91ÁÔÆæ

Visual arts students support community

March 3, 2023
Buford Senior Academy teachers Stu Chambers and Christine Graham and principal Caleen Pulley pose with garden pavers created by 91ÁÔÆæ grad Adam Chambers.

Article By: Denise Ray

A collaboration between students in the University of North Georgia's (91ÁÔÆæ) Department of Visual Arts and the local community provided a learning experience and functional art.

Students in Alex Kraft's advanced wheel-throwing fall 2022 classes were tasked with creating an object that would be beneficial to the community. The concept was the brainchild of Jennifer Graff, 91ÁÔÆæ Visual Arts department head and professor of art which Kraft adapted into her curriculum.

"Our students worked with Jethro's and with Little Village Montessori. In a previous semester they worked with Giggle Monkey Toys, Spirits and Foothills Grill," Kraft said.

More recently, Kraft's spring 2022 systems and surfaces course has a similar collaborative project using recycled clay and glaze.

Adam Chambers, a December 2022 graduate with a bachelor's degree in studio art, created garden pavers for Buford Senior Academy, formerly Buford Middle School, which Chambers attended.

"When we were asked to select a place to partner with to create the pavers, I began thinking about what places I have a connection to who might want them," Chambers, who is from Flowery Branch, Georgia, said. "The Buford Senior Academy was a school I went to and a place where my dad was teaching, so I asked him if any of the teachers would like something for their classrooms or the hall as a decoration."

Students in 91ÁÔÆæ's Department of Visual Arts created items for use by Little Village Montessori in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Stu Chambers, Adam's father, suggested pavers for a soon-to-be-created garden at the school, named "Mrs. Pulley's BSA Garden."

The younger Chambers submitted several designs to the school's principal, Kaleen Pulley, for approval. He also needed to fulfill course requirements.

"The design needed to be a tessellation (a pattern made with polygons that completely fills a space with no caps, spaces or overlaps), and I also worked with Professor Kraft to make sure the designs fit the project," Adam Chambers said. "In the end, the design featured the name of the garden, the school logo, various vegetables and flowers that would be grown in the garden, and some bees."

The name and logo were designed to look like they were on a small garden sign.

"I was totally surprised and very appreciative of Adam's amazing pottery paver plaques for the garden," Pulley said. "His special touch of including my name on them made it so personalized and thoughtful. The garden paver plaques are a constant reminder of his skill as a pottery craftsman and such a generous gift of his time, talent, and treasure for our school."

Chambers said the hardest part was making the template paver for the mold, as some of the raised design elements were a little too thick and could have gotten stuck when trying to remove the final paver.

"Thankfully, Professor Kraft was able to help and we were able to get the pavers out with little issue," he said.

 


McAdams receives Stravinsky award

McAdams receives Stravinsky award

91ÁÔÆæ student Eli McAdams received the Stravinsky Composition Award. He will receive a scholarship as part of the recognition.
Marban takes part in Public Service Weekend

Marban takes part in Public Service Weekend

91ÁÔÆæ junior Claudia Marban took part in the Public Policy & International Affairs Program Public Service Weekend from Feb. 21-23 in Arlington, Virginia.
Family Health Fair is set for April 26

Family Health Fair is set for April 26

91ÁÔÆæ will host its third annual free Family Health Fair from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26 in the Hugh Mills Physical Education Complex at 91ÁÔÆæ's Gainesville Campus.
Student wins film festival awards

Student wins film festival awards

Student Calvin Bowers has won awards at four festivals for his film 'Per Amore Dei Gatti (For the Love of Cats).' He created the film with three classmates on a Film in Italy study abroad program.