Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
My entire family is from Indianapolis, however, my parents moved to Florida before I was born. I grew up wondering how different my life would have been if I had been raised here instead. When it came time to begin applying for graduate programs, I turned to my family friend, and Herron School of Art + Design alum for advice. She had nothing but rave reviews about the professors, program, and overall atmosphere at IUPUI. I decided to come in for a tour and immediately fell in love with the culture, acceptance, and creativity that was occurring at Herron. I decided right then and there that I loved the school and would be attending and discovering my Midwest roots!
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
I am forever grateful to have worked on the DeHaan 50th Anniversary Sculpture generously funded by the Christel DeHaan Foundation in conjunction with the IUPUI Welcoming Campus Public Art Initiative. For this project, I, along with two fellow MFA candidates worked alongside professors, engineers, architects, and Chancellor Paydar to plan a new public sculpture that will be erected on Herron’s grounds later this spring. Having never worked on a sculpture of this scale, this opportunity was daunting yet completely thrilling. Ultimately the project taught us so much about public art and all of the work behind the scenes about how it is designed, approved for production, and created. Overall an amazing experience!
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
Having grown up in the hustle and bustle of Southwest Florida, Indianapolis offers a refreshing scene. Instead of cars blaring their horns at you on a Monday morning, residents of Indianapolis often wave and say, “Good morning!” A very confusing but welcoming sight at first! The first few months I lived here fell in love with the kindness this city exudes. Now, even though I have been here two years, the residents never cease to surprise me with their generosity and thoughtfulness. Indianapolis feels like a small town but offers all of the culture, art, and experiences of a larger city.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
When I arrived at Herron School of Art + Design as a sculpture graduate student I had only previously had access to basic woodworking tools: band saw, miter saw, and table saw, etc. Since I have been here, I have tried to take every opportunity to learn how to utilize as many of the amazing tools that we have access to as students. I have learned how to weld, been taught how to use the CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router, studied how to use the laser cutter, and have been taught the basics of furniture design. Through my newly learned skills, I have been able to diversify my portfolio and push what I originally thought was possible in my work. Currently, I am working on creating a life-size humpback whale skeleton for my thesis project. This project employs the 3D rendering software Rhino to map out forms that will eventually be cut out of Styrofoam using the CNC router.
I am very grateful to have received a Graduate Teaching Fellowship that allowed me to observe and assist a professor during my first two semesters. I learned priceless lessons during that time, which I now am applying in my own classes, Sculpture One and Two!