05/28/16

Photographer Takes a Stand

The UCEN Fine Art Gallery at UM-Flint proudly presents a very moving exhibition by Kimberly Weymers, titled, “The Scars Left Behind” which confronts the viewer with an important social issue that most of us have experienced at one time or another during our lives.

Weymer’s focus is on children and teens is described in her Artist Statement. Her presentation of this issue struck me, in particular, with the way she placed the ‘hurtful words’ distinctly at eye-level. I found this to be a very provocative choice in her curation because it evoked that “in-your-face” feeling that essentially duplicates the experience that these children and teens have when these words are said to them. The images and quotes are heart-piercing, they are large and hung in such a way that one gets that sense of being surrounded, much like these kids do when they cannot escape the continual bullying.

Weymer’s has taken a social issue and put it in our faces to make us aware. She has given us real faces to relate to and she successfully communicates her poignant message that words are not simply words….the have meanings that cut deeply and become a pain that can linger for a lifetime. This Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition has brought us to a new level for what these exhibitions can provide. This artist has used the opportunity to create an experience for social change. I invite you to see it and let it change you as well.

Kimberly Weymers, Artist Statement

This ongoing series of portraits were made shortly after one of my son’s friends from school committed suicide.

Since the inception of this project, he has currently lost three more friends and a family member all under the age of sixteen. As teenage suicide becomes more prevalent, it became apparent that I had to create something to bring awareness to how bullying profoundly affects everyone, young and old.

When someone is bullied, the scars it generates will haunt them for the rst of their lives, as they are left behind in the unconsciousness of our minds. The hurtful and insensitive words can penetrate even the most mundane of activities until you reach a breaking point. Children are not mentally ready to appropriately cope with the continuous name calling and insults thrown at them on a daily basis. Therefore, they succumb to depression, cutting and in extreme cases, suicide.

Drawing inspiration from my own children who have been greatly impacted by the endless barrage of bullying allowed to occur in our public school system. I would like to give a voice to those who have suffered as my children have. I asked each participant to write their most hurtful “bully” word on a white board for the world to see and to face the camera. I asked them to think about how they felt when someone called them this word. Looking at the images, you are immediately aware of their pain and can recognize the discomfort in their eyes. This raises the question, “Why are we, as humans, inclined to wound one another in this way and how can we stop it?”————-Kimberly Weymers

See more of her work at: kimberlyweymers.weebly.com

05/14/16

An Extraordinary Evening

It was no ordinary, windy evening in Flint. Downtown, ArtWalk had drawn people out for numerous events, restaurants were poised for hungry customers, signs had appeared on sidewalks and buildings. a wedding party had just stepped outside of a church for photos and a band was setting up at the GFAC Gallery. It was here, that UM-Flint students, faculty, guests, friends, family and ArtWalk enthusiasts gathered to get a look at what the art, design, and art history students have been working on throughout the year. It was one event on a long list among others. Looking down Saginaw street, people passed along the sidewalks, some dressed in their everyday clothes, others dressed in formal attire, all with places to go and things to see. The wind blew them about, persuading them toward the gallery where something special was taking place.

Inside, people stood nearly shoulder to shoulder admiring the work, balancing their refreshments on small plates and hoping not to spill their drinks as they nudged their way through. Their conversations merged and the space brimmed with a hum that increased in volume and movement as faculty members formed a line alongside of the lucky few who had claimed seats facing the stage. It was no small feat to gain the attention of the crowd. Many ArtWalk enthusiasts were unaware of this special night. The faculty-formed border surrounding that space carved out for the Awards Ceremony to recognize Student Achievements and Juried Awards for the exhibition. Those in the crowd who understood the significance of these applauded and cheered as each award and name was announced. Cellphones were raised from every angle to capture the elated smiles of the students who came forward. The crowd was urged several times to quiet and the hum lowered to some degree, as the program continued, but among them, embedded in this throng, were students….students who had been sworn to secrecy!

“Why” you ask? (Don’t deny it, I heard you.) What happened next was something that had never happened before at the Annual Student Art Exhibition. It’s purpose is to recognize students after all. But, this year was different. This year a group of students and alumni got together, on their own, and decided it was time to recognize two faculty for continually going above and beyond to benefit the students. It took numerous discussions, the tossing of numerous ideas back and forth until, they came up with something that expressed the heart-felt gratitude they have for these faculty members, Tim Kranz and Dr. Sarah Lippert.

Each of them were presented with a Certificate of Award, in appreciation for their selfless dedication and commitment to the art students at the University of Michigan-Flint, given by the students of the Visual Arts Program. In addition to this, Tim Kranz and Dr. Sarah Lippert now have Stars named after them. Yes, there are now stars in the actual sky that now bear their names! They were both presented with star certificates which bear the ‘coordinates’ of their stars in space, complete with their registry number and a star-chart for locating them. These two faculty were then presented with journals in which students signed their names and wrote personal messages to describe the impact that Tim and Sarah have made indelibly upon their lives.

The evening of May 13th was a most memorable evening, filled with excitement, anticipation, and a blustery sensation that something different was in the air. It was the annual high-point for students to showcase the best of their work and be recognized, but more than that, it was an opportunity for them to come together in one voice, to give something back….and what they said in that one voice was loud and clear.

They said, “Thank you, Tim Kranz and Dr. Lippert, for giving us your best.”

05/2/16

Figuratively Speaking….

The University of Michigan-Flint Visual Arts Program proudly presents:

A BFA Solo Exhibition, Figuratively Speaking by Kat Sheldon

On view, May 2-13, in the UCEN Fine Art Gallery, in the Harding Mott Building, 1st floor.

Artist’s Reception on Tuesday, May 10th from 6-8pm and again on Friday May 13th 5-8pm.

Don’t Miss Out! It is a great opportunity to start or add to your art collection!

Figuratively Speaking is an overall figurative show metaphorically depicting the often uncomfortable environment minorities experience throughout the rural Midwest. As the show’s title hints, these issues are addressed subtly through extended metaphors and symbolism. Much like in real life, viewers are forced to look past the general appearance in order to understand what the pieces are actually about.

The rural Midwest is grounded in its conservatism. People are good and honest and faithful to a fault. Certain Christian tenets, such as obedience to authority, are sometimes taken too literally and as a result many people in these areas face prejudice based on their gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Because of my own personal experience with tradition, many of the paintings in the collection reference Catholicism. Certain symbols (such as the palm branches) have been directly lifted from Christian art, while others (such as Simon’s ear) were created for this show.

While the collection falls into the category of a figurative show, it does also feature some landscape paintings. These were included in order to further express the feelings of emptiness and solitude found in the Midwest. Although these pieces lack figures, their absence is felt within the work. Ultimately, these landscapes are not concerned with specific places, but rather people (or the lack thereof).

Kat Sheldon is a contemporary realist painter from Lapeer, Michigan. Her art is generally figurative although she does enjoy painting landscapes. Kat begins each piece with a strong vision of its composition but often lets the colors and textures dictate themselves naturally. Her work is characterized by variations in texture, controlled color palettes, and attention to light.

Kat is currently a BFA candidate at the University of Michigan-Flint. Previously, she studied at Mott Community College where she obtained an Associate in Fine Arts. She has exhibited work locally and has won many awards through the universities she has attended. Kat plans on continuing her education by pursuing a master’s degree in the coming years.

04/22/16

Annual Student Art Exhibition

Coming May 13, 2016 the Annual Student Art Exhibition will showcase works from our Visual Arts & Communication programs. This event is a juried exhibition and will include a Special Awards Ceremony to recognize outstanding students from every category offered, here at the University of Michigan-Flint.

The exhibition will take place during ArtWalk night at the GFAC Gallery (Greater Flint Arts Council)

located at 816 S. Saginaw St.

Opening Reception will begin at 6pm

Awards Ceremony will begin at 6:30pm

Please join us for some free food, music and fantastic art works!

A Special Thank You to Design student, Heidi Hals for her Poster Design for this year’s exhibition!

04/22/16

Hallway Treasures

New additions to the Hallway Exhibit on the 4th floor of the William S. White building feature works from Calligraphy 103 class. This new course, taught by Professor Wagonlander, a specialist in Art Education, has inspired students to explore the Art of Writing. Calligraphy is an art form that has held the same status as painting and sculpture in civilizations throughout history. The Western, Arabic and Chinese traditions of Calligraphy are prime examples of the expression of culture and of the human spirit. In Albertine Gaur’s A History of Calligraphy, she “defines calligraphy as “an expression of harmony as perceived by a particular civilization. The calligrapher is in harmony with his script, his tools, the text and his own spiritual heritage.” The students of Calligraphy 103 have discovered that there is much more to writing than simply ‘lettering’ and have done an outstanding job of sharing what they have learned with this exhibition!

Please check out these works by Cindy McClane, Laura Force, Tammie Graves, Alexis Mullard, Julia Haubenstricker, Andrew Cymbalski, Tyler Elias, Bobbie Proffer, Amanda Cribley, Amanda McConvey, Derek Dodge, Amnen Sheikh Khalil and Anna Schuller.

Albertine Gaur, A History of Calligraphy, Cross River Press, 1994.

04/14/16

The 4-1-1 on Art: Consequences of Recreations

A recent exhibition on the UM-Flint Campus is the second travelling exhibition of it’s kind to take place. Engaging the campus with both student artworks and famous art is an innovation by Dr. Sarah Lippert, PhD. who teaches Art History. This exhibition, called “The 4-1-1 on Art: Consequences of Recreations” features 20th century art works recreated and curated by ARH 411-History of Contemporary Art students: Jessica Adams, Stephanie Chisnell, Symantha Foreman, Rhonda Jones, Janice McCoy, April Nunley, Mollie Rouse, Kathleen Sheldon, and Travis Turner.

Courses like these take art history to a new level. “I can tell you from first-hand experience that these projects really opened my eyes to what we studied, and provided insight to artists lives, their techniques and methods in a way that cannot be grasped from just reading about them. Together with the recreation experience, having the pieces curated for an actual exhibition, further engages students in a hands-on experience. Not all students in art history courses are art majors. For some, this is the first time they have done any artwork at all.”—–Mary Kelly

We have seen a limited amount of traffic to the UCEN Fine Art Gallery located on the first floor of the Harding Mott building. By displaying this exhibition at three different buildings on campus, the Art History program is able to reach a greater range of students to let them know about the kinds of things students are learning about, and hopefully encourage them to make art history a great choice for their graduation requirements.

For more information: Art History & Criticism Program at UMFlint

Janice McCoy, Buick, after Larry Rivers

Stephanie Chisnell, Petite Odalisque, after Henri Matisse

Symantha Foreman, Homage to the Square, after Josef Albers

Mollie Rouse, Helping Hands, after Thornton Dial

Kathleen Sheldon, Minotaur, after Helen Frankenthaler

Jessica Adams, O’R Fish II, after Mark Nelson

Travis Turner, Le Lapin Agile, after Maurice Utrillo

April Nunley, St. Peter and St. Petresse, after Mary Bauermeister

Rhonda Jones, Dynamo, after Edmund Lewandowski

03/19/16

Anna Schuller – A Fading Generation

Anna Schuller‘s BFA Senior Solo Exhibition delivers high caliber digital photography. On view from March 16 – April 2, you are invited to stop in at the UCEN Fine Art Gallery located on the first floor. Experience her vision and her story through digital photographs taken on her travels through the back roads of Michigan and let her Artist’s Statement be your guide to “A Fading Generation.”

Artist’s Statement – “My parents grew up in Coeburn, Virginia then moved to Michigan in 1950. We spent our vacations traveling the back roads of Virginia, going up and down the mountain sides. I loved going there to visit and see the farms where my parents and their parents and families lived and raised farm animals, and planted gardens. The bounty from the gardens would be canned and put up for the winter. Then over the years these farms started fading as well as the earlier generations of family. This is what inspired me to travel the back roads of Michigan in search of those farm houses, barns and relics that were once part of a thriving community. I hope through my passion in photographic images of a fading generation it will inspire future generations to do the same.

I strive to create a body of work through visual imagery that reflects time past and present as I view it. My goal is to present a body of work that captures stories from my perspective and stimulates the viewers imagination to reflect on their own experiences.” —–Anna Schuller, Photographer

Meet the Artist!

Reception on March 25th, 6:00-8:00pm at the UCEN Fine Art Gallery – 1st floor, Refreshments will be served.

: Anna Schuller

*To Purchase Photographs, please visit: Anna Schuller or via email: [email protected]

03/11/16

Hallway Exhibition -WSW 4th floor

These artworks on view on the 4th floor of the William S. White Building, on the campus of the University of Michigan-Flint, have been loaned by the Mott-Warsh Collection, a privately owned, publicly shared collection of fine art. The hallway exhibitions are changed quarterly, so see it while you can and watch for more upcoming Hallway Exhibitions!

Selections from the Mott-Warsh Collection