Alums - University of Cincinnati
Erica Esham
http://www.eshamphotography.com/
artist statement:
This body of work is heavily inspired by the masters of Renaissance still-life. In addition to paying homage to the level of skill and dedication required to produce such works, these pieces speak to the way we consider photography. With the introduction of more "disposable" forms of image production, the craft of the photographer has become devalued in our society. Just as we have lost touch with the subtleties of symbolism and realistic representation in art making.
what do you love about the MFA program at the University of Cincinnati?
What I enjoy about the University of Cincinnati is having a wide range of courses available to take outside of the MFA program that often contribute to my studies in a way that I would not normally have access to in a program focusing only on Fine Art studies.
graduation date: June 2012
James Schenck
artist statement:
Through both 2-D visual art and installation, I address the role society plays in the construction of identity. My body of work articulates tactile and gestural expressions of self-examination, the importance of visual balance and clarity, and the numbness in a daily life’s journey for approval.
I summarize the results of my process as “2-D performance.” The aesthetic should always feel fun and welcoming, while the undercurrent stems from an urgent, honest insecurity.
what do you love about the MFA program at the University of Cincinnati?
What really drew me to The MFA Program at the University of Cincinnati was the opportunity for interdisciplinary study. The school is housed along side Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Industrial design with access to a rapid prototype center all of which have informed and aided my work. I also love the Wolfstein Summer Travel Fellowship that is available. After receiving the grant, I was able to enrich my studies by traveling to Paris and the Arctic Circle for an international art festival.
graduation date: June 2012
Alex Walp
artist statement:
My work focuses on issues surrounding modernism, abstraction and the politics self-sufficiency. The nature of production, both artistic and otherwise, has been another primary concern in terms of my identity as an artist and researcher. Delving into current and historical relationships between physical production on a global level and the construction of identity allows me to situate myself as a producer of objects and media. In order to excavate these issues, I often employ techniques that collapse distinctions between the expressive gesture and the glitch. This also serves to demonstrate and complicate contemporary relationships to post-war American abstraction. In this way, my work aims to articulate the obligations and anxieties related to following in the footsteps of the past.
what do you love about the MFA program at the University of Cincinnati?
Academic Research is very important to me as an artist and the interdisciplinary atmosphere offered by the School of Art has allowed me to develop and refine that side of my practice. The environment here encourages MFA students to seek feedback from faculty and peers working in all types of media, this has been beneficial in helping to situate my work in relation to a wider arts and media discourse. The program also encourages community engagement, both within the school and in the city of Cincinnati. All of these factors push students at the University of Cincinnati to produce work that can operate successfully in a variety of contexts.
graduation date: June 2012
