The artfest chronicles

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome to the documented chronicles of ArtFest 2012 made possible by the continuing generous support of The West Foundation. The images and text herein record highlights of the two week art camp held on the campus of Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas featuring guest resident artist Jonathan Whitfill (shown left). The Wichita Falls Fine Arts Department, under the direction of Fine Arts Curricu-lum Specialist, Dr. Dan White, expresses great appreciation to the staff of Midwestern State University, WFISD, and the West Foundation. Artfest is indebted to Ashley Thomas, WFISD Webmaster, who made it possible to create a web-site for the group. http://www.wfisd.net/Domain/2291

1 COVER3 WELCOME

4 JON WHITFILL 6 ARTFEST STAFF

8 BETHANY B10 ROBERT C12 LAUREN C14 KAGEN D16 TAYLOR D18 MINA F

20 LAUREN H22 ERIN H

24 MAGGIE H26 KASSANDRA H

28 BRANDI L30 TAYLOR M32 JAKE P34 VITA R36 JULY S

38 BAILEY S40 RAQUEL T42 ASHLEY V44 JENNA W

46 MELISSA Z48 CANDIDS

Guestresidentartist,JonathanWhitfill,receivedhisMasterofFineArtsdegreefromTexasTechUniversityinsculptureandthree-dimensionalart.HissculpturehasbeenexhibitedthroughoutWestTexas.HisperformancearthasbeenshownintheLouiseHopkinsUnder-woodCenter.Mr.WhitfillrecentlyexhibitedworkatArtVitamGalerieEurop'ArtinAiguesMortes,France,andwasselectedtoparticipateinSANOFI'sLibraryConferenceandExhibi-tioninMontpellier,France.Heisamemberofnumerousartgroupsandcontinueshisinter-estininternationalnetworkingthroughtraditionalandnon-traditionalexhibitions.DuringhisresidencyatArtFest2012,JonathancreatedthreeoriginalworkstobepermanentlydisplayedineachofthreeWFISDhighschoollibraries.Visithiswebsitehere:http://jonathanwhitfillcom JW

JONATHAN WHITFILL

JW

TheArtFest2012Director,B.C.Gilbert,wasbornDecember15,1971andraisedinAmarillo,TXonthehighplainsoftheTexasPanhandle.HereceivedhisBFAin1997fromCameronUniversityinLawton,OKandhisMFAin2001fromTexasTechUniversityinLub-bock,TX. B.C.livedandmadeartinLubbock/Idalou,TXforeightyearsbeforemovingtoWichitaFalls,TXin2005wherehenowliveswithhiswifeCatherineProse(alsoanartist)andtheirtwosonsSageandWeb.Forfouryearshewastheowner/operatorofGilroseStudios,anartiststudio/alternativespace,inconjunctionwithBCCountry,acustommetalshop,indowntownWichitaFalls. AfterbeginninghisteachingcareerfortheWFISDin2008asartteacheratBarwiseJr.High,B.C.transferredtoRiderHighSchoolwhereheteachesArtI-IVand3-DAPStudio.HeisalsoanadjunctprofessorforMidwesternStateUniversityteachingDrawingIandFounda-tionsofArtEducation.

BC GILBERT & STAFF

MasterWorkshops/Staff:

1.EtchingwithTommyEvans2.AccordionBookswithCatherineProse3.Artists'TradingCardswithNancyGailKizis4.CyanotypePrintingwithGaryGoldberg5.CastingwithSuguruHiraide6.PopArtPaintingwithNicoleHuffstutler

SupportStaff:7.JimHenson,DocumentarianandWebmaster8.SydneyKuehler,StudioAssistant9.JillianPoole,StudioAssistant

STAFF

1

2

34

5

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MynameisBethanyBaswell,andIwillbeattendingHirschiHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.ArtismychancetocreatewhatIwantandtellastoryvisually.Ilovetoputmyowndesignsandcharactersonapage,drawinginspirationfromtheworldandotherartists.WithoutbeingabletodraworcreateIwouldbeboredandfrustrated,unabletoventordevelopmysketches.

BB

BETHANY

MynameisRobertCarmoney,andIwillbeattendingWichitaFallsHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.Thereasonartisimportanttomeisbecauseithelpsexpresspeople’sfeelings.IthinkartisafunhobbythateasesmymindbecauseIcangoatmyownpace.IfIamhavingastressfuldayIcanrelyonpaintinganddoodlingtoeasemymindinsolitude,andblockoutpeopleforafewhours.PaintinganythingIwantforenjoyment,andseeingtheprog-ressIhavemadepiecebypiece,helpsmetoenhancemycapabilitiesofart.Furthermore,ifthepaintingsareactuallygoodenoughtopresent,andpeopleenjoytheartwork,thereisapossibil-ityIcouldsellitandprofitfromit.I’mhopingthiswillhelpmetohaveacareerasanartist.

ROBERT

RC

LAUREN

MynameisLaurenCompean,andIwillbeattendingRiderHighSchoolformysopho-moreyearintheFall.Artisnotonlymyhobby,it’sawayofexpressingmyselfandmyfeel-ingsinawaythatIcan’tthroughwords.Itisawayofrelievingmystressandworries.WhenI’mcreatingartIforgetallmyproblemsandsuddenlyeverythingbecomesjustalittlebetter.BeingcreativeistheonethingInevergettiredofandtheonethingIcanseemyselfbeinghappydoinginmyeverydaylife.Iloveartandthehappinessthatartbringstomylife.Ilovethatarthasnomistakes,andthatanythingImaymessupinapaintingordrawingcanbefixedorusedtomakeitevenbetter.Artisnotjustapaintingordrawing.Everyline,shape,object,orbuildingbeganwithasketchordrawing,anidea.

LC

MynameisKagenDunn,andIwillbeattendingWichitaFallsHighSchoolformyjunioryearintheFall.Artisawaytoexpressmyselfandescapefromreality.It’sachanceformetoletmyimaginationroamandtocreatewhatevercomestomind.Artismywayofbe-ingincontrolbecausenoonecanchangemyperspective.MakingartisalsomywaytogiveupalittlecontrolandjustenjoywhatI’mdoingandmakingwithoutbeingridiculedforit.Myfavoritemediumischalkpastelonpaper,butIenjoyothermediaaswell.Iappreciatelearn-ingnewtechniquesandnewwaystomakeart.Ilikefeedbackonmywork,butinthelongrun,I’mtheonewhomakesthefinaldecision.

KAGEN

KD

MynameisTaylorDyrda,andI’msixteenyearsold.IwillenterHirschiHighSchoolintheFallpursuingtheIBDiplomaProgram.Mygreat-greatgrandparentscametoAmericafromPolandintheearly1900s.IlivewithmyMom,Step-Dad,brother,andsister.IdoartbecauseIbelievethatthesubjectisbeautiful.Imainlydonaturepiecesandthatisbecausenatureissobeautifulandalwayswillbe.Artisimportanttomebecauseitissoothing,andhelpsmeputmyemotionsdowninapictoralway.IamabletolookbackandreflectonhowIfeltthedayImadethepiece. WhenIwasgrowingup,myGrandmotherwasanartist.ShetaughtmeeverythingIknowaboutpainting.Seeingwhatbecameofherworkmademewanttoseewhatmyartworkcouldbecome.Whenartbecomesdifficult,IthinkofwhatIwillbecomewhenIfinishitandwhatwillhappenwheneverIdon’t.IalwaysrememberthatmyGrandmotherneverquitonapieceofart.ArtdoeschangethewayIseeeverythingevenifitdoesnotinvolveme.Iseethedifferenttypesofpeopleandwhattheygothrougheachday.WhatIlikeaboutartisthattherearesomanydifferentgenrestochoosefrom.Artpresentsvariousthemes,feelings,andper-spectivestotheindividualviewingit.

TD

TAYLOR

MF

MynameisMinaFiorentino,andIwillbeattendingRiderHighSchoolintheFallformyjunioryear.Artisimportanttomebecauseitisoneofmylastmemorieswithmymother.AsayoungchildshewouldtakemetoJapanandwewouldexplorethegorgeousflowergar-dens.Thenwe’dfindaflowerthatbothofuslikedandshewouldhavemesketchitfromdif-ferentanglesandlightsources. Oncewefoundamorningglory,andIsketchedituntilwegothome.Mymomkepthelpingmeandgivingmetipsonhowtosketchitrealisticallyuntilshehadtogotoanearbystore.WhileshewasawayIfinallydrewtheflowerinawaythatpleasedme.Icouldn’twaittoshowmymom,soIjumpedonmybiketofindher. Idon’tknowifit’shereditaryorjustcoincidental,butIhavebeenpassionateforarteversince.Myroomisstrewnwithartprojectsfromcostumespatchedfromanyinspiringfabricstosimplevibrantcolors.Pastelscaughtmyattentionforalongwhile,andIhavebeenprogress-ingwiththemgreatly.Ialsoenjoy3-Dpaperartandsculpting.Howmanywayscanartreflectreality?Amillionandmore.Doesartnecessarilyhavetoreflectreality?Coulditalsobeavoiceforfear?Hope?Laughter?Iwanttoexploreallofthis.

MINA

LH

MynameisLaurenHamlin,andIwillbeasenioratWichitaFallsHighSchoolintheFall.Artisveryimportanttome.ItisasmuchapartofthemakeupofmybeingasthecolorofmyeyesorthewayIlaugh.Idonotrememberatimeinmylifewhenartwasnotapartofit.Mymotheralwaysprovidedcrayons,paint,coloredpaper,funshapedscissors,glueandPlaydough.Shewasalwaysveryencouragingandallowedmetoexpressmyselfwithoutfearofrejection. Myartisticabilitieshavedevelopedandimprovedovertheyears.Ihaveexperimentedwithmanymediaandtechniques.ThethingIlovemostaboutartistheoutletforpersonalexpressionthatitgivesme.Itprovidesanemotionalrelease.IplantomajorinartandminorineducationsothatIcanteachchildrenaboutartandhowitcanchangethewayweseeour-selvesandtheworld.

LAUREN

MynameisErinHarman,andIwillbeattendingMidwesternStateUniversityintheFallasanartmajor.ArthelpsmetoexpressthethingsthatIseebutothersdonot.Itshowsmyhopesandfears,mydreams,andnightmares.ItallowsmetospeakformyselfandshowothersthewayIfeelaboutmyworld. Thematicallymyartexpressesmyviewsonanimalrightsandspecificallyhowhumanshavenegativelyimpactedtheocean.Iwouldlovetoopenaworkingstudiowhereeveryonecanlearnhowtoexpresstheirfeelingsandopinionsthroughvariousmedia.Inadditiontorais-ingawarenessofthecriticalstatesthatmanyanimalsareinnow,Iwanttoprovideinformationaboutconservation.Artismylife.IwakeupeverydaywithnewideasforpiecestobetterexpressmyselfandshowtheworldwhoIreallyam.

ERIN

EH

MynameisMaggieHigginbotham,andIattendRiderHighSchool.I'mspoiled,lovetoeat,spontaneous,andrandomwithmymoods.I'vebeendrawingandpaintingsinceIwasyoung.Mygrandmaalwaysdiddrawingswhichinfluencedmyinterestinarttobeginwith.RecentlyIdiscoveredTUMBLRandeverythingIseeonthesiteinspiresme;however,Ihard-lyeverhavetheskilltocreatewhatIwantto.Whenartgetsdifficult,mymotivationisusuallystrongbecauseIknowit’snotaboutperfection,andIcanalwaystrytomakesomethingbeau-tiful.Insteadofmakingmyworkliteral,Itryandcreateitasametaphorandobsessivelypaygreatattentiontoeverydetail. Ithinkmymostrecentworkhasbeenthebest.Ialreadyknewwe'dbedoingetchinginadvanceandhadtimetosketchandplanalittlebit,althoughplanningnormallydoesn'thelpwithanythingatall.Ihavetoremembertostayflexiblewithmyideas.IenjoymeetingsomegreatpeopleandeveryoneatArtfestwasverywarmandkind,especiallytheteachers!

MAGGIE

MH

KH

MynameisKassandraHiguera,andIattendWichitaFallshighSchool.I’vebeendoingartsinceIstartedhighschool.Ev-erythinginspiresmetodoart.Myemotionstowardeverythingisreallywhatdrivesmetodoaparticularkindofart.Drawingismyfavoritewaytoexpressmyself,butIalsoliketopaint.

KASSANDRA

MynameisBrandiLovern,andIwillbeattendingBurkburnettHighSchoolformyse-nioryearintheFall.ArtisextremelyimportanttomebecauseIgainedmostofmyexperiencefrommylategrandma,anditgivesmefreedomofexpression.Shecreatedinspiring,amazingdrawingsthatshouldhavebeenhunginartgalleries.Shehelpedmetosharpenmyabilitiesandtalentswhilegrowingup,andIvaluethatverymuch.Artisabeautifulpartofmylife,andIlovehowitgivesmefreedomtocreateandexploremytalents.

BRANDI

BL

TM

MynameisTaylorMcCreary,andIwillattendRiderHighSchoolintheFall.IliketobeimaginativeandcreatewhatIwant.Myteacher,Mr.Hamilton,taughtmealotabouttheartprocess,painting,andbeingmyself.Artbringsoutthebestinme.WheneverIfinishanartproject,Ifeelastonishedandproudofmyself,andIhopeIwillcontinuemypassionthroughmoreartexperiences.

TAYLOR

MynameisJakePreston,andIwillattendRiderHighSchoolintheFall.Arthashelpedmethroughalotoftoughtimesinmylife.IthasbeenanavenueinwhichIcanexpressmy-self.Myemotionscanbetoldthroughmypiecesofartwithoutsayingaword.Ienjoystudy-ingthehistoryofthearts,theartists,theirinspiration,andmedia. IvisitedTheNationalGalleryofArtinWashingtonD.C.in2010andIwasinspiredbysomeoftheworld’sgreatestartwork.Thisexpandedmypassiontolearnthehistoryofartandapplymyartisticability.ArtwillalwaysbeimportanttomeandIplantocontinuetheexplor-ingallthevariousmedia.IintendtopursueacareerrelatedtotheartfieldsothatIcanmakealivingdoingwhatIlove.

JP

JAKE

MynameisVitaRepina.MyMomandIcametoAmericafromRussiawhenIwaseightyearsold.Artisapartofmyfamilyhistory.MyGreatGrandfather’sbrotherwasafamousRussianartist,EfimovichRepina.Ienjoydrawingfromlandscapesandnaturalscenerylikemountainsandrivers.ButthingslikethatarenotinWichitaFalls.I'vebeendrawingsinceIwasthreeandIgetinspiredwheneverIgooutside.SinceIdrawmyideasfromtheoutdoors,itmakesmewanttomovesomewherethatisbeautifultomesuchasColorado.IwillattendWichitaFallsHighSchoolin2012-2013.

VR

VITA

JS

MynameisJulySosebee.IgraduatedfromRiderHighSchoolandIplantoattendTexasTechUniversity.Iwanttobeanarttherapist.AlthoughIpracticeasmanytypesofartasIcan,filmphotographyandalternativeprintingaremyfavoritemedia.Myartteacher,Mrs.Kizis,inspiredmetocontinueusingfilmandprocesseslikecyanotypeandphotoemul-sion.She'salwayshonestandgenuinelywantstoseestudentsdowell.I'vebeeninartclassesthroughoutschoolandI'vebeenpracticingfilmfortwoyears. Whenartgetsdifficult,Ilooktomypeersandmentorsforsupport.Theyarealwaystheretohelpmethroughanyproblem.ItrytoobservethesmalldetailsinmyworkandIamengagedandpersistentinmyloveforfilm.Ihaveexperimentedwithunusualtechniquessuchasprintingongauze.AsIhavelearnedtocontrolthecraft,Imakefewermistakesandproducemoreworkfaster.TheharderIworkformyartwork,themoreIappreciateit.Ithinkthatfilmasamediumisthebestthingever.

JULY

MynameisBaileySwagerty,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.ArtisimportanttomebecauseIhavesomethingtosay.Insightissaidtocomewithage,butmyexperiencesandopinionsarereflectedthroughmyart,notfourboxesofbirthdaycandlesonacake.Insteadofawhisper,Icanscreammyideasoffacanvas,leavingapieceofmewiththeviewer. Imaylooklikea“BarbiegirllivinginaBarbieworld,”anditisnosurprisethatIoftengetpatronizinglooksandheadnods.Butwhentheylookatmyart,apieceofme,ratherthanmyoutwardappearance,IamlistenedtoforamomentbecauseIamanartistandIhavesome-thingtosay.

BS

BAILEY

RT

MynameisRaquelTrejo,andIattendHirschiHighSchool.Ilikedartasachildbe-causeitseemedchallengingtryingtodrawarealistichumanandshadeitcorrectly.Artclassesgivemeachallengethatnoothersubjectorclasshas. Manyformsofmediahavebecomeacompulsionofmine—pottery,claysculptures,oilpainting,digitalillustrations,photography,andpapersculptures.Ilovethethrillofdiscover-inganewtechnique,testingit,andfeelingcompleteafteranotherartpieceisaccomplished. Arthelpsmetoexpressmyfeelingsanddreamswhenwordscannotdescribethem.Cre-atingartleadstomyhappinessandartismyadorationthatwillneverbereplaced.

RAQUEL

MynameisAshleyVance,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.Ilikeartbecauseitisawaytoexpressmyself.ItisanactivitythatIreallyenjoywheneverIamabletofindthetimetodraworpaint.ItisaveryrelaxingactivityformewhenIre-createtheimagesthatareinmyheadonpaperorcanvas.IreallyloveitwhenIamabletoimpresssomeoneorevensurprisethemwithmyartwork.

ASHLEY

AV

JENNA

MynameisJennaWard,andI'mthirteenyearsold.Abouttwoyearsago,ImovedheretoWichitaFallsfromSanDiego,California.I'dalwaysbeenprettyartistic,butIfoundthatmovingbroughtthattoanentirelynewlevel.Growingup,Iwasdrawingallthetime;how-ever,Ineverhadmuchexposuretoart.Therewereneveranyartclassesorgalleriestolooktoforadvice.Arrivinghereinthesummerof2010,IfoundmyselfinapositionwhereIhadalotofdowntimetofocusonimprovingmyskillsinart. My"improvementstage"reallystartedwhenIfirstgotintoanime--Japaneseanima-tion--andIbegantopracticewhatIsaw.Ilookedtotheinternetformoreinspiration,andfoundsomereallyamazingartists.Thisledmetodevelopmyownstyleofdrawing.Iliketocallitsemi-realisticanime.ThisstartedtogetmeinterestedinboththeJapaneselanguageandculturewhichisthemaininspirationbehindmyart. I'malsoinspiredbymypastexperiencesandthemusicIlistento.WhenIstartedattend-ingMcNeilJr.HighintheFallof2010,myskillsprogressedevenfurtherwiththehelpofMr.Hamilton,anall-aroundgreatartteacher.AndnowIfindmyselfhere,atArtFest,andI'mreallyenjoyingallthenew,creativethingswearedoing.Iamalsoexcited(andabitnervous)tobe-ginattendingRiderHighSchoolintheFalltoimprovemyabilitiesevenmore.

JW

MynameisMelissaZhang,andIattendWichitaFallsHighSchool.Artisaformofex-pressionthatmakesmefeelgoodwhenImakeit.ItcheersmeupwhenIamsad.Artchangesmeinmanyways.Ithelpsboostmyself-esteemandmakesmeabetterperson.Ilikethatapicturecanexpressone-thousandwordsandcanbeinterpreteddifferentlybyanyonewhoseesit.IwouldliketopursueacareerinarttobeabletodosomethingthatIlove.

MELISSA

MZ

CANDIDS

ArthelpsmetoexpressthethingsthatIseebutothersdonot.Itshowsmyhopesandfears,mydreams,andnightmares.ItallowsmetospeakformyselfandshowothersthewayIfeelaboutmyworld.

~Erin

Icanscreammyideasoffacanvas,leavingapieceofmewiththeviewer.~Bailey

Howmanywayscanartreflectreality?Amillionandmore.Doesartnecessarilyhavetoreflectreality?Coulditalsobeavoiceforfear?Hope?Laughter?Iwanttoexploreallofthis.

~Mina

Artisveryimportanttome.ItisasmuchapartofthemakeupofmybeingasthecolorofmyeyesorthewayIlaugh.~LaurenH.

enjoy theARTFEST memories

Prepared by Jim Henson,Documentarian

Maggie Higginbotham,Student Editor

A Production forWichita Falls ISD

and theWest Foundation