UNK Art faculty member Mark Hartman was one of four individuals commissioned to produce editions of prints for the University of Nebraska Foundation Campaign for Nebraska. The prints were presented as gifts at the Distinctive Salute to Nebraska Campaign Launch. One faculty member from each of the UN campuses contributed art work to the event. Hartman’s work, Plains Mathesis was an edition of digital/relief prints depicting a sunrise over the plains. Hartman suggests that the prints convey learning and potential through various symbols. For example: the sun references Platonic ideals while it’s rays imply intellectual illumination. These symbols also reference the earliest roots of the academic tradition. The formation of the clouds suggests a spiral galaxy symbolizing optimism for the potential influence of Nebraska education on human endeavors in this world and beyond.
The 2010 Freshmen Scholarship application process will begin on January 11, and run through March 6th. Current high school students who expect to graduate in Spring 2010 may apply for the “talent based” supplemental scholarship for freshmen students at UNK who will be declaring an Art Major. More information.
Thrirteen (13) UNK Visual Communication and Design majors won a total of sixteen (16) awards at the most recent AIGA Nebraska Show.
Caleb Chvital won a gold with his illustrated poster Identity. UNK students also won seven silver awards: Amy Jacobson (2) in Motion Interactive with Typographic Expression: Apollinaire + Brody and for identity system – Kopesetik, Yang, Song in Identity with Rifle-Gun, Brandy Nichols for Promotional titled The Big Show, Steve Wolf in identity system – Evoke, Jared Muehlenkamp for Packaging – Outlaw Alcohol, Afton Palmer for Illustration (poster) – The Birds.
Bronze winners were: Steve Wolf Illustration, Bethany Rachow Poster, Alice Berryman Poster, Brian Margheim Poster, Nate Eskra Poster, Kacee Geiger identity, and Ryan Miller with two awards for designs on Sports Apparel.
Four (4) UNK Visual Communication and Design majors had a work accepted into the National 2009 Flux Student Design Competition. University students attending institutions from coast to coast enter the competition, but only one entry is selected as Best in each of five categories. This year, a work by UNK’s Afton Palmer won “Best” in the Poster category. Caleb Chvatal, Nate Eskra, and Kat Tinkham also had posters selected for the show. Congratulations designers.
Artworks by Chad Fonfara, Assistant Professor (sculpture/glass), were selected for three juried exhibitions during the summer; the Kansas Artist Craftsmen Association- Members Exhibition, Moss-Thorns Gallery, Ft Hays, KS., Ft Hays University, KACA Material Mastery Exhibition, Moss-Thorns Gallery, Ft. Hays, KS, and the Academia Invitational, Museum of Nebraska Art, Kearney, NE.. In addition, Mr. Fonfara attended the 39th Annual Glass Art Society International Conference held in Corning, NY during the summer break.
The 14th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest was held on Friday, October 30th. Nearly 100 spooky, glowing pumpkins, carved by UNK student were displayed for visitors and voters in the UNK Art hall on Friday, October 30th. Visitors were ask to vote for the “best of show,” “most creative,” and “ugliest” carved pumpkins. See photos of contest winners.
Victoria Goro-Rapoport, associate professor in the Department of Art & Art History, is a 2009 recipient of the Pratt-Heins Award for Scholarship and Research. Goro-Rapoport has exhibited widely, and has been recognized with top prizes at a number of prestigious, juried exhibitions (read more). In the awards announcement, Pratt-Heins Foundation trustee, Tom Tye II, said “As with many UNK distinguished faculty in scholarship and research, she is also a very gifted teacher and mentor to her students. Her students, peers, the university and our community are the fortunate beneficiaries of her multiple talents.”
In addition to the award recognition this fall, Goro-Rapoport is featured in the cover article of the most recent issue of New Frontiers, a publication of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. A photo of the cover, and links to the publication, are currently on the front page of the UNK web site. Congratulations to Victoria.
Several works by Mark Hartman are currently featured in the Museum of Nebraska Art exhibition Pushing Paint. The show will run through September 20, 2009. The Museum described this exhibition as being “comprised of a handful of artists who are true ‘painter’s painters.’” The invitational exhibition, which began on May 23rd, highlights the work of a select group of non-representational artists from Nebraska.
Derrick Burbul’s photo exhibition, Road Through Nowhere, was displayed at the Governor’s Residence Exhibition in Lincoln, Nebraska from July 29–August 28, 2009. Earlier this year, that exhibition was displayed in the Walker Art Gallery on the UNK campus. The photograph, Sign to Nowhere, was exhibited last spring in the exhibition, Something About Nothing, at the Kuhn Fine Arts Gallery at The Ohio State University at Marion, Marion, Ohio.
Heads up! The great, end-of-year Art Department BBQ and Picnic is set for May 6th at 5:30 pm, at Centennial Park. Come for good food, friends, and sand volley ball. A $5 ticket includes food, t-shirt, and entry into artwork raffle. Students, Alumni, even public is welcome. Tickets available from Kacee or Brandy now – or pay at the park. Photos of the event will be available soon.
Greg Daake, of the Daake design firm, will attend the Spring 2009 VCD senior show as visiting designer, and will speak on Thursday, May 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building room 313.
UNK Art faculty member Mark Hartman was one of four individuals commissioned to produce editions of prints for the University of Nebraska Foundation Campaign for Nebraska. The prints were presented as gifts at the Distinctive Salute to Nebraska Campaign Launch. One faculty member from each of the UN campuses contributed art work to the event. Hartman’s work, Plains Mathesis was an edition of digital/relief prints depicting a sunrise over the plains. Hartman suggests that the prints convey learning and potential through various symbols. For example: the sun references Platonic ideals while it’s rays imply intellectual illumination. These symbols also reference the earliest roots of the academic tradition. The formation of the clouds suggests a spiral galaxy symbolizing optimism for the potential influence of Nebraska education on human endeavors in this world and beyond.
Jan, 31, 2010 9:23 pm | 
