The artfest chronicles

2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

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soonWelcome to the documented chronicles of ArtFest 2012 made possible by the continuing generous support of The West Foundation.

This is the first draft of a two week art camp which featured guest resident artist Jonathan Whitfill. The final edition will be available soon with expanded text and additional daily photography.

Guestresidentartist,JonathanWhitfill,receivedhisMasterofFineArtsdegreefromTexasTechUniversityinsculptureandthree-dimensionalart.HissculpturehasbeenexhibitedthroughoutWestTexas.HisperformancearthasbeenshownintheLouiseHopkinsUnder-woodCenter.MrWhitfillrecentlyexhibitedworkatArtVitamGalerieEurop'ArtinAiguesMortes,France,andwasselectedtoparticipateinSANOFI'sLibraryConferenceandExhibi-tioninMontpellier,France.Heisamemberofnumerousartgroupsandcontinueshisinter-estininternationalnetworkingthroughtraditionalandnon-traditionalexhibitions.DuringhisresidencyatArtFest2012,JonathancreatedoriginalworkstobepermanentlydisplayedineachofthreeWFISDhighschoollibraries.http://jonathanwhitfillcom

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TheArtFest2012Director,B.C.Gilbert,wasbornDecember15,1971andraisedinAmarillo,TXonthehighplainsoftheTexasPanhandle.HereceivedhisBFAin1997fromCameronUniversityinLawton,OKandhisMFAin2001fromTexasTechUniversityinLub-bock,TX. B.C.livedandmadeartinLubbock/Idalou,TXforeightyearsbeforemovingtoWichitaFalls,TXin2005wherehenowliveswithhiswifeCatherineProse(alsoanartist)andtheirtwosonsSageandWeb.Forfouryearshewastheowner/operatorofGilroseStudiosanartiststudio/alternativespaceinconjunctionwithBCCountry,acustommetalshop,indowntownWichitaFalls. AfterbeginninghisteachingcareerfortheWFISDin2008asartteacheratBarwiseJr.High,B.C.transferredtoRiderHighSchoolwhereheteachesArtI-IVand3-DAPStudio.HeisalsoanadjunctprofessorforMidwesternStateUniversityteachingDrawingIandFounda-tionsofArtEducation.

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MasterWorkshops/Staff:

1.EtchingwithTommyEvans2.AccordionBookswithCatherineProse3.Artists'TradingCardswithNancyGailKizis4.CyanotypePrintingwithGaryGoldberg5.CastingwithSuguruHiraide6.PopArtPaintingwithNicoleHuffstutler

SupportStaff:JimHenson,DocumentarianandWebmasterSydneyKuehler,StudioAssistantJillianPoole,StudioAssistant

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MynameisBethanyBaswell,andIwillbeattendingHirschiHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.ArtismychancetocreatewhatIwantandtellastoryvisually.Ilovetoputmyowndesignsandcharactersonapage,drawinginspirationfromtheworldandotherartists,andwithoutbeingablwetodraworcreateIwouldbeboredandfrustrated,unabletoventordevelopmysketches.

MynameisRobertCarmoney,andIwillbeattendingWichitaFallsHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.Thereasonartisimportanttomeisbecauseithelpsexpresspeople’sfeelings.IthinkartisafunhobbythateasesmymindbecauseIcangoatmyownpace.IfIamhavingastressfuldayIcanrelyonpaintinganddoodlingtoeasemymindinsolitude,andblockoutpeopleforafewhours.PaintinganythingIwantforenjoyment,andseeingtheprog-ressIhavemadepiecebypiecehelpsmetoenhancemycapabilitiesofart.Furthermore,ifthepaintingsareactuallygoodenoughtopresent,andpeopleenjoytheartwork,thereisapossibil-ityIcouldsellitandprofitfromit.I’mhopingthiswillhelpmetohaveacareerasanartist.

MynameisLaurenCompean,andIwillbeattendingRiderHighSchoolformysopho-moreyearintheFall.Artisnotonlymyhobby,it’sawayofexpressingmyselfandmyfeel-ingsinawaythatIcan’tthroughwords.Itisawayofrelievingmystressandworries.WhenI’mcreatingartIforgetallmyproblemsandsuddenlyeverythingbecomesjustalittlebetter.BeingcreativeistheonethingInevergettiredofandtheonethingIcanseemyselfbeinghappydoinginmyeverydaylife.Iloveartandthehappinessthatartbringstomylife.Ilovethatarthasnomistakes,andthatanythingImaymessupinapaintingordrawingcanbefixedorusedtomakeitevenbetter.Artisnotjustapaintingordrawing.Everyline,shape,object,orbuildingbeganwithasketchordrawing,anidea.

MynameisKagenDunn,andIwillbeattendingWichitaFallsHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.Artisawaytoexpressmyselfandescapefromreality.It’sachanceformetoletmyimaginationroamandtocreatewhatevercomestomind.Artismywayofbe-ingincontrolbecausenoonecanchangemyperspective.MakingartisalsomywaytogiveupalittlecontrolandjustenjoywhatI’mdoingandmakingwithoutbeingridiculedforit.Myfavoritemediumischalkpastelonpaper,butIenjoyothermediaaswell.Iappreciatelearn-ingnewtechniquesandnewwaystomakeart.Ilikefeedbackonmywork,butinthelongrun,I’mtheonewhomakesthefinaldecision.

MynameisTaylorDyrda,andI’msixteenyearsold.IwillenterHirschiHighSchoolintheFallpursuingtheIBDiplomaProgram.Mygreat-greatgrandparentscametoAmericafromPolandintheearly1900s.IlivewithmyMom,Step-Dad,brother,andsister.IdoartbecauseIbelievethatthesubjectisbeautiful.Imainlydonaturepiecesandthatisbecausenatureissobeautifulandalwayswillbe.Artisimportanttomebecauseitissoothing,andhelpsmeputmyemotionsdowninapictoralway.IamabletolookbackandreflectonhowIfeltthedayImadethepiece. WhenIwasgrowingup,myGrandmotherwasanartist.ShetaughtmeeverythingIknowaboutpainting.Seeingwhatbecameofherworkmademewanttoseewhatmyartworkcouldbecome.Whenartbecomesdifficult,IthinkofwhatIwillbecomewhenIfinishitandwhatwillhappenwheneverIdon’t.IalwaysrememberthatmyGrandmotherneverquitonapieceofart.ArtdoeschangethewayIseeeverythingevenifitdoesnotinvolveme.Iseethedifferenttypesofpeopleandwhattheygothrougheachday.WhatIlikeaboutartisthattherearesomanydifferentgenrestochoosefrom.Artpresentsvariousthemes,feelings,andper-spectivestotheindividualviewingit.

MynameisMinaFiorentino,andIwillbeattendingRiderHighSchoolintheFallformyjunioryear.Artisimportanttomebecauseitisoneofmylastmemorieswithmymother.AsayoungchildshewouldtakemetoJapanandwewouldexplorethegorgeousflowergar-dens.Thenwe’dfindaflowerthatbothofuslikedandshewouldhavemesketchitfromdif-ferentanglesandlightsources.Oncewefoundamorningglory,andIsketchedituntilwegothome.Mymomkepthelpingmeandgivingmetipsonhowtosketchitrealisticallyuntilshehadtogotoanearbystore.WhileshewasawayIfinallydrewtheflowerinawaythatpleasedme.Icouldn’twaittoshowmymom,soIjumpedonmybiketofindher. Idon’tknowifit’shereditaryorjustcoincidental,butIhavebeenpassionateforarteversince.Myroomisstrewnwithartprojectsfromcostumespatchedfromanyinspiringfabricstosimplevibrantcolors.Pastelscaughtmyattentionforalongwhile,andIhavebeenprogress-ingwiththemgreatly.Ialsoenjoy3-Dpaperartandsculpting.Howmanywayscanartreflectreality?Amillionandmore.Doesartnecessarilyhavetoreflectreality?Coulditalsobeavoiceforfear?Hope?Laughter?Iwanttoexploreallofthis.

MynameisLaurenHamlin,andIwillbeasenioratWichitaFallsHighSchoolintheFall.Artisveryimportanttome.ItisasmuchapartofthemakeupofmybeingasthecolorofmyeyesorthewayIlaugh.Idonotrememberatimeinmylifewhenartwasnotapartofit.Mymotheralwaysprovidedcrayons,paint,coloredpaper,funshapedscissors,glueandPlaydough.Shewasalwaysveryencouragingandallowedmetoexpressmyselfwithoutfearofrejection. Myartisticabilitieshavedevelopedandimprovedovertheyears.Ihaveexperimentedwithmanymediaandtechniques.ThethingIlovemostaboutartistheoutletforpersonalexpressionthatitgivesme.Itprovidesanemotionalrelease.IplantomajorinartandminorineducationsothatIcanteachchildrenaboutartandhowitcanchangethewayweseeour-selvesandtheworld.

MynameisErinHarman,andIwillbeattendingMidwesternStateUniversityintheFallasanartmajor.ArthelpsmetoexpressthethingsthatIseebutothersdonot.Itshowsmyhopesandfears,mydreams,andnightmares.ItallowsmetospeakformyselfandshowothersthewayIfeelaboutmyworld. Thematicallymyartexpressesmyviewsonanimalrightsandspecificallyhowhumanshavenegativelyimpactedtheocean.Iwouldlovetoopenaworkingstudiowhereeveryonecanlearnhowtoexpresstheirfeelingsandopinionsthroughvariousmedia.Inadditiontorais-ingawarenessofthecriticalstatesthatmanyanimalsareinnow,Iwanttoprovideinformationaboutconservation.Artismylife.IwakeupeverydaywithnewideasforpiecestobetterexpressmyselfandshowtheworldwhoIreallyam.

MynameisMaggieHigginbotham,andIattendRiderHighSchool.I'mspoiled,lovetoeat,spontaneous,andrandomwithmymoods.I'vebeendrawingandpaintingsinceIwasyoung.Mygrandmaalwaysdiddrawingswhichinfluencedmyinterestinarttobeginwith.RecentlyIdiscoveredTUMBLRandeverythingIseeonthesiteinspiresme,however,Ihard-lyeverhavetheskilltocreatewhatIwantto.Whenartgetsdifficult,mymotivationisusuallystrongbecauseIknowit’snotaboutperfection,andIcanalwaystrytomakesomethingbeau-tiful.Insteadofmakingmyworkliteral,Itryandcreateitasametaphor(unsuccessfully)andobsessivelypaygreatattentiontoeverydetail. Ithinkmymostrecentworkhasbeenthebest.Ialreadyknewwe'dbedoingetchinginadvanceandhadtimetosketchandplanalittlebit,althoughplanningnormallydoesn'thelpwithanythingatall.Ihavetoremembertostayflexiblewithmyideas.Meetingsomegreatpeople,everyoneseemsverywarmandkind,especiallytheteachers!

MynameisKassandraHiguera,andIattendWichitaFallshighSchool.I’vebeendoingartsinceIstartedhighschool.Ev-erythinginspiresmetodoart.Myemotionstowardeverythingisreallywhatdrivesmetodoaparticularkindofart.Drawingismyfavoritewaytoexpressmyself,butIalsoliketopaint.

MynameisBrandiLovern,andIwillbeattendingBurkburnettHighSchoolformyse-nioryearintheFall.ArtisextremelyimportanttomebecauseIgainedmostofmyexperiencefrommylategrandma,anditgivesmefreedomofexpression.Shecreatedinspiring,amazingdrawingsthatshouldhavebeenhunginartgalleries.Shehelpedmetosharpenmyabilitiesandtalentswhilegrowingup,andIvaluethatverymuch.Artisabeautifulpartofmylife,andIlovehowitgivesmefreedomtocreateandexploremytalents.

MynameisTaylorMcCreary,andIwillattendRiderHighSchollintheFall.IliketobeimaginativeandcreatewhatIwant.Myteacher,Mr.Hamilton,taughtmealotabouttheartprocess,painting,andbeingmyself.ArtbringsoutthebestinmewheneverIfinishanartproj-ect.Ifeelastonishedandproudofmyself,andIhopeIwillcontinuemypassionthroughmoreartexperiences.

MynameisJakePreston,andIwillattendRiderHighSchoolintheFall.Arthashelpedmethroughalotoftoughtimesinmylife.IthasbeenanavenueinwhichIcanexpressmy-self.Myemotionscanbetoldthroughmypiecesofartwithoutsayingaword.Ienjoystudy-ingthehistoryofthearts,theartists,theirinspiration,andmedia. IvisitedTheNationalGalleryofArtinWashingtonD.C.in2010andIwasinspiredbysomeoftheworld’sgreatestartwork.Thisexpandedmypassiontolearnthehistoryofartandapplymyartisticability.ArtwillalwaysbeimportanttomeandIplantocontinuetheexplor-ingallthevariousmedia.IintendtopursueacareerrelatedtotheartfieldsothatIcanmakealivingdoingwhatIlove.

MynameisVitaRepina.MyMomandIcametoAmericafromRussiawhenIwaseightyearsold.Artisapartofmyfamilyhistory.MyGreatGrandfather’sbrotherwasafamousRussianartist,EfimovichRepin.Ienjoydrawingfromlandscapesandnaturalscenerylikemountainsandrivers.ButthingslikethatarenotinWichitaFalls.I'vebeendrawingsinceIwasthreeandIgetinspiredwheneverIgooutside.SinceIdrawmyideasfromtheoutdoors,itmakesmewanttomovesomewherethatisbeautifultomesuchasColorado.IwillattendWichitaFallsHighSchoolin2012-2013.

MynameisJulySosebee.IgraduatedfromRiderHighSchoolandIplantoattendTexasTechUniversity.Iwanttobeanarttherapist.AlthoughIpracticeasmanytypesofartasIcan,filmphotographyandalternativeprintingaremyfavoritemedia.Myartteacher,Mrs.Kizis,inspiredmetocontinueusingfilmandprocesseslikecyanotypeandphotoemul-sion.She'salwayshonestandgenuinelywantstoseestudentsdowell.I'vebeeninartclassesthroughoutschoolandI'vebeenpracticingfilmfortwoyears. Whenartgetsdifficult,Ilooktomypeersandmentorsforsupport.Theyarealwaystheretohelpmethroughanyproblem.ItrytoobservethesmalldetailsinmyworkandIamengagedandpersistentinmyloveforfilm.Ihaveexperimentedwithunusualtechniquessuchasprintingongauze.AsIhavelearnedtocontrolthecraft,Imakefewermistakesandproducemoreworkfaster.TheharderIworkformyartwork,themoreIappreciateit.Ithinkthatfilmasamediumisthebestthingever.

MynameisBaileySwagerty,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.ArtisimportanttomebecauseIhavesomethingtosay.Insightissaidtocomewithage,butmyexperiencesandopinionsarereflectedthroughmyart,notfourboxesofbirthdaycandlesonacake.Insteadofawhisper,Icanscreammyideasoffacanvas,leavingapieceofmewiththeviewer. Imaylooklikea“BarbiegirllivinginaBarbieworld,”anditisnosurprisethatIoftengetpatronizinglooksandheadnods.Butwhentheylookatmyart,apieceofme,ratherthanmyoutwardappearance,IamlistenedtoforamomentbecauseIamanartistandIhavesome-thingtosay.

MynameisRaquelTrejo,andIattendHirschiHighSchool.Ilikedartasachildbe-causeitseemedchallengingtryingtodrawarealistichumanandshadeitcorrectly.Artclassesgivemeachallengethatnoothersubjectorclasshas. Manyformsofmediahavebecomeacompulsionofmine—pottery,claysculptures,oilpainting,digitalillustrations,photography,andpapersculptures.Ilovethethrillofdiscover-inganewtechnique,testingit,andfeelingcompleteafteranotherartpieceisaccomplished. Arthelpsmetoexpressmyfeelingsanddreamswhenwordscannotdescribethem.Cre-atingartleadstomyhappinessandartismyadorationthatwillneverbereplaced.

MynameisAshleyVance,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.Ilikeartbecauseitisawaytoexpressmyself.ItisanactivitythatIreallyenjoywheneverIamabletofindthetimetodraworpaint.ItisaveryrelaxingactivityformewhenIre-createtheimagesthatareinmyheadonpaperorcanvas.IreallyloveitwhenIamabletoimpresssomeoneorevensurprisethemwithmyartwork.

MynameisJennaWard,andI'mthirteenyearsold.Abouttwoyearsago,ImovedheretoWichitaFallsfromSanDiego,California.I'dalwaysbeenprettyartistic,butIfoundthatmovingbroughtthattoanentirelynewlevel.Growingup,Iwasdrawingallthetime;how-ever,Ineverhadmuchaxposuretoart.Therewereneveranyartclassesorgalleriestolooktoforadvice.Arrininghereinthesummerof2010,IfoundmyselfinapositionwhereIhadalotofdowntimetofocusonimprovingmyskillsinart. My"improvementstage"reallystartedwhenIforstgotintoanime--Japaneseanima-tion--andIbegantopracticewhatIsaw.Ilookedtotheinternetformoreinspiration,andfoundsomereallyamazingartists.Thisledmetodevelopmyownstyleofdrawing.Iliketocallitsemi-realisticanime.ThisstartedtogetmeinterestedinboththeJapaneselanguageandculturewhichisthemaininspirationbehindmyart. I'malsoinspiredbymypastexperiencesandthemusicIlistento.WhenIstartedattend-ingMcNeilJr.HighintheFallof2010,myskillsprogressedevenfurtherwiththehelpofMr.Hamilton,anall-aroundgreatartteacher.AndnowIfindmyselfhere,atArtFest,andI'mreallyenjoyingallthenew,creativethingswearedoing.Iamalsoexcited(andabitnervous)tobe-ginattendingRiderHighSchoolintheFalltoimprovemyabilitiesevenmore.

MynameisMelissaZhang,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.Artisaformofex-pressionthatmakesmefeelgoodwhenImakeit.ItcheersmeupwhenIamsad.Artchangesmeinmanyways.Ithelpsboostmyself-esteemandmakesmeabetterperson.Ilikethatapicturecanexpressone-thousandwordsandcanbeinterpreteddifferentlybyanyonewhoseesit.IwouldliketopursueacareerinarttobeabletodosomethingthatIlove.

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enjoy the memories 2012

Prepared by Jim Henson,Documentarian

Maggie Higginbotham,Student Editor

A Production forWichita Falls ISD

and theWest Foundation