To the VCUarts community,
For universities and art schools, the month of May always marks a season of exuberant emotion and endless possibilities.
This is often the message we hear from our commencement speakers, as they share words of wisdom about being an artist, and being human. In the past, we’ve heard from alumni like design entrepreneur Bobby Martin, Jr. (BFA ’99), multi-instrumentalist Michael Hearst (BM ’95), actor Jason Butler Harner (BFA ’92), and local nonprofit owner Ashley Hawkins (BFA ’07). They have urged us to “take some time to breathe,” to “be firm and be kind” and reminded our graduates that “you don’t just gild the lily; you cast it from gold.”
This year, I am excited to hear from California-based artist Elizabeth Turk when she delivers the commencement address to our graduates. Turk, a MacArthur Fellow, is known for her exquisite marble sculptures that draw from intricate organic forms and the rhythmic lines of nature. Her insight and experience will be inspiring to the Class of 2019 and their loved ones.
The final weeks of the spring semester are also the culmination of years of academic and life lessons. Our students have been deep in the work of final exams, senior recitals, exhibition openings and project submissions. Every day I traverse our campus and witness their talents on full display through paintings and sculptures, product demonstrations and public performances, films, digital designs and thoughtful analyses. These students are deeply supported by our devoted faculty and staff, and their collective effort unites our community in the shared pursuit of creative excellence.
But above all, May offers a moment to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of our graduates. These artists, designers, innovators, performers and scholars will soon be joining the global VCUarts alumni family, which will be enriched by their inclusion. Just as I enjoy hearing from our alumni as they chart new creative frontiers, I can’t wait to see all that lies ahead for our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their lives, and their lifelong relationship with VCUarts.
Warmly,
Shawn Brixey
Dean | School of the Arts
Special Assistant to the Provost for the School of the Arts in Qatar
Professor | School of the Arts
Affiliate Professor | College of Engineering
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