2014 viewbook

UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE: Erin Robertson & Jordan Piantedosi

MASSART MAKES ME FEARLESS

Massachusetts College of Art and Design / 621 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115MassArt.edu

Home: UTAH

Program: BFA: FASHION DESIGN

AND FIBERS

I took sewing in high school—but my

older sister’s best friend introduced me

to the idea that I could sew as a means

of creating fashion… not just clothes.

I moved to Boston to become a dental

hygienist and did that for years before

friends encouraged me to pursue Fashion

Design instead. Taking a Fibers class in my

foundation year convinced me I had to add

that as my second major. One of my coolest

experiences here has been collaborating

with Jordan on a couple of projects. I

create digital collages from her paintings,

and turn them into textile designs. I love

how the two different forms combine into

something unique.

ERIN ROBERTSON

MASSART MAKES YOU FEARLESS / UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM

MassArt fosters collaboration.JORDAN: Having gone to another art school, I was surprised by how open and accepting people are here. MassArt is collaborative, not competitive. And the faculty always make themselves available to you.

ERIN: MassArt has surpassed everything I thought was possible—I’m absolutely obsessed with the community here, and the faculty is amazing.

Home: MASSACHUSETTS

Program: BFA: PAINTING

I took my first year at an art school

in 2007, but left because I didn’t want

to be paying student loans forever!

While I paid off that year, I looked

around for a school closer to home

that would be a better fit for me

and more affordable. MassArt has

been exactly what I wanted. I can

learn alongside other painters and

be part of a real artistic community.

Through my cross-major collabora-

tion with Erin, I’ve even gotten to see

my paintings come to life through dif-

ferent textile and sewing techniques—

from digitally printed leather to layers

of intricate embroidery.

JORDAN PIANTEDOSI

We chose this school because:

UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE: Joseph Soto



My desire to study the arts started with my

AP art courses at Boston Latin High School.

From there, I got involved in the Youth Design

Boston program to expand my focus beyond

fine art skills. I interned at Boston Children’s

Hospital and at BlueCross BlueShield, where

I shadowed the art director. Through those

experiences I developed a passion for graphic

design.

MassArt emerged as my best opportunity

to receive an excellent arts education—without

drowning in debt. I’m actually the first person

in my family to attend college!

When I was paired up with a peer mentor

in my first year at MassArt, I wasn’t sure if I

wanted that experience—but it turned out

to be really positive for me as a commuter

student. In fact, I think it’s why I’m so involved

on campus today.

Now I’m a peer mentor to three other

students and hopefully I’m making their

experience a richer one, too. It’s a great

opportunity to make friends, to get to know

people in other disciplines, to explore the

city, and to make the most of your time

in college.

Home: MASSACHUSETTS

Program: BFA: GRAPHIC DESIGN

JOSEPH SOTO


MassArt inspires you to drive change.I provide graphic design support and collaborate on social media strategy for the Center for Art and Community Partnerships, in addition to serving on the Community Leadership Team.

Someday, I want to start my own firm to work exclusively with social justice organiza-tions. I’ve learned that design can be used in powerful ways to educate people and I want to make a difference.

I chose this school because:

UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE: Noel Puello



After a bit of a mid-life crisis (at 18!) I was inspired by my involvement on the board of a local arts program to pursue Fashion Design at school. I was accepted to a couple of insti-tutions, one in Boston and one in New York, but the campus tour at MassArt convinced me I belonged here. It was so unpretentious and accepting, and that felt right.

I transitioned into the Fibers program from Fashion Design because I wanted to come at fashion from the vantage point of creating my own textiles. I build on classic techniques to create something fresh and different—some-thing that reflects what I’m passionate about.

At MassArt, everyone collaborates with you to help you achieve your vision. Faculty members have actually approached me to introduce themselves, and talk to me about my art, which was refreshing.

I’m active on campus as a resident assistant, a student government representative, and a peer mentor. I also co-founded Artists of Color, with the goal of giving people of color a safe haven here and challenging the lack of diversi-ty in post-secondary education. I want to be represented fairly and to be a voice for change.

Home: RHODE ISLAND Program: BFA: FIBERS

NOEL PUELLO


MassArt embraces your journey.When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I wanted an outlet for all the emotion I was feeling. She’d always knitted everything—we didn’t have much money, and that’s what she had done, growing up in a third-world country. So I knit two full-body suits to represent her history, her struggle, and all the beautiful stories she would share with me while she knitted.


GRADUATE PROFILE: Jill Rogers-Jensen



I have an undergrad degree in Printmaking,

and I planned to go to grad school, as well…

but I didn’t get in. My path from there took

some really interesting turns including

working as a bike messenger for a decade

in Washington and running the painting

department for a small bike manufacturer

in Boston. I even cooked for a couple of

years. I had something else in mind for the

rest of my life, though.

I’d gotten a bit of a taste for teaching when

I trained people at the bike company so I

decided to pursue it full-time. MassArt had

made a great impression on me when I visited

friends here, and it seemed like the right place

to start that new path. Now that I’m here,

I’m thrilled with my choice; every aspect of

the school has exceeded my expectations.

For me, the faculty is a big part of what

makes my program so exceptional. They

have an incredible depth of experience with

different age groups and different environ-

ments—and because of that, they can offer

insight and practical advice that you won’t

get from most college professors.

Home: WASHINGTON, DC

Major: MASTER OF ARTS: TEACHING/ART EDUCATION

JILL ROGERS-JENSEN

MASSART MAKES YOU FEARLESS / GRADUATE PROGRAM

MassArt builds on your passions.MassArt encourages us to think in the 21st century—to envision new ways of thinking, talking, and teaching about art. We want to meet the needs of the students in front of us and to engage them in fresh ways. I definitely had some intuition about teaching before I started my program… but now I’m equipped with the skills to back it up.


GRADUATE PROFILE: Jeffrey Eichert



I earned my BFA in Technical Theatre at

Emerson College before I decided to pursue

my Master of Architecture. I want to make

things… and that’s where both programs

overlap. Actually, I see a definite relationship

between what I learned in my undergrad

and what I’ve learned in my program here.

However, because my degree wasn’t in

architecture, I began with Track 1 courses to

prepare me for the transition—but the entire

time, I really felt like I was part of the program

already. After a quick start with the basics,

I was in the thick of it. We took months to

acquire knowledge that might otherwise take

years to learn.

Because MassArt is a more intimate commu-

nity, you get to know your professors. Discovery

is something you do WITH the faculty—and

they don’t intimidate you at all.

Overall, this has been a fun environment.

I’ve had the freedom to explore and to make

and try things without any expectation of a

particular result. There is a healthy interaction

between all the disciplines and that collabora-

tive spirit has an impact on what we create.

Home: NEW JERSEY

Program: MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE

JEFFREY EICHERT


MassArt gets your hands dirty.Through my program, I was part of a summer design build at Up Academy in Dorchester for three months. The process began with the development of a concept that we further explored in community meetings. Then we developed the practical design and culminated in a practical implementation. It was the perfect environment to apply and solidify the knowledge I’ve gained and to put it into real action.


GRADUATE PROFILE: Monica Mitchell



I have two degrees already—one in music

and one in painting—but I wanted to pursue

a graduate degree so I could teach art at

a university level, in addition to being a

working artist.

The low-res program at MassArt seemed

like a perfect fit for me. Because I have a job

and a mortgage—quitting everything to go to

school wasn’t an option. I also didn’t want to

leave the art community in Boston—my studio

in Somerville is a big part of my life.

My program cohort is very diverse, which is

great for critique—you gain a lot of perspective

from all these unique viewpoints. Everyone

is very supportive and friendly, but also very

serious about their artwork. Choosing a great

mentor is also important to the experience—

if you’re intentional about what you want to

learn from them going in, you’ll get the most

out of that relationship.

Home: MASSACHUSETTS

Program: MFA (LOW RESIDENCY): FINE ARTS (BOSTON)

MONICA MITCHELL


MassArt puts your dreams within reach.Doing work and school at the same time might not be the right choice for everyone, but it’s making my goals possible. It requires some serious self-direction and motivation to do a remote program, but the rewards are huge. I’ve been able to move toward the life I want without putting my life on hold.


GRADUATE PROFILE: Carolyn Burns



When I first came to MassArt, I was working

primarily with paint, but later transitioned

to working in a more interdisciplinary way.

I think the 2D Fine Arts program offers great

discipline-based programs, but there is also

a strong interdisciplinary core that runs

through everything. My graduate program

is diverse, and there’s a lot of open dialog—a

great balance of different backgrounds and

viewpoints, on top of the experience of a

shared community.

The faculty is a big part of the draw here

for me, too. They are extremely supportive

and invested in your personal development

and they go out of their way to make them-

selves available. I actually hope to teach

myself, someday, in addition to establishing

my studio practice.

I think MassArt is a vibrant part of the Boston

landscape. This place is rich with artistic and

educational history—the Museum of Fine Arts,

the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, all the

colleges—but we’re changing and evolving

all the time, too. The school brings in lots of

visiting artists who are active in their fields,

as well, and I find they bring a real freshness

to the community.

Home: MASSACHUSETTS

Program: MFA: 2D FINE ARTS

CAROLYN BURNS


MassArt fosters your leadership skills.I was fortunate to work as a teaching assistant in a couple of undergrad painting and drawing classes. It was great to get to know undergrads and to gain some practical teaching skills. Overall, it was a rewarding and valuable experience. I even took an assistantship in the graduate office which gave me some insight into the administrative aspects of running a school.


GRADUATE PROFILE: Ana Maria Torres Angarita



I have an undergraduate degree in Graphic

Design from a college in Venezuela and had

been teaching design at my local university

for four years when I decided to apply for

the Fulbright Scholar program. I wanted to

diversify my experience and gain new ideas

and techniques in the US that I could bring

back home after my program was complete.

MassArt’s Dynamic Media Institute was the

best fit for me amongst my Fulbright options—

it’s one of the top programs in the country of

its kind, and the perfect place to deepen my

knowledge of digital and interactive design.

Beyond what I’ve learned on campus,

I’ve also been able to take some classes at

the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and

Massachusetts Institute of Technology that

have broadened my horizons even further.

I like that MassArt collaborates with other

schools to provide a great experience for

their students.

On top of everything I’ve learned, I’ve

appreciated MassArt’s welcoming environ-

ment for international students. I’ve been

able to make some great friendships here.

Home: VENEZUELA

Program: MFA: DESIGN [THE DYNAMIC MEDIA INSTITUTE (DMI)]

ANA MARIA TORRES ANGARITA


MassArt broadens your perspective.There’s no doubt technology has expanded my definition of design. Whether we’re creating an app for a mobile device that conveys data in an effective, compelling way or crafting an immersive, exploratory experience for a museum, we’re working to influence behavior and drive response—not just to create something visually appealing.


UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE: Anagha Prasan



I’m originally from India and I came to

the United States for the first time to start

at MassArt.

I did the International Baccalaureate pro-

gram in high school and decided to pursue

the rest of my education abroad. I have family

on the East coast, so we researched schools

in this area and in cities, specifically. My dad

felt that would be better for me than being in

a tiny town or rural area somewhere. MassArt

was in a well-known city, where it would be

easy for me to get around, and the programs

looked right for my interests.

Everything was completely new and different.

I went into culture shock, but fortunately my

advisor was there to calm me down. MassArt

puts a lot of effort into making students feel

comfortable and included, wherever they come

from. I chose to become a painting major, but

I’m also into photography and other mediums.

The faculty has been very supportive. A

future in painting isn’t as linear as one in

design might be so hearing about their own

career-building experiences, and how they

applied their skills to build their lives, has

been invaluable.

Home: INDIA

Program: BFA: PAINTING

ANAGHA PRASAN


MassArt opens up new worlds.There’s not a single weekend that I end up sitting in the dorm. I am always outside, walking around, exploring every inch of the city—I don’t want to miss anything that’s out there. There’s so much to see and do in Boston and so many great people to meet. Art takes a lot of inspiration—and to find that you need to get out of the classroom!


UNDERGRADUATE PROFILE: Henry Novak



I’m originally from Chicago and pursued

MassArt as my first choice because I wanted

to do Art Education. The program here has

an excellent reputation—one of the best in

the country. I also liked the idea that I could

explore a new city and a new environment,

and experience that at the same time I was

learning.

Art Education is a bit different than many

of the other programs here. We do more

“bookwork” to prepare us for the classroom—

we’re going to be responsible for the growth

of young people, and that’s part of being

ready. My first practical classroom experience

was at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School

in Dorchester. It was a great time, but the

responsibility became very real, very quickly!

One thing I think is particularly valuable

about our program is that we’re encouraged to

have our own art practice as individuals. The

idea is that we can’t be great teachers unless

we’re passionate about creating our own lives.

That’s the case with our faculty, too—they are

all active, working artists, as well as teachers.

Home: ILLINOIS

Program: BFA: ART EDUCATION

HENRY NOVAK


MassArt draws you in.The community at MassArt is very welcoming. It’s not a tiny or huge school so it’s possible to be part of lots of things. I stayed close to campus, but even commuters feel included. I’ve made a close group of friends in my time here.

The key is being willing to talk to people… and understanding that collaboration and critique are easier when you do!


2014 viewbook

Documents

art school

fashion design

youth design boston

art director

graphic design

boston latin high school

huntington avenue boston

erin robertsonmassart