Memphis College of Art Alumni Newsletter

Welcome back to all our brave Horn Islanders! This year’s group‚ led by the rugged and scrappy Don DuMont‚ left for the island in late May full of zesty anticipation.

Day 1: Chicken Wing Friday. Home is so very far away.

Day 2: Hamburger Saturday. Make art. Sun blisters start to form.
Day 3: Fajitas Sunday. Make art. Start a two–day walk around the island.
Day 4: Brat Monday. Make art. Finish a two–day walk around the island.
Day 5: Red Beans and Rice Tuesday. Make art. Take a swim with one eye open at all times for sharks.
Day 6: BIG DAY – Spam Wednesday. Make art. Finish the day with a roaring campfire and the annual headdress competition. I can’t say who won‚ and I have been prohibited from posting photos of this event. You will have to wait for the exhibition opening to view photos of this fierce competition – you will not want to miss it!
Day 7: Spaghetti and Meatball Thursday. Forget art. This is the day to build sandcastles!

Courtesy of Cody Barnhill‚ BFA 2008‚ Illustration and Jessie Dziorney‚ BFA 2006‚ Illustration

Courtesy of Megan Travis‚ BFA 2007‚ Photography and Casey Matthews‚ Current Student

Courtesy of Brittany Redmond‚ BFA 2008‚ Drawing

Day 8: Grilled Shark and Fried Catfish Friday. Make art‚ again. Swim some more.
Day 9: Last Day on the Island. Pack up‚ hop on the boat‚ back to civilization and dinner
at Scrantons.

Don’t miss the Horn Island Exhibition from August 25 through September 26‚ 2008.
The Reception is on September 6 from 6–8:00 pm.

Recently‚ members of ArtImpact‚ Inc.‚ a Memphis based art and design company‚ dedicated more than three months creating a warm‚ non–threatening atmosphere at the newly constructed Chili’s Care Center at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. President of ArtImpact Claudio Perez–Leon‚ BFA 1987‚ Painting‚ invited about 20 local artists to design canvasses for the $117 million center while it was still under construction. Included in this select group of artists who participated in the Chili’s Care Center project are Lurlynn Franklin‚ MFA 1995‚ Studio Arts‚ Betsy Brackin‚ BFA 2000‚ Painting‚ and Jeanne Seagle‚ BFA 1972‚ AVA. Said Claudio‚ “We wanted to echo the work of the interior designers and architects. We decided to use playful shapes of a contemporary nature. We wanted to literally create eye candy.” The work of the ArtImpact artists combined with artwork created by St. Jude patients fills the six–story‚ 340‚000 square foot facility. “The children’s work was unfiltered‚” said Claudio. “We wanted to have that spontaneity that kids bring. They created a great number of pieces with humor and depth.” According to John Curran‚ Director of St. Jude’s Department of Design and Construction‚ the hospital’s relationship with Claudio began more than five years ago when the he initiated a patient care art program involving wall murals. In the intervening five years‚ Claudio has facilitated art programs in numerous areas of patient care. Claudio has left his artistic mark on such other local organizations as Bellevue Baptist Church and LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center. For more information‚ visit www.artimpact.com.

Jack Myers‚ BFA 1993‚ Illustration‚ and Matthew Robbins‚ attended 1992–1994‚ Painting‚ have been selected as one of Modern Bride’s 25 Trendsetters of 2008. Known as the Artisans of Ambience‚ Jack and Matthew have taken the New York City jet set by storm. Matthew heads up the event design and planning side of the business‚ and Jack handles the media. Together‚ they have designed events for such notable personalities as Vera Wang and Ron Ben–Israel in such glamorous locations as The Rainbow Room and The Palace Hotel. They have been featured in numerous publications‚ including Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia‚ O Magazine and The New York Times‚ and have appeared on MTV and VH1. For a glimpse of some of the spectacular and elegant events designed by this dynamic duo‚ visit www.artfool.com. You will be amazed!

Council for Foreign Relations Wedding Party at the Explorer’s Club

New creations by Stoughton Outlan‚ BFA 1985‚ Sculpture‚ are now available through J. Batchelor throughout the Miami‚ Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach areas. As part of this new exclusive arrangement‚ Stoughton’s work is featured in the most recent edition of Interior Design magazine.

Lacye Swilley–Russell‚ MFA 2007‚ Painting/Printmaking‚ has been honored by Oklahoma Christian University for creative teaching. After only one year on the job‚ Lacye is a Top Twenty Spark! From the Oklahoma Christian University website (www.oc.edu):

“Lacye Swilley‚ adjunct professor of Art and Design at Oklahoma Christian University‚ was recently honored by Oklahoma A+ Schools by being one of 2008's Top Twenty Sparks. The Spark Creativity award recognizes and rewards teachers’ outstanding examples of creative teaching and learning moments. Swilley submitted a life–size self–portrait assignment given to her Figure Drawing students at OC in the spring semester. Through the sponsorship of the Creativity Project and with the generous donation of SandRidge Energy‚ Russell received a check for $100‚ a commemorative plaque‚ and a presentation ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol‚ 2nd Floor Rotunda on May 14th at 4:00 pm. Swilley's "Spark" will go into a Creativity Catalogue that is being designed and that will be housed on the Creative Oklahoma website‚ as well as the Oklahoma A+ Schools' website.”

Brad Jones‚ BFA 2000‚ Photography‚ is busier than usual these days. In the last few months‚ he has completed photo shoots for Psychology Today‚ All You‚ Slam Magazine‚ and International Paper.

In January of this year‚ Susan Wilson‚ BFA 1998‚ Painting‚ MFA 2006‚ Studio Arts‚ was selected in a juried international portfolio competition for one of eighty online premiere portfolio websites at www.absolutearts.com. In May‚ Susan was the featured artist of the month. In her spare time‚ Susan writes poetry for submission to publishers. She was recently inducted into the International Society of Poets and had her first poem‚ Of Life and Death‚ published in a collection of poems entitled Immortal Memories‚ available this spring.

Of Life and Death

We enter softly with a kiss‚
swelling gently day by day within the womb.
We grow within each passing year
as aging flowers fade away
We make our memories that we share‚
not knowing when the end comes near.
We love‚ we laugh‚ we hate‚ we wake‚
we sleep‚ we do nothing more than contemplate.
Yet all in all‚ we age with grace
as day by day‚ we set the pace.
Then with a wisp of air the end comes near
and with a breath‚ the last breath falls alone.
At last is sweet repose‚
as first we came and now we’re gone.

High Mesa‚ 2003
Oil painting‚ 36x36x2”

Copper Series II‚ 2006
Oil painting‚ 48x48x1”

View more of Susan’s work at www.absolutearts.com/susiewil.