Graduation and School's out...

School wrapped up with thesis documents from the eight Fiber students being turned in to the library on May 3 and a huge clean-up in the department May 3-5. On May 6 the Academy hosted Academy Awards night, a ceremony that recognizes the efforts of all of the students with awards being announced for soon to be second year students and the graduating students. Friday May 7 brought commencement ceremonies. When the weather is pleasant we have the ceremony in the Greek Theater, an outdoor theater on campus. This year the weather was not as helpful as past years so we held the ceremony in Christchurch Cranbrook. You can see a bit of the interior in the lower picture of Ema Ishii and me, as well as a bit of the exterior behind Ema, Casey Droege, me, Tricia Stackle, and Rosemary Dardick in the picture above.



Now school is out and there is some construction going on in the New Studios Building as well as all over the grounds. Best wishes to all of the graduates. It has been an honor working with you. See everyone else next year.

Harmony Hammond

Fiber and Sculpture co-hosted a public lecture and critiques with Harmony Hammond, artist, writer, critic, and educator. Her very informative lecture addressed her work in sculpture and painting spanning her career. Eight fiber students met with her for individual critiques and were very energized by her insights and generosity.


Above, Ashley Allen Short and Harmony Hammond discuss Ashley's painting. Below, Ema Ishii and Harmony discuss Ema's installation.

THE DEGREE SHOW

Shannon Stratton's departure was followed by what the Second Year students called Supposed Spring Break which translates to, "we have a degree show piece to complete by April 17, so vacation has to wait". And that makes it sound a little more rushed than it really was. They had started their pieces earlier in the semester and it just became clear how quickly time was passing. Of the eight people in the department about half of them decided to work in a larger scale than they had worked before, so the department was full of projects and every where you turned someone was using every nook of space available.

By April 10 they started to install their work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. (The Cranbrook Art Museum is closed this year for expansion and renovations). In addition to the eight Fiber students there were 67 students from the nine other departments, which may have been the largest group in recent memory. The installation was not without its challenges, but the students really benefited from the planning they had done and united to help each other out.

Here are some photos from the degree show opening:


Tricia Stackle on the left in her felt covered sculptural furniture with Corrie Baldauf (alum 09), Mary Smull (behind Tricia also alum 09), Annica Cuppetelli (alum 08 observing in the back) and Zachary Newport.

Casey Droege with her video and "Master Maker" rings.

Rose Pink and her text, video, and interactive touch pad work.

Rosemary Dardick and her father amongst her lace and copper ghost architecture.

Emily Nachison in front of her jewel shaped grotto and a view inside below.

Derya Hanife Altan's cake and box traps.



The outside and inside of Ema Ishii's world / circus tent.


Unfortunately I do not have photos of all of the Fiber students degree show pieces, but know there was also great work by Ashley Allen Short, to be featured in an upcoming entry.