{"id":6816,"date":"2024-03-08T20:53:14","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T20:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/?p=6816"},"modified":"2024-03-19T14:30:50","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T14:30:50","slug":"2024-mfa-thesis-exhibition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/2024\/03\/2024-mfa-thesis-exhibition\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 MFA Thesis Exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree for practicing, professional artists. The MFA Thesis Exhibition is the capstone experience of the graduate program, demonstrating a personal direction and mastery in the work of the artists. Six graduate students will present their thesis work this year: Amy Caco, Lucy Gallagher, Taylor Green, Andrew Mark, William J Parrott III, and Denise Rosa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Amy Caco<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Illustration
\nBachelor of Arts, Illustration | WCSU<\/p>\n

Amy Caco is an Albanian-American illustrator born in Waterbury, CT. Working in a variety of mediums, such as colored pencil or digital illustration, she continually explores new materials and methods. Her work is delicate and vulnerable, often influenced by fantasy and folklore. Most recently, she is incorporating poetry into some of her pieces. \u201cThe work should speak for itself,\u201d Amy has said, \u201cbut sometimes there are just some things that I want<\/em> to say.\u201d She values beauty and decorative elements in illustration, \u00a0while still conveying deeper meanings. In her artist statement, she writes, \u201cI want to experience the world through someone else\u2019s eyes, the same way I want someone to look at my art and understand me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amy earned a BA degree in Illustration from WCSU and has since worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the art department. Her work has been published and exhibited in Danbury and Ridgefield, CT, and she has also done freelance work for several private clients.\u00a0 In 2022 and 2023, she was commissioned to paint two large murals for the Great Hollow Nature Preserve in New Fairfield, CT.<\/p>\n

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Lucy Gallagher<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Painting
\nBachelor of Arts, Studio Art | WCSU<\/p>\n

Lucy Gallagher is an artist from Waterbury, CT. She received her BA in Studio Art from WCSU. Her artistic practices include paintings, works on paper, and sculpture. They are a direct reflection of her life, both past and present. During her current studies, Lucy has worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in several art courses, including painting and printmaking. In her own words, she \u201cis inspired by the creative energy that flows through each of us and the importance of nurturing that flame.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucy\u2019s work has been shown in several galleries in CT, including Alix Gallery in Waterbury and Art in Common Gallery in Ridgefield. Her work was also included in \u201cHuman Connection\u201d, a group exhibition curated at the Danbury Fair Mall in 2023. In her artist statement, she writes, \u201cI have this insatiable desire to figure out my identity through creating. My work focuses on moments from my past that remain in my internal narrative, invade my dreams, and constantly remind me that I am human. I embrace the inspiration that comes from my observed world and from within. In response, I create my fantastical truth through the use of color, light, and line.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Taylor Green<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Painting
\nBachelor of Arts, Anthropology\/Sociology | WCSU<\/p>\n

Taylor Green, from Waterbury and Danbury, CT, received a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from WCSU, with a minor in Studio Art. She is a visual anthropologist who attempts to not only observe the world around her, but to understand it through creation. Her artwork stems from the human experience of wonder and exploration, as well as research and advocacy. Taylor\u2019s paintings are strongly influenced by her background in social science and social justice; not only painting about humanitarian crises, but also the rest of the human experience. She is also a curator who firmly believes that art can bring people together to spark important conversations.<\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s paintings have been shown at Art in Common Gallery, Ridgefield, CT. During the past year, she has been a Graduate Assistant in The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center. In summer 2023, she was invited by the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut to guest curate a group exhibition at the Danbury Fair Mall, which she entitled \u201cHuman Connection.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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View the 2024 MFA Thesis Catalog<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Andrew Mark<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Illustration
\nBachelor of Science, Digital Media | Marist College<\/p>\n

Andrew Mark, an illustrator and designer based in Hudson Valley, New York, \u00a0\u00a0graduated from Marist College with a BS degree in Digital Media. He typically works in digital illustration, as well as acrylic painting, and pen and ink. His work consists of bright colors and bold outlines reminiscent of animation and comic books, with a focus on character design. In his artist statement, he writes, \u201cI am a passionate storyteller, building entire worlds from scratch and breathing life into characters I create. I enjoy introducing fun and zany characters that are familiar, yet out of this world. My subjects are influenced by folklore and mythology, as well as graffiti art. I also draw much of my inspiration from life experience, particularly within my heritage of being a fourth-generation Chinese-American, and of being bilingual and bicultural.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andrew grew up going to anime and comic book conventions through his family\u2019s import toy business, a big influence on his art studies and art career. Andrew is the founder of Kalun Studios, a lifestyle brand dedicated to producing unique, happy, and cute designs. He has also created work for a variety of clients, including colleges, dining services, local businesses, and festivals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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William John Parrott III <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Visual Art
\nBachelor of Arts, Photography | WCSU<\/p>\n

William John Parrott III is an interdisciplinary artist who utilizes a multitude of processes that draw inspiration from his background in photography, painting, printmaking, spray painting, sculpture, and collage. He was born in Waterbury and resides in Naugatuck, CT. He earned his B.A. in Photography from WCSU. In his artist statement, he writes, \u201cProcess is what really drives me in the creation of my art. Using traditional tools in unorthodox and unusual ways to achieve specific marks, indentations, brush strokes, and more, is what helps me set my work apart from the traditional. Getting deeply in touch with the processes I use allows me to enter the state of flow of creation where my hands work on their own, but the touch is still mine. While my physical touch is apparent in my bodies of work, they hold the capability to speak about themselves on the walls. This is my method, and where I draw my energy to create.\u201d<\/p>\n

William has worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the photography department at WCSU, as well as a Graduate Assistant in The Gallery at the Visual & Performing Arts Center. His work has been exhibited in several local galleries, including Art In Common Gallery in Ridgefield.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Denise Rosa <\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Master of Fine Arts, Painting
\nBachelor of Arts, Studio Art | WCSU<\/p>\n

Denise Rosa of Danbury, CT, is a painter who received her BA degree in Studio Art from WCSU. Her current work is primarily portraiture, some self-portraits, and others of those dear to her. Her artist statement reveals much about her painting: \u201cI was born in Brazil and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2004. My life experience has taught me the importance of balancing reality with a spirit of hope. I am inspired by stories of people who have crossed my life. My landscapes and figurative oil paintings translate memories and recreate those narratives. My work is instinctual, allowing my inner child to express feelings. Light, color, and texture are important elements. There is always a message to be revealed through the viewer\u2019s interpretation. I believe in the power of diversity and creative viewpoints, pushing me to be flexible as an artist and human being.\u201d<\/p>\n

Denise\u2019s work has been in several local exhibitions, including a mural project in 2022 at the Danbury Fair Mall, where her painting is now in its permanent collection. In summer of 2022, she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Rome Art Program in Italy. And, upcoming in March - April 2024 is a solo exhibition of her paintings at the Danbury Public Library.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree for practicing, professional artists. The MFA Thesis Exhibition is the capstone experience of the graduate program, demonstrating a personal direction and mastery in the work of the artists. Six graduate students …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":6827,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3],"tags":[152,31,177,171,174,176,37,172,25,173,178,175],"class_list":["post-6816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-events","category-art-news","tag-interdisciplinary_art","tag-wcsu","tag-2024_mfa_thesis_exhibition","tag-amy_caco","tag-andrew_mark","tag-denise_rosa","tag-illustration","tag-lucy_gallagher","tag-painting","tag-taylor_green","tag-wcsu_mfa","tag-william_john_parrott_iii"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6816\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6827"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/art\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}