Friday, September 3 , 2010

Extreme Dome Makeover makes an impact

Organizers are praising the work of hundreds of volunteers after the success of the first Extreme Dome Makeover, sponsored by Culver-Stockton College. EDM brought together more than 400 C-SC students, faculty and staff, and community volunteers to complete a number of service projects throughout Canton. During the day-long event, volunteers completed a number of projects including landscaping at various sites throughout the city, cleaning playground equipment and painting at the Canton Public Library. But the most noticeable transformations took place at four Canton homes; there volunteers completed exterior paint work, built a handicap ramp, landscaped; and removed debris. "We used 55 gallons of paint, 90 paint brushes, a dozen paint rollers, and a truck load of mulch on just two of the homes," said Dr. Jay Hoffman, event organizer and assistant professor of athletic training at Culver-Stockton. Altogether volunteers put in more than 1600 work hours completing the EDM projects. "To put it in perspective it would take one person, working full-time (40 hours per week), one year to match the manpower of EDM," said Hoffman. EDM recipients were nominated by Canton community members for demonstrating qualities of good faith and human spirit despite personal limitations or hardships. This year's recipients were Carl and Karen LaSala, Colleen Feldkamp, Allen and Adrian Searson, and Phillip and Loxi Barr.

C-SC to feature printmaking exhibit as first show of the 2010-11 year
Culver-Stockton College is featuring the work of Michael Barnes, associate professor of art at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill., during the first art exhibition of the 2010-11 school year in the Mabee Art Gallery located on the C-SC campus. The printmaking exhibit will be displayed in the gallery now through Friday, Sept. 24. Barnes earned a bachelor of fine arts from Alma College, Alma, Mich., in 1991. He went on to receive his master of art in 1995 and his master of fine art in 1996 from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He has earned several awards, honors, and residencies, most recently holding a residency at Columbia College in Chicago, Ill. He has participated in solo, group, and juried exhibitions nationally and internationally. In Barnes' artist statement he says: "The overall style of my work is greatly inspired by science fiction literature and cinema, music, travel, and gardening. I enjoy drawing, making prints, and using my imagination to create stories. My art is the center of my life where all of my interests and experiences melt together." The exhibit is free and open to the public and will be available for viewing now through Friday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

C-SC holds All-College Convocation
New and returning Culver-Stockton College students were welcomed back to the Hill during the annual All-College Convocation in the Alexander Campbell Auditorium. D'Ann Campbell, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, gave the convocation address. During her speech, Campbell highlighted the importance of liberal arts education and outlined how C-SC has maintained its commitment to academic excellence. "I would argue that what Culver-Stockton has as a format is the best recipe for success. By that I'm referring to the 12/3 week, experiential, hands-on model. In our capstone you do a multi-disciplinary seminar, and you do research, critical thinking, analysis, writing and speaking," said Campbell. The convocation, held on Thursday, Aug. 26, was the first formal ceremony of the school year.

C-SC professor takes part in summer printmaking workshop
Robert Kennon, associate professor of art and design, participated in the following events this past summer, "PEARS Summer Printmaking Workshop 2010," North Dakota State University, Fargo N.D., taught by Catherine Chauvine, University of Denver. Kennon created five smart plate lithograph prints based on the World War II foxholes of Bastogne in the Ardennes forest on the border of Belgium/Luxembourg, which he visited with the study abroad course to the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg in the Spring of 2010. Kennon exhibited four engraved prints in the "30th Mini Print International Cadaques Exhibition," which traveled to Taller Galleria Fort, Barcelona, Spain; Gallery l'Etrargd' Art, Bages, Spain; Wingfield Arts Center, Suffolk, England; and Furdacio Tharrats d' Art Grafic, Pineda del Mar, Barcelona. In addition, also exhibited 10 prints and drawings at the "6x6x2010 Art Exhibit," Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester, NY.

Catching up with Jennifer Bock-Nelson
Jennifer Bock-Nelson, part-time instructor of art and manager of the Mabee Art Gallery, did some great things in her professional capacity this past summer. She was juried into: "Blink", an Art St. Louis Exhibition; in which her piece "Under Construction" was chosen for an Award of Excellence. She was also juried into "Brave New World", an open-call exhibition for Adam Lister Gallery in Fairfax, Va. Jennifer Bock-Nelson was selected by venue to be a participant in ArtPrize 2010 and part of a group show "Configuration" at the Calvin College (106) Art Gallery in Grand Rapids, Mich. She also participated in a group exhibition, "It's All a Dream", at Adam Lister Gallery in Fairfax, Va., and collaborated with French poet, Denis Emorine, and was published under the title, "You Have to Step Forward in Dark Blue", in Chapter 8 of Anemone Sidecar, an online publication by Ravenna Press, Spokane, Wash. Bock-Nelson also served and artist residency and gave an artist lecture at Ox-Bow, a 95 year- old summer school of art and artists' residency associated with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Brice Fantazia '09 honored by former high school
Brice Fantazia '09, is being recognized for his hard work on the hardwood. Fantazia, who recently signed-on to play basketball professionally in Scotland, is being honored by his California high school. Modesto Christian School, Modesto, Calif., will be hanging one of Fantazia's professional jerseys, and his Culver-Stockton College jersey on the school walls for all to see. "Modesto Christian is one of the most prestigious schools in the nation for basketball, so this is a huge honor," said Fantazia. Before joining Scotland's Glasgow Rocks basketball roster, Fantazia played professionally for FC Porto Ferpinta in Porto, Portugal. His jersey from Porto Ferpinta will be hung in the Modesto high school gymnasium, his Culver-Stockton jersey will be hung in the foyer. Read more online.