UNK Artnews

Guests reviewers speak to students and graduating VCD seniors
December 1, 2011

Guest reviewers Echo Chernik and alumni Casey Stokes (2006) of Daake design in Omaha, will review portfolios, and speak to VCD students this month. Internationally aclaimed Illustrator, Echo Chernik, will present a program for students and the public on Thursday evening, (see information below), and Daake Senior Designer, Casey Stokes will speak at 2 – 3 p.m. on Friday, December 2, in FAB room 312. A reception for VCD seniors with works in the Walker Art Gallery Senior Show will be held from 4 – 6 p.m. on December 2, 2011. Exhibitors are Nick Bartels, Caleb Chvatal, Mardi Engels, Allison Kuklis, Aranea Push, Kyle Sayler, and Leigh Sukraw. Their works have been on display since November 15th.

Three (3) VCD students win honorable mention at 2011 Flux Competition
December 1, 2011

Three UNK VCD students received honorable mentions at the 2011 Annual Flux Student Design Competition. Dan Dunbar won a mention for his poster Malcontent. Kyle Sayler received mention for the poster Justice, and Amanda Olson won a mention award for her Seity clothing tags. The national Flux competition is sponsored by AIGA Blue Ridge.

Echo Chernik Presentation
November 30, 2011

Echo Chernik will present her work on Thursday December 1, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in FAB 313. Echo has over fifteen years of experience as a professional commercial artist in the advertising field, and five years as an instructor of graphics and digital illustration at Pratt Institute, Westchester Community College, Marymount Manhattan and Skidmore CCI. She specializes in art nouveau influenced poster design, advertisements, package design and book covers. She is a traditionally trained artist. A graduate of Pratt Institute, and has done work for ANTA Shoes, Celestial Seasonings, Dave Matthew's Band, Disney, Miller Lite, NASCAR, Sears, Trek, USPS ... and many more. See examples of her work at: http://www.echo-x.com.

Spring Art Program "An Evening with Art Chantry"
November 15, 2011

Mark your calendars now for a presentation by celebrity graphic designer, Art Chantry, on March 7th, 2012 UNK Recital Hall - 7:00 p.m. Chantry’s works include album covers and posters for bands like Nirvana, Hole, Sonics, as well as book covers, and logo design. Art will be available the following day to meet with students, review portfolios, etc. before returning to Tacoma, Washington.

VCD Students win Thirteen (13) Nebraska AIGA awards
November 10, 2011

Visual Communication and Design students received Nebraska AIGA awards in 2011.
Amanda Olson won a gold award for her Seity clothing tag logo.
Liz White won a Silver award for her Linea Mae clothing tags logo.
Logan Bartels received a Silver for his Homeland Prepartation illustration.
Bronze award winners included: Alice Berryman (2), packaging and illustration; Caleb Chvatal, poster; Elizabeth Hudec, poster; Kylie Hauer (2), sports logo and poster; Kyle Sayler (2), logo and senior show promotion; Braeden Tyma, logo; Liz White, poster. See work.

Art Dept. hosts glass artists Sugiki and Zerkowitz of Seattle.
November 4, 2011

The UNK Art Department, with the Glass and Sculpture Club (G.A.S), will host internationally renowned glass artist Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz of Seattle for a three-day glass workshop. The pair will present A Two Tone Artist Talk on November 9th, at 5:30 p.m. in FAB room 313. The public is welcome to attend this artist presentation.

UNK Art Halloween & Pumpkin Carving Contest
October 28, 2011

The UNK Art Department presents it annual Halloween Pumpkin Carving Contest on October 31st, from 11 a.m. to 3: p.m. Pumpkins will be lined up along the hall in the Fine Arts Building. The public is welcome to view the spooks and vote for their favorite carvings (best, ugliest, and most creative). At 2 p.m, join the Pumpkin Chuckin' contest in the Courtyard. UNK students, put on an original halloween costume and join the contest to be judged at 2:30 p.m. in the Walker Art Gallery.
See photos

Art Student Advising starts next week
October 14, 2011

All Design and Multimedia students (majors and minors) must sign up for an advising session this week. Signup schedules are just outside room 311.
Design and Multimedia Senior and Juniors will meet with their advisors on Friday, October 21, 2011. Sophomores and Freshmen will meet a week later, on Friday, October 28. For more information contact Professor Hartman.
Advisor for other art programs will meet with with students on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011.
All advising sessions will be in FAB room 311,
at 9 – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.

Doug Waterfield in exhibitions
October 14, 2011

Professor Waterfield gave a lecture entitled "Doomtown: Images of Atomic Pop and Nuclear Testing" on October 9th at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History (an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution). The lecture was the first in a new series at the museum entitled New Connections. One of his pieces was also selected for the juried 2011 Irene Rosenzweig Biennial Exhibition at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.

Chad Fonfara featured in magazine and at museum
September 27, 2011

The next issue of UNK’s New Frontiers Magazine will feature glass artist and UNK glass & sculpture assistant professor, Chad Fonfara, in a cover story. On October 8th, his solo exhibition entitled Nebraska Now: Chad Fonfara, Glass will open at the Museum of Nebraska Art. A Reception and artist presentation Cases and remains, about Fonfara's hand-blown glass series, will be held on Saturday, October 8th at 1:30 p.m. at MONA.

G.A.S. club autumnal open house and glass fund-raiser
September 21, 2011

The UNK Art Glass and Sculpture Club (G.A.S), will hold their Autumnal Open House and Glass Fund-raiser on Friday, October 28th, 1 - 7:00 pm, at Otto Olsen "hot shop," room 137. This year, students will be selling glass pumpkins to help bring internationally renowned glass artist Boyd Sugiki and Lisa Zerkowitz from Seattle for a three-day glass workshop.

NATA Conference at UNK
September 20, 2011

UNK Art Department is hosting the 2011 Nebraska Art Teachers Association (NATA) Fall Conference. On the weekend of September 23 and 24th, registered participants may attend a keynote by Martin Rosenberg, select from more than two dozen learning sessions, tours of the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), browse vendor displays, attend receptions, and celebrate art education in Nebraska at a banquet.

Walker Art Gallery Exhibitions
September 20, 2011

Walker Art Gallery, adjacent to the Art Department office (FAB room 301) is open on Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This fall, the gallery opened with a print exhibition by artist Susan Heggestad. Selected works from Nebraska Art Teachers Association are currently on display. An installation by artist Mark Hartman and Senior shows are scheduled. Read more.

Art students create memorial on 9/11 10th anniversary
September 12, 2011

A Memorial to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack was set up on the lawn outside FAB on Sunday, September 11, 2011. See photos.

Two (2) VCD students awarded AAF of Omaha scholarships.
September 9, 2011

Congratulations to Amanda Olson and Lacie Wiese for their recent recognition by the American Advertising Federation of Omaha. Both student received $2,000 scholarships. The scholarships are based on GPA, extracurricular activities, and participation in the student advertising club. Read more.

UNK Chapter NAEA and Art Education
August 24, 2011

The NAEA (National Art Education Association) Student chapter at UNK is an active organization that focuses on volunteering, usually in activities that provide opportunities for UNK students (do not have to be an art education major) to do art activities with children. We are active in the state organization (Nebraska Art Teachers Association, NATA) and at the National level. To get information about joining, please contact Dr. Donna Alden, Mr. Bill Cavill, or Amber Kosmicki (student chapter president).

The UNK Art Education program has 85 Art Education graduate students and 57 Undergraduate students.

Annual Art BBQs set for April 28th
April 25, 2011

Sign up for food, fun, friends and a t-shirt. The Annual Art Department BBQ will be held at Centennial Park, 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 28th. Eat, tie-dye your own colorful shirt, play in the sand, and win amazing prizes. See photos

Alumni Speak and Judge Senior Show
April 25, 2011

Omaha designers Donovan Beery of Eleven 19 Design Studio, and Adam Torpin of Oxide Design will judge the VCD Senior Show on Friday. The UNK VC alumni will also speak at 2–3:30pm that day in FAB 312. The public is welcome to attend.
See more.

VCD Senior Show
April 22, 2011

Seven VCD Seniors are participating in the Spring 2011 Senior Show in Walker Art Gallery. Daniel Dunbar, Jake Hoffmaster, Michael Kennedy, Julie Polk, Jaysie Ross, Yang Song, and Kat Tinkham are exhibitors. Their reception will be held on Friday, April 29th, 4–6pm at Walker Art Gallery.

Art Student Celebrate Earth Day 2011
April 22, 2011

Art students planted flowers in containers and courtyard garden to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, 2011. This annual events pits teams of students against pots, soil, and seedlings. The flowers will brighten the courtyard during the summer and fall. A party followed the planting. see photos

Six (6) VCD students are District ADDY Award winners
April 12, 2011

Six current or recent VCD students have been notified that they are National ADDY Award finalists, so are eligible to enter the National competition after winning gold or silver at both the state and then district levels.
Nick Bartels (Lincoln) received a gold award for Gonzo - clothing logo.
Jennifer Green (Lincoln) received a silver award for Chocolate Child Labor - poster.
Araena Push (Grand Island) received a silver for Kearney Catholic 50th Anniversary - logo.
Steve Wolf (Kearney) received a silver for Moo Juice - packaging
Sarah Miller (Imperial) received a silver for Nalu - clothing logo
Dan Danbar (Wahoo) received a silver for Batavia Muckdogs - team logo.
Congratulations Designers.

NAEA Programs and Workshops
April 12, 2011

The UNK NAEA student chapter is holding their spring forum on Saturday in the FAB building. They will be holding several workshops and presentations and workshops for Culturally Responsive Educators. There will be three workshops offered: Hopi clay with Mark Tahbo, from First Mesa, encaustic (or beeswax) painting with Margaret Berry, Artist in Residence for the Nebraska Arts Council, and silk painting. For more information, call the Art Department at 308-865-8353 or send a message.

UNK Art Faculty recognized
April 12, 2011

Assistant Professor Derrick Burbel (photography and foundation), received tenure at UNK this spring.  •  Assistant Professor John Stanko (VCD), was recently acknowledged as one of top contemporary fantasy illustrators in the U.S., according to Spectrum 18. His work will be published in the annual book with about 340 other artists in 2011. The Selection was made from over 7, 000 entries juried by illustration luminaries Julie Bell, Nathan Fox, Greg Manchess, Brandon & Jarrod Shiflett, Boris Vallejo, and Shena Wolf.  •  Assistant Professor Chad Fonfara (sculpture) is the recipient of a public art commission in Salina, KS. He will be producing a series of glass works to be placed along a bridge in that city. He was also informed that he has been accepted into the summer Corning glass workshop again this year in Corning, NY.  •  Department Chair Doug Waterfield’s painting appears in a photo accompanying an article about current museum exhibition published in the St. Louis Today newspaper.
Congratulations to faculty members for the honors and recognition.

VCD students win seven (7) Brass Ring Awards
April 12, 2011

Six UNK Design Students won awards at the 2011 Brass Ring Awards held at Oklahoma Christian University. Brass Rings, a national competition, had over 2,000 entries in 2011. UNK Design student, Kyle Sayler, (Kearney) was awarded gold for his poster Honor them, Vote. Kyle also won a merit award for his AGOGE  T-shirt design. Nick Bartels (Kearney) was awarded Bronze for Gonzo logo design, Julie Polk (Kearney) won a bronze award for Copper Wire coffee packaging, Kat Tinkham (Fort Calhoun) won Bronze for her Redtail Coffee packaging, and Lacie Wiese (Doniphan) received Bronze for a Vertigo movie poster. Jake Hoffmaster (Lexington) won a merit award for RidgeBack clothing tags.
Congratulations designers.