end of Richmond at around the age of ten. My major is Ar t Education . My minor is Ar t Histor y.
the room and stumble into my arms . I am rewarded as I listen to their language develop and know that I am someone who has taught them some of their syllables . If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
There is one facult y member who has inspired me more than she could ever know. Jan Johnston taught me how to teach without depending on language. The Mayan Ar t Program is a class that brings people from all dif ferent majors together with one goal: art! Art is a common language that crosses all borders, speaks all dialects and is in the hear t of ever y human. Her teaching opened my eyes to the possibilities of Ar t Education, I’m so luck y to have been a par t of her class.
I ha ve no regrets – lit tle things that seemed awful in the past ha ve made me who I am now. The struggle in life has made me a problem-sol ving ar tist. I might complain about the dif f icult y of a situation , but in the end I ’ve learned from ever y thing. What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
So many great things ha ve happened during my time at VCU, but I most enjoyed get ting to know people during my spring breaks with the Ma yan Ar ts Program .
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I didn’t originall y imagine that I would pursue this path . I was sure I wanted to be more of an Ar t Historian . Yet I realized with my f irst experience with the Ma yan Ar t Program that this is the depar tment I belonged in . In a small classroom in the highlands of Guatemala I made the connection with students that has lead me to my new passion , Ar t Education .
Before I graduate I want establish an ar t exchange model that could be used by other teachers in classes all across the countr y. Some students ha ve never par ticipated in an ar t exchange and when done correctl y the exchange can be one of the most enlightening experiences of the student ’s educational career. It is an oppor tunit y for children and adults alike to realize that the people on the other side of the world do exist and are interested in them .
Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Outside of ar t I work with the babies at a nurser y school in the Richmond area (ages ranging from 3 –22 months) and I obsessi vel y listen to audio books (which the babies also enjoy.) Working with children so young is a challenge, but also a fantastic chance to develop creati vit y in children . I am able to teach the basics of ar t, like smearing paint on construction paper while also helping them to balance as they walk across
What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
Af ter I graduate I hope to work as an ar t teacher. I would be comfor table working with any age and in most any situation , whether it is public school , a museum , ar t center or nurser y school . As long as I am teaching and learning I can form a career in any set ting. 17
Art History My name is Shazia Jasmine Aziz. I live in Glen Allen , Virginia with my husband and t wo young children . My major is Ar t Histor y.
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
What inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Since coming to VCU, I ha ve learned ar tistic techniques and most impor tantl y, I ’ve learned to see things as an ar tist. I ha ve developed a deep sense of appreciation through hands- on learning, which can onl y be at tained by physicall y experiencing ar t. The best wa y to experience it, is to create ar t.
I am fascinated with biolog y, histor y, and archaeolog y. Stud ying these subjects helps us to bet ter understand oursel ves , and bet ter cope with any thing that comes our wa y in the future . We can see pat terns and f ind answers to questions we ha ve through these disciplines .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
What advic e wo u ld yo u g ive to a n ew VCUarts stu d ent?
I am most proud of the por trait I painted of Allama Iqbal. He was one of the founding fathers of Pakistan and a relative of my grandmother. I worked so hard, was totally thrilled at my work. I ha ve actually fallen in love with the painting. A funny stor y about this painting is that when I showed it to my grandmother, the first thing she said was, “ Why did you paint him wearing a suit? He never liked wearing suits .” This painting is meaningful to me for sentimental value as well as for the hard work that I put into it.
Remind yourself of why you are here. Take your classes seriousl y and enjoy them . Respect yourself by respecting your peers and professors . We are all here for the same purpose: education . Remember, all degrees ha ve the same weight, music , biolog y, math , or ar t degrees . One isn’t harder than the other, just dif ferent. What people don’t realize is that it is just as hard to get an A in biolog y as it is in painting. No ar t class is an easy A .
Wh at h ave yo u discover ed abo u t Ric h m o n d that yo u did n ’ t kn ow b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
It is ver y beautiful. There are lots of outdoor activities. Richmond has a unique culture, and the impressive historic architecture is stunning. Also, although not a large cit y, there is so much to do!
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
If I could do things dif ferentl y, it would be being able to f inish my degree earlier, so that I could do my masters and my PhD in a more timel y wa y. What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
I find that all my professors bring their unique valuable experience to teaching their classes. I value my professors because I can always go to them for feedback. Jill Baughan really encouraged me and gave me confidence throughout the semester. It was inspiring to see someone who went through a difficult issue and turn it into a positive one by writing about it to help others. She always listens and helped me come out of my shell.
I def initel y want to intern with museums and volunteer for an archaeological dig. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I would like to work in a museum but also want to star t my master ’s degree right awa y. I want to work in a museum or teach at the uni versit y level . I want to earn my PhD as well .
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Cinema My name is Duy Nguyen . I was born in Saigon , Vietnam , and raised in Fair fax , Virginia . I am pursuing dual degrees in Cinema and Philosophy. My minor is Media Studies .
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
I feel my work has progressed greatl y since I star ted out as another kid running around with my dad ’s handicam in high school . Sometimes I still feel like I ’m running around with a camera , but VCUar ts has allowed me to get a hold on my passion and learn how to be more creati ve and thought ful .
of life. Zen really helps with being on a hectic shoot for 28 hours straight. Ad ver tising is something that I’m also interested in . M y minor allows me to get more insight into that industr y, and has helped me with marketing and branding my own media based company, A College Project. I’m also hea vily involved with SHHO, Student Hip Hop Organization . We work with local hip hop ar tists and bring qualit y hip hop acts to Richmond .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
With Cinema, it ’s all about collaboration . I’m proud of the shor ts I’ve directed and shot but I couldn’t ha ve done it without my crew and classmates . If I do my job well on a shoot then I’m happy. Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
The entire experience of being a VCUar ts Cinema student has been inspiring. It began with Professor Rob Tregenza . He instilled the impor tance of professionalism and conveyed Cinema as an ar t and form of communication . He taught me his theories and ideas and showed movies that shaped the wa y I look to create f ilms toda y. But what reall y inspires me are my friends and classmates in the program . We watch movies at each others’ houses , throw ideas around and encourage one another. We’re alwa ys down to help on each others’ f ilms . M y fa vorite topic of conversation is our ambitions: how can we make the best movie and where do we want to be in the future. H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I never thought I would be working on professional sets while still in college. I ’ve got ten the oppor tunit y to work with some big names in Richmond . Editing at the Mar tin Agency, pulling focus for a Wal- Mar t spot. Alwa ys glad when people want me around .
What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
My favorite memor y has to be on the set of The Persistence of Ever ything. That was our first big shoot as a Cinema department as opposed to a class. It was the first to be shot with our Arri BL III 35mm motion film camera and it was also the first production that included the first year Cinema students as well as the second year students. The shoot really brought ever yone together and I think that was when we really first learned how to make a movie. What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I want to create a shor t f ilm to send and be accepted into a few festi vals in Virginia and elsewhere. It ’s an ambitious goal but I feel that aiming high alwa ys gets you far ther. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
If all goes as planned , I ’ll continue to sta y in Richmond to see what happens in the nex t few years with the local f ilm industr y, as well as my own company. I want to become a boutique creati ve agency of sor ts . Instead of going through a number of dif ferent producers , creati ves , editors , I would do all the work myself with a small team . With the money from my “job” I ’d like to fund my own narrati ve f ilm projects .
Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
I like to think I’m just as involved in my other major (Philosophy) as I am in Cinema . With filmmaking taking up much of my time, philosophical and Zen thought can be involved with ever y aspect 21
Communication Arts My name is Michelle Clark Sites . I ’m originally from U pper Tract , West Virginia . My major is Communication Ar ts .
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
What inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Since coming to VCU, my work has progressed tremendousl y. I ha ve learned about the necessit y of drawing from life in order to increase skills as an illustrator. I am also more knowledgeable about the principles of building an image, especiall y in terms of composition . The idea behind what the image is at tempting to communicate is something that I think about more now as well . I think that before VCU, I felt like image making was more of an intuiti ve, emotional process . Now I see that a lot of thought and strateg y go into creating the most successful images as well .
I love my farm in West Virginia . I love nature and science . I also love tr ying to understand human nature and listening to and obser ving people relate their stories and perspecti ves .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
This spring I was asked to be par t of a search commit tee to hire a new tenure-track professor for our depar tment. It was such a privilege and was highly enlightening. I learned about the level of ar tistic and professional sophistication it takes to be a professor in VCU School of the Ar ts . Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
I ha ve been par ticularly inspired by Alber t Epshteyn, the Figure Drawing instructor in Communication Ar ts . His teaching methods are no-nonsense, and he is ver y harsh to any students who are laz y or who cut corners in their techniques . His teaching philosophy is grounded in a lifelong practice of academic drawing methods, an exper t knowledge of human anatomy, and a passion not only for ar t, but for human achievement.
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
I would ha ve become a medical doctor or concentrated in scientif ic illustration at age 20. I didn’t know that pre- medical illustration existed when I f irst went to college. I feel like at 34, I don’t ha ve the energ y or desire to go to medical school at this point, although I am fascinated by biolog y and love the idea of using ar t to help people in that wa y. What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
I remember the level of excitement and the beaut y of watching Barack Obama’s inauguration on a big screen in the VCU ballroom . I was sit ting nex t to a young African-American woman during the speech–we were both cr ying over the signif icance and power of the event. What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I reall y want to feel like I ha ve recei ved all that VCU has to of fer. This is my second time as an undergraduate, and I want to be totall y focused on my education so that I don’t waste any oppor tunities to grow or to learn .
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
As an older student, it has been harder to feel like I fit in in the department socially. As a senior, I’m 34 and the majorit y of my classmates are in their early 20’s. However, the level of maturit y, focus, and motivation of the students who are my closest friends in Communication Ar ts – regardless of age – has been incredible.
I would like to return to teaching, but I also hope to work in publications , especiall y those geared toward education or children .
23
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
VCUar ts has allowed me to focus on the things that I am reall y interested in . I ha ve learned a lot about myself and what I reall y want to make, not what I “ha ve” to make. The project assignments for the most par t are open ended enough to let me explore materials and concepts that I am interested in . Wh at h ave yo u discover ed abo u t Ric h m o n d that yo u did n ’ t kn ow b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
I had no idea how big the ar t communit y is in Richmond .
Craft/Material Studies My name is Catherine Gellatly. I ’m from Washington , D.C . My major is Craf t/Material Studies . I ’m minoring in Ar t Histor y and Italian .
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
There ha ve been a number of professors who ha ve reall y inspired me. In Ar t Foundation , Anthony Meloro, Sarah Mizer and Hope Ginsburg were reall y great professors to ha ve my f irst year in ar t school . Within the Craf t depar tment, Susan Iverson , Jack Wa x and Mat t Szosz ha ve all been inf luential in the past year. Mat t introduced me to the world of glass and reall y let me explore beyond the boundaries of the class . In Jack Wa x ’s junior seminar class , I learned a lot about myself as well as the ar t world , which has inf luenced the wa y I am creating work now. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
I am the women’s captain for the VCU Crew club. I love rowing and exercising in general . I also reall y love the new rock wall at VCU ’s Car y Street Gym . I love the outdoors and I spend as much time hiking and camping as I can . Wh at do yo u wis h so m eo n e h ad to ld yo u b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
A lot of people had told me that I wouldn’t need a car. Well as an ar t student, life is much easier with a car, or at least ha ving a friend that has a car. Fabric stores are far awa y, and there were a lot of times when I just couldn’t carr y ever y thing on my bike. If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
I wish that I had kept a bet ter journal over the past few years . I think it would ha ve helped to develop some of my ideas bet ter. Wh at is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
There were many late nights in the studio and I loved the fact that there were so many other people there with me. I love the communit y and that there are so many students here who love what they are doing and are as passionate about their work as I am.
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I want to make a bod y of work that I am proud of and can show. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I ha ve been thinking about doing a couple of things . I would like to work in the National Park Ser vice for a while either as a park ranger or a backcountr y guide, or do a residency at some point and eventuall y appl y to grad school . I would love to work at the National Galler y in DC . I worked there in high school and I had a great experience. Essentiall y I would like to ha ve a job that allows me to make work as well , whether it ’s through my job or outside of it.
25
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
I have had the great privilege of working with the amazing facult y here at VCU. Because of them, I have learned more than I could have hoped about my own dancing and choreography. One of the facult y members, Christian von Howard, has allowed me to perform at such venues as the Kennedy Center, Alvin Ailey, and in the GALA at the past two American College Dance Festivals. What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
I think my fa vorite project has yet to come . Senior year we all get to make our own dance and we ha ve to pick music, costumes , dancers , and a concept. Once we ha ve all of this , we put on a show on our own . I believe that I will learn so much through all of this hard work that I am excited for it to come.
Dance & Choreography My name is Allison Day Meyer. I am from Woodbridge , Virginia . My major is Dance & Choreography.
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Each and ever y facult y member has pushed me in a dif ferent ama zing wa y. I am so luck y to be a par t of their famil y. Christian von Howard is a trul y passionate teacher. He makes me love my ar t even more ever y time I get the oppor tunit y to work with him . There is also a teacher, Scot t Putman , who makes me hungr y to learn because he has so much to gi ve. He has created a bod y alignment system which he teaches called EBAS which is a godsend . He is one of those teachers that you could ha ve ever y da y of your life and still ha ve more to learn from . H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I had no idea how much I would learn from my fellow dancers . Each dancer has their own positi ve aspect and we all love to share our knowledge with one another so we can all be the best we can be. I am so grateful that we can inspire each other. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
There are many things that I am interested in outside of dance. I love g ymnastics which I can tie into my dancing. I also love sign language. I think it is so interesting that you can converse nonverball y just like in dance . Just like ever y other girl, I love to go outside and hang out with my friends as well as enjoy the ama zing food Richmond has to of fer. If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
I would do nothing in my life dif ferentl y, other than not let others put me down . I am who I am and I don’t regret any thing.
What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
My favorite memor y is my freshmen repertor y show. The facult y decided that ever y year the freshmen should be allowed to learn a few dances and put on a show just for them. I love performing and was so happy that we got a chance to shine our first year. The families and friends of the freshmen came as well as ALL of the other dancers. Ever yone was so supportive about our process. What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I would like to f inish becoming my own person as a dancer. Coming to VCU I had so much work to do and I feel like I ha ve cleaned up my technique. Now I would like to put the f inishing touches on my dancing and make it trul y my own . What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I hope to be picked in a show or company once I graduate . Per forming is my real passion and as long as I am on a stage with people watching and me dancing, I will be happy. 27
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
Fashion Design at VCU has gi ven me the essential framework of skills that will allow me to enter my profession as a designer. B efore coming to VCU, I at tempted to make clothing by draping fabric over my dress form and cut ting spontaneousl y. Here, I ha ve learned steps to a process which ends in a f inished garment, which is ultimatel y what I set out to learn when I came to college. I ha ve a drawer in which I keep my at tempts at garment construction before I had training and now I can open that drawer and laugh at what I once thought were good pieces .
Fashion Design My name is Rachel Zoe Walters . I am from Richmond , Virginia . My major is Fashion Design .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
I would venture to sa y the “ Inf initi Dress .” I made it in Paris while I was there for my f irst internship and my ar tist collaborator, Oli vier Duhec, made a 10 foot tall illuminated metal sculpture along the same theme. Our project was accepted into the juried exhibition “ Mairie de Paris” at the Hôtel de Ville in Paris . Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Henr y Swar tz and Kimberly Guthrie changed my life forever when they helped me land a summer internship in Paris , France. It is an amazing feeling to go to class knowing I ha ve so much suppor t. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Ever y smell , sight, taste, sound and touch provokes a mental reaction that sparks a chain of events that can culminate in your nex t big idea .
What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
The 2010 fashion show held at the Virginia Museum of Fine Ar ts was one of the proudest moments of my time so far at VCU. Seeing my concepts come down the runwa y in full- blown realit y was such an unparalleled pleasure. I look for ward to nex t year ’s show when I will be a senior.
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I didn’t expect to be so thoroughl y consumed by my studies . I thought I would be able to f ind equilibrium bet ween working and pla ying, but one da y I realized that fashion design falls into both categories for me. When school lets out for breaks , I still head to the studio with fabric tucked under my arm . Ver y few things satisf y me as much as seeing a garment through from the concept to the sketch to the wearable end result. If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
Despite the many “mistakes” that ha ve slowed me down in my quest to become a designer, I wouldn’t change any thing. I am proud of who I am and the tidbits of knowledge and lessons I ha ve culled from my past experiences .
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I ha ve onl y one year lef t at VCU. It ’s reall y amazing how fast it f lies by. I will be concentrating on my senior collections and the por t folio I will use to appl y for jobs .I ma y also begin to learn Italian , since ha ving French and Italian under your belt makes you more employable in the fashion industr y. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I want so ver y badl y to work in Paris . M y goal is to be a technical designer who makes the pat terns that realize a designer ’s vision . I ha ve tried to be a conceptual designer who never touches suppl y materials , but who rather works at a computer all da y, and didn’t like it. I need to work in an atelier with scissors , fabric and paper cut to shreds all around me . I need to work with hyper- creati ve people who are passionate about pushing fashion for ward . So I will look for that situation until I f ind it and I am hoping it will be in the cit y I love. 29
Fashion Merchandising My name is Hannah Wray (pictured opposite , lef t). I am from Franklin Count y, Virginia . I am a Fashion Merchandising major.
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot
Since star ting at VCU, I ha ve learned the value and satisfaction of being 100% dedicated to my school work . College will either make or break most people and I quickl y chose to gi ve it my all because I knew the pa yof f would be wor th ever y bit of ef for t; this has proven true! I ha ve learned that ever y task , no mat ter how seemingl y small , deser ves no less than my ver y best.
n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
M y fa vorite projects ha ve been those using Adobe Creati ve Suite Sof t ware. I love these programs and reall y enjoy working on creati ve computer projects .
I would like to ha ve a job prospect in order. Knowing the nex t step of my life would be comfor ting and feel ver y rewarding af ter all my hard work .
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I would love to gi ve credit to a specif ic teacher, but the truth is that each professor in the Fashion depar tment has inspired me in his or her own wa y. They ha ve all been crucial in my education and ha ve each lef t a lasting impact. I greatl y admire each of them and will never forget the knowledge, inspiration , and friendships gained . I am honored not onl y to know them , but to ha ve also had them each pla y a vital par t in my education .
I recentl y completed an internship working for the senior account executi ves for a design f irm . I could see myself enjoying the sales side of the fashion industr y and excelling in that f ield .
One thing I would do differently would be to appreciate my parents more. The high school years can be stressful, but I have come to realize how fortunate I am to have such amazing parents who love and support me in all that I do. They are the reason I am where I am today and have been able to accomplish so much.
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
School is not easy. I would not be where I am toda y without making dif f icult choices and pushing myself to do bet ter on a dail y basis . Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
I love business and math . I am ex tremel y for tunate to ha ve a major that incorporates business , math , and ar t. M y desire for both creati vit y and logic are the reasons I am ecstatic to make this major my career. 31
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
M y work has progressed directly as a result of me understanding more about aesthetics and design . I believe my visual st yle has become more refined over time. Design is like any thing else; the longer you work at it, the more proficient you become. What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
Graphic Design My name is B rian Gar tside . I am from S par ta , New Jersey. My major is Graphic Design .
For my Systems in Design class, taught by Eric Karnes, I redesigned the identit y for the Science Museum of Virginia. I leaned a lot from that project (and the class) and would definitely qualif y it as one of the strongest pieces in my por tfolio. Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Eric Karnes , Christine Cof fey, and Jamie Mahoney ha ve all signif icantl y inf luenced my work . More than any professors I ’ve ever had , they ’ve pushed me to f ind my own voice and ha ve enabled me to do my best work in their classes . They ha ve sta yed af ter class , made outside appointments , and made their feedback a vailable for both class assignments and real-world projects . They are three of my fa vorite people and I consider myself ver y for tunate to ha ve learned with them . Even beyond helping me grow as a designer, it was Eric Karnes who pushed me to appl y for an internship at Pentagram Design in New York this past summer. He helped me ever y step of the wa y, preparing my por t folio and get ting read y for the inter view. Without his assistance, I probabl y wouldn’t ha ve applied , much less ha ve got ten the job. H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
The most unexpected aspect of my experience with the design department is how refreshingly down to ear th most of the facult y and student body are. There may be a cer tain expectation of pretension that comes with being a graphic designer, but I have found that at VCU it is conspicuously absent. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
I ’m ver y interested in and ha ve alwa ys been passionate about science. In fact, I would hesitate to call it unrelated or “outside [my] ar ts discipline” because of how closel y science relates to design . The more I think about the processes that I use in my work , I see parallels bet ween design and the scientif ic method .
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
I tr y not to allow regret to enter into my da y-to - da y life, so nothing comes to mind . The great thing about graphic design (especiall y in school) is that you usuall y ha ve a second chance to revisit a project and make it bet ter. I tend to do that a lot. What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
M y fa vorite memories of VCU are of the S ystems in Design course taught (at the time) by Eric Karnes and in my Print 2 class with Christine Cof fey. We alwa ys had a great time in class and it is in those t wo courses that I turned out some of my best work in no small par t thanks to the guidance gi ven by the instructors . What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
M y goal for this year is to ha ve my por t folio (both physical and online) read y to go by the time I need to star t looking for a job. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
Hopefull y graphic design . I enjoy all aspects of design so I hope that wherever I end up working handles a wide arra y of projects . 33
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
I ’ve come a long wa y since I was first interested in pursuing ar t. Even though I had taken classical drawing, my first semester in an Ar t Foundation drawing class was the first time an instructor had actually told me that she was disappointed in my work. Of course this motivated me to prove myself, but it is a good example of the wa y I felt about being thrown into a large group of ex tremely talented students , ha ving to bu y supplies at Lowe’s , on top of living in my first apar tment and tr ying to meet new people. Since spending t wo years now in the depar tment of Interior Design, I ’ve learned to communicate more complex spatial ideas much faster, and usually model them digitally first. What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
I contributed to a project for the VCU da Vinci Center, which was sponsored by the Science Museum of Virginia . We basically created a laborator y for potential corporate clients or other designers to “tinker.” The best par t about it was that they of fered us summer internships where we are actually working on building the project that we spent a semester designing. It was probably the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve done in college.
Interior Design My name is Andrea Manrique (pictured opposite , lef t). I was born in Chattanooga , Tennessee and raised in S mithfield , Virginia . My major is Interior Design , and my minor is Craf t/ Material Studies with a concentration in Fiber.
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
I wish I had taken high school more seriousl y, taken more AP classes or got ten into Governor ’s School . You don’t realize how your decisions are going to af fect your life until you are out li ving it. What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
Two professors in particular inspired me last semester while I was working on two intense projects, and was constantly approaching one or the other for feedback. An admirable qualit y in both was that they unconditionally supported whatever I thought was worth exploring, and continued to point me in the direction of other designers who had explored similar forms and concepts.
Traveling to NYC with Interior Design students for the Architectural Home Digest Show was one of my favorite memories so far. We got a tour of the Maharam textile headquarters, and got to stay in a hostel in downtown Manhattan. Another awesome travelling memor y was my summer in Europe with students from Virginia Tech’s architecture program. We backpacked for over a month, sketching historical and modern architecture. Both times were amazing bonding experiences with some of the best people I’ll ever know.
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
I never thought I would ha ve expected to feel this read y to jump into the professional f ield of design . It feels reall y empowering to be able to combine knowledge of math , sculpture, science, and poetr y to create something of value for other people . Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
I’m interested in music and where to find the nex t cup of cof fee. I like to keep up with blogs and see what ’s new out there. It ’s really impor tant to sta y current and engaged in politics , ar t, and life.
Last semester I had the pleasure of meeting Paola Antonelli , senior curator at MoMA . Her lecture at the Windmueller lecture series was about how interesting it can be when design , science, and technolog y overlap. Before I graduate I ’d reall y like to par ticipate in more collaboration , whether it ’s integrating my f ibers knowledge more into my design work , or seeking out students and professionals from other f ields . What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I hope get invol ved with a small to midsized architecture and design f irm , where I can create presentation drawings and par ticipate in conceptual design work . Af ter a few years , I would like to appl y to a graduate school where I can continue to stud y interior architecture, lighting design , or tex tile design . 35
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
Since at tending VCU, I ha ve been exposed to new mediums including sculpture, video, sound and animation . Through my education and my exposure to other creati ve indi viduals , I ha ve the skills and resources to facilitate any creati ve endea vor. What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
The one I ’m working on right now. Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
I admire many VCU facult y members , though Bob Paris of Kinetic Imaging has inspired me in his guidance and perspecti ve through my years in school .
Kinetic Imaging My name is John Dombroski . I was born in Baltimore , Mar yland , lived in Nor th Yorkshire , United Kingdom for three years while growing up, then attended high school in Nor thern Virginia . My major is Kinetic Imaging. My minor is Sculpture + Extended Media .
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
M y creati ve goals ha ve changed entirel y since my arri val . I expected to learn graphic design , and now I ’m working with video, sculpture, audio, and more . Wh at h ave yo u discover ed abo u t Ric h m o n d that yo u did n ’ t kn ow b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
I have experienced an intricate beaut y that lies in the streets and alley ways, around the secluded areas of the James River, and noticed the reflection of this depth in the people of Richmond. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Aside from my educational focus , I am a musician and outdoorsman; I also enjoy exploring social and geographical areas and tr y to see all that I do as an ar tistic endea vor.
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
There is nothing I would do dif ferentl y in life; I ’m here, what bet ter is there? What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
Wh at do yo u wis h so m eo n e h ad to ld yo u b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
Change is constant. When you tr y your hardest, failure is one of the best learning experiences you can ha ve.
M y fa vorite memories at VCU include ever y night that I ’ve sta yed awake until the morning to create my ar t work . Each night like that is time I get to spend learning about myself and doing what I love.
Wh at advic e wo u ld yo u g ive to a n ew VCUarts st u d ent ?
Concentrate on your life, and your ar t will follow. When you stop making projects for class , and begin making work for yourself, you star t making ar t. Also, do not conf ine your creati ve energ y to one par ticular medium—you can and should change your ar tistic focus whenever you’d like.
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I would like to establish more friendships with other creati ve people, I would like to learn , and I would like to help others in their own creati ve ef for ts . What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I hope to teach , make video (possibl y f ilm) work , and show my ar t around the world .
37
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
M y work as a musician has progressed since I ’ve come to VCU. I can see and hear musicalit y in wa ys that formerl y eluded me. A piece that previousl y held one facet for me now holds countless . I can adapt to new musical situations in a much quicker and more versatile fashion . I enter brand new ensembles and f ind myself meshing with other musicians with speed and thoroughness that I owe purel y to my training at VCU.
Music My name is Matt Jewell . I am from Lor ton , Virginia . I am pursuing dual degrees in Music and Women’s Studies .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
During my sophomore year, I pla yed violin in the pit orchestra of a student- directed musical, per formed in the Shafer Street Pla yhouse. Creating fantastic ar t with solel y my peers in an intimate set ting that facilitated true expression and communication was amazing. It also helped that the music was some of the most dif f icult that I had ever encountered . I felt closer to the members of that production than any other musical set ting of my life . H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
When I envisioned music school, I onl y pictured the fur thering of my musical education – never that my experiences here would educate me as a person in general . Music school has taught me lessons in ever y trait necessar y to the human experience. The lessons I ha ve learned in the classroom ha ve reverberated throughout ever y aspect of my life . I would not be any thing close to the person I am toda y without my VCUar ts experience. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Outside of music, my greatest passion is working with youth . I volunteer with several organizations that promote the wellbeing of children in various life situations and circumstances . I ha ve been for tunate enough to f ind wa ys to combine these t wo interests , directing youth musical productions and teaching music to kids in various set tings . I am also an a vid college basketball fan , at tending as many VCU Rams games as I possibl y can . If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
Looking back on my life, I would ha ve made a greater ef for t to experience foreign cultures . I recentl y tra veled to Europe and found myself wholl y changed by the experience . I never thought it possible to be so drasticall y transformed by merel y spending time immersed in a dif ferent culture.
What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
During my freshman year, the Music depar tment held a festi val celebrating the B razilian composer, Heitor Villa- Lobos ( 1887– 1959). It featured guests from around the world . The symphony orchestra , of which I was a member and principal violist, per formed Villa- Lobos’s Fantasia for Soprano Sa xophone and String Orchestra . The per formance featured VCU facult y member Alber t Regni , principal sa xophonist of the New York Philharmonic . A movement of the work featured a duet bet ween the solo sa xophone and solo viola; per forming this duet with such an incredible musician was indescribable. Holding my own as a soloist with a world- class musician was fantasticall y inef fable, and it will sta y with me for the rest of my life. What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I want to f ind a wa y to integrate my ar t into another discipline for a common cause. I want to create an event, production , or any other organized form of joint expression that synthesizes multiple disciplines into one unif ied voice. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
M y post- graduation plans are still undef ined . I feel like I ha ve multiple strong interests that are pulling me in dif ferent directions; my goal is to coalesce these interests into my one life. I tr y to not def ine my life plans through a career, but rather through a search for ultimate fulf illment. Ideall y, I ’ll f ind a wa y to answer the pulls of all of my interests , mainl y music , youth , and culture, and f it them all into a life that fulf ills me completel y. I know that such a broad sense of desire is going to make achieving my goals a lit tle more dif f icult, but I know, without a doubt that the gain will be wor th the cost.
39
Wh at m ad e yo u d ecid e to co m e to VCU?
The ranking, and the ar t communit y. Wh at h a s im pr es s ed yo u m ost abo u t yo u r VCU e xper ien c e?
The teachers , and the facilities . H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
My work really changed here at VCU. The teachers opened my mind to different ways to think about painting, and to making artwork.
Painting & Printmaking My name is Andrew Indelicato. I am from right here in Richmond , Virginia . My major is Painting and Printmaking.
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I reall y didn’t know how it would be . Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Yes , but not just one facult y member. They took me under their wings and became more of mentors than teachers . Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Music and geek y/nerd y stuf f. Wh at do yo u wis h so m eo n e h ad to ld yo u b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
That the teachers rule. Wh at advic e wo u ld yo u g ive to a n ew VCUarts st u d ent ?
I would sa y WORK WORK , bust your but t!! Never gi ve up on what you believe in . If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
Not sure. I tr y to li ve ever y thing with no regrets . Wh at is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
Going to the M FA thesis shows , and checking out cra z y things around school . Wh at is yo u r favo r ite o r b est proj ect that yo u ’ ve co ntr ib u ted to a s a st u d ent?
Not reall y a project, but teaching other students techniques . Wh at do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
Ha ve a solo show. Wh at do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
Go to grad school , and become a teacher.
41
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
I know I ha ve improved because of the achievements I ha ve made, awards I ha ve won , and the general open forum with teachers and fellow students regarding my work . VCUar ts is a great incubator for the emerging ar tist, because of the suppor t system included in the students’ education . What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
M y fa vorite project so far has yet to be determined . I am ver y excited to see where my vision takes me this academic year. Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Photography & Film My name is Kathleen Jones . I was born in Geneva , Switzerland and spent most of my life in Alexandria , Virginia . I am pursuing a double major in Photography & Film and Small Business/Entrepreneurship
Tom Condon is an instructor and person in general who has truly inspired me and has influenced my artistic career. Any student would be lucky to have Tom’s influence, because he probes issues in our artwork others would probably never have thought to question. H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I have learned so much more about myself as an artist, as well as a person, than I ever thought possible. This experience is so valuable because it has truly changed my life and the way I look at things around me, as well as the questions I think to ask. Thinking in the way we are encouraged to think – as artists – affects all aspects of life, including values, friendships, relationships, etc. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Entrepreneurship, as well as the ef fect ar t can ha ve on the communit y in which it was created . Non-profit businesses , especially ar t spaces are ver y interesting to me from a business , as well as ar tist standpoint. Directly outside of photography, painting interests me, due to the value the ar tist can bestow on her work by making it non-reproducible and truly original.
ar tist herself, but also ver y interesting for the whole group to see how the other ’s work has grown , changed , ref lected , and progressed . I love the moment when you see a fellow student ’s ar tistic identit y emerge – when you can look at the wall and know which student made which bod y of work .
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , what wo u ld it b e?
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
If I could go back to middle and high school, I would definitely ha ve tried to commit to my foreign language classes . Not only would being bilingual grant one a competitive ad vantage in toda y ’s marketplace, I believe the cultural doors it could open would be ver y valuable. As a double major in t wo ver y separate fields , there is practically no room for classes to take just for fun .
I want to have made the most out of the opportunities available to the VCUarts student. I want to use my senior year in academia as a platform for discover y of the art world outside of the Pollak building, and where/how far this world can take me. I would like to feel confident next spring that I have a sense of what to do next. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
Wh at is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
M y fa vorite memories so far at VCU are f inal critiques . The f inal critique of the semester marks the culmination of months or more of work . This moment is ver y exhilarating for the
Af ter I graduate, I hope to feel sure about the nex t step, whatever that ma y be. Now, I am fairl y positi ve I want to appl y to graduate school soon af ter graduating, but time will tell . 43
Sculpture + Extended Media My name is Conor Backman . I am pursuing a double major in Painting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended Media . I grew up in Purcellville , Virginia .
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
What h ave yo u discover ed abo u t R ic h m o n d th at yo u did n ’ t kn ow
M y work has def initel y progressed since coming to VCU. Some of the work I ’m doing still looks like work I was making before school , but my thinking about the work has changed a lot in the last few years . I ’m glad to be able to major in both painting and in sculpture because I feel like each major informs the other, and this has been ver y benef icial to my practice .
b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
Richmond is a great place for me to be working right now. It ’s big enough that there are things happening here, but not so big that it is not accessible. For instance, here in Richmond we can run a galler y that is get ting at tention nationall y while still being able to af ford the rent and ha ve an impact in the local communit y.
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
Last summer I opened an ar t galler y with three friends from the ar t school . It ’s been by far the biggest project that I ’ve been a par t of since coming to school . It has become a full time job for all of us , but it has been so rewarding, I wouldn’t ha ve it any other wa y.
What inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
This is a tough question to answer. There is so much I can’t even begin to star t answering. I think this is the best par t about being an ar tist is that you get to be interested in ever y thing and from there f igure out what it means to pull these interests into an ar tistic practice .
Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
I ’ve been inspired in some wa y by ever yone I ’ve worked with here . The facult y are all ver y generous and suppor ti ve with their feedback and with their time .
What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I ’d like to see the galler y through until graduating. I ’d also like to continue showing my own work in other galleries , hopefull y show work in New York before I lea ve school .
H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I reall y didn’t ha ve any expectations for ar t school, which I think has been a good thing.
What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
Ideally I would make a living as an artist or from running a galler y. It ’s hard to say what I’ll be doing work-wise after I graduate. There are a lot of possibilities. I’ve been luck y with the jobs I’ve had so far, there are lots of opportunities I would still like to tr y out. 45
H ow h a s yo u r wo r k prog r es s ed sin c e yo u ’ ve co m e to VCU?
Before becoming a part of Theatre VCU, I believed that acting was all about abandoning one’s self to become another character; I used acting and theatre as my escape. Now I’ve learned that this art requires all of oneself, including its honest y along with all of its flaws. In order to create a truthful performance I now know that I must invest all of myself or to not even bother. In my opinion, the audience is there to relate, not to be tricked or misguided; a truth has to be told.
Theatre My name is Cr ystal Johnson . I am from Petersburg , Virginia where I live with my mother and 7 year old sister. My major is Theatre Per formance .
What is your favorite or best project that you’ve contributed to as a student?
M y fa vorite project was when I was cast in For Colored Girls … here at Theatre VCU. Here I was , a freshman , and cast in a Mainstage. There in the f irst rehearsal I stood alongside some of the most power ful theatre actresses I know. That show taught me so much about myself and how I should view the world . Is th er e a facu lt y m em b er that ha s particu l ar ly in s pir ed yo u? H ow so?
Yes , my acting teacher, Dr. T, has trul y inspired me. She shows me that theatre is more than what meets the eye . It is real life, with real people , and if done right – it deals with real emotions . It ’s inspiring because she forces me to be myself, to love myself and the choices that come along with any thing that I do. Her teaching shows me that theatre can be a tool for healing. And I must sa y that this ar t has trul y become a girl ’s best friend . H ow is yo u r e xper ien c e differ ent fro m h ow yo u th o u g ht it m ig ht b e?
I thought college was all about par t ying and a huge social life . And for some this ma y be, but for me it has been about discipline and dedication; what it means to ha ve a passion and sometimes how power ful it is to stand alone in it. Wh at h ave yo u discover ed abo u t Ric h m o n d that yo u did n ’ t kn ow b efo r e yo u c am e to VCU?
I never knew that the Richmond theatre scene was so successful. Wh at inter ests yo u o u ts id e o f yo u r arts disciplin e?
Modern pop, rock , and rap music ha ve alwa ys been hobbies . I just love to be a par t and listen to it. I also love children and cleaning! Organization and sanitizing are ver y therapeutic . I also love to cheer, sing, and dance .
If yo u co u ld go bac k an d do so m e th in g differ ently in yo u r life ( n ot n ec es sar ily arts r el ated ) , wh at wo u ld it b e?
I would take more risks with my singing and take more dance classes . I recognize the potential and of ten wonder if I ha ve enough time to fur ther it. What is yo u r favo r ite m em o ry so far at VCU?
M y fa vorite memor y at VCU is when one of my teachers called me and told me that they were considering me for an understud y position at a professional theatre. I remember smiling from ear to ear because here I was a sophomore and he could ’ve called anyone else in the school , but he called me . What do yo u want to acco m plis h b efo r e yo u g r ad uate?
I’d love to direct a show, become a lead in one, and develop the contacts and financial stabilit y needed to sur vive in this business. What do yo u h o pe to do af ter yo u g r ad uate?
I hope to move to either L A or NY and audition until I can’t anymore. And while doing so, I hope to intern at a professional theatre company. 47
SCULPTURE + EXTENDED MEDIA
I discovered that I am a cit y girl! I thought that the cit y of Richmond would be scar y and dir t y, when in fact it is quite the opposite. There are some trul y breathtakingl y beautiful areas in Richmond . There is alwa ys something to do or somewhere within walking distance, so I am never bored . Allison Day Meyer Dance & Choreography major
Richmond ’s di versit y is its greatest asset and its best- kept secret. I had no idea that I would be surrounded by such a wide spectrum of culture and experience in Richmond . I knew I was moving into an urban environment when I decided on VCU, but I was shocked at the richness of the diversit y once I trul y got to know the cit y. Matt Jewell Music and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)
Ha ving grown up on a farm in West Virginia , I thought that Richmond was going to be a terrif ying, hard- core urban environment. I had never li ved in a cit y before, and felt like I was too nai ve to move to Richmond . I was surprised and delighted to discover that Richmond actually has more of a smaller cit y feel than I anticipated . I learned to be smar ter and less paranoid about my urban surroundings and more open to the gif ts Richmond has to of fer. The architecture here is beautiful , and the histor y of the cit y is fascinating. The vibrancy of the VCU student bod y is so invigorating. There is no “ t ypical ” VCU student. Ever yone has a unique stor y and background . Also, I discovered that most people in Richmond are incredibly friendly and helpful . Michelle Clark Sites Communication Arts major
B efore coming to VCU I li ved in the west end of Richmond and I felt conf ident that I had seen all the sights of downtown Richmond alread y. However, I was wrong. There are la yers to this cit y which I am still peeling. I ’ve discovered sights hiding in corners of the cit y. I ’ve met people that ha ve inf luenced my life decisions more than they could know. The most surprising thing about moving to this cit y is how easy it is to build a home and become par t of a family outside of my permanent address .
what have you discovered about Richmond that you didn’t know before coming to VCU? There reall y is something for ever yone. I feel like I am doing something new all the time, and constantl y meeting new people in my classes , internships , and when I go out with friends . People tend to be reall y proacti ve about what they ’re into, and there are constantl y new restaurant- galler y-venue hybrids sprouting up all over the cit y. You could also easil y measure out the year in terms of festi vals: French Film , Inlight, Indian , B road Appétit, Watermelon , Ar t walk , Worn Again Fashion Show, and other music- based festi vals . Andrea Manrique Interior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor
The f ilm industr y here is slowl y growing. I alwa ys thought that I ’d ha ve to move to either L A or New York but Richmond has great potential and growing job oppor tunities for filmmakers . It is inspiring to think that I ma y be a par t of something greater. Duy Nguyen Cinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor
Virginia Driggers Art Education major, Art History minor
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DANCE & CHOREOGRAPHY
Richmond can be as drear y or as fun as you want, depending on how of ten you are able to get out and if you take the time to discover its quirk y crannies . I am a huge fan of the vintage clothing stores B ygones and Halcyon . There is a fabric store to die for as well at the intersection of Libbie and Grove called Couture Fabrics . Rachel Zoe Walters Fashion Design major
Richmond is a unique cit y teeming with diversit y and cultural aspects that cannot be found on ever y campus . I meet new people and ha ve new experiences regularl y that ha ve helped me to broaden my scope of understanding. Hannah Wray Fashion Merchandising major
Ever y thing I know about Richmond has been shaped by my experiences at VCU. I ha ve discovered the rich culture and histor y of this cit y. I par ticularl y enjoyed discovering the wa y the ar t culture here in Richmond guides ci vic issues such as housing, real estate, galler y spaces , etc .
what have you discovered about Richmond that you didn’t know before coming to VCU?
Kathleen Jones Photography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)
art foundation
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What advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?
MUSIC SCULPTURE + EXTENDED MEDIA
Make sure you are in love with your ar t form . College level ar ts is fun , but it is no joke. You ha ve got to be willing to give your time , love , ef for t, and ever y thing that is you for your ar t. I am so in love with dance that I tr y to dance ever y chance I get. Coming to VCU as an ar tist you must be prepared to work harder than ever with a smile on your face . Allison Day Meyer Dance & Choreography major
I ’ve had many teachers that ha ve told me the best ar tists are the ones that make the most work . I think a lot of the time this is true . This also includes looking at ar t and talking about ar t. The more you invest into your practice the more you will get out of it. It ’s also good to make friends with graduate students in your program , they are the most moti vated people at the school and are usuall y alwa ys happy to talk and work with you . Reall y the experience you ha ve at school is what you make of it.
what advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?
Conor Backman Painting & Printmaking and Sculpture + Extended Media (double major)
Take care of yourself, prioritize, and be willing to go to the ex tremes that others ma y refuse to go to. Do something, any thing that sets you apar t. Don’t ruin your reputation or worr y too much about a social life (it ’ll happen on its own). Just work hard and make a name for yourself or else you’ll look up 4 years later terribl y disappointed in your college career. Crystal Johnson Theatre Performance major
I would ad vise a prospecti ve student to keep a ver y open mind to the possibilit y of change . Change is a scar y thing for one’s ar t career, especiall y when you get stuck on something you’re doing. However, absorbing ad vice and critique can guide a young ar tist to a truer understanding of ar tistic meaning. Also, I would ad vise the prospecti ve student to take advantage of the resources VCU has to of fer. Kathleen Jones Photography & Film and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management (double major)
Consider get ting reall y serious about what you do, and it will pa y of f. I ha ve had so many oppor tunities open up because I had time to go out and do things like volunteer at the VA Center for Architecture and appl y to team projects like the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation in Product Development.
Embrace the diversit y that surrounds you . The cit y provides an incredible backdrop for broadening your cultural and ar tistic horizons . The other VCUar ts depar tments can ser ve as huge sources of inspiration; watching your peers work in their own element and witnessing the master ful work that they create can ser ve as an inspirational catalyst greater than any thing you’ve ever imagined . Matt Jewell Music and Women’s Studies majors (dual degree)
I would tell a new student to never forget why he or she is here: an education . College is amazing, and embracing fun and freedom are great, but make sure that during the four year period you do not lose sight of the reason that you came . College is the setup for the rest of your life. There is so much more to follow. Hannah Wray Fashion Merchandising major
Sta y open and remain curious . Research the things that make you happy and collect images in folders . It ’s cliché but true; you take awa y what you put in . Rachel Zoe Walters Fashion Design major
Andrea Manrique Interior Design major, Craft/Material Studies (Fiber concentration) minor
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COMMUNICATION ARTS
Just make sure you love what you do. Don’t worr y about whether you’ll f ind a job or not, if you love what you do, and of course if you’re talented , ever y thing will work out. Duy Nguyen Cinema and Philosophy (dual degrees), Media Studies minor
Obser ve what those who are successful are doing. Do that, and then f ind your own wa y of doing what they do — dif ferentl y. Michelle Clark Sites Communication Arts major
Get to know your professors . Look at their work , look at why it works and ask them about it. They are there to teach you about ar t and you can reall y learn a lot about creating work for yourself by looking at how others work . Catherine Gellatly Craft/Material Studies major, Art History and Italian minors
what advice would you give to a new VCUarts student?
Go For It! This is your education and you should make the best of the time you ha ve. Don’t just wade through school, make it a challenge, struggle, goal! If you are upset with the easiness of a class then take a harder one. People can do any thing that they set their mind to and with all of the world ’s issues , Ear th needs creati ve problem-sol vers to impact the future and make a change for the bet ter! Virginia Driggers Art Education major, Art History minor
graphic design
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art foundation
35 international fraternities and sororities
Field Hockey Club
A Cappella Ensemble of VCU
Filipino Americans Coming Together ( FACT @ VCU )
Active Minds
Filmmakers at VCU
Ad Club
Focus On Relevant Current Events ( FORCE )
Alternative Spring Break American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA @ VCU ) American Marketing Association (AMA @ VCU ) American Society of Interior Designers (ASID @ VCU ) Anime Club Anthropology/Archaeology Club Art History Club Ballroom Dance Society Black Student Union Blackout Dance Team Bookworms of VCU Bowling Club Capoeira at VCU Caribbean Student Organisation Catholic Campus Ministries Ceramics Club Change for Change Chinese Student Association Christian Student Fellowship Circle K International (CKI @ VCU ) City Connections Classic / Silent Horror Film Student Organization Club Baseball Club Softball College Republicans @ VCU Commonwealth Times VCU Compass Singers Contemporary Craft Society
German Club Global Foundation (GF ) Green Unity 4 VCU GroupMODA ( fashion organization thriving on diversity and creativity)
Notochords (co-ed a cappella group )
Student Hip-Hop Organization ( SHHO)
Ice Hockey Club
Organization of Photographic Arts (OPA! )
Students for Sensible Drug Policy ( SSDP )
Indian Student Association
Paintball Club of VCU
Students for Social Action ( SSA)
Ink Magazine
Pakistani Students Association
Intercultural Festival Planning Board
Persian American students ( PAS )
Students Today Alumni Tomorrow ( STAT )
Habitat for Humanity Homecoming Committee
Poker Club at VCU
International Student Volunteers ( ISV @ VCU )
Queer Action Quidditch Club
Judo Club
Relay For Life @ VCU
Korean Students at VCU ( KSVCU )
Runners Club of VCU
kino!kino! (German Cinema Club )
S.T.A.N.D. ( Students Taking Action Now: Darfur )
Latino Student Association Literati Media, Art, and Text Student Organization
Saudi Students Organization
Suits & Cigars ( S&C ) Surf Club VCU Swim Club of VCU Swing Dance at VCU Table Tennis Club at VCU Taekwondo Club at VCU Tennis Club of VCU This American Life at VCU University Bible Fellowship Vegetarian Club
Scooter Club
Video Game Club of VCU
Sexual Assault Dating Violence
Vietnamese Student Association ( VSA)
Men Against Violence ( MAV )
Education by Students ( S.A.V.E.S.)
Men's Soccer Club
Siggraph at VCU
Men's Cricket Club
Sikh Student Association of VCU
Men's Lacrosse Club
Ski Club at VCU
Men's Rugby Club
Snowboarding Club
Men's Ultimate Frisbee Club
Society for Women in Cinema ( SWC )
Women's Ultimate Frisbee Club ( Biscuit Villains )
Men's Volleyball Club
Society of Communication Artists ( SOCA)
Women's Volleyball Club
Cycling Club
Muslim Students Association
Diversity Theatre
National Art Education Association, VCU Student Chapter
Episcopal Campus Ministry
Poppers of VCU
Invisible Children @ VCU
Crew Team
Ethiopian Student Union
Philosophy Club
International Interior Design Association ( IIDA @ VCU )
Monroe Park Student Government Association ( SGA)
Def Poets Society
something for everyone
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP @ VCU )
STRUT Fashion Show Planning Committee Stick It or Whip It: Rock Climbing at VCU Student Art Space Student Film Festival @ VCU
Whitewater at VCU Women's Club Soccer Women's Lacrosse Club Women's Rugby Club
World Cup VCU WVCW Radio Yoga Education Student Organization ( YESO) Young Americans for Liberty Young Democrats at VCU
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FAShion design & merchandising
VCUar ts students use w w w.vcu .edu/ar ts/inside as their homepage for easy access to all student resources . EVENTS – To f ind out about VCUar ts shows , guests , and student/alumni/facult y acti vities . w w w.esterknows .com OPPORTU N ITIES – VCUar ts students are made aware of oppor tunities including competitions , internships and fellowships through ester ’s sister site, prudence . ww w. prudenceknows .info
resources for our students
CAREERS – Great facult y isn’t the onl y wa y ar ts students ha ve a leg up. There’s helpful information for those about to embark on a job search at www.jeanetteknowsjobs .com GALLERY – VCUar ts Anderson Galler y exhibits the work of nationall y and internationall y renowned ar tists , emerging f igures , and regional names . The Anderson Galler y mounts exhibitions that explore contemporar y ar t and design . Each spring, students also exhibit their work in the Anderson Galler y. This annual show draws huge crowds and accolades for students . w w w.vcu .edu/ar ts/galler y
kinetic imaging
FACILITIES – The School of the Ar ts spans 13 buildings on the VCU campus including the much lauded Fine Ar ts Building and the W.E. Singleton Center for the Per forming Ar ts . DA VI NCI CENTER – The new daVinci Center for Innovation in Product Design and Development is a joint ef for t by the Schools of Business , Engineering and Ar ts that teams students from each discipline who tackle design challenges . ww w.davincicenter.vcu .edu Keep up with VCUar ts on your fa vorite websites: youtube .com/ vcuar ts facebook .com/ vcuar ts t witter.com/ vcuar ts
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painting & Printmaking
art education
graphic design
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vcu rams basketball game
How VCUarts Measures Up VCUarts PROGRAMS AS RANKED BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
OVERALL SCULPTURE
Department of Sculpture + Extended Media
GRAPHIC DESIGN
RANKING AMONG ALL U.S. ARTS PROGRAMS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
RANKING AMONG ALL U.S. PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES
#4
#1
#1
#1
#4
#1
#4
#1
#5
#1
#8
#3
#9
#3
#10
#5
#12
#6
#17
#10
Department of Graphic Design
FIBER ARTS Department of Craft/Material Studies
GLASS Department of Craft/Material Studies
PAINTING Department of Painting & Printmaking
MULTIMEDIA/VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS Likely a combination of our departments of Communication Arts, Graphic Design, Photography & Film, and Kinetic Imaging
METALS/JEWELRY Department of Craft/Material Studies
CERAMICS Department of Craft/Material Studies
PRINTMAKING Department of Painting & Printmaking
ADDITIONAL RANKINGS INFORMATION DesignIntelligence 2010 National Rankings: VCUarts Department of Interior Design named “Hidden Gem of Interior Design Education.” Dance & Choreography is an invited member of the Council of Dance Administrators (CODA), a forum of the nation’s 25 leading dance programs. 63
(804) VCU-ARTS arts@vcu.edu vcu.edu/arts youtube.com/vcuarts facebook.com/vcuarts twitter.com/vcuarts