Expanding programs leads to expanding scopes for artists
BY: HIBA OBEED
Art & Life Editor
Booths line the hallways of the Humanities East building with tables and walls filled with artwork ranging from ceramics, prints, sculpture, to multimedia and traditional art. On Oct. 23, STLCC Meramec hosted its annual Portfolio Day, inviting several universities to speak to students and offer them opportunities to continue their art education. Some of these universities were Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Maryville University, University of Missouri Saint Louis, Kansas City Art Institute, University of Missouri, Webster University, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and the Art Institute of Chicago.
“I’m aiming to impress Mizzou and SIUE,” said student Em Aguinaga. “I think I had a really good talk with Mizzou about what they offer, even with programs outside of the school.”
Aguinaga showcased a table of ceramics and a wall of figure drawings for Portfolio Day.
“I’m most proud of my figure drawing pieces,” Aguinaga said. “My hand-built pieces show a lot of negative space and this apocalyptic structure that I have going on, so I’m hoping to explore that.”
Portfolio Day brings a different opportunity for some students than what they’re used to, Aguinaga explained.
“This is the first time I’ve been able to show my physical pieces, and have them [representatives] actually come up to me and ask me questions instead of me talking for five minutes while there’s a line of other students also waiting to speak to a representative,” Aguinaga said.
Several people worked behind the scenes to make this day possible including Dan Bess, secretary of the art department.
“It was so amazing to work with all the students and really see the hopefulness of all the students setting up for their universities and trying to have their work critiqued and receive feedback,” Bess said.
What stood out to Bess about this year’s Portfolio Day was the number of people participating.
“On the whole, I think we had more designers interested in Portfolio Day this year. Usually, it’s mostly fine artists participating, and so to see more designers partake is exciting,” said Bess. “It means our program is growing and expanding to more than just drawing and painting. Professor Swoboda and Professor Linder have been pushing for that for a long time, and it’s been super successful– It shows us what art can be.”
