Top Major Choices

I've always been intrigued by three-dimensional work. VCU's sculpture department offers some of the finest equipment around. The possibilities are endless! I conducted an interview with Cody Platt, a senior, of the sculpture department.

-Why did you pick it?

-Originally interested in painting and printmaking, but through the influence of space i.e. in AFO, got introduced to the 3d form. Wanted to work with something that he was a little less familiar with. Space research really excited her.

-What are you working on now?

-Right now I just finished working on an opera in video format. allows him to  make a commentary on oppression on non-heterosexual relationships. Also got to intertwine love affair with building- maide a sailor wheel, side of boat- worked on green screen. Got involved with the extended media aspect of sculpture as well as actually doing it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jD589DhJs2g

-After graduation?

-Would like to go to grad school, would like to teach undergraduate level sculpture courses. In particular a place that's not - that's very limited. Somewhere where it's a challenge- I'd like to take my talents somewhere where the arts/ freedom is limited/ oppressed.

-Words of Advice:

-I guess- take every opportunity to gain knowledge- whether that's through other people's creations, your own creations, simply your friendships. Even society. Have a critical eye and relationship to society and what it's doing to you as a person. 

  Communication Arts is the study and exploration of the qualities, disciplines and technologies that enable us to create and communicate with insight and vision. Communication Arts includes studies in: Drawing, which is the fundamental means to articulate ideas; it is elemental to everything done. Illustration, which has a rich history that is firmly rooted in drawing, painting, design and print media. It is a discipline that is being expanded by powerful new tools and technologies. I conducted an interview with a communication arts student, Kenny Drews.

-Why did he pick it?

-Would like to be an illustrator.

-What are you doing now?

-Intense portrait studies for a painting. Learn how to take photos in HDR , designing characters for a video game.

-After graduation?

-Art hub in the United States, ie. New York, San Francisco- Possibly Berlin.

-Words of advice

-You have to be the biggest bad-ass you can be. Don't come into any department if you're not willing to spend 80 hours a week outside of class on work.

Kinetic Imaging is a rigorous program in which motivated and imaginative students engage in studio practices encompassing video, animation and sound. Critical thinking and innovation is vital as the historical expectations of these media forms are reexamined in the context of emerging new perspectives and technological possibilities. I conducted two two interviews; one with Jennifer Gillray, and the the other with Christina Costello. They are both students in the KI department.

Jennifer Gillray and Christina Costello

Jennifer Gillroy

-Why did you pick it?

-J- Because I've never tried animation, video before time studio. So when she took time studio she was really interested. It's an experimental department. Try anything you want. Where the future, technology is going.

Very close environment, teachers are very nice- chill environment.

-What are you working on now?

-J- In 3D class, we're learning 3D modeling for the first time this semster. Don't have to animate it yet. I'm working on food charcters. Eggs in egg cartons. Really enjoys 3D

-After graduation?

J- Something she's still trying to decide. Would like to do something with sound. But she's not really sure. Doesn't really want to be in a production house. Would like to do video documentaries. Depends on what I can find in the department to get my foot in the door.

Words of wisdom-

J- Be patient, don't freak out if the computer's messing up. THings will freeze files will be lost, back up things regularly, don't freak out if something messes up because it will be okay.

Christina Costello

-Why did you pick it?

-I picked KI because I really wanted to learn how to animate. Or at least how to do it professionally. Picking a major was really hard for her while she was in AFO. Had many talents, interests. Narrowed it down to something that really drove her inspiration for art. So it's very nice to see something that comes to life and becomes timeless. Painstaking, but so worth it.

What are you working on now??

-Working on a self-portrait- investigating through moving image and the effects of lighting. Using DSLR camera- typical nice canon camera. Doing a 'sleeping potrait' as the images unfold they unfold slowly, and almost as though the video itself were breathing. when you're sleep you see images but your ears are open so….what someone sees while they are sleeping but also what's happening while they are alseep.

After graduation?

-National Guardsman, in the meantime, screenwriting for a youtube series. About an underdog fraternity who is compiled of people who didn't make it in others. They larp! In personal time she'll be doing a manga comic as well as an animation.

Words of Wisdom: 

-Make sure you take your emphasis elective courses. the core of your degree is actually doing things
that you're suppose to be doing. be prepared that you will graduate later, if not get ready for summer courses.