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Dr. George Rivera's Students' Art Crossed Borders with ASSETT Development Award Funding

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Dr. George Rivera's Students' Art Crossed Borders with ASSETT Development Award Funding Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/19/2014 - 00:00

Does art belong in a combat zone? Dr. George Rivera of the ��ƷSM��ӰƬ Art Department believes it does. With only a portable printer, Rivera collaborated with university students in Boulder and in Bethlehem, Palestine to create an international art exhibit. He received an ASSETT Development Award last year to purchase the portable photographic printer and photographic paper that were necessary to create the bare bones exhibit. "[The ASSETT Development Award funding] resulted in an exhibition entitled HOME/LAND, which consisted of 40 art pieces of Image and Text presented in the Visual Arts Department of Dar al-Kalima University College of Arts & Culture in Bethlehem, Palestine ..." says Rivera, who collaborated with Professor Johny Andonia at the Dar al-Kalima University College in Bethlehem, Palestine. The portable printer enabled the exhibit to take place, "without the expensive shipping," that an overseas exhibit would normally require, Rivera explains. He points out that a photo printer may not normally be easily available in Palestine, and, "Without the equipment, you can't do this ... I think that's what these awards are meant for."

Rivera took pictures of students at both universities and invited them to respond in eight words or fewer what home, land, or homeland meant to them. Their responses included:

"2 towns 2 axis the center home"
Home is where I want to raise a family.
Home is where I'm accepted
Home where I Feel safe
Where there is good food
Home Is A Place I'm Looking for

Rivera explains that the process of coupling an explanation with a photograph of someone is an extension of the Conceptual Art Movement that matured in the 1960s and 1970s, in which, "It's the idea that drives something, rather than the image," he says.

Why Palestine?

Through the exhibit, Rivera aimed to illustrate the universality that exists in all people, despite our differences of nationality, ethnicity, and religion. He says that participating in the exhibit was an, "Opportunity to know others in the world better ... [and] to help students think internationally and globally." He says the exhibit was intended:

"To remind people that they have something in common with other human beings--to remind them that they are not as isolated as they think they are. That makes us one ... We get caught up too much in categories. Underneath all of those categories are human beings like you and me."

When asked about the decision to exhibit in a combat zone, Rivera responds, "Students have to learn how to deal with change and diversity ... [These are] universal issues no matter where we live that we all have in common." Rivera says that he believes that art can "transcend" the boundaries and politics of this world that more often divides us: "Art is life, and life is art. There is not a separation ... I believe we can change the world with our presence." He quoted the late German philosopher Herbert Marcuse in The Aesthetic Dimension in saying, "'Art cannot change the world, but it can contribute to changing the consciousness and drives the men and women who could change the world.'"

Rivera also explained that the opportunity for students to present at an international venue is exceptional:

"... ASSETT funds enabled students in our Art Department to have international exhibitions and allowed us to print the art of image and text of students from other universities as an exchange between our university and an international venue. Thank you for the ASSETT Award, as it benefited our art students by obtaining international exhibits for them."

Portable printer, laptop, and camera in tow, Rivera says that the HOME/LAND exhibit is only the beginning of a greater and longer international partnership. He would like to continue to collaborate with Professor John Andonia at Dar al-Kalima University College in Palestine and exhibit on an annual basis there and on an even bigger scale, renting out advertisement space at bus stations in Bethlehem. Since the exhibit culminates in eight-by-eleven photographs, "I can leave it behind," says Rivera.

Next, Rivera plans to ask students to answer the question, "What is art?"

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Developmental Award Spotlight: A photo lab for art students

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Developmental Award Spotlight: A photo lab for art students Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 02/08/2011 - 00:00

When Lia Pileggi began conducting workshop classes for photographing artwork she noticed something. With a little help from the people she was helping, she realized her department was missing a resource of potential value for students.

“In every single workshop, someone would ask, ‘Ok, this is great, now I know how to photograph, where can I photograph?’” Pileggi said. “Every single workshop, that was a question that came up.”

Pileggi, a digital imaging and technology coordinator at the Visual Resource Center in the Department of Art and Art History, shared an idea sparked by those questions with Elaine Paul, the director of the Visual Resources Center. Her plan consisted of building a photo lab complete with a high quality camera and table for placing artwork.

With the help of an ASSETT Development Award, the two are developing this digital photography studio for the Department of Art and Art History at CU. The lab will give art and art history students a chance to photograph their work in a professional manner to help build a professional portfolio.

“Once Elaine and I started talking with faculty and realizing there really isn’t a space, that’s when we knew…we just had to help make this a reality,” Pileggi said.

On the third floor of the vibrant Visual Arts Complex, a few steps from their offices, their vision is slowly coming to form.

In a plain, almost empty room the digital photography studio is under construction. It houses a shooting table that when complete will be shaped like a pinball machine. In front of the table a black Nikon camera fitted with wide-scope lens sits atop a tripod.

The lens is capable of capturing the depth while adding a sense of space to its photographs, a necessity considering the small size of the room.

Paul called the room a flexible space, as students will be able to use the entirety of the room to place artwork for photographing. It will serve primarily small for medium sized two and three-dimensional works.

Other resources in the lab will include a MacBook laptop for real-time photographing, a high-storage memory card, an ultraviolet glass filter to protect the camera and a portable, three-piece fluorescent light kit to help illuminate the artwork.

A centralized course resource

One of the key factors behind Paul and Pileggi’s idea was how the lab could benefit students. The pair suggested some 1,000 undergraduates could potentially benefit from the lab.

“Students need to be able to photograph the creative work that they produce in order to document it for their portfolios, for applying to graduate school, for applying to the BFA program, scholarships, grants and residencies,” Paul said. “So it’s really important that they can take high-quality photographs of their work.”

As far as the number of courses that can utilize the studio, Pileggi made a suggestion as to how many classes could benefit from the lab.

“Every course!” she said laughing.

The two did identify a few courses they though would benefit the most from the photo lab like painting and drawing classes and undergraduate ceramic and sculpture courses.

An exciting faculty response

Anticipation for the lab is already in place.

“People are already asking about it,” Pileggi said, “because we’ve told people, ‘it’s coming!’”

The lab may enhance a students learning experience, as Pileggi said the ability to produce high quality, professional images will help students present themselves and their work better.

“Already this semester I’ve been approached by an instructor who wanted me to add training of the new room in her curriculum and was asking, ‘Okay, when is the room going to be ready, I want to put you in the syllabus!’” Pileggi said.

The lab is expected to be complete before the end of the spring semester.

-Written by Esteban L. Hernandez, CU 12’, ASSETT Reporter

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