Fort Lewis senior Victor Pascual poses for a picture as he readies himself for life after college. /Photo by Jules Masterjohn.

by Jules Masterjohn

Recently, I was invited to meet with senior art students at Fort Lewis College and talk with them about professional possibilities awaiting them in the arts. In a few short months, each of them will be gliding away from the security and nurturance of the academic nest. Having survived that free fall, it was suggested that my life experience might possess some sustainable strategies for these fledgling artists, readying for their own first flight. As I prepared for the class visit, I hit the hard glass window of realization that nearly a quarter of a century has passed since my own graduation.

Now, if this were a filmic version of this telling, here is the point where the graphic spiral appears on the screen and slowly spins counterclockwise, rewinding the viewer to a simpler time. Back then, I spent my nights managing an Italian deli and days creating in a shared studio on an upper floor of an old industrial building in downtown St. Paul. As I climbed the many flights of stairs to the studio each day, all things seemed possible, and I felt confident in my artist self. This came from a belief, espoused by my college art professors, that access to one's creative voice was the most important skill that one could cultivate as an art student and embody as an artist. This had an enormous impact on me, as I crafted a life as a pizza dough twirler extraordinaire by night and urban artist by day. This lesson, that an artist's role is to communicate through a visual language that is personal and developed from within, is the most important and useful teaching that I gleaned from my undergraduate schooling.

Curious about what tools today's students are packing into their artist survival kits, I recently put out a query to graduating art students at the Fort. Of the 30 or so seniors who were invited, a few responded, offering a sampling of their thoughts and reflections. Following are the requested 25-word responses to the query, "What is the most useful knowledge you have gained while studying art and how do you believe this knowledge will benefit your life as an artist?"

Wendy Harriman: "I have learned how to be a unique individual that thinks creatively. This will help in all aspects of my life and with my art, especially with a career in fashion. I have taken an independent painting class, which allowed me to create what I wanted. I am very interested in fashion, and the independent class allowed me to focus on that aspect of art."

Krista M. Mickelson: "Learning to deal with failure. There will always be ups and downs in your life and in your art, failure in art occurs more then success and when that success occurs, it makes it all worthwhile. Failure keeps you as an artist humble and grounded. I will take my failures and successes into future experiences as an artist!"

Daniel Gladden: "Advanced and basic design features have really helped me improve my artwork by implementing new materials, which shall help my work progress after graduation."

Megan Blaine: "Through my studies as an art student, I have gained the ability to articulate my thoughts and express them both on and off the canvas.This has allowed me to more fully convey my message as an artist."

Krista Mickelson's submission titled "Sunset Palms Motel."/Photo by Todd Newcomer.

Megan Blaine: "Through my studies as an art student, I have gained the ability to articulate my thoughts and express them both on and off the canvas.This has allowed me to more fully convey my message as an artist."

Lillian Cardinal: "I've gained such a broad range of techniques and skills. This knowledge will allow me to become a more well-rounded artist and teacher."

Victor Pascual: "Attaining the ability to understand and reflect myself through my art more intellectually and aesthetically. I believe this will empower me as an artist."

Feeling some kinship with Pascual's statement, I inquired further. As with many artists in the Post-Modern Era, the subject of "identity" has interested Pascual. "In a few of my pieces, I focus on my subculture, and as a Native American, I separate my style of art from the 'stereotypical' way of creating that has been placed upon Native Americans, meaning, that I refuse to relate to Native American elements such as feathers, lightning, horses or anything that people from a Western perspective expect to see from a Native American artist.

"As a Native American and an artist, these characteristics enable me to reflect my thoughts, socially and politically, through an intellectual approach, thus making me not afraid to tackle ideas and issues." Through participation in a scholarly community and a determined engagement within the academic environment, Pascual said he has used his undergraduate studies to develop his analytical abilities as well as to become competent in the field of graphic design. Making the most of his college career while readying himself for the future, Pascual interns as a graphic designer for the Intertribal News, an FLC student newsletter, and at the Center for Southwest Studies. He plans to find a paying job as a graphic designer this fall.

So near to graduation, concerns about life after college must be popping up on many students' radar screens. Daniel Gladden offers a few robust and hopeful thoughts about his future. "I want to always be experimenting with unknown ideas and concepts. I want to never be satisfied - that is when creativity drops." To get a taste of the emerging talent from FLC, the Senior Art Major Exhibition currently displays a visual potluck of creative work by each of these students and their classmates. Gladden compels us to visit the exhibit, "I think when people come to the gallery to see your work on display, it is the cherry on top of a sundae for any artist"

It is reassuring to know that a few things haven't changed with the passing of time that young artists are optimistic about their creative contributions and excited about sharing them with the world

The Senior Art Major Exhibition is on display at Fort Lewis College Art Gallery through April 14. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.