Emily Pellini

Title: Bee Family

Abstract: What makes a family? This is a question I have asked myself countless times. My work is an ongoing process of reaching out to those around me and building a family outside of biological ties. This large scale wall piece is a representation of a brokenĀ and scarred family, or hive, that is still functioning and producing honey (successful products/lifestyles). The bee has been a continuing icon in my work and acts as a symbol for family.

Keywords: Bee Family, Hive Metal

Mary Kay Witmer

Co-Presenters: Emily Campagnola, Emily Pellini, Amy Edwards, Tom Toth

Title: East Carolina University Metals Symposium

Abstract: With the guidance of our mentor, Becky McDonah, Millersville University provided the opportunity for 5 Fine Arts metal students to attend the 2016 In Flux Symposium in Greenville North Carolina. This symposium provided a unique circumstance for these students to meet fellow art students and numerous professionals within their field of interest. The ECU Symposium included seven art exhibits (that some attendees participated in) and featured numerous designs in metals and other mediums. The group was able to meet some of their favorite artists and question their specific techniques as well as network with them. Besides exhibitions, there were numerous educational lectures offered by professionals in the Metals Art Field that spoke extensively about their personal journeys as artists and offered details of their specific working methods. Speakers shared encouraging words for students going into the field and were open to questions throughout the weekend. Another highlight of this event were the four Break out sessions each participant could attend. These were two hour classes in which individual artists described their work and did detailed demonstrations of how they achieved the specific details seen in their work. All in all, this opportunity inspired each student that attended in a unique way.

Keywords: Fine Art, metals, seminar

Faculty Adviser: Becky McDonah

Title: Standardized Testing: The Downside to this Common Assessment

Abstract: Students have explored a variety of found objects and recycled materials to create pieces that range from being completely made out of recycled materials to smaller focal points. Some sources of the materials are obvious whereas others would be difficult to determine without the mention of the artist. This presentation showcases sculpture and jewelry that comes from students who worked with visiting artist, Yevgeniya Kaganovich. During her visit students collected plastic bags and learned to manipulate this raw material into sculptural forms and jewelry. This work invites discussion of environmental issues and questions traditional sources of the materials usually used in the metals and jewelry field.

Group Members: Emily Pellini, Emily Campagnola, Mary Kay Witmer, Amy Edwards

Keywords: Sustainability, Art, Jewelry, Sculpture

Emily Campagnola

Title: Capabilities of a Metal Head

Abstract: For my presentation I want to show students and faculty exactly what Fine Arts and Metals is. I want students to see what they could do if they were to ever take a Metals class, be it for a requirement, an elective, or as a gen ed. I want them to be interested in the fine arts, and have a better appreciation for the art. Fine metal arts can expand to more than just working with metal- it can incorporate other mediums that most people wouldn’t even think of. I plan to make a presentation of this, sharing several well known metal smiths and their work along with showcasing some of my own work to show my growth and expansion.

Keywords: fine arts and metals, jewelry, metal smith

Emily Allard

Title: Lifetime of Waiting

Abstract: We spend a lot of time waiting, whether for work to end, the holidays to begin, to find your one true love, or for any other reasons. This series of drawings depicts a single scene of waiting in two ways – optimistic and pessimistic. I use these drawings to ask a philosophical question – Are we ever really living in the moment or are we always waiting for something else to happen? With this, I am asking the viewer to think about how positive or negative they are in their own lives and evaluate what needs changing.

Keywords: optimism, pessimism