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2019 First-Year MFA Graduate Students UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME / ART, ART HISTORY & DESIGN

Annie Brinkman

Visual Communication Design

Hometown

Grayslake, Illinois

What is it about the program that appealed to you?

I am really interested in interdisciplinary, social design—design that is striving to work alongside other fields and research in speaking to today’s wicked problems. I appreciated how excited the faculty seemed to be about my interests and how the MFA curriculum at Notre Dame in general supports diving into personal research, while at the same time drawing faculty and students together to ponder larger questions and give feedback.

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

I feel like creative people tend to have a wide arrange of creative skills, but never really notice them. As much as I love graphic design, I also love interior and environmental design. I have some pretty epic watercolor skills too.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Never let anything take away your inner peace. When I actually stopped to think about this, my mind was blown. Even if you are an hour late to a meeting or going through a terrible challenge or struggle, if you can keep calm and stay at ease, it will truly change everything.

What is your dream project?

Figuring out my dream project.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

Door County, Wisconsin or Dayton, Ohio. Door County is a tiny, cozy peninsula in Wisconsin, perfect for all things outdoors. I’ve grown up camping there my entire life and would love to eventually move there. Dayton is a lot different. It is recently growing and expanding, but has such a strong and beautiful community that you can’t help but fall in love with it. There is always something to do and the arts culture is amazing. (small but significant).

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

Maybe a journal. I’ve always loved journaling as well as hearing about other people’s lives and stories—nothing seems more precious. I think a lot of people also carry journals around with them in their travels…I wouldn’t mind traveling the world with notes and thoughts scribbled inside of me!

Ben Craigie

Sculpture

Hometown

Flagstaff, Arizona

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

My sculptural practice has always been about the inclusion of other forms of art, I have two self published poetry books, I work in printmaking, ceramics, metals, found objects and I am constantly behind the lens of a camera.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

I think the best advice I have been given is to be yourself, making artwork is a deeply personal thing, we are all here to get better at it.

What is your dream project?

My dream project would be some sort of large scale public interactive work. I have often dreamed of bringing the gallery outside to the people, especially in rural communities where contemporary art is seldom seen.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

If I could live anywhere in the world I would split my time between the Sonoran dessert and the mountain ranges of Colorado. I have always really enjoyed living far from civilization, while I do love all the things a large city can bring I am more comfortable in natural environments.

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

If I could be any object I would be a grandmother's cooking pot or kitchen table. Something that a family gathers around and shares food from that has been made with love. I come from a large family, cooking and being around other people has been a binding agent in my life. Shared food and shared experience.

James Ostrander

Painting and Drawing

Hometown

Andover, Minnesota

What is it about the program that appealed to you?

I was drawn to this program by the art being produced by the graduate students and professors. I saw a lot of similarities between our work in subject and style, and some very intriguing dissimilarity too. This was really my primary consideration. And of course the various teaching and research opportunities, as well as the stellar funding were also quite appealing.

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

I've been singing for a long time - since I was a little kid - and I recently started dabbling in music theory and writing as well. It's very cathartic, and I find that all artistic and creative pursuits have a way of informing one another. I also spend a good deal of time animating.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

"Chill out."

What is your dream project?

I'd like to live in an artist commune, even if only for a year or so. That seems like a worthwhile project to me. Also, to work on a painting of massive scale - something akin to David Hockney's A Bigger Grand Canyon.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

Maybe in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It's one of the oldest mountain ranges on the planet, some say THE oldest, and I believe that imparts a certain mystery, and soft, weathered beauty to the land around it. This might be pure romanticization though - I've never even been to the foothills of the Appalachians, so what would I know?

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

The first thing that came to mind was a tongue. I'm sure there are devastating psychological implications involved with that, but a tongue must live a gratifying life.

Jonathan Kusnerak

Ceramics

Hometown

Pensacola, Florida

What is it about the program that appealed to you?

Generous studio space and incredible resources for research.

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

Yes, painting, printmaking, fibers, and metals are all parts of my studio practice. I am always exploring other materials and processes.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Drink plenty of water and make time to enjoy the outdoors.

What is your dream project?

Open a studio/gallery/art center.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

Not sure if I can pick one place, haha, I want to live somewhere with close proximity to mountains and a large body of water.

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

A cast iron skillet; versatile, dependable, and good at making cinnamon rolls.

Mary Mrozinski

Photography

Hometown

Grand Rapids, Michigan

What is it about the program that appealed to you?

Aside from the reputation of Notre Dame, I was interested in the freedom I would have to research and pursue whatever interests me and to further explore ideas for future projects.

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

I enjoy many ways of making, some of which include cooking, painting, and bookbinding.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

You are the expert of your own work.

What is your dream project?

I would love to learn traditional Japanese papermaking techniques from a master.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

My dream home would be nestled atop the Great Pacific garbage patch.

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

I'd like to be Lake Superior.

Peter Dore

Industrial Design

Hometown

Portland, Maine

What is it about the program that appealed to you?

I am interested in ND's reputation concerning their development of rigorous, concerned intellectuals.

Are you creative in more than one area? What is/are the other area(s)?

I am interested in an array of mediums. I feel that material serves ideas, I have been fortunate to make sculpture, photography, paintings, object art, and furniture.

What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

Be weird.

What is your dream project?

Designing public art. I would be delighted to have to opportunity to make things that cultivate community and give people a sense of place.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Please explain your choice.

I would live in Alaska during the summers and the greater San Fransisco area during the winter. I love to explore and fish and the time I spent in Northern California, in my past, serves as inspiration for my future.

If you could be any object, what would you be? Why?

I would be a table. It cultivates community, it provides impetus for communication, and you want to be around it while you eat.

Credits:

Created with an image by Siyan Ren - "untitled image"