Foundation studies show spotlights student work

"Cups" by John Lundy is one of the works in the Foundation Studies Honor Show, on display at Anderson Hall through May 5.

By: Ally Jackson

Published: Friday, May 4, 2001

The foundation studies department is the undeniable backbone of the college with its constant pursuit of turning out well-rounded and articulate students over to their declared majors. This is where it all begins at SCAD.

Students wrestle with the foundations of drawing and design during their first few quarters at SCAD, and the Foundation Studies Honors Show is a celebration of that effort.

On display through May 5 in Anderson Hall, 412 E. Anderson St., the exhibit demonstrates the skill level of students at the college. Jurors selected winners and purchase prizes to receive the shows highest honors.

Drawing, photography, sculpture, and bookmaking are all represented in the show. The mediums and skill levels are also varied, from charcoal to acrylic, from skilled to novice. The exhibit has left no technique unexamined, and gives the viewers examples of academic study produced in classes.

Angela Hopper created a multimedia piece that won the Purchase Award. First place in drawing went to Michael Porton; first place in design to Leit Downing; and first place in 3-D to Melissa Rutledge. Second place was awarded to Chris Shomo, and Leila Singleton earned third place.

Porton’s life drawing is a bold and captivating use of the figure. The surprised look of the figure’s giant head is an attention-getter and draws attention to the skill level aspired to in life drawing.

Bookmaking makes for an interesting choice for the first place in design, where Downing summons his two- and three-dimensional design skills to create a well-crafted book with images and text.

Rutledge displays handmade shoes that are vibrant and whimsical, giving broad range to the limitations of what sculpture is or has the potential to be.

"The exhibit shows the different talents that the school has," said student Joey Alvarez. "The talent is so much greater than you get an impression of when looking through a brochure or catalog. The show grasps what students are making when you look through the halls."

All of the pieces in the exhibit are noteworthy, including work by students such as Nicholas Siebenmorgan with his enormous angelic sculpture made out of organic found objects and wooden structure, as well as an etching of a figure by Lucas Ryan. This is the kind of work that activates students into a program of study in which they will continue to flourish.