Downsizing Poverty - Supersizing Experience

Senior Mike Berg recently produced a vid to promote the Borgen Project, a group he has interned with since last Summer.

You can see the video here.

Mike created and produced the project on his Mac using iMovie.

Mariana's Speech

Click here to see Mariana accept her award.

Outstanding Senior(ita) by Design

Congratulations go out to our very own Mariana Sanchez, senior Graphic Design major, who has been chosen to be Outstanding Female Senior for 2010 at this year's Founder's Day Convocation.

Mariana is a busy student, active both in and out of the department. She plans to attend Western Illinois University for graduate studies in Graphic Design after graduation.

And the mystery of who was inside Big Red, our SMU mascot has finally been revealed!

Mariana's parents flew in from Mexico for the event to add to the festivities.

Best wishes to Mariana!

(Bad cell phone pic -anyone have a better shot of Mariana accepting her award? Send it to us at artanddesignatsmu@gmail.com !)

MAM! or bust - or, be careful what you wish for...

Our annual Art Club trip was a success, nearly a smashing success. The drive across the Wisconsin wasteland was filled with mirth, but otherwise uneventful (MPH blurred on GPS device to protect the image of Lasallian virtue).

However, our entrance to Malt-waukee came nearly to a close encounter of the failed brake kind when our #2 pace car opted to test the theory of cause and effect on the rear bumper of the #1 pace car. Fortunately the quick reflexes of the professional driver in #2 averted disaster (and yet couldn't prevent the outburst of screams in the car's interior).

All was well, however, even if we had to skip a sit down lunch (see box of lunch 'fixings' compliments of food service).

We did fortunately get to the museum just in time to see the closing and opening of the 'wings'. Add to that some wonderful art, Pizzaria Uno pizza later that we happened upon while we were lost taking the wrong Interstate exit, and the trip was deemed: a success!

Alma High School art students visit

The Art and Design department was the first stop on an 'art day' tour for 15 high schoolers in Mary Weber's art classes from Alma High School, across the river in Wisconsin.

The day included a visit with Brother Roderick and a discussion of the graphic design area, a look at printmaking with Preston Lawing, and a walk through the painting and drawing area with Dr. John Whelan. The group then checked on Rob McColl's two-dimensional design class before heading over to the Lillian Davis Hogan Gallery to see the exhibit on display by character designer Chris Ayers and sculptor Maureen Costa.

Having taken the long way to the gallery via a pleasant autumn walk along Gilmore Creek the students worked up quite an appetite. They finished off their visit to SMU with a gallant attempt to overwhelm the soft serve ice cream machine in the caf.

We hope with such a big tour topped off with so many calories they still had some energy left for their next destination, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

Students included:

Devin Kleckner

Katie Kujak

Jake Luff

Brandon Churchill

Kya Kuhlemeier

Derek Evenson

Taylor Treinen

Charlie Hanson

Tanner Linse

Michelle Zastrow

Nick Elstad

Lauren Marty

Aloha Igawa

Mireia Catalina

Mary had help chaperoning by:

LouAnn Anderson

Art Department Student and Faculty Gathering

The Saint Mary's Art and Design Department hosted the first "all school" gathering on September 17, 2009. Forty students were present for announcements and information about the Art department. Refreshments were provided by the McColl family of Castle Rock Farms, and included fresh homemade bread, chili and cupcakes. Monster cookies made by the SMU Art Club.

Door prizes were drawn, and included an Apple iPod (case), Andy Warhol's soup (Campbells' Chicken Noodle), and Hannah Montana hand sanitizer.

Closing the Loop

The sign welcoming visitors to the art department was installed just in time for the start of the new academic year. 

Thanks go out to Rich Hultman (class of 1986) of Big Guy Creative Studios for making 'real' Liz Dougherty's design contest winner. He is pictured here installing the work.

Stop in soon and see it for yourself!