{"id":5269,"date":"2021-04-22T21:41:34","date_gmt":"2021-04-22T21:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/?page_id=5269"},"modified":"2021-04-23T02:12:56","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T02:12:56","slug":"2021-senior-studio-arts-portfolio","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/gallery\/exhibitions\/2021-senior-portfolio-exhibition\/2021-senior-studio-arts-portfolio\/","title":{"rendered":"2021 Senior Studio Arts Portfolio"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Anna<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Anna Boers<\/h3>\n
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Artist Statement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I create art that allows others to see the world through my eyes. I tend to work with dark or muted tones because they bring significance to any selective use of vibrant color. My single-subject pieces always carry an implied greater context. Though my len<\/span>s as the creator remains consistent, I welcome each person that views them to make their assumptions for their significance or backstory. The still-liv<\/span>es from 2021 specifically represent a time or place that was significant to my story of the past year. Th<\/span>is year was full of introspection, and adjustment. Many of the pieces I originally conceived have not made it into this collection, but their absence stands as a reminder that I am continuing to develop as an artist. I see this collection as a reflection o<\/span>f my progress and acquired skills, and as another steppingstone<\/span>\u00a0in my continuous career as an artist.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram: @anna.boers<\/a><\/p>\n

Facebook: @annaboers<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"Philicia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Philicia Matturie<\/h3>\n
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Artist Statement<\/p>\n

Growing up\u00a0<\/span>in Sierra Leone,\u00a0<\/span>I craved to express myself in an artistic form but never had the means.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>his was not because I didn't have the necessary tools<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0but because artistic expression\u00a0<\/span>was<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>frowned<\/span>\u00a0upon. As a kid you're given a choice<\/span>- b<\/span>e great\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span>\u00a0be a\u00a0<\/span>p<\/span>ooper<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Greatness<\/span>\u00a0only c<\/span>omes\u00a0<\/span>when one\u00a0<\/span>became<\/span>\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>d<\/span>octor,\u00a0<\/span>l<\/span>awyer,\u00a0<\/span>e<\/span>ngineer, or\u00a0<\/span>ba<\/span>nker. Anyone who venture<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0outside of these structures\u00a0<\/span>was called<\/span>\u00a0foolish and a waste to society, which I never understood the logic to. Every country\u00a0<\/span>that is great\u00a0<\/span>outside of our structure relies heavily on the artistic development of\u00a0<\/span>its<\/span>\u00a0society. The censorship of artistic development is the downfall\u00a0<\/span>of\u00a0<\/span>Sierra Leone\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>developmental structure.<\/span>\u00a0Unlike my homeland,\u00a0<\/span>I have come to observe<\/span>\u00a0how other<\/span>\u00a0countries believe\u00a0<\/span>that the success of their society relies heavily on the\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>r<\/span>tistic development<\/span>\u00a0of its people.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When I had the opportunity to come to America<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0I was terrified and depressed because I knew regardless, I\u00a0<\/span>was\u00a0<\/span>still expected to be only these few things.\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>hen four years ago<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0I decided to change my care<\/span>er\u00a0<\/span>i<\/span>nto what I've always dreamed of doing<\/span>-\u00a0<\/span>to be an\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>rtist<\/span>. I had zero experience with drawing, painting, or sculpting<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>but\u00a0<\/span>I\u00a0<\/span>knew I had to enroll<\/span>\u00a0in the<\/span>se<\/span>\u00a0course<\/span>s<\/span>. My inspiration is God<\/span>. E<\/span>very day I see the world and the beauty in it, I fall in love with\u00a0<\/span>the world around me, the<\/span>\u00a0tree<\/span>s<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>animal<\/span>s<\/span>, people, the <\/span>s<\/span>tructure of cells\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>organs<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0and the most magnificent\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>ky and colors of the world<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>ow could this be wrong? B<\/span>ecause the way I see it<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0God is an artist.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I have come to be unapologetic for who I am<\/span>- a<\/span>\u00a0b<\/span>lack African woman<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>T<\/span>his collection\u00a0<\/span>of paintings represents<\/span>\u00a0women in their element<\/span>. W<\/span>ith or without the view of an audience<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0women will still exist<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>exiness is something that is mere nature, desirability as one's central element,\u00a0<\/span>want<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>as<\/span>\u00a0simply instinctive.\u00a0<\/span>No<\/span>\u00a0dictation can reform the purpose of our naturalistic design<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ava Westervelt<\/h3>\n
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Artist Statement<\/p>\n

I create esoteric paintings that reflect a long line of magical, spiritual, and esoteric belief;\u00a0<\/span><\/span>r<\/span><\/span>evealing the veil that separates the mundane and astral realms of understanding. This stems from being brought up as a hereditary painter whose first love was antiquity. My work reflects this internal struggle of wanting to pursue a path as a historian but growing up in an environment full of artists, and my resolution to this subconscious conflict is pursuing a career in museum studies whilst integrating artifacts and mythology into my personal works. Although, I do not choose important dates or people from those times to depict in my artwork, rather, I aim to emphasize the cultural and everyday practices of those who came before us. These animalistic and paganistic societies have not only inspired me to open my mind to spiritual possibilities but also drive me to create paintings that can be dedicated to theologies modern society is no longer acquainted with. This manifests as landscapes that one could possibly see in the unseen landscapes beyond our human existence and portraits of mystics, seers, or deities lost in time. This creative process is reflective and allows me to find understanding in myself and my own spiritual path.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\"Emily<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Emily Mansi<\/h3>\n
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Artist Statement<\/p>\n

Through the love of nature, I have made a series of water paintings that focus on the abstract shapes and lines of reflections in the ripples. Being able to physically see energy reacting in the element of water is an incredible phenomenon that is so simple and easily attainable, yet not many people seem to pay attention to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0it.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0My goal through this series is to put emphasis on that beauty\u00a0<\/span><\/span>that people usually look past. These paintings are all in reference to up-close photographs of water ripples that I have taken throughout the years, in various settings. Taking the photographs up close and focusing on the details abstracts the water so that sometimes you would not even know what it is. I have used different mediums for each painting to try and portray the water in every way I can.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram: @daytripperart<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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\"Julia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Julia Sterc<\/h3>\n
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Artist Statement<\/p>\n

My love for oil painting has grown over the past two years. I camouflage my canvas into the still life and seek to capture the look of realism. When creating my still life I focus on shapes, colo<\/span><\/span>rs,<\/span><\/span> angles, and lighting. When painting I\u00a0<\/span>pretend<\/span> I can see through my canvas like\u00a0<\/span><\/span>it is\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0piece<\/span>\u00a0of glass.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram: @juliasterc_art<\/a><\/p>\n

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