The introduction of Discovery Hall sees the entrance of a new public art sculpture on Rowan’s campus. Today, we speak to two students who took part in its installation.
This summer, two Studio Art majors — senior Liz Kenlan and recent graduate Jon-Erik Hem — were offered the chance to leave an everlasting mark on Rowan’s campus through the installation of Time Sweeps.
Discovery Hall will be open to the school’s general population for the 2021-22 academic school year. With the new building being described as a way for the university to expand in the STEM disciplines, Jon describes the Time Sweeps sculpture as: “The bond between man made and nature.”
Time Sweeps just after its completion (credit: Digital Scholarship Center)
Time Sweeps, located in the East Garden Courtyard at Discovery Hall, is an entirely stone sculpture of winding serpent-like unnatural shapes formed out of individually-placed rocks and stones.
Prior to its unveiling, I was able to sit down with Liz and Jon to discuss not only the installation of Time Sweeps but their experience in helping to bring it to life as well as letting me know what art means to Rowan.
Liz and Jon were both recipients of a paid internship that allowed them to work with Thea Alvin. Alvin is a stonemason and the designer of Time Sweeps.
“I learned so much from her, all about wall making and building,” says Jon. When asked about working besides Alvin, he adds, “It’s awesome to see someone working hard from the minute they get in to the minute they leave.”
Jon-Erik Hem stands besides Discovery Hall
Liz agrees with the sentiments about the sculpture’s designer, stating: “From the first time I heard her speak as a guest visiting my Public Art class I got this feeling that lingered with me the rest of the day that things were good and I was alive with artistic inspiration. I sincerely related to her character, motivations, means to make her work, and the connection between herself and the communities she worked in.”
Alvin was not the only person that Jon and Liz got to work with. According to them, they worked with two other students chosen to work on the sculpture from the Geology department as well as a number of professional stonemasons.
“We were immediately hands on with it,” Liz remembers about her first day on the job. “I thought we’d be getting these simple intern jobs but on the first day it was, ‘Oh no, go and start placing the foundation for the wall’ and we were just like what? We got to do the actual work that the masons were doing. I was shoveling gravel and carrying holders. The thing I did the most was smashing boulders. It was actually very therapeutic.”
Liz Kenlan sits atop Time Sweeps
Jon also spoke on the installation process and similar love of smashing things: “I’ve done a lot of construction work. I’m all about three-dimensional thinking and I’m all about swinging hammers and breaking stuff.”
The sculpture isn’t just a beautiful work of stone. As the name suggests, it’s also an interactive teller of time. There’s a spot under the arch that allows for a person to view the winter and summer solstice, adding an almost magical element to not only Discovery Hall but Rowan as a whole.
Though Jon and Liz remember the summer fondly, Jon spoke candidly about the representation of Rowan’s Art department and the community as a whole.
“More can be done to represent the Art Department here at Rowan,” Jon speaks openly. “They have good faculty, but oftentimes, it feels like many universities want a lot from their art students without giving them respect in return.”
Time Sweeps serves as not the physical embodiment of the hard work and dedication of Jon, Liz, Thea and all those who worked on it but as the tenacity of artists at Rowan as a whole.
“They want us to put paintings in the Business building or for us to do something for the medical building in Camden,” Jon told me as our discussion came to a close. “Everyone needs artists.”
Liz (top left) with several of the Times Sweeps installers, including Thea Alvin (second from bottom)
Emily Higgins is a senior Biomedical Art and Visualization major, with minors in Art History and Biological Sciences, from Randolph, NJ in Morris County.
Could you please share your favorite moment with a faculty member or a favorite experience in one of your classes?
One of my favorite class experiences was going to the cadaver lab at Cooper Medical School in Camden. I was able to draw from in-person observations, as well as being exposed to a professional medical setting as a freshman.
Could you please share your favorite social memory?
Some of my favorite memories come from Outdoors Club, like going camping for the first time, to seeing wild horses at Assateague Island, to eventually joining the executive board and helping plan club trips.
What are your career aspirations?
Medical Legal Illustrator.
How did the people or programs at Rowan help to support you with your professional growth or career aspirations?
I had several professors over the years offer practical advice for entering the workforce, and professors who went out of their way to help support their students’ professional growth and personal well being.
Do you want to give a thank you shout out to your family, friends, advisors or mentors?
I would like to say thank you to my parents, my sister Trish, and my partner Danny for their continuous love and support over the past four years. I’d also like to give a big shout out to the friends I have made while at Rowan, including the BMAV crew + co., friends from freshman year D-Pod, and countless others who I hold very near and dear to my heart.
Who is your favorite professor and what class did you take them for?
My favorite professor was Ron Mathias, who I had for a few classes within my major including Introduction to Figure Anatomy for the Artist and Digital Rendering Techniques. Ron no longer works as a professor here, but keeps in touch with former students and is always available to give us advice about our art and practical advice for our futures as well.
What advice would you give to incoming freshmen or transfers about making the most out of their college experience?
Join some clubs and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Everyone else is just as nervous about making friends as you are, so reach out to others with compassion. You can reinvent yourself into whoever you want to be, and can choose to take a step in the right direction at any point, no matter how many mistakes you have made in the past.
Today, we speak to graduating senior Hannah Knight. Hannah is a Biomedical Art and Visualization major with minors in Art History and Biology from Shamong, NJ (Burlington County). She transferred from Rowan College of Burlington County and currently lives off campus. She shares more about her experience at Rowan and gives advice to incoming students.
Could you share your favorite moment with a faculty member or a favorite experience in one of your classes?
Being in and working thoughout the night in Westby Hall, specifically painting in the studio after mourning a death.
Could you share your favorite social memory?
Going to bingo or The Pit for events. Walking down the Boulevard and to the High Street Gallery.
What are your career aspirations?
Help the future of health care and science via biomedical arts.
How did the people or programs at Rowan help to support you with your professional growth or career aspirations?
I work with professionals in the field who can give me real-world advice.
Do you want to give a thank you shout out to your family, friends, advisors or mentors?
To Doc for keeping me in high spirits, Ryan Berardi for always understanding, and Amanda Almon for starting BMAV here at Rowan.
Who is your favorite professor? What class did you take them for? And why is this person your favorite?
Nancy Ohana. She teaches figure drawing and constantly reinforced freedom, diligence and the process of art.
What advice would you give to incoming first years or transfers about making the most out of their college experience?
Take an art class that you’ll actually enjoy, not just the “easy” ones. Go to RAH events because they’re pretty cool most times, and be kind to everyone.
What are your professional goals? And how is Rowan helping to support you in those goals?
My goal is to become a graphic designer in New York, and one day I want to become an art director. The faculty in the Rowan Art Department have always been supportive of my goals and they are always ready to help. They have pushed me to develop my creative voice, gain confidence in my work, and experience leadership positions.
The professors at Westby have infinite amounts of industry experience and they give us so many resources in order to succeed. Because of them and the program they created, I feel confident that I will excel after graduation.
How does your field impact the world? What impact would you like to have on the world in your field?
Design is everywhere. It is the logo on your hoodie, the poster of your favorite movie, it is the website you’re reading this on, and so much more! Graphic design doesn’t just make things pretty, it tells a story and gives visual meaning to abstract ideas. I think the greatest impact I could have in my field would be to have my work directly inspire another person to create.
What inspired you to choose your major?
In high school, I took an intro to graphic design class and I thought it was amazing. I’ve always gravitated towards the arts, but before that, I never knew I could make a career out of it. After I explored some of the endless possibilities a person could do in graphic design, I knew that that was what I wanted to do.
As a student from North Jersey, how did you become aware of Rowan University?
When I was a junior in high school and still college hunting, I visited the Rowan with a family friend who is an alumnus. I ended up going to a different school my first year of college, but I never forgot the vibe of Rowan’s campus. I found myself always comparing that school to the feeling that Rowan had given me on that tour, and I realized it was time to transfer. It was the best decision I could have ever made.
How long is your trip/drive “home” to North Jersey?
My hometown is an hour and a half drive from campus.
What are some of the benefits for you, living this distance from home?
The distance from home gives me so much freedom. This will seem cliché, but the distance gave me the freedom to learn more about myself. I was forced out of my comfort zone and I was given the opportunity to try new things like sign up for clubs and leadership roles that I might not have tried if I were in my same hometown environment.
What are a few interesting or new things about Rowan’s South Jersey area that you would share with future students that are not from the area?
I’ve lived in New Jersey, more specifically North Jersey, for my entire life. When I moved to South Jersey for school, I didn’t realize how windy it could get! The first winter I spent at Rowan was the first time I experienced a wind that actually took my breath away. Also, I didn’t realize how many amazing start-up bands are around the Rowan area. There are a lot of opportunities to go to house shows, listen to new music, and meet new people.
What off-campus, local fun places do you recommend students check out?
There is an axe throwing place called Primitive Axe on Delsea Drive and that is so fun! It’s super close to campus so you don’t need to worry if you don’t have a car. Axe throwing is a great Friday night activity to do with a few friends. It’s also great because Samurai sushi is in the same lot so you can get dinner too!
Why did you choose to transfer to Rowan University?
Rowan is one of two universities in the state that offers an accredited BFA program for graphic design. When I met with the department chair of the graphic design program, Jan Conradi, and she talked to me about the program, I was sold. From my first portfolio review, I immediately felt like I had a place here and that the staff cared about my success — I still find this to be true.
Story by: Rachel Rumsby, sophomore communication studies and public relations double major
Photos submitted by: Jessica Potash, senior studio art major
Header photo by: Pixabay
We are #RowanPROUD to be included on Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s 2021 Transfer Honor Roll, which recognizes select nationwide colleges and universities that foster dynamic pathways for transfer students.
Today we speak with 2008 graduate Courtney Stevenson, who earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Printmaking & Illustration, with a minor in Art History. She and her husband, Justin, also a Rowan alum, started developing their successful screen printing business, Wider Awake, soon after graduation. Now they are working with other local businesses to support their campaign, #KeepinLocalOpen, to raise money to “help keep everyone’s lights on” despite financial losses due to COVID-19.
How did you start your business and spread the word as a recent college graduate?
The short answer is: A website and social media, friends and family, and networking! The long answer: I wanted to make and sell artwork after graduating, so we kept an ear out for local art and craft shows where we felt like my artwork might be a good fit. The first art show that we did post-graduation was at a local taco shop. We sold some artwork, but we also began meeting some great people who we still work with on printing projects. Someone might come up to our booth at an art show and be interested in our artwork, but also have a personal project that they needed printed.
So while we were making and selling our own work, we were beginning to really build up a client base for custom printing without even realizing it. As many times as we were told in college that networking is incredibly important, we didn’t realize it until years down the line when the people we had been meeting, became our long-time clients and supporters!
Justin and Courtney showcase their work at a craft show.
Our friends and fellow Rowan graduates have also been a huge inspiration to us and a huge help. Their websites and social media presence were also an inspiration for us, things we quickly realized we needed. And these same friends have also referred our printing services out to others. Other non-art related friends and family members who work at schools or for different businesses began using our print services as well. And then there are the ever-supportive and beloved friends and family who continue to purchase our posters and shirts and spread the word about us on social media. We cannot stress enough how much other people have helped us continue to grow this business. We have put a lot of work into Wider Awake, but spreading the word about the business and garnering support has largely been a group effort!
What’s the story behind the name Wider Awake? My favorite book growing up was The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The name comes from a passage in that book. The idea of Wider Awake is that we are doing something that we love and rather than dulling our senses or putting us to sleep, it makes us feel Wider Awake every day (even though sometimes the work is exhausting). Over time, the print shop has also become a little like my secret garden because I’m often working alone behind its quiet walls. I’m introverted and find great delight in this type of environment. When Justin is in the shop with me, it usually has a much louder and less secretive vibe.
According to your website, you and Justin built your first printing press. Can you tell us more about how the press works, and what inspired you to build your own?
When we graduated from Rowan, [Justin and I] initially moved back into our parent’s houses for a few months. Since I could no longer ride my bicycle over to Westby Hall and use the printmaking facility whenever I pleased and couldn’t afford to rent a studio space, I realized I needed to come up with some way to print from home. Justin is very handy and enjoys a good DIY project on a budget. He researched plans online for a DIY press, which we built in his parent’s backyard in Toms River, NJ. We took over a small room in Justin’s parent’s house as a temporary ‘studio’ space so that I could continue to make custom silkscreen prints.
Simultaneously, Justin began researching other ways to utilize the press so that we could work with customers who might need other items printed, such as reusable bags and shirts. We hoped this might help us generate some additional income so that we could move this operation out of his parent’s house for our sake and his parents’. We still have our DIY press, who we named “Priscilla Press-ley,” but it is no longer a staple in our print shop. Currently, we print on a Riley Hopkins 4 station/4 color manual press (aka “Elvis Press-ley”) that we use for smaller shirt jobs and poster printing and an Anatol Volt 6 color/8 station automatic press (aka “Machine”).
Justin folds a stack of purple t-shirts at Wider Awake.
Did you have any transformative experiences and/or instructors at Rowan that inspired you to create your business? I studied abroad in Florence, Italy for my spring semester of my sophomore year. I cannot recommend this enough. Being flung into a different culture, among new people, a new language and thousands of years of history at the age of 19 was awesome. I would never do it any differently and I would do it a thousand times over! I loved my professors at Rowan and in the art department. Doc Appelson was my initial motivation for pursuing art as my major. I came into Rowan undecided. It was recommended that I take an art class to see if I wanted to move forward as an artist. Doc taught a drawing class that I was able to get an override into because he is awesome. I love him, he is like a Dad and a grandfather and mentor to every art student. As my major progressed and I met so many wonderful people, it becomes difficult to narrow it down to just a few great professors. Jen Thwing taught my graphic design and stop motion class, one of my favorites, and she was incredibly knowledgeable, resourceful and supportive. I still follow her amazing work on social media and very much appreciate all of her know-how and help to get things done when I didn’t have a clue. And Nancy Ohanian, my illustration teacher, encouraged me endlessly and was a completely positive pioneer for her students, taking us on amazing field trips and introducing us to friends in the art field. I think a combination of all of these experiences and people helped fuel the fire for persevering in this field and also believing it was possible.
How did #KeepinLocalOpen come tofruition, and what are the goals of this campaign? We essentially came up with the idea out of a need to drum up business. The idea is that while businesses are struggling because of canceled events and loss of income from store closings, this provides a small (or large in some cases) way to make up for some of the loss.
The spring is by far our busiest time of year, but almost 100% of our work is for large events (park cleanups, races, concerts, art shows, etc.). Almost overnight, all of our orders were either postponed or cancelled [due to the economic fallout of COVID-19]. Justin woke up one morning with the idea of doing a pre-sale fundraiser. We thought that there were lots of people who would be willing to buy a shirt if they knew they would also be supporting someone in need. The same day, we sat in on a screen printing webinar held by a company called PrintAvo about ways to keep your print shop going during difficult economic times. There was some discussion about running pre-sales, but with the idea of marketing it toward local, small businesses. We immediately started adjusting our website, designing and reaching out to people that afternoon.
We have been really amazed by how supportive people have been with this campaign. Its clear that there is strong support for keeping small businesses alive! Our goal is pretty simple at this point: Keep signing people up, keep printing shirts.
How does #KeepinLocalOpen work? What other local businesses are involved?
Just a few of the designs being produced as part of #KeepinLocalOpen.
#KeepinLocalOpen is a fundraising campaign we have been running since the end of March. Essentially, this is a t-shirt fundraiser for small/local businesses, artists, or musicians who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19, including Wider Awake. It’s a way for businesses, artists, musicians, and more to sell t-shirts to their supporters without having to put out any money.
Participants send us a design that they would like printed on a t-shirt (i.e. their logo or their artwork). We put together a mock-up for them and set up an online ‘pop-up’ store hosted on our website where their t-shirt will be for sale for their fans and supporters to purchase. They share and promote the link for their shirt sale but we handle all of the other stuff: orders, shipping, and customer service. We sell their shirts on our website as a presale for about two weeks. Once the sale ends, we print and ship all the shirts for them and mail them a check from their sales. For every shirt they sell, they receive $10.
Currently, there are 36 businesses and artists involved, some of them located right here in Mullica Hill, NJ. They range from salons to restaurants to individual artists. Besides the folks in our town, some of the others are located in Atlantic City, Philadelphia, one in New York City, and we are working with an outdoor Bluegrass festival in Baltimore, MD.
How do you think your experience in the College of Communication and Creative Arts at Rowan contributed to your success? What valuable lessons did you learn as a Prof that got you where you are today? I learned a lot of technical skills at Rowan as relates to the field of art/design because of my wonderful professors and their knowledge. I also learned that the community within your field of study is invaluable, especially what I found at Rowan and within Westby Hall. The classes were small and extremely personal. We were working right alongside our professors and we all became very close. You could pop into your professor’s office during off-class hours with questions. They were in constant communication with us. And then there were your peers who were working alongside of you in class and in the studio for hours and hours on end. We spent a very large portion of our time at Rowan in our studio space in Westby Hall, so we were like a family. I loved the people in my department and as mentioned, still love those same friends today. I feel like the experience I had at Rowan as an art major was completely unique and has stuck with me all these years, just like the community and support that began there.
Any advice or resources for current students studying art and/or looking to start a business? Take advantage of your time in the studio with your professors and peers! It’s likely that you will not have such an opportune time again to be immersed in the studio with so many amazing and like-minded people by your side. Get to know them and support each other! Justin and I both also dabbled in internships and part-time jobs within our field. During our summers and in between our full-time jobs, we worked at art non-profits and in small print shops to sharpen our skills. Meeting new people and building relationships has been invaluable to us!
We love working with and meeting all sorts of people. #KeepinLocalOpen has allowed us to meet new people and to encourage one another during very uncertain times and we are so grateful for all of those involved. So thanks!!
Meet Leann Carlson, a recent graduate, studio art major and art history minor from Vineland, New Jersey (Cumberland County) who commuted during her time as a student here at Rowan University. Rowan Blog featured Leann after her semester abroad on a prestigious art scholarship.
Please tell us about your favorite moment with a faculty member or a favorite experience in one of your classes.My favorite memories in the classroom were when the printmaking students would have Dusk ’til Dawn every semester. It’s one night where we students stay in the building from 6 p.m. – 6 a.m. and make art/prepare for finals. We take a big group picture at midnight and I always had a great time participating in it.
What was your favorite or most meaningful personal moment at Rowan?The most meaningful moment to me during my time in college was the opening reception night of my senior thesis exhibition. I spent the entire day setting up for it and so many of my friends, family and faculty members came out to support me. It made me feel really loved and I’ll honestly never forget it.
What are your career aspirations and how did the people or programs at Rowan help to support you with those aspirations? I love being an artist so much, and there’s so many different things that I want to do throughout the course of my life with it. One thing, in particular, is that I’d like to work for a museum and become a curator. I realized this through my job at the Rowan University Art Gallery, where I got to work behind the scenes and learn the ins and outs of how a gallery operates.
Do you want to give a thank you shout out to your family, friends, advisors or mentors? I’d really like to thank all of my close friends, my dad, sister, my aunt Leslie, my uncle Dewey and my Grandmom. I also want to thank my bosses at the Gallery, Mary and Jillian, my advisor and print professor, Dave Vaccaro, and my professors, Doc Appelson, Dr. Adelson, Adam Gustavson, Amanda Almon, and children’s book author, DyAnne DiSalvo! I feel so blessed and loved. You have all had such a positive impact on my life as an artist and as a person in general. Thank you so much for everything!
We essentially came up with the idea out of a need to drum up business. The idea is that while businesses are struggling because of canceled events and loss of income from store closings, this provides a small (or large in some cases) way to make up for some of the loss.
