Alumni Updates: 1980s
Archive
Below are archived updates for Art & Art History alumni graduating between 1980 and 1989. Visit the main Alumni Updates page for updates received this year.
Lara (Williams) Blanchard, ‘88 (Art History, Mathematics) Lara writes: I am an art history professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (yes, plural!), a liberal arts institution in Geneva, New York. I often share advice about writing that I received from William & Mary professors (especially Barbara Watkinson) with my own students. I received my doctorate in Chinese art history from the University of Michigan in 2001. I have published several articles on Chinese art from the Song dynasty to the contemporary era, with a particular focus on gender and women (including representations of women, women artists, and women patrons). My book, titled Song Dynasty Figures of Longing and Desire: Gender and Interiority in Chinese Painting and Poetry, was published in 2018. I am also the co-author of the textbook Asian Art (Pearson, 2015), which received a prize from the Association for Asian Studies. In my leisure time I still make pottery and very much miss taking classes with Marlene Jack! (Oct, 2019)
Stephen Correll '81 (Fine Arts) Stephen writes: Retired last fall as Associate Director of Registration from the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. Now pursuing my painting and drawing full time and loving every minute of it. (Oct. 2016)
Michelle Erickson '82 (Studio) Michelle wrote to tell us that she is having an exhibit in the foyer of the Dewitt Wallace Gallery, which runs through October 17th. Also showing at the Dewitt Wallace Museum are recreations from the recently excavated coffee house and a fantastic exhibition of Moravian ceramics entitled 'Art in Clay.' Michelle has 3 technology screens within the exhibition showing her work in the rediscovery of various ceramic techniques used by the 18th century north carolina potters. (2011)
Christine "Tina" Epps '82 (B.A., Fine Arts Education) Once again Christine will take a tour group to Europe. They will travel to France and England July 14-23 of 2009. This tour includes the areas of London, Canterbury, Paris, Chartres, Normandy, St. Malo Island, and Mt. Saint Michel. Naturally, they will say hello to Mona Lisa at the Louvre. (2009)
Rick Hoffman '84 has purchased an old building in downtown Covington, Kentucky to become a teaching studio for ceramics classes and gallery space. (2009)
Kristine Scharf Kainer '86 (Studio Art) After earning her M.Ed. and working for years as a mathematics teacher in Virginia, Kristine finally realized her dream of becoming an artist. With her family's encouragement, she recently launched her new website, www.KKArtStudios.com, where visitors can view her artworks in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and charcoal. With studios in Georgetown and Schulenburg, Texas, Kristine's name is making the rounds in local art circles, and her paintings can be found in private collections throughout the United States and Canada as well as in local galleries in Texas. (2009)
Susan Macon '87 (Art History) Susan writes: "We have a new paint color line called Bridget Beari Colors. www.bridgetbearicolors.com 200 custom colors. (2012)
Marcia (Anderson) Mallet '83 (B.A. Art History) writes: "I have started a small independent press, Violet Press (violetpress.com), and have enjoyed working with artists to illustrate two of our recent books. I would be interested in hearing from W&M art and art history alumni with book ideas. (2010)
Diana Dixon O'Connell '82 (Art History) Diana writes: I retired in July after 26 1/2 years as an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA. Our daughter is a senior at W&M and is in an intro Art History class this semester. (Sept. 2016)
Bruce Pask '89 (Art History) Bruce is editor of "T: Men's Fashion" (The New York Times Style Magazine). He has just celebrated his second anniversary as editor and previously worked as a fashion editor and journalist for Condé Nast and other publications. Bruce is also a costume designer; you can see his latest creations in the current Broadway revival of "Promises, Promises." (2010)
Susan Piedmont-Palladino '80 (B.A. Art History) writes: "I'm one month in to a year long project at the National
Building Museum, where I'm a curator. Called Intelligent Cities (http://www.nbm.org/intelligentcities/) it will encompass a public outreach campaign, a forum in the summer, a book, and finally an exhibition. Intelligent Cities, supported by its partners TIME and IBM and funded by The Rockefeller Foundation, explores the intersection of information technology and urban design." (2010)
Joan Huiner Ranzini '83 (Studio Art) Joan writes: I maintain an active studio practice, and am currently focused on a series of abstract paintings inspired by my explorations with cut paper collages. I am also the program coordinator at the Beverley Street Studio School in Staunton, VA. www.bssschool.org (Sept. 2016)
Cynthia Robinson '84 is Associate Professor of Medieval and Islamic Art History in the departments of New Eastern Studies and Art & Archaeology at Cornell University. She is the author of several books and articles. (2009)
Dave Stevenson ’89 B.A.(Fine Arts) Dave writes: I have been invited to exhibit a monumental bronze sculpture in Finn Park (TriBeCa), for NYC Parks “2016 Art in the Parks” program. Acrobat, a dynamic, eight foot tall abstract work, will make its debut in June. IF its funded in time!
To learn more about The Acrobat Project, visit the artist’s new sculpturezoo website. The Zoo is set up to receive direct donations as well as contributions via purchases from its Gift Shop. Featuring a rotating collection of limited edition sculpture and jewelry, highlights from this week’s selection include: a wearable Acrobat created through the magic of 3D printing; & Bunnydog, a hilarious, tiny bronze sculpture that tops out at 3 inches.
Stevenson’s artwork has been published in: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Harpers Bazaar, Town & Country, People, Seventeen and St. Barth Weekly. Ensemble Lifestyles, an award winning travel magazine, featured an extensive profile of the artist in its 2013 fall issue, highlighting his annual winter exhibition at Galerie Les Artisans in St-Barth. Corporate collections include the New York City headquarters of Pfizer Inc. and the office of film director James Cameron.
Stevenson recently won the honor of creating a commemorative brooch to celebrate the commissioning of the Navy’s new amphibious assault ship, the U.S.S. AMERICA. His dramatic design was presented by the officers of the ship to the vessel’s sponsor, Lynne Pace. In 2012, the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance awarded Stevenson a Creative Grant to support his RAPTOR Rising bronze triptych project. In 2006 Stevenson created a commemorative bracelet celebrating former president Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday. The 18 karat, white gold design was auctioned at the William J. Clinton Foundation fundraiser held at the Museum of Natural History. Multi-media collaborations include the sub-Rosa performance with Seattle-based choreographer Cheronne Wong (‘90). Sub-Rosa had its New York premiere in May of 2009 at the Joyce Theater in SoHo.
Stevenson is represented by Ramey Fine Art in Palm Desert, CA, Les Artisans in Saint-Bartholemy, F.W.I. and Old Main Gallery in Bozeman, MT. The artist currently splits his time between an apartment/design studio in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan and a larger living/work space in the Catskills.(Jan. 2016).
sculpturezoo.com zookeeper@sculpturezoo.com artinjection.com
dave stevenson 305 W. 28th Street #1D NY, NY 10001 212.380.6855
Dave Stephenson '89
You can view Dave's work on his website: www.artinjection.com. Dave continues to create jewelry and small sculptures for charity events in addition to his commercial line. (2009)
Dave Stevenson '89 (Studio Art) Dave shares his profile in Ensemble Lifestyles: Monumental Bronze Sculpture Completed
This fall, award-winning travel magazine, Ensemble Lifestyles, showcases Stevenson’s art and annual hedonistic excursion as a winter artist-in-residence on the French West Indies Island of St-Barth. Lured by the promise of ginger rum, windsurfing & warm almond croissants, Dave returns to the island year after year to refuel his creative machine. It seems collectors have also been inspired by the surf of St. Barth. Commissioned through Les Artisans Gallery in St. Barth, Stevenson just completed a monumental bronze enlargement of his dynamic Nautilus sculpture. This seven month, multi-phase odyssey has produced a powerful, graceful, eight-foot tall giant that dwarfs the pedestal-sized original. Created at Polich-Tallix Foundry in Rock Tavern, NY, the piece has been installed at the entrance to a private sculpture garden in Pennsylvania.
In 2012, Stevenson received a Creative Grant from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance to support his RAPTOR Rising, bronze triptych. His sculptures can be seen in the New York City headquarters of Pfizer Inc., the office of film director James Cameron, and in private collections across the United States and abroad. The stainless steel wall-relief Stevenson created for Lightstorm Entertainment is a 3-D interpretation of Cameron’s company logo. An animated version of the sculpture appears at the opening of the films True Lies and Strange Days. In 2005, the artist was commissioned by acclaimed DVD producer Van Ling to commemorate the creation of Paramount/Fox’s TITANIC: Special Collector’s Edition DVD set. Stevenson’s limited edition sculpture was presented by Ling to 100 cast and crew members of Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster. Another notable commission was a commemorative bracelet celebrating former president Bill Clinton’s 60th birthday. Stevenson’s 18 karat white gold design was auctioned at the William J. Clinton Foundation fundraiser held at the Museum of Natural History.
In 2007, Stevenson created the sterling silver Inspiration bracelet series to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research. Proceeds are donated to Parkinson’s Unity Walk in the name of Marlene Kahan, a personal friend of the artist who has Early Onset Parkinson’s. Stevenson’s work has been featured on the VH1 Classic, Fuse, ABC and Fine Living television networks, and published in a variety of magazines and newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Town & Country, People, Seventeen, Lucky, Redbook, St-Barth Weekly, The Santa Cruz Sentinel and The Bozeman Chronicle. A graduate of The College of William and Mary, Stevenson is represented by Galerie Les Artisans in Saint-Barth©lemy, F.W.I., and Old Main Gallery in Bozeman, MT. The artist currently splits his time between an apartment/design studio in Manhattan, and a larger, living/work space in the Catskills.: www.artinjection.com (Nov. 2013)
David Stevenson '89 (Studio) David writes: "In January, 2012 I won a Creative Grant from the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance to support my RAPTOR Rising bronze triptych project. I will mold and cast my original steel and resin Raptor in three different orientations, animating it like a 3-D flip book. My triptych will show that a well balanced (carved in-the-round) non-representational sculpture can emulate the human figure by moving comfortably through space without losing any defining physical characteristics. To raise the rest of the bronze casting funds for completing my project, I will host an exhibition/fundraiser in NYC over the summer. Visit www.artinjection.com or email me at dave@artinjection.com for more info. I introduced the steel & resin Raptor alongside another new sculpture, Chimaera, at my annual exhibition at Les Artisans, St-Barthelemy, F.W.I. this past December. "
Marc Thompson '87 (Art History) A few years after graduating from GW, Marc went on to law school and became an attorney. He practiced condominium association law for a time and is now employed by the U.S. Attorney's Office in D.C., in criminal appeals. Marc says that having an art history education has been valuable and worthwhile. Not only does it make travel more interesting for him, but also the skills and knowledge he acquired in studying art history were very adaptable to the study of law. (2009)
Marsha Vayvada '82 (B.A. Fine Arts) writes: “I wanted to let you know that joey notes (my card line) was featured on Mohawk paper's website, “Felt & Wire” two days ago.” http://www.feltandwire.com/2010/09/07/underway-pocket-pals/ (2010)Liz (Radday) Starr '85 (B.A. Fine Arts/Art History) writes: “Post-W&M I did temp work and a year as administrative assistant to the Managing Editor of the Washington Times, where I met Richard. We've been married since 1989, and living in Arlington, VA (and Indianapolis, 1994-95). Our son Nick is a W&M sophomore, double major in Math/Computer Science (Richard's genes!). Richard is Deputy Editor at the Weekly Standard magazine. I taught art history and drawing as a volunteer at Nick's middle school, co-chaired Decorations for his high school's All-Night Grad Party, and have taught art with Arlington County Adult Ed. This summer I traveled with competitive drum corps Carolina Crown and made short films about the experience. Shooting for the Flat Hat was the start of my passion for photography, which lives on, and I'm currently exploring plein air painting. You can visit me here:http://www.vimeo.com/user4374265
Peter Winebrenner '87 (Studio Art) Peter writes: "I continue to practice architecture in the Baltimore/Washington/Virginia area. I am a Principal at Hord Coplan Macht, a 120-person architectural firm located in Baltimore and Alexandria. I oversee the firm's Education Studio, with a focus on K12 and higher education planning and design projects. Having a wife, parents and sister who are or were educators led me to this immensely rewarding area of the profession. The great liberal arts foundation I got at W&M has been invaluable as I continue to help educational institutions plan and design the new and modernized facilities." (Oct, 2013)
Thomas A. Wong '83 stopped by to say hello in March. He is a doctor of chiropractic medicine in Hong Kong. (2009)
