This graduate thesis project created an opportunity to physically as well as virtually connect the students labor with the labor of their Mexican family members working in small-scale localized commercial garment production. The embroidery on the wedding gown was sewn by the student, while the various patterned images projected on the gown provide digital reproductions that were all sewn and then photographed by family members—creating immediate links between generations as well as across geographic distances.

In this independently directed project developed during the Welding Fabrication and Concepts class, this student chose to undermine the overtly masculine elements of the obelisk monument form by adoring the surface with crocheted details of floral patterns.

Rusted steel was used in this project to physically map out the country's interstate highway system, as well as to metaphorically comment on the state of the country's deteriorating physical infrastructure.

Using a mapping system this student, originally from Greece, developed a system to map out the atmospheric temperature differences between New Paltz, New York and Athens, Greece over 365 days. Viewers were given the experience of seeing the weather data translated into a visceral form that charted the similarities and differences of the respective climates. By following a key provided by the artist the information could also be interpreted back into specific data.

In this foundational drawing project the learning outcomes related to use of tonal values, compositional considerations, observational details, shadows, highlights, and proportions.

In this project students were asked to research forms and structures found in nature to use as a reference for an non-objective abstract sculpture. This student chose fire as a reference and incorporated a related analogous color scheme.

Students were given the assignment to build a sculpture in wood that integrates a truss system as a design element, as well as for structural integrity.

Students were given the assignment to build a sculpture or installation in wood that integrates a truss system as a design element, as well as for structural integrity.

This project involved building a structure that conveyed a personal vision of utopia and was light enough to be moved by two people and large enough for one person to enter. The student who made this work, chose to fabricate a geodesic dome by interweaving natural and manmade materials.

Students were asked to create a mobile structure that could be used to facilitate their studio practice while redefining the space necessary for the creation and exhibition of artwork. In this project, a portable knitting and crochet studio was designed to fit inside an antique hatbox for easy storage and transportation.

An immersive and portable mobile studio/meditative space.

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The focus of this project was based around the strategy of accumulating found objects or other cultural source materials to create a temporary work in an effort to recontextualize the original elements—elevating details that often times are seen as disposable and without value. This project relates to the student’s interest in the rhythmic sounds that words create when they are written by hand. An audio recording device was placed in the open drawer underneath the writing surface of the table. The sounds in the recording (heard in the accompanying audio track below) are the words “here it now” being written repeatedly.

The focus of this project was based around the strategy of accumulating found objects or other cultural source materials to create a temporary work in an effort to recontextualize the original elements. In this installation, plastic shopping bags were collected, layered, and fused together creating translucent skin-like surfaces.

Inspired by the writing of Ted Purves on generosity based art practices, in this project students were asked to do a sculptural or performative intervention based around a generous act. This student chose to draw attention to hunger related issues in the United States. Fresh cupcakes were baked by the artist and handed out for free. After eating the fresh baked goods, participants discovered text printed on the inside of the cupcake wrapper related to population statistics of adults and children living in food-insecure households along with locations of local food pantries.

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Working on an intervention based around a generous act, this collaborative group of students built dual field recording devices to be used by two different groups of people in separate locations, at the same time. Each steel framework functions as a musical instrument and recording device, recording separate but simultaneous moments. The audio tracks are then imported and played back on top of each other—affording both groups of separate participants the ability to experience their interactions at once.

Working on an intervention based around a generous act, this pair of students chose to work collaboratively and fabricate a food cart to facilitate the serving of freshly made, hot, grilled cheese sandwiches and lentil soup—providing a free alternative to the limited
on-campus hot food options. At the opening performance, each participant who ate a grilled cheese sandwich had the option to read a sentence from a Fredrich Engels quote related to the potential for corruption and social alienation in capitalist markets. Subsequent performances played the collective video footage (below) on a repeating loop.

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Students were asked to explore their personal rituals and routines and use aspects from their daily lives as source material to reference in a series of drawings and related videos. This project was created through making marks on the page using eyelashes and applied mascara as a drawing tool (related video below).

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Students were asked to explore their personal rituals and routines and use aspects from their daily lives as source material to reference in a series of drawings and related videos. This project was made through the use of a sewing machine to create a series of line drawings on paper, highlighting the student’s love of sewing. The video component (seen below) highlights the student’s daily hand massaging routine which is necessary to alleviate joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis, which is aggravated by the action of using a sewing machine.

Using clay-modelling techniques, students created abstract geometric compositions then cast their work in plaster.

Using a combination of flexible and rigid mold-making materials, this project involved creating a sculpture that integrated organic and inorganic forms and textures.

Using a variety of metal forming, cutting, and fastening techniques, this project involves creating an object that embodies contradictory relationships and associations.

Using welding, cutting, and metal forming techniques, this project involved utilizing repeated geometric forms in a variety of scales.

Utilizing empty sculpture plinths on campus, students designed temporary monuments. Tightly rolled newspapers were used as a building material in this sculpture to assemble a structure inspired by radio tower forms—creating an ephemeral monument to print and broadcast news sources.

This graduate thesis project involved developing a series of self-portraits using commonplace materials—capturing a variety of personal moods and expressions through the completion of one drawing per day, for the entire duration of the school year, along with a series of related oil paintings.