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December Issue of the Black & White Newsletter.
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BLACK AND WHITENEWSLETTERSTUDENT
Photo by Jessica Haas
WHAT’S UP WITH THE TOXIC LOUNGE?
A gallery space, game room, studio space these were just a few of the main ideas we came up with when thinking up how to best use this white-walled and obviously unused space. The Black & White has caught word that MCA will be revamping the Toxic Lounge into a more desirable location to hangout, do work, or display work this upcoming semester. Several different ideas and options have been discussed by faculty and administrators. They want to know what MCA students would like to see in the Toxic Lounge.
Students are the ones using the space, so what would make the Toxic Lounge more useful? The Black & White wants your feedback to submit to the discussion board as they plan the budget for this coming semester on what MCA students would like to see come of the Toxic Lounge. Email your thoughts to [email protected]. This is the chance to make your voice heard!
Whatever happened to the Toxic Lounge? And where in the world did that name come from?
Originating from unique Hal-loween decorations students used a few years ago, the Lounge spawned its catchy name. Tucked away a few doors down from the Business and Admissions Offices, there is a lounge for students to hangout, relax, and get some laundry done.
I personally had never hung out in the lounge until recently when a group of fellow artists and I used the space for our annual Christ-mas party. As we mingled and en-joyed Christmas snacks, we began to discuss how none of us really knew this room existed, let alone that it was available for student use. Of course, just as artists do, we began to brainstorm thinking up various ideas of what the room could be used for and why no one really knows about it or uses it.
Illustration by Mary Tuttle
JESSICA HAASBlack and White Reporter & Photographer [email protected]
Dec. 13 - 14:Mandatory Review Comittees for students!
Dec. 10: Last day of fall semester!
Dec. 10:Traveling Fellowships Deadline – Propos-als are due to Carla Ruffer, [email protected]
Dec. 17:Housing move-out day!
Dec. 22 - Jan. 1:MCA is closed.
Jan. 14:Spring Semester Classes Begin
Jan. 18:Last Day to Add a Course
DON’T FORGET!: Sign up for free tickets to the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sign up in Carla’s office at Gibson Hall, Friday, 11/30 - Thursday, 12/6 to get free tickets to the midnight showing on 12/14.
DECEMBER 06, 2012
UPCOMINGEVENTS:
BLACK & WHITE: Staff Members
BLACK & WHITE COMIC: by Grace Shore
ARE YOU A STUDENT IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE ?
Encountered a problem at MCA? Has something that has happened concern you? Let us help! Send any of your problems or concerns to our dedicated help email ([email protected]). Our dedi-cated staff will immediately examine your issue and get in touch with you. Your issues will be kept confidential.
Don’t want to send an email? Leave a written note. We have a Suggestion Box where you can jot a quick note outside the Achievement Center in Rust Hall.
While passing the Achievement Center, feel free to drop in and see Jennifer Gonzales – the Coordina-tor for Achievement Counseling - with any questions ranging from something mentioned in class to how to plan for next semester’s class load. She is there to help with Achievement Counseling and can be reached by email ([email protected]) or phone (901.272.5165).
Carrie Brooks – the Director of Career Services – will also be seen in the Achievement Center. Feel free to see her regarding internships in between and during semesters, part-time work during the semester, as well as what kind of careers to explore after graduation. Individual appointments may also be set up with her by email ([email protected]) or by phone (901.272.5160).
Did we leave something out? Let us know! We want to help MCA students be successful!
HELP MCA HELP YOU!
Congratulations to Izamar Rodriguez, Rachel Beasley, Luke McDowell and Samantha Wiggington on having their designs chosen to represent MCA in the National Portfolio Day Association broadside competi-tion! On Thursday, Nov. 29, a jury consisting of MCA’s faculty and staff chose the two winning submissions. Each poster design was a collabora-tive effort between a Graphic Design and an Illustration student.
Spring 2013 Textbooks Available Next Week!Go to www.mca.bkstr.com on Monday, Dec. 10 to order your Spring 2013 textbooks. This is MCA’s official bookstore brought to you through Follett. All textbooks are added to the store by instructors. Most books are available new or used. Some books are available to rent. All orders can be shipped to your home or another address. You can return your order (if you change classes) and sell any remaining books back at the end of the semester.
Questions? Visit the bookstore website or call Follett at 877-827-2665.
Co-Chairs - Kari Forinash & Jade ThiraswasSecretary - Aminah WilliamsBrode Gallery - Barrett Smyth & Nicole TrimbleIllustration/Sequential Narrative - Terri ScottPainting/Drawing - Jeff MuncyDesign - Jessica VandenbergDigital Cinema/Digital Media - Jorge Soto La MarinaPrintmaking - Vanessa GonzalezPhoto - Courtney WhitlowAnimation - Blake HudsonSculpture - Hannah RohrbacherFreshmen - Dianna O’Briant
2013 STUDENTALLIANCE:
Contributing Writers | Editors | Illustrators | Designers
Amanda [email protected]
Jennifer [email protected]
Jorge Soto La [email protected]
Signe [email protected]
Jessica [email protected]
Mary [email protected]
Grace [email protected]
Staff Representatives
Aaron [email protected]
Ashley [email protected]
Susan [email protected]
SUSAN MILLERVice President for Enrollment & Student Affairs [email protected]
AMANDA WEIDMANBlack and White Reporter
Q&A @ MCAThe Black and White took a few moments with Philip Rule to ask about how he chose Memphis College of Art. The following is what he chose to share with us.
AMANDA WEIDMAN: Why did you choose MCA as a school?
PHILIP RULE: I chose MCA for several rea-sons. As some people know, I’ve already at-tended and graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I graduated with a BA in Anthropology. After that, I started looking into grad schools. There were two schools I had applied to (Temple and NYU). Unfortu-nately, I was rejected from both. I was a good student, but apparently, not good enough to get the scholarships that I needed. However, it was from that ordeal that I started expanding my horizons to studying media.
I started looking into film schools and even-tually art schools. Of course, there were the big schools like SCAD, which were just way too expensive. But, in my quest to find art schools, I discovered that there was a school here in Tennessee that I had no idea even ex-isted. As you can probably guess, that school was Memphis College of Art.
I had already known that I wanted to get out of my hometown of Knoxville, as I had been there all my life. Memphis College of Art was appealing in that way, as it was away from home, but still within the state. Not too close, and not too far. So, I applied, I was ac-cepted, and I came to visit the school. In the end, there were several factors that led me to MCA. But truthfully, MCA just felt like the right school.
AW: I think everyone has had a similar experience to yours regarding how they joined MCA. Now that you’ve been here for a while, what are some things you like best about MCA?
PR: Well, I immediately appreciated the size of the school. Coming from a university of nearly 15,000 students to a college of about 500 students made a huge difference to me. And being able to have actual one-on-one time with the professors was very refreshing. I’m also glad that the classes are very project-based, as opposed to the research-writing
style of my former university. The studio classes are much more focused on teaching creativity rather than analysis, which is great. Of course, MCA is not a perfect school. How-ever, I can easily say that its positive aspects far outweigh the very few negative ones.
AW: Everyone wants to identify themselves with a major after they begin MCA and re-ally get into their degree. It can be a rather difficult decision. How did you make that decision?
PR: My major has shifted a few times since I started at MCA. At first, I wanted to major in animation. Then, I changed my major from animation to drawing, for the very selfish reason of thinking I could graduate faster. It might sound silly, but time cost is a consider-able factor for me, since I’m turning twenty-five soon. I want to get out and start my career. I finally settled on my current major of design arts with a concentration in digital media, which is what I’ve been consistently interested in from the start.
AW: Design arts is popular choice. There seems to be quite a few opportunities after graduation for those in this major. What are some of your ambitions for when you graduate?
PR: Personally, my ambitions fluctuate almost daily. I switch from production work in me-dia to cinematography in television and film to product manager to research analyst. Then there’s the other field I’ve always had an inter-est in, music and sound production. Careers in audio recording and mixing, sound engi-neering, and even voice acting have all held interest to me at one point. Of course, I would still love to work in animation; story art is the cinematography of the animated film. If I had to narrow it down, for a career, a producer would suit me best.
AW: A producer takes all those skills and uses them together. That can be a daunting task. Is this what you consider a “dream job” or is there something else you dream of be-coming?
PR: Truthfully, if I could do anything, not minding realistic boundaries, I’d be a novel-ist. I’ve always been passionate about creative writing. If I could do anything, it would be to write a novel, even if nobody liked it. In fact, now that I think about it, that was my first dream back from when I was in high school trying to figure out what I wanted to do with
my life. As a process, my end goal changed from novelist to archeologist to anthropolo-gist to media producer. Creative writing is still very important to me.
AW: I hear you have another job besides be-ing a full-time student. Can you tell us what it is like being a resident advisor (RA)?
PR: Well, one of the advantages you have when attending a smaller school, like MCA, is the connection between the students and the faculty. Back at the University of Tennessee, the idea of a student getting to talk with the Vice President or the Dean of the college was almost unheard of, and was pretty near im-possible. At MCA, communication between the student body and the administration is actually considered a priority.
Being an RA has been a very interesting expe-rience for me. Along with being the “bridge” between the students and the faculty, having this position has taught me a lot about sched-uling, managing events, and how to handle the unexpected. Just being ready [for any-thing] and knowing how to react if things go wrong. I’m very glad to have been given this opportunity and would just have to say thank you to Carla Ruffer for choosing me.
AW: You attend full-time and are getting close to graduating. You are a student liai-son and represent the student body on im-portant issues. What are some things you’ve learned being a student at an art school, as opposed to your former university? What would you like to share with incoming stu-dents?
PR: Without a doubt, one of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that artists “don’t tend to have much skin.” Artists are very receptive; we let ourselves feel much more than most people do. That’s not to say that other people don’t feel as much as artists do, but more along the lines that other people tend to hold them-selves back more. That was my experience on how people behaved in the standard univer-sity setting.
As art students, we are very passionate people. And suppressing the things that we feel is just not what we do. It’s not who we are. We let our passions shine through without fear. That’s what makes us who we are as artists and it establishes this great community of creative collaboration.
continued on page 4
BLACK AND WHITEINFORMATIONADDITIONAL
Don’t forget, if you have a Review Com-mittee - it is mandatory to attend. Jen-nifer Gonzales and Susan Miller will be in the Achievement Center both Review Committee days (12/13 and 12/14) if you need any assistance-come by and see us!
• Removealltrash&placeindumpsters–studentsinhousesmustputtrashcansbythestreet for pick-up.
• Donotleaveanydirtydishesinthehouse/apartment(thisincludesthesink).• Removeallperishablefood&foodthatisvulnerabletopests(i.e.foodthatisn’tina
plastic container or in your fridge/freezer).• Besureallwindowsareclosed,doorslocked,spaceheatersturnedoff,alllightsareoff,
blinds are closed and no heating vents/units are blocked.• Removeallholidaydecorations.• Takeallvaluableswithyou.• Ifyourapartment/househasanemptyroom/space–besureitisempty,cleanedand
ready for occupancy (any new roommate information will be sent to your permanent address over the break).
• Maintenanceand/orcustodialservicesmaybeperformedinyourhouse/apartmentduring the break.
• Takeappropriateprecautions/preparationifyouhaveafish(i.e.ifthereisapoweroutage, there will be no one to see to your pet) set your thermostat to 65° to conserve energy.
• Metz&Fogelmanresidents:removeeverythingfromthestudios,thesewillbecleanedout, anything left up there will be thrown out.
WINTER BREAK REMINDERS
AW: Would you mind sharing some of the things that influence or inspire you as an artist?
PR: I am influenced by many things. Artis-tically, I have to say that I favor the Ashcan school movement of the early 20th century. Musically, I appreciate jazz and free jazz mu-sicians such as John Coltrane. When it comes to modern media, I find traditional anima-tion to be very interesting and anime, to an extent. I am still fascinated by anthropologi-cal theorists, even though anthropology is no longer my major. I’ve always been inspired by myths and folklore. However, I love all of those things. My biggest influence is definite-ly my Christian faith.
AW: You said that your faith is the largest influence in your life. Could you elaborate on that?
PR: I was raised in a very spiritual family. My maternal grandfather was a bishop in the Episcopal Church, and my father’s side of the family brought me up Baptist. The church was a cornerstone of my youth, but when I started college, I began to look at other avenues more closely. I studied Eastern Religions such as Hinduism and Taoism and looked at the European philosophers like Sartre and Des-cartes. I pored over human evolution and the cultural theories I studied in Anthropology, learning how human’s came to be and why we exist. After all that soul searching, I came to find I still believed in Jesus Christ. This faith has granted me a great peace and shown me my purpose in God’s grand design. I took part in a children’s drama ministry that let me write and perform, sharpening my creative skills. We would do puppet shows and live action sketches for the children on Sunday mornings, to present the message in a more engaging way. We also performed radio-style audio dramas that embodied Jesus’ teachings, nurturing my facilitation with sound design, and creative writing. And it put friends and family in my life that encouraged me to pur-sue my artistic abilities.
That is quite a broad range of influences. It is not difficult to see what you draw upon when you are practicing your craft. Thank you for taking the time to speak to us, Philip. We will be watching for your work to hit the MCA walls and wish you the best with your career.
Q&A @ MCA
WRAPPING UP THE FALL 12 SEMESTER Wrapping Up the Semester!Housing closes at 5pm on Monday, 12/17, please check your student mailbox for winter break prep. If you haven’t received permission from Carla Ruffer for early arrival, you can not return to housing until Thursday, 1/10. Bring your bicycles inside your apartment for the break!
Rust Hall Access24-hour Rust Hall building access ends at 5pm on Friday, 12/14; 24-hour access returns on Monday, 1/14, the first day of classesRust Hall will be open for staff hours (8:30 to 5pm) through 12/21 and will reopen on 1/2.
Disability AccommodationsStudents that currently have a disability accommodation plan need to meet with Jennifer Gonzales in the Achievement Center (Rust Hall room 025) to update plans for the Spring 2013 semester. She will be available December 10th-21st and January 3rd-11th from 8:30-4:30 daily. Make an appoint-ment as soon as possible to be ready for the start of next semester.
Achievement CenterWant to start the Spring semester off with a great time management plan avoid procrastination traps? Make an appointment with Jennifer Gonzales in the Achievement Center to create a plan for academic success. Jennifer will be available December 10th-21st and January 3rd-11th from 8:30-4:30 daily. Make an appointment to start your Spring semester off right.
Scholarship Concerns?Don’t worry, you have one more semester to get those grades up! Grades are reviewed for scholar-ship renewal in May!
Last but not Least!FAFSA priority deadline is February 1st! Do this over break with your parents after January 1. This is particularly important for Tennessee Residents -The Tennessee State Grant deadline is February 1 - up to $4,000 for qualifying state residents. DO NOT MISS THIS DEADLINE. If you don’t have your family’s tax info by February 1, you can use last year’s information and update when your taxes are ready. This will still qualify you for the grant.
BLACK AND WHITEINFORMATIONADDITIONAL
HOLIDAY BAZAAR WRAP UP
BLACK & WHITE OPINION: WINTER IS COMING
Photo by Jessica Haas
JORGE SOTO LA MARINABlack and White Reporter
The Holiday Bazaar is a special time of the year here at MCA. It is an opportunity to bring out the business side of our artistic iden-tities. Being involved in this event allows the students of MCA to reach out to the greater Memphis community. It is a great night to be a spectator, collector, or even just an elf.
CJ, a current MCA student, worked the showroom floor as a Bazaar elf. His duties included helping people retrieve art from the walls, if help was needed, and finding new pieces to replace the ones being bought.
Monikai, another MCA current student, came to the Bazaar because she thought there would be finger food at the event. While there were a few treats to be found, she found the trip to be rewarding for the possible gift ideas available with all of the art work at the show. Other students had their own reasons for attending.
MCA student Jill told us, “I love the Bazaar because it allows me to be a patron to some really great artists.” She was eager to incorporate some new Adam Farmer paintings to her growing collection of art. While sophomore MCA student Will was happy that one of his pieces sold a few moments before he arrived. The piece was entitled “Better Days” and Will expressed his joy in being able to afford some repairs to his car and money for the holiday season.
The Holiday Bazaar is a long-running tradition at MCA, one of community, reflection, and opportunity. Not only do students get to show off their abilities and interests as artists, students also get to take stock in what classmates have been producing for the past year. It feels like the first frost of the fall. It comes over night and is over by the afternoon of the next day.
JORGE SOTO LA MARINABlack and White Reporter
Every winter we leave our school and go home with tales of the trials and tribulations for our families. We rant to them about the schoolwork and the professor’s critiques and everything in be-tween, but, at the end of the day, we all have fun being here. MCA brings out the best in all of us. As we go home to our families or stay in town over the break, we will all be reflecting on this last semester.
Taking stock in how far we have come is always an interesting process. We analyze the grades that we receive. We take moments to try to understand what projects and art works came out the most successful. We try and understand what shortcomings could be overcome and improved upon. Some of us will not be coming back to MCA after this winter because of graduation or other fac-tors that influence our lives. Regardless of these issues, the student body should take a moment to appreciate one thing.
MCA is an institution of growth and change. We produce artists that are well-versed in understanding the art world and getting together as a community to develop our collective voices. We have made it another semester here and for those of us that will be returning to our school, it is an honor that we have come so far and the predictions of the future have never looked brighter for us here at MCA.
Painters, designers, illustrators, digital media students, printmak-ers, and all others alike come together in thought to be glad that our school has fostered our growth and given us the opportunities and skills needed to become the kinds of artists we hope to be.
Traveling Fellowship Deadline Approaches:Interested in traveling abroad next summer? Why not have your expenses covered? Consider applying for a Traveling Fellowship. Proposals are due to Carla Ruffer by Monday, 12/10.
HOHENBERG Traveling Fellowship is about $3,500, and is an award for travel to the “Old World” (i.e. Europe in its loosest definition). This is open to ALL current full-time students (BFA/MFA) who have been in residency at MCA for two consecutive semesters, have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and are in good standing. Graduating BFA and MFA students are NOT eligible.
MYRTLE POWELL BOWLD European Traveling Fellowship is about $3,400, and is an award for European travel. This is open to full-time current juniors who have a minimum 3.0 GPA and are in good standing.
Please contact Carla Ruffer at 901-272-5120 or [email protected] with any questions and for formatting instructions.
ACROSS:1. These are typically hung over the fireplace (if you have one), and the contents are usually pretty disappointing.3. These flying devils with antlers soar across the night sky, trans-porting a serial trespasser to his next target. No place is safe.5. A popular holiday beverage with raw egg, milk, and alcohol being the primary ingredients.8. The serial trespasser in red, who breaks into your house once a year and eats your cookies. He’s been at it for years, and still, the police have no leads.9. That one holiday song that everyone tried to teach you when you were a kid, but instead, you always ended up singing about how Batman smells and Robin laid an egg.11. Okay, seriously? These things are short, have pointy ears, and are pretty darn creepy. Why are these things associated with a holiday that is primarily aimed at entertaining children?
DOWN:2. A common holiday pastry that is named after the unholy matrimony of fruit and cake.4. Now called Christmas, this holiday was originally a celebration of the winter _______.6. Most people make these at the beginning of the new year and most people have completely forgotten them within a month.7. The traditional entree served at Thanksgiving dinner.10. Peppermint candies composed of two opposing stripes wrapped around an axis, one red and one white.12. How you’ll feel after eating all of that rich holiday food.
Gay Straight AllianceBraden Hixson
Animation ClubNicolas Pflug
Photo SocietyAdele Winn
Illustration ClubClare Caldwell
The SwiftnessNatalie Schuh
Sculpture ClubAmanda Nalley
Ceramics ClubRhianna Lee
Painting ClubBrittany Vega
Interdisciplinary Society of FilmmakersJorge Soto La Marina
Design ClubLaura Miller
Printmaking ClubEvan Hoffman
Gamers ClubJohn Furr
Textiles ClubDianna O’Briant
MCA Student Clubs
CROSSWORD PUZZLE: HOLIDAY EDITION
Beginning with a crisp morning light on Saturday the 18th, MCA’s running club, the Swiftness, participated in Meowathon’s 5k race. Members of the Swiftness met at the steps of Rust Hall and made their way over to where the festivities lay in the heart of Overton Park.
The Meowathon is a race dedicated to a feline organization called House of Mews. This organization started in 1994, and through the past few years, it has thrived and grown. The house is a fully funded non-profit organization that operates off of volunteers and big hearts. The Meowathon and other festivi-ties help protect and care for the feline race. More information can be found at houseofmews.com.
It was a cheerful environment in Overton Park. A silent auction and raffle began earlier in the morning before the run and the sound system ran through announcements including a dandy set of epic music to get everyone in the running mood. This varied set soon turned into a perpetual replay of “We are the Champions” later during the award ceremony. The Swiftness began their warm-ups with a round of jumping jacks and stretches and then the race was ready to begin.
The crowd of participants made their way to the starting line. The running course looped around the park twice. Members of the Swiftness – Natalie Schuh, Cris Simmons, Emily Stewart, Nicholous Darm-staedter, George Brooks, and Ashley Homeyer – all did very well during the race. This group has proved again that exercise and art do mix.
There is always room for more Swift members! For those interested, contact Natalie Schuh ([email protected]) about how to join.
SIGNE JOHNSONBlack and White Reporter [email protected]
CLUB AWARENESS: THE SWIFTNESS REPORT Need a Place To Live Next Semester?
MCA student housing has openings available. We are conveniently located with shuttle service to and from school. Plus, you don’t have to worry about hunting down a short-term lease and your rent can be worked into your finan-cial aid!
Contact Carla Ruffer at 901-272-5120 or [email protected] for details.
