Interior Design News By Ruth Beals

Professors Ruth Beals and Jane Hughes and six juniors and sophomores attended the Unity in Design High Point Design Center event on February 29 and April 1. They enjoyed showroom visits, two lectures, a tour of Tomlinson Furniture and receptions where they met other students and designers.

A team of visitors for the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) completed an intensive three day review of the curriculum, including course documents and student work. A very impressive display of three years of student work was exhibited in the Barnett Room in the Montgomery building. Most of the Program’s students participated in the student interview and made a big impression, especially with their willingness to respond to questions and by working together. The accreditation decision will be issued at the end of July, yet we can report that the exit interview went very well. Comments during this meeting noted that Program strengths were collaborations, teamwork, global awareness, lighting, and the students’ writing and

From the Chair. . .By Teresa Prater

As we end yet another busy academic year I would like to reflect on our many successes. Our CIDA accreditation site visit was a huge undertaking by the interior design faculty that ended with what Dr. Jeff Barker said was the best closing interview by an accreditation site visit he has ever seen at Converse. What a statement! Congratulations to Ruth, Jane and Frazer! As many of you already know our department has some of the best and

hardest working faculty on campus. From Andrew and Mac’s student’s successes in juried shows to Geri’s trips to Haiti, our faculty fosters the highest dreams and expectations. That is why so many of our students are successful. They want to mirror the faculty’s desire to be better artists, historians, therapists, educators, and designers. I also want to recognize Mac for his many years of service to Converse and the Department. Though not yet moving into full retirement, Mac will be moving to part-time teaching as he begins to phase into full-time artist mode.

To this year’s graduates, I wish happiness and success, and to everyone a productive and creative summer.

The Art Therapy program continues to grow each year with new students coming every year, some from as far away as New York and California. Their bright energy enhances the classroom environment, and makes the academic experience a joy.

Art Therapy UpdateBy Geri Hurlbut

Arts for Haiti team: (Left to Right) Elizabeth York, Rachel Collins, Geri Hurlbut (back), Brittney Washington, Brittney Silver, Molly Glibbery, Donna Jackson, Ann Pittman

continued on page 2

presentation skills. President Fleming complemented the Program on its alignment with Converse’s strategic plans. Thanks to the Department of Art and Design faculty and students, the administration and Paula Cash for all their help.

The senior students presented their capstone projects on May 4. Mary Jane Grigsby, the current president of the NCIDQ organization joined us in witnessing their accomplishments and her comment was “outstanding.” The ASID Student Chapter provided the Senior Celebration Luncheon during the presentations. Senior Exhibitions were held the week before graduation. The juniors are integrating the light rendering software Podium into their spring courses and the sophomores are learning Revit.

Congratulations to Johanna Whitmer ’08 for attaining her NCIDQ certification. Johanna is with Warren & Harmon Commercial Interiors in Myrtle Beach. Krista Williams ’10 joined Perkins and Will in Chicago for an internship and will complete her graduate program at SCAD this June. Hope Williams ’11 has joined Alfred Williams, a Herman Miller dealership in Greenville. Frani Mayer ’11 is finishing her graduate

degree in sustainable design at NYSID and loving being in New York City. Kathie Chicoine ’11 is pursuing an online graduate degree at the Academy of Art in San Francisco. Amanda Ripley ’11 is enrolled in an interior design graduate program at Corcoran University in Washington, DC. Megan Murphy ’11 is working at Bossard Design in Charlotte, NC. Congratulations to Anna Marengo ’12 for being accepted into interior design graduate programs at SCAD and NYSID.

Spring 2012

continued from page 1 - Art Therapy UpdateFaculty AchievementsSuzanne Schuweiler

Presentation of paper, “Traversing the Past: Ann Hamilton’s Myein,” School of Visual Arts National Conference, New York, NY, October 2011.

Session co-chair: “Race and Gender in the Photographic Image,” Southeastern College Art Conference, Savannah, GA, November 2011.

Teresa PraterExhibition, Hambidge Residency: All New Paintings by Teresa Prater,” Art & Light Gallery, Greenville, SC.

Frazer S. M. PajakVolunteer historic restoration for the City of Spartanburg at Magnolia Cemetery and Foster’s Tavern. Appraisals for annual antiques event, Chapman Cultural Center, Spartanburg, SCProfessional photo-documentation of Drayton Mill and Arcadia Mill, and SketchUp renderings for Campbell, Meek & Associates, Inc.

Jane HughesConsultation services for two ongoing projects: “One Little Place” multi-family development, Barrett and Stokely, Inc., Cincinnati, OH; and “Monon Phase II” multi-family development, Buckingham Companies, Indianapolis, IN.

Accepted contract for interior and exterior areas of “Clearwater” multi-family development, Hearthview Residential, Indianapolis, IN.

Andrew BlanchardAtlanta Print Biennial International Juried Exhibition, Barbara Archer Gallery, Atlanta, GA, November 5-December 3, 2011.

Curator of Winter’s Ink: An Exhibition of Printmakers, Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS. Also exhibiting one print, “Dixie Totem I,” in the show. January 31 – March 3, 2012.

East/West Traveling Portfolio Exchange Exhibition, University of Central Florida, Orland, FL, December 2011. Work: “Dixie Totem I” currently on display at the Ameen Gallery, Nicholls State, Thibodaux, LA.

Building New Traditions: 9th Turner National Print Biennial, California State University, Chico, CA, 2012. Work, “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight.”

Included in “New Superstars of Southern Art,” oxfordamerican.org.

Ruth BealsNew chair of the South Region of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).

Completed three years of service as ASID Carolina Chapter, Student Design Competition Committee chair.

Presentation of paper, “Evidence Based Design: Changes in Programming Research” along with research partner Sangwon Sohn, Associate Professor at Winthrop, Sixth International Conference on Design Principles and Practices, Los Angeles, CA, January 2012.

Recent graduates have gone on to be accepted to George Washington University, Florida State University and Lesley University graduate art therapy programs, as well as the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Converse. One recent graduate, now in nursing school, wrote stating that her art therapy education has helped her in nursing school as they are studying psychiatric nursing.

Our Creative Collaboration Grant, Arts for Haiti, provided some of the funds that allowed a few art therapy students to return to Haiti in December, 2012. We traveled with music therapy students from Converse and were joined by members of the Emporia State University graduate art therapy program. Converse students Rachel Collins (English major) Ann Pittman, Brittney Silver and Brittney Washington (Art Therapy majors) along with Molly Glibbery and Donna Jackson (Music Therapy majors) under the guidance of Professors Hurlbut and York, returned to Kings Hospital and Kings Garden Boarding School in Port au Prince, Haiti December 9-17. We had the privilege of training medical staff and caregivers, bringing together the benefits of art therapy and music therapy. We learned that some of the children we had worked with in March 2012 had opportunities to be adopted and come to the US to finish their schooling. We also saw firsthand some of the progress that has been

A reflective note to all my January Term Student TravelersBy Mac Boggs

Now that I am going through the retirement phase after my 42-year career of teaching, all of the great memories of the exciting travel programs I had the opportunity to share with my students have been flooding through

Art Restoration Kudos for Frazer

Converse Printmaking Students Making National and Local Ink WavesBy Andrew Blanchard

LaGrange Art Museum in LaGrange, Georgia. Valli’s screen print, “Fisherwoman,” was selected by juror Dr. Robert Steele to not only receive a merit award, but a LaGrange Museum of Art Permanent Collection Award. Valli, along with printmaking BFA alumna Miranda Sawyer, had prints accepted into the 37th Anderson Arts Center Annual Juried Show in Anderson, South Carolina. Miranda’s print, “Traditions,” won a merit award. Check out the student and alumnae achievements sidebar for more news!

There is a lot of good news about recent good work from printmaking students. Katy Corbin’s screen print, “One Star Dining, Closed,” was accepted into the prestigious 2012 Oso Bay North American Printmaking Exhibition. Juried by Bill Fick, the author of our printmaking textbook, the exhibition will take place at the Islander Gallery at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas. Elena Hernandez-Rubio and Valli Landrum’s prints were accepted into the XXVII LaGrange National Biennial Competition, which will be on view at the

my mind, including visiting the major museums and historical sites of NYC and walking in the footsteps of Georgia O’Keefe while we lived and made art in the high desert of New Mexico. I have wonderful memories also of students and my wife, Ansley, exploring London, Paris, southern France, Switzerland and Mt. Pilatus, Florence, Sienna, Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii, Spain, Greece, and the Greek islands. I hope each of you has fond memories of your experiences. Recall them often—they were wonderful times! Keep in touch, Boggs

Professor Frazer Pajak’s Art Restoration elective course made a big impact on the community through projects completed for the Magnolia Cemetery, Foster’s Tavern, and Converse. The students enjoyed getting their hands dirty as they learned the techniques and significance of historical preservation. Appreciative community members, Martin Meek and Gary and Mary Ada Poole, hosted the students for tours and meals at their homes. Prof. Pajak and the students, including interior design students McKinsey Willoughby, Jackie Huneault and Vanessa Steele were invited to help host visitors to Foster’s Tavern on April 22, during the Spartanburg County Historical Association Spring Tour. More information is available about historical Foster’s Tavern in the Herald-Journal article published on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Search “Foster’s Tavern” at www.GoUpstate.com for the article and photograph.

Converse College art faculty and alumnae were well-represented in the Artists Among Us project held in Spartanburg last November. Hub-Bub Showroom exhibited Stephen Stinson’s photographic portraits of the featured artists, many of whom were available at various locations throughout the town signing copies of the book. The beautiful Artists Among Us books are still for sale at the Hub City Bookshop. You don’t want to miss this wonderful collection of photos and memoirs of local talent.

Artists Among Us: 100 Faces of Art in Spartanburg

Susanne Gunter, Isabel Forbes, Mac Boggs and Andrew Blanchard autograph books.

made in rebuilding the city. Much needs to be done to re-establish the infrastructure, but the hearts and spirit of the Haitian people we met were warm and welcoming.

Brittney Washington, Converse II Art Therapy major, reported feeling moved as she recognized the genuine need of those still dwelling in tent cities. Brittney Silver, Senior Art Therapy major, shared that she learned that the most important tool she could develop was flexibility since the need to change plans to meet the needs of the community was necessary throughout our stay. One 15-year-old Haitian student who had lost his mother at an early age expressed that the art and music helped him to express things that he did not otherwise have words for. As much as we feel we were able to bring to them, we feel they returned as much—if not more—through the warmth of their hearts as they shared their stories, music and hospitality with us.

Student and Alumnae AchievementsMaggie Vaughn ’13

Presentation of paper, “Childe Hassam at Old Lyme, Connecticut,” Mint Museum Regional Collegiate Art History Symposium, Charlotte, NC, March 2012.

Miranda Sawyer ’09Go South: Southern Printmakers, Young Blood Gallery, Atlanta, GA.

National Juried Small Works Show, Windsor Whip Works Art Center and Gallery, Windsor, NY.

37th Anderson Arts Center Annual Juried Show, Work: “Traditions” received merit award.

Wynn Smith ’83Selected to serve a three year term on the Arts in Public Spaces Commission, Greenville, SC, 2012.

Meagan Kusek ’12Selected as a Fulbright Scholar and will spend a year in Germany teaching English and writing a book translating German folk tales into English. Meagan is the fourth Converse College Fulbright Scholar in four years!

Katy Butler ’09Winter’s Ink: An Exhibition of Printmakers, Southside Gallery, Oxford, MS, January 2012. Work completed as MFA candidate at Clemson University.

Ayako Abe Miller ’12Accepted to Clemson University MFA program for fall 2012, along with an assistantship.

Small Wonders National Juried Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art, Circle Gallery. Work: “Relaxation Aids for Bookworm.” December 1-28, 2011.

Photographer’s Forum 32nd Annual College and High School Photography Contest, finalist (18,000 photos received). Work to be included in Best of College and High School Photography 2012 publication.

A reflective note to all my January Term Student TravelersBy Mac Boggs

Art Restoration Kudos for Frazer

Vanessa Steele explains restoration processes at Foster’s Tavern to a visitor.

LaGrange Art Museum in LaGrange, Georgia. Valli’s screen print, “Fisherwoman,” was selected by juror Dr. Robert Steele to not only receive a merit award, but a LaGrange Museum of Art Permanent Collection Award. Valli, along with printmaking BFA alumna Miranda Sawyer, had prints accepted into the 37th Anderson Arts Center Annual Juried Show in Anderson, South Carolina. Miranda’s print, “Traditions,” won a merit award. Check out the student and alumnae achievements sidebar for more news!

MAT Program Receives Final ApprovalBy Dr. Susanne Floyd Gunter

The Master’s of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program received final approval for accreditation from NASAD in October, and had its first two graduates in Summer 2011: Katharine Crawford and Kathy Z. Wofford. For information about the MAT program in art education for initial teacher certification, please contact Dr. Susanne Gunter at susanne.gunter@converse.edu or 864.596.9126.

my mind, including visiting the major museums and historical sites of NYC and walking in the footsteps of Georgia O’Keefe while we lived and made art in the high desert of New Mexico. I have wonderful memories also of students and my wife, Ansley, exploring London, Paris, southern France, Switzerland and Mt. Pilatus, Florence, Sienna, Rome, Sorrento, Pompeii, Spain, Greece, and the Greek islands. I hope each of you has fond memories of your experiences. Recall them often—they were wonderful times! Keep in touch, Boggs

Converse College was pleased to host the 2012 Young Women in Art Exhibition March 10-17 in the Milliken Art Gallery. Under the direction of Professor Dianne Bagnal, Coordinator of Art Education at Converse, this juried exhibition celebrates the outstanding art work of young women in high school. The quality of the work submitted never fails to amaze and inspire us!

This year’s “Best in Show” as well as “First Place in Ceramics” awards went to Caroline Dillard, a student of Glenda Guion at the Greenville Fine Arts Center, for her ceramic vessel Puki Pot with Horse Hair. First, second and third place awards were given in all categories. We extend our sincere thanks to all the art teachers who inspired their students to enter and to all the student artists in this show.

2012 YWIA First Place Award WinnersPainting: Suzanna Edwards, Flower Still Life, SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Teacher: Yanko

Drawing: Demi Waldron, Self Portrait, Woodruff High School, Teacher: Olencki

Printmaking: Alisha Gaillard, Tellus Mater, SC Governor’s School for the Arts & Humanities, Teacher: Epp-Carter

Professor Frazer Pajak’s Art Restoration elective course made a big impact on the community through projects completed for the Magnolia Cemetery, Foster’s Tavern, and Converse. The students enjoyed getting their hands dirty as they learned the techniques and significance of historical preservation. Appreciative community members, Martin Meek and Gary and Mary Ada Poole, hosted the students for tours and meals at their homes. Prof. Pajak and the students, including interior design students McKinsey Willoughby, Jackie Huneault and Vanessa Steele were invited to help host visitors to Foster’s Tavern on April 22, during the Spartanburg County Historical Association Spring Tour. More information is available about historical Foster’s Tavern in the Herald-Journal article published on Thursday, April 19, 2012. Search “Foster’s Tavern” at www.GoUpstate.com for the article and photograph.

Converse College has some amazing talent this year, as evidenced by the 2012 Juried Student Show held March 22-30 in the Milliken Art Gallery. Each year the call for entries is extended to all students on campus. The show was juried this year by Jessica Wohl, Visiting Assistant Professor of Art at Sewanee University. Wohl was also featured in a solo exhibition in the Milliken Art Gallery in September, 2011. “Best in Show” was awarded to Bailey Szustak’s heroic horse sculpture, “Talos.” She received the James David Cobb Endowed Award in memory of the Greenewald Family, for $334.

The Department of Art and Design commends David Zacharias, the Art Club Faculty Sponsor, for coordinating the event, and major kudos to the Art Club members for their hard work in putting the show together and producing a fine exhibition. We join Ms. Wohl in extending “a hearty thank you to all the students who submitted work…it was a privilege

Big Horse Takes the Big Prize in 2012 Juried Student Show!

to see the wide range of work coming out of this institution. Our heartfelt congratulations to all of the selected artists and award winners!”

James David Cobb and Baily Szustak

2012 Young Women in Art Exhibition

Photography: Kasey Durham, Innocent, Greenville Fine Art Center, Teacher: Fincannon

Mixed Media: Ashley Loper, The Eruptive Privation of the Mind’s Eye, Pendleton High School, Teacher: Lagroon

Ceramics: Caroline Dillard, Puki Pot with Horse Hair, Greenville Fine Art Center, Teacher: Guion

Sculpture: Adele Helmers, Divided, SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Teacher: Gillian

Artists Among Us: 100 Faces of Art in Spartanburg

Caroline Dillard and Dianne Bagnal

2012 Juried Student Show Awards

BEST IN SHOWBailey Szustak, Talos

FIRST PLACEMegan Heuse, Flight

SECOND PLACEPatricia Drummond, Yesterday’s Favorites

THIRD PLACEElena Hernandez-Rubio, Madonna Enslaved

MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF MATERIALSElena Hernandez-Rubio, Kitchen Blade

GRADUATE ART ED AWARD Sam P. Smith, Self-Portrait

FACULTY HONORARIUM AWARDKatie Corbin, Spartanburg Classic II

BEST IN CERAMICSValli Landrum, P.O.T.

BEST WELDED STEEL SCULPTURESharon Black, A Moment for Bonding

BEST PAINTINGMegan Heuse, Walking Away

HUB-BUB AWARDKatie Corbin, Give It Time I

Congratulations Excellence in Art and Design Award Winners!

We salute these 2012 seniors for outstanding academic performance and production in art and interior design.

EXCELLENCE IN ART EDUCATION: Lindsey Miller

EXCELLENCE IN ART THERAPY:Cameron Leigh Hood

EXCELLENCE IN INTERIOR DESIGN Elizabeth Davis

EXCELLENCE IN STUDIO ARTAshley Shelton and Valli Landrum

In addition, the entire 2012 class of Studio Art BFA’s received certificates of merit for their performance in the program: Ashley Shelton, Valli Landrum, Daphne Cuadrado, Patricia Drummond, Sharon Black, Katie Corbin and Tracie Easler. Congratulations to all award winners!

International Travel Study Planned for June 2013Professors Dianne Bagnal, Geri Hurlbut and Zan Schuweiler are organizing a unique opportunity for Travel Study to Venice, Athens, and Istanbul in June 2013. This trip will include entrance to the Venice Biennale, visits to the Parthenon, and a cruise through the Greek Isles to visit ancient ruins and learn about local art and culture, and end in Istanbul to visit the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sofia and of course, take a stroll through the Grand Bazaar.

Classes offered for this trip are:ART 100: Art Appreciation Travel Study (3 cr. GEP or elective)

ART 307: Art History Travel Study (3 cr. Art history major or elective)

ART 417: Art Therapy Travel Study, Multicultural (3 cr. art therapy major or elective)

ART 586: Graduate Level Travel Study: SP Topics: Advanced Watercolor Painting (3 cr.)

ART 317: Studio Art Travel Study: SP Topics Watercolor Painting (3 cr. Art education major or elective)

Interested students are encouraged to contact the organizers to secure their place in this once-in-a-lifetime learning adventure. Travel arrangements are being made through Explore Up Close, LLC.

Milliken Art Gallery2012-2013 Exhibitions

Please stay in touch. Email your news and personal updates to artdesign@converse.edu.

Share Perspectives with your friends online atconverse.edu/academics/schools-departments/art-and-design.

The Gallery is closed for the summer. We will reopen August 23.

August 23-September 23, 201238th Annual Department of Art and Design Faculty ShowSeptember 6Reception: 6:30-8:00 pm

September 27 – October 25, 2012 Kat McIverwww.katmciver.com October 4Gallery Talk: 6:00 pmReception: 6:30-8:00 pm

November 1 – November 29, 2012 Harriet Marshall Goodehttp://harrietmarshallgoode.net November 1Gallery Talk: 6:00 pmReception: 6:30-8:00 pm

January 10 – February 7, 2013 Brent Skidmorewww.brentskidmore.comFebruary 7Gallery Talk: 6:00 pmReception: 6:30-8:00 pm

February 14 – March 14, 2013 Harry BooneMarch 7 Gallery Talk: 6:00 pm Reception: 6:30-8:00 pm

March 21 – March 28, 2013 Juried Student Show March 21Reception: 6:30-8:00 pm April – May 2013 Senior Shows