- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students study art and architecture in Germany

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 15:03:40 +0000

Seven University of Arkansas at Little Rock students traveled to Germany this summer for a unique opportunity to experience the art and architecture of Germany. Dr. Lynne Larsen, assistant professor of art history, led the July 2-17 trip, where students studied Rococo, Neoclassical, modern, and contemporary styles of art and architecture. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who participated in the study abroad trip include Athena Bodini, a studio art major; Cassandra Christ, an art history major; Tatiana Correa, a studio art major; Grace Lytle, an art history major; Jana Miller, a graduate student studying art history; Katie Wilson, a graduate student studying art education; and Gege Zhang, a studio art major. While in Berlin, the group visited famous sites and museums, including the Charlottenburg Palace, Museum Island, and the Jewish Museum, and took a tour of the street art of Berlin. Outside Berlin, the students took trips to visit Dresden, a city that was heavily bombed during World War II and was previously known as the Jewel Box for its Baroque and Rococo city center, and Potsdam, the capital of the German federal state of Brandenburg that is site of several palaces. Larsen, who has previously lived in Berlin, said it was a memorable experience to revisit some of her favorite spots in Berlin with her students. “It was exciting to go back to these places that I know and love and to see them through new eyes and to see my students be awed by this architecture and art,” Larsen said. “It was an exceptional group of students who were super engaged. This trip opened the world for the students and empowered them.” In the upper right photo, the study abroad students visit the roof of the Reichstag building, home of the German parliament. The group (L to R) include: Astrid Bodini, Tatiana Correa, Jana Miller, Grace Lytle, Gege Zhang, Cassandra Christ, and Katie Wilson.

Walls-Barton explores identity and childhood memories through artwork

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 22:23:23 +0000

When Alecia Walls-Barton was a little girl, she loved watching her grandfather work with fabrics in the small shop in his home in Sheridan, Arkansas. “My grandfather was a carpenter and an upholster,” Walls-Barton said. “I grew up watching him make fabrics. He always worked for himself and had a little shop at his house.” Walls-Barton graduated Dec. 16 with a Master of Arts degree with a concentration in studio art. Her artwork combines photography and textiles to create unique pieces. She owes her love of working with textiles to those cherished early memories with her grandfather. “My love of textiles and fabrics and wanting to work with my hands comes from him,” she said. “He taught me how to sew on his great big industrial-size sewing machine.” Given Walls-Barton’s fond childhood memories, it came as no surprise that her master’s thesis exhibition, “Personal Myth,” is based largely on moments spent with her grandfather. The body of work explores Walls-Barton’s fragmented childhood memories and how people develop a personal identity based on information that might be flawed. “What I discovered is my memory is not finite,” Walls-Barton explained. “My memories have shifted as I have aged. There are things I don’t remember that I wish I did and things I remember that I’m not sure are true. Some of the work is based on fragmented childhood memories and feelings, so they are not exactly recreations of childhood memories, but they are related to them.” One of her pieces, “When We Gathered,” is based on a memory of gathering eggs with her grandfather. “I have this memory of him taking my hand and leading me across the yard to the roosting box,” she said. “It was the first time I collected eggs. That memory is foundational to my relationship with my grandfather. It’s a really important experience that I’m not sure that I had. In the image, I am wearing a denim outfit like he would have worn. It’s not a perfect recreation of that experience, but it represents my emotional attachment to my grandfather.” Another piece, “Mother Feels Like Satin,” is an up-close image of hands grasping at a satin top. “I have this very vivid memory of my mother at two. I was really afraid of the dark and would end up in my parents’ bed,” she said. “My mom always wore satin pajamas, and she would give me her pajamas to use as a security blanket. I grew up seeing a photograph of a similar scene, and I’m sure that is where the memory came from.” For Barton, her show is not about perfectly recreating foundational childhood memories. She has explored how people create their own life stories by filling in gaps in memories. “I feel like we are the sum of our experiences. The question this work poses is how do you reconcile your memory and who you are if you can’t trust your memory, if you can’t be sure those are your memories,” she said. “What I learned through the making of this work is that we are all made of myth, and we all create the myth of our lives.” Walls-Barton joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2015. She worked as a graduate assistant and taught photography classes with her mentors, Joli Livaudais, assistant professor of photography, and Carey Roberson, associate professor of photography. “They are the best,” she said. “They really pushed me to discover what I wanted to make. Joli and Carey encouraged me to experiment a lot. Grad school is not easy, so it’s nice to have people who are really invested in what you are doing and believe you have something to say.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, she won first place in the humanities category at the Research and Creative Works Expo in 2016. Earlier this year, she was one of the first members to join “No-Type,” a photography club for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and alumni who held their first show this fall at Historic Arkansas Museum. After graduation, Walls-Barton plans to find a position teaching art and eventually earn a Master of Fine Arts degree. She also plans to complete a new body of work featuring her grandfather. “My grandfather has dementia now, so the urgency is there to spend more time with him and take more photographs,” she said. Walls-Barton encourages new students at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to take some art classes. “While you are here, allow yourself to take an art class and give yourself the freedom to follow your passions and broaden your scope,” she said. “I think the arts, especially, are important to people’s growth. I think I am a better, more well-rounded person because of the arts. I’m glad I came back to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to take the time to make my work.” In the upper right photo, Alecia Walls-Barton holds pieces from her master’s thesis exhibition, “Personal Myth,” in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Art Gallery. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications.

��Vlog��ýLR graduates 1,000 students in 2016 spring commencement

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 17 May 2016 20:56:56 +0000

For Jermaine Ruttley, the chance to play basketball at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock meant a way out from his poverty-stricken hometown in Kentucky. “Where I came from, there is a lot of poverty,” he said. “To make it out and make something of myself, that’s a blessing.” Ruttley was one of nearly 1,000 students who graduated from ��Vlog��ýLR in one of three commencement ceremonies May 14 at the ��Vlog��ýLR Jack Stephens Center. Ruttley transferred to ��Vlog��ýLR after playing two years at Kaskaskia College and one year at Florida A&M. As a senior at ��Vlog��ýLR, Ruttley played in all 35 games with 18 starts in the 2015-2016 season. Now armed with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a full-time job, Ruttley sees his graduation from ��Vlog��ýLR as a new beginning. “I just feel overwhelmed and happy that I got to this point in my life,” he said. “No one ever thought I would get to this point in my life.”

A love of words

Kayla Burns’ graduation cap

For Kayla Burns, of Flippin, Arkansas, the best thing about graduation is the opportunity to devote more time to the activities she loves. “It’s a relief to go home and read a book and not have to do homework,” she said. Burns graduated with a degree in professional and technical writing and a second degree in French. As a tribute to one of her favorite books, the words on her graduation cap proclaimed: “Words are a most inexhaustible source of magic.” The words on her cap are a paraphrase from a line in J.K. Rowling’s book “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Having already scored a full-time position as a computer specialist at NATCO Communications in her hometown, Burns thanked the Donaghey Scholars program for supporting her at ��Vlog��ýLR. “The Donaghey Scholars program is what motivated me to succeed – the faculty, staff, and my peers. I had the best support system ever,” Burns said.

Never too late

Deonna Elliott’s graduation cap

On her graduation day, Deona Elliott donned a cap stating: “Better late than never.” The words were a tribute to Elliott’s six-year journey to earn a bachelor’s degree in studio art with an emphasis in applied design. Elliott had planned to graduate in 2014. After she switched majors from art education, it took an additional two years to finish her program. For her, the words served as a lesson to others that it is never too late to graduate. To students who are struggling to finish their coursework, Elliott offered the following advice: “Stay on top of everything and keep strong. You will finish at your own pace.”

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock students study art and architecture in Germany

Walls-Barton explores identity and childhood memories through artwork

����Vlog��ýLR graduates 1,000 students in 2016 spring commencement

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students study art and architecture in Germany

��Vlog��ýLR graduates 1,000 students in 2016 spring commencement