By
Angela Orlando
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA Master of Fine Arts graduate students display work in campus galleries
As with other majors, UA's MFA candidates culminate their studies with a thesis.
Their thesis is, however, a little different.
In order to get their diplomas, potential Masters of Fine Arts graduates must display their final art projects in one of the University of Arizona's campus museums. Additionally, they must discuss and defend their projects to a panel committee.
Both the UA Museum of Art and the Joseph Gross Gallery currently feature several thesis projects.
The UA Museum of Art is currently showcasing the work of 11 students in the exhibit, "Armed and Dangerous: 2001 Master of Fine Arts Thesis Show." The exhibit runs through May 7.
"I think the pieces are very interesting," said Matthew Gross, graduate student in Chinese studies. Gross, also a receptionist in the UA Art Museum, sees the thesis art almost daily.
"They discuss a lot of personal issues, and there's a lot of soul searching and self-expression going on (within these works)," he said.
The art employs assorted mediums, sometimes mixing several together. Paul Tosh's "The Real?South Carnival & Medicine Show," for example, unites poster art, sound and moving parts to explore stereotypes. The noisy piece conjures memories of carnival shooting-gallery games.
Other exhibit highlights include Carolyn Johnson's images of machine parts and Christine Dehne's short videos of "Hot Rollers," five roller-skating dolls.
Mark Cowardin's pristine travel-trailer creation, "Transient Realities," is a commentary on man's lessening concern for life in the natural world.
Cowardin and his wife recently moved to Tucson from Kansas City and have "felt without a sense of place for a long time."
"It's a different world to me here in the desert. I think about water, and where it comes from, and electricity - the desert is a harsh but inspirational environment," he said.
He said these thoughts encouraged him to make a "mobile home."
"I wanted to push the ambiguity between 'permanent' and 'non-permanent,'" he said.
After graduation, Cowardin said he intends to apply for grants and take his mobile home show on the road.
"I want it to be public art - parking lots, RV parks," he said. "I'm pursuing other venues besides galleries."
"Art can bring forth issues and create conversation," he said. "Tomorrow's discussion will be informal, and will hopefully develop into back-and-forth communication."
Also at the Joseph Gross Gallery are Kira Fournier's personal, translucent, casted-glass sculptures.
Some of her pieces hang suspended from the ceiling. Others are displayed in a gazebo-like structure, which "emphasizes both their frontal and back views. They're almost bas-relief," Fournier said.
The works depict the human body, in part or in whole, with a particular focus on the torso. Some feature colorful bits of copper and other materials, which represent DNA or tumors.
Fournier has been through a series of illnesses during her time at UA and said her art is "really about me."
"It's about being sick and being healthy, and about the mysteries of life, death and health," Fournier said. Through her art, she said, she "connects to timelessness by using the classical form of the torso."
Frontier plans to "keep making art" after graduation, and hopes to display her work in galleries both locally and in her home state of New Hampshire.
Peggy Hansen's art is inspired by her family. Out of eclectic materials such as brocade and roofing tar, she creates large wall sculptures of seemingly melting people.
After graduation, Hansen will travel to California to create gallery shows and also look for artist residencies.
"I like anything that is quirky and unusual in the use of materials," she said. "Even though my work often uses heavy materials, the lightness in it comes from my sense of humor. It's important for me to go away from a piece feeling lighter than I did before."
MFA candidates will speak about their work on display at the UA Art Museum tomorrow at 12:15 p.m. at the museum.
Cowardin will speak about his thesis today at 2:15 p.m. in the gallery
