Trecien Schultz- Bachelor of Fine Arts

           

Trecien Schultz is a graduating BFA major with a focus in graphic design. Schultz’s work is very clean, with almost a playful and organic feel. Her work for the BFA show revolves around a series of designs for an aquarium, as well as two other businesses. Not only does she included posters, brochures and other paper products but also banners, t-shirts and even stickers, displaying a full range of products and limitless possibilities for her designs. In addition to logo/identity, Schultz is also interested in publication and web design, among other graphic design areas.           

         Schultz describes her designs as analytical and detail orientated, influenced by the movements of Bauhaus, and De stjil. As well as by the work of Piet Mondrian, and Alexander Rodchenko just to name a few. Her work is mainly characterized by the use geometric shapes, bold colors and basic typography.

Schultz says her interest in graphic design began in part due to her interest in the influence advertisers and the media have on consumer behavior. She adds, “we live in a commercial world and participating in the design process will allow me to put my own individual spin on some of it, even if it occurs behind the scenes.” Schultz plans to begin her job search soon for a graphic design position and has not ruled out any possibilities as to which direction her graphic design career may take her.  To see work by Schultz and other graduating BFA majors stop in and see the exhibit until Saturday, May 10^th.

Alison Bur

Gallery Assistant

University Art Gallery

Saginaw Valley State University

Michael Estrada- Bachelor of Fine Arts

Michael Estrada is a gradating BFA major with a focus in Graphic Design. Estrada’s works combines a more straightforward textual approach to graphic design with a more illustrational style. Estrada’s works focuses mainly on a fictional magazine, called Examine, displaying a series of chapters or articles that focus on social problems in the 21st century. For this series, Estrada wrote and illustrated fictional articles that tackle important social problems that are relevant today, including religion, temptation, technology, modern parenting, divorce, abortion, education, and the media. All of Estrada’s designs are in a very distinctive style, carefully put together but still have an organic feel to them.

For this series Estrada says he was mainly inspired by Commentary Magazine, an American magazine composed of stories on American politics, social, and cultural issues. Estrada says to create the text for these illustrations he wrote about his own personal feelings and observations on each issue. Some are more straightforward and demanding of your attention such as his article on religion, while others such as his article on pregnancy require the viewer to look a little closer at the imagery. Overall for this series Estrada makes the viewer question and reexamine these issues, while also displaying an impressive portfolio for his future career.

Overall, Estrada says, “ I am motivated to remain inspired and passionate in further elaborating on my palette of choices for approaching type, image and composition.  I continue to grow as an artist by studying those that came before me while simultaneously expanding on the latest trends in contemporary art.  I am always looking to elevate my capabilities while still commenting on the world around me with positive intentions.”

After graduating Estrada plans to start working immediately, preferably for a design firm in either New York, Miami, Phoenix, or San Diego. He hopes to work in publication design, which inspired him to create Examine Magazine. To see Estrada’s work as well as work by other graduating BFA majors, check out the exhibit until Friday, May 9^th.

Alison Bur

Gallery Assistant

University Art Gallery

Saginaw Valley State University

Katie Stanton- Bachelor of Fine Arts

Katie Stanton is a graduating BFA major with a focus in painting. Creating work inspired by the hard edge painters Stanton combines painting and sculpture to create pieces using all kinds of different media. Stanton says what she enjoys most about painting is that it can go in all directions. She adds, “My work has evolved over time due to a wide range of experiments. I've always used acrylics, then expanded into other media, incorporating ink pigments, mirrors, a variety of fabrics, and lacquer. I enjoy experimenting with various media, including traditional and modern materials. In my work, my goal is to maintain an aesthetic appeal by combining a wide variety of materials that emphasize a kind of contemporary imagery that defies the boundaries between painting and sculpture.”  In her work Stanton definitely achieves this by combining a more open, expressive painting style with strips of looped fabric.

           

          To prepare for the show Stanton says she enrolled in intermediate sculpture and advanced painting at the same time, spending four nights in the studio a week. Stanton adds, “I had so many ideas and was inspired to go in so many directions. I started experimenting with all kinds of different materials, mainly inks with gesso, fabrics, mirror, acrylic paints, wood, lacquer, and basically whatever I got my hands on to incorporate into my paintings.” Stanton adds that the works she chose for the show may be very different and have variety but still remains cohesive, displaying how much she has grown as an artist in the program.

            Stanton also says, “I really enjoyed working with all of the professors and my classmates in the art department. I very much appreciate the bonds that were created over the years I've been here. I've become very close with most of my creative classmates. I really enjoyed how all of us art kids motivated one another, overall contributing to our success. It never felt like a competition.” She also wants to thank BFA alumni Patricia McDonald & Jon Elliott for guiding her through the application process. She notes how great it was to receive advice from the student perspective based on their experiences, as well as helping set up their Fall 2013 show. Stanton adds that it definitely prepared her for making choices for the show this semester. She also wants to thank Matthew Zivich, Blake Johnson, and Dr. Emily Kelley for preparing her for her future endeavors. She says, “they are amazing at making sure that we as students, are prepared for what to expect with our future in graduate school, and growth as independent artists.” She also wants to thank Sara Clark, Andrea Ondish, Hideki Kihata, and Phillip Hanson who have been there to answer any questions. She says, “these professors are amazing people! I very much appreciate the inspiration, advice, motivation, and challenge that came from our art department. This has made me want (all the more) to teach at college level, and do what they do.”

            Stanton plans to attend graduate school to work towards her masters degree, eventually she would like to teach and motivate other artists to further develop their work. To see more of Stanton’s work, as well as work by other graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts majors see the exhibition from now until Friday, May 9^th.

Alison Bur

Gallery Assistant

University Art Gallery

Saginaw Valley State University