May 14 was a particularly artful day at Clark College, as the afternoon saw both the unveiling of the 2014 Phoenix as well as the opening reception and awards presentation for the 2014 Art Student Annual.

Mike Shank read his poem “Small Things Cost the Most.”

Phoenix staff distributed free copies of the award-winning annual arts and literary journal to students in PUB 161. Clark student Mike Shank read from his moving poem, “Small Things Cost the Most,” which earned Editors’ Choice Award for literary work in the journal. Afterward, guests headed downstairs to Archer Gallery to view works by student artists, many of whom also had work published in Phoenix. Seventy-five students showed a total of 127 works in the show, in media as varied as watercolor, photography, welded metal, ceramics, and video. Awards were announced and presented during the reception.

For more photos of these events, visit our Flickr albums of the unveiling and art show.

2014 Art Student Annual Awards

Joy Margheim “Gate”, welded sculpture
Best Welded Sculpture award
Sponsored by Airgas and the Clark College Welding Department

Irina Burchak “Self Portraits”, photography
Excellence in Photography Award
Sponsored by Knight Camera

The 2014 Phoenix staff.

Erin Merrill, “Columbia River Series”, photography
Excellence in Photography Award
Sponsored by Pro Photo Supply

Shelby Warner “Drawing Room Chair”, photography
Photography Award
Sponsored by Pro Photo Supply

Garry Bastian “The Act of Characterization”, photography
Darkroom Photo Award
Sponsored by Blue Moon Camera and Machine

Anthony Abruzzini “There’s Nothing Wrong with Having Only One Eye…”, drawing
Works on Paper Excellence Award
Sponsored by Frame Central Framing

Sherrie Masters “Greys”, watercolor
Works on Paper Excellence Award
Sponsored by Frame Central Framing

Students at the Phoenix unveiling waited patiently until the end of the program to open the paper wrapping around the new publication.

Jenny Avens “Flour Effect”, photography
Holga Camera Award
Sponsored by Freestyle Photographic Supplies

Lauren Dwyer “Organic Free Form”, ceramic
Best Ceramics Award
Sponsored by Georgie’s Ceramic and Clay Company

Luke Entwistle “Puntitled”, painting
Muse Art Award
Sponsored by Muse Art and Design

Krista Zimmerman “Self Obstruction”, painting
Muse Art Award
Sponsored by Muse Art and Design

Liz Alexander “Out of Place”, video
Film and Video Award
Sponsored by the NW Film Center

Anni Becker “John”, video
Film and Video Award
Sponsored by the NW Film Center

Director of IT Services, Phil Sheehan was the asked to juror the student show this year. He has been a supporter of student work throughout his time at Clark.

Riley Donahue, “The Day I Became a Man”, installation
Best Contemporary Art Award
Sponsored by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art

Belinda Luce “Type in The City”, typography
Best Graphics Award
Sponsored by Intel

Filip Popa “Matches”, painting
Painting Award
Sponsored by Dick Blick Art Materials and the Clark College Bookstore

Jeremy Crane “Germ Evolved”, painting
Painting Award
Sponsored by Dick Blick Art Materials and the Clark College Bookstore

Elise Cryder “Thank Your Mother”, painting
Best in Show Award
Painting Award
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore and the NW Film Center

After the awards are presented, students had an opportunity to talk to each other about their work.

Mariah Lewis “Muse”, painting
Painting Award
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Martin Stone “Still Life #2”, painting
Painting Award
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Megan Ostby “30 Minute Pose”, drawing
Drawing Award
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Jason Cardenas “The Island”, drawing
Drawing Award
Sponsored by the Clark College Bookstore

Lauren Pucci “Botany”, watercolor
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Kiggins Theater and Anna Banana’s Café

Grace Edwards “Sun Color”, watercolor
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Kiggins Theater and Anna Banana’s Café

Sara Robison “Hipster George”, digital illustration
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Kiggins Theater and Anna Banana’s Café

Matthew Caravaggio “Abstract Revelation”, drawing
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Kiggins Theater

Michael Jasso “For the Glory of Rome”, ceramics
Special Recognition Award
Sponsored by Kiggins Theater

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley 

Still from John, a short film by student Anni Becker to be shown at the Clark College Student Video Festival on May 29.

Clark College will hold its first public screening of student videos at the historic Kiggins Theatre on Thursday, May 29, at 6 p.m. in an event that will be free and open to the public.

The 90-minute program will feature more than two dozen short-form videos (between one and ten minutes long) produced by students in Clark’s Time-Based Art and Web Video Production classes, as well as a selection of work from students at other area educational institutions including the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Portland State University, Washington State University Vancouver, and the Northwest Film Center.

“This event will feature the best video and time-based artwork from Clark College students,” said Clark College art professor Lisa Conway. “These exciting art forms push the boundaries of traditional gallery or print-publication settings, and we are thrilled to have a venue like the Kiggins Theatre in which to showcase this work. Hopefully this is the start of an annual event for the college, our students and the larger community—one that will continue to grow as our course offerings in this area grow.”

Clark College has offered classes in Time-Based Art and Web Video Production for the past three and two years, respectively. The Web Video Production class was introduced two years ago when Clark transitioned its Graphics Communication and Printing program into a redesigned Computer Graphics Technology program, which teaches valuable modern-day skills like web design and computer animation. The Time-Based Art class was developed three years ago with the start of new Associate of Fine Arts degrees in Graphic Design and in Studio Art.

The students’ videos range from whimsical works of stop-motion animation to emotional mini-documentaries and personal stories.

Kiggins manager Dan Wyatt said he was pleased to host this event. “As a former student of film, I not only enjoy supporting other student filmmakers, but think it is important that their works be screened in the best possible environment conducive to evaluating film–a movie theatre,” he said. “Some of the best learning and growth as artists happens while screening your project and getting feedback from peers.”

The Kiggins Theatre is located at 1011 Main St. in downtown Vancouver, Wash. (Phone number: 360-816-0352.)

Individuals who need accommodation due to a disability in order to fully participate in these events should contact Clark College’s Disability Support Services (DSS) Office at 360-992-2314 or 360-991-0901 (VP). The DSS office is located in room 013 in Clark’s Penguin Union Building.

Professor Kathrena Halsinger discusses her work with a student at the opening of the Art Faculty Biennial.

Clark art faculty spend their time at the college fostering and honing their students’ creative skills. But what about their own creative work? At the Art Faculty Biennial in Archer Gallery, running through February 8, everyone has a chance to see what the college’s faculty produce when they’re not busy teaching.

Wind and Drive and SIX6JEWELS, archival prints by art instructor Mariana Tres.

The wide range of their creativity was on display during the show’s opening reception on January 14, as faculty, students, and other visitors gazed at works that ranged from painting to ceramics to multimedia installations.

“I think it’s a really diverse show, but everything still fits very well together,” said art professor Kathrena Halsinger as she stood in front of her own contribution, a linked collection of digital prints. It hung between sculpture instructor Beth Heron’s installation of aluminum and bright-blue glass and Marina Tres’ striking, large-format prints of old watch gears.

All Fall Down, multi-channel video by art professor Senseney Stokes.

Many visitors paused at length before Professor Senseney Stokes’ All Fall Down, in which a stack of vintage black-and-white televisions showed linked video footage of gravel falling through a tube that seemed to travel from one screen to the next. Stokes, who is on sabbatical to learn gallery management in preparation for becoming Archer Gallery’s new director, said that she collected many of the old televisions years ago from thrift stores or just off the side of the road, but that these days they’re almost impossible to find. “I had to get the rest off of eBay,” she said with a wry smile.

Left to right, art faculty members Gabriel Parque, Carson Legree, Lisa Conway, Senseney Stokes, Grant Hottle, and Kathrena Halsinger.

Art professor emeritus Carson Legree, who is currently serving as Archer Gallery’s director this academic year, said that the Art Faculty Biennial is different from other shows that the gallery hosts, which often feature works by prominent artists in the region and the country. “This show really is about the campus, and about the students, and about faculty members’ relationships with each other and with their students,” she explained. “I think it’s interesting for students, because they see we’re all still working artists, we’re all still trying new things.”

Kelsey Lavin sketches her professor’s work during the Art Faculty Biennial.

Student Kelsey Lavin confirmed Legree’s statement. “It’s inspiring to see more than one type of art, to see all the different styles,” she said, pausing for a moment in her sketches of Professor Lisa Conway’s ceramic flowers to point to instructor Ben Killen Rosenberg’s watercolors on a free-standing wall nearby. “I have always respected the faculty here, and this [show] just adds to that.”

Lavin, 23, has taken two art classes at Clark, and hopes to take more before her anticipated graduation in 2015. A first-generation college student, she is considering entering the college’s Associate of Fine Art degree program, with the end goal of becoming an art teacher and working artist herself.

Legree said that she hoped that everyone at the college–students, faculty, and staff–would visit the show. “It gives the rest of the college a chance to see our work,” she said. “We really do have a very strong and vibrant department.”

To see more images from the show visit our Flickr page.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley

“Abu Ghraib” sculpture by Rex Silvernail

Clark College’s Art Selection Committee recently honored the legacies of two local artists by placing their work in Cannell Library.

In fall 2012, friends of the late Rex Silvernail approached Clark College about receiving one or more of his artworks. Silvernail, an accomplished sculptor, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and wanted to ensure that his art would be kept available to the public after his death. Clark is among many institutions that stepped forward to house his work; others include the Portland Art Museum, Hallie Ford Museum, Maryhill Museum, Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve, and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library.

Silvernail was born in Tacoma, Wash. He earned his MFA from Northern Illinois University and later received a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the Kitanmax School of Northwest Coast Indian Art–the first non-Native person to do so–where he learned traditional methods for manipulating wood. He became known for an artistic style that blended contemporary Western techniques with ancient traditions of craftsmanship, creating works that emphasized his interest in environmentalism and world peace.

“Shilo” wood and paper sculpture
by Rex Silvernail

Silvernail died in April 2013. By then the Art Selection Committee had already begun the process of accepting and placing two of his works: Shilo and Abu Ghraib. The former is a joyous piece made in honor of Silvernail’s granddaughter; the latter has been called “one of his strongest anti-war statements.” Together, they provide a cogent summary of Silvernail’s breadth of subject matter as an artist.

“We chose to place the pieces where they would have maximum visual impact and viewing accessibility,” said Art Selection Committee member and art professor Lisa Conway. “We wanted a space that would enhance the dimensional qualities of these unique pieces, and allow for them to be really set apart from, yet showcased within, their surroundings. After months of considering various sites across our campuses, the committee chose the library location. Cannell Library continues to be a great place to view art on campus.”

The third piece placed in Cannell is a large bronze casting plaque known as “The Lincoln Medallion.” It depicts a young Abraham Lincoln sitting beneath a tree, reading a book, with the inscription “I will study to prepare myself and maybe someday my chance will come.” It was made by George B. Clausen, the father of recently retired business technology professor John Clausen. The younger Clausen, together with his sister, Grace Sorensen, donated the piece to the college in memory of their parents.

Bronze casting plaque of Abraham Lincoln by George B. Clausen, donated by retired business technology professor John Clausen and his sister, Grace Sorensen

George Clausen was, like Lincoln, a self-taught man. He quit high school in order to support his family when his own father became ill, teaching himself the trade of architectural drafting. He also taught himself bronze casting; his works were housed in, among other places, the Oregon State Capitol and the Vista House. In 1937, when he created the mold for the Lincoln Medallion, he was working at the Portland Art Museum.

John Clausen and his sister wanted their father’s medallion to be placed at Clark College–and specifically in Cannell–because of its theme of education and reading.

These three pieces are just the most recent to be sited by the Art Selection Committee, which is responsible for selecting art through the Washington State Arts Commission Art in Public Places Program. This program facilitates the acquisition, placement, and stewardship of artwork in state-funded building projects. One-half of one percent for art funds is generated by new construction projects in state agencies, community colleges, universities, and public schools. Local committees representing project sites make all final artwork selection decisions.

In addition, the Art Selection Committee is responsible for acceptance and location of donated art objects, markers and monuments (other than instruction/gallery items) and the purchase and location of art objects acquired through means other than the Art in Public Places Program. The committee monitors and makes decisions regarding the maintenance and care of all college art objects.

Currently, the college’s art collection includes almost 300 artworks in media as varied as metal sculpture, painting, line drawing, and textiles.

The staff of the 2013 Phoenix posing during the journal’s unveiling in spring. Art professor Kathrena Halsinger, far right, is their advisor.

Congratulations to the staff of Phoenix. Clark’s literary and art journal just won third place in the Western-Pacific division of the Community College Humanities Association‘s 2013 Literary Magazine Competition.

“I think the quality of Phoenix is a reflection of the quality of the strong arts program that the college, and the greater community, continue to support,” says art professor and Phoenix advisor Kathrena Halsinger. “The arts are the stuff of life and therefore are relevant to all. We really work hard to be inclusive and get people across campus to be involved. We’ve also been fortunate to be supported by our departments and the ASCC to keep the program strong.”

“The World Filled Up” by Stephen Hayes

Clark art instructor Stephen Hayes is having a 30-year retrospective at Lewis & Clark College’s Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art. The show opened September 10 and runs through December 15.

“I have admired Stephen’s work since I met him more than 20 years ago, when I was the director of Maryhill Museum and we had a small exhibition of Stephen’s work,” says Hoffman Gallery director and curator Linda Tesner. “Since then I’ve made sure to follow his career. He is a fantastic painter and his work has only become more and more interesting. I love that he is able to capture the spirit of place without making a slavish likeness; it is as if he is able to evoke the landscape as much as paint it.”

“Stephen is the best kind of instructor at Clark, with tons of real-world experience, fabulous skills, and the passion to share it all with his students,” says Clark art department chair Lisa Conway. “Stephen is a consummate professional, and a virtual icon among West Coast painters. The Hoffman Gallery at Lewis & Clark is a prestigious institution, and it is heartening to see a great artist get this level of respect and recognition.”

Hayes began teaching at Clark about two years ago after he gave a presentation as part of the Archer Gallery’s Clark Art Talks. Members of the Art Department faculty approached him after his lecture to ask if he would be interested in teaching at the college. Hayes says that working with Clark students in classes like Drawing I and Two-Dimensional Design helps him examine his own artistic process, as well as that of his students.

Stephen Hayes in a self-portrait

“Teaching always keeps you reminded that you are in a process yourself,” he says. “When you have to explain something to someone who has no idea what you’re talking about, that really forces you to establish clarity for yourself. That in turn has an impact when you enter the studio: You have more clarity.”

Hayes sounds humbled by having a gallery focus on his entire body of work. “It’s pretty awesome, obviously,” he says. “One doesn’t get this opportunity very often. … It’s fantastic to be able to look back and to see both the continuity and the changes in direction along the years.”

Hayes says he doesn’t plan to tell his students about the show. “There are posters around, so they may well find out about it,” he says. “But I’m not making them take a special field trip or anything.”

Images courtesy of the Hoffman Gallery

Shantell Martin’s digital drawing performance with Clark College jazz musicians Max Wike, David Floratos and James Powers in the Archer Gallery.

Visual artist Shantell Martin’s free-form drawings and live-animation performances have been featured in such vaunted venues as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the New York Times, the enormous screens at Shibuya and Harajuku crossings in Tokyo–and, for more than a week, at Clark College.

Martin visited Clark as part of the college’s Artist Residency program, which hosts an artist-in-residence once a year as part of the larger Clark Art Talks program. She is probably the most prominent artist yet to participate in the residency.

“We read about her in the New York Times and contacted her, even though we did’’t think she would do an artist’s residency at Clark College,” said art professor Carson Legree. “Her visit was amazing.”

During her residency from April 26 to May 7, Martin visited numerous classes including Drawing, 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Graphic Design Exploration, Watercolor, Photography, Ceramics, and Creativity and Concept. She also gave a slideshow lecture as part of the Clark Art Talks series on May 7 and provided digital animation during a performance with three Clark jazz students in Archer Gallery on May 8. She created large-scale drawings that hung in the lobby of Foster Arts Center during much of her stay.

“Her classroom visits were filled with personal autobiography and a celebration of individuality,” said art professor Senseny Stokes. “She worked with hundreds of our students, who were inspired by her work and personal history–and charmed by her approachable, laid-back manor.”

Clark College artist-in-residence Shantell Martin displays her work in the Frost Arts lobby.

Martin, who has said in interviews that much of her artistic perspective is informed by growing up as the only interracial child in her otherwise white family in London, has made a name for herself with her playful line drawings that reflect a celebration of independence. She also frequently provides live animation or light shows to accompany music in settings ranging from museums to the mega-clubs of Japan and Russia. She has been featured on CNN, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the television show Gossip Girl. Martin has collaborated with celebrity photographers and brands alike; her notable work includes a project with celebrity photographer Nigel Barker, where she created digital sets for a 10-page Tatler Asia editorial with supermodel Christina Garcia. In February 2012, she was one of four artists commissioned by Nike iD to make a piece of work and a limited-edition shoe to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Nike Cortez.

“We didn’t think there was much of a chance that an artist with this much commercial success or international acclaim would do a residency here at Clark College, but we were honored and thrilled when she accepted our invitation,” said Stokes, who called Martins’ collaboration with the jazz students “one of the coolest things that ever happened at Clark College.”

“I’ve had a really nice time coming in every day, just drawing and coming into classes, meeting students and teachers,” said Martin in a video interview. “It’s kind of nice to come in and do the drawing and the stuff that I’m comfortable with, but also have the chance to experiment alongside young students here.”

Clark Art Talks is an ASCC-sponsored program that includes an evening lecture series, classroom workshops, and the annual Artist Residency. Organized by the Art Department, it is now completing its fourth year at the college and its second year as an official ASCC program.

See photos from Shantell Martin’s stay at Clark.

Photos: Clark College/Jenny Shadley