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A Wheel Inside A Wheel, Elizabeth Storm

Art and Design Theses

Getting lost in nature, I can sense the unfixity of its countless forms and processes. Recurring patterns at micro and macro scale arise from creative and destructive forces in space and time; reality appears simultaneously constant and impermanent. My thesis work, a wheel inside a wheel, explores the self in relation to contemporary conceptions of reality. I look at static and dynamic representations of stripped-down patterns modeled from nature, like circular bursts, splintering branches, or the meander of a wave. The action-based works on paper and cloth leverage invisible forces and signal permanency and physical embodiment, deepened through an …

Dwelling On Things, Kirstie J. Tepper

Art and Design Theses

Dwelling on Things is an exhibition of fabricated and found material that embraces the world inside my head, my domestic life, and the world at large. As the title implies, I have been dwelling on things in every sense, which manifests as a non-linear and personal understanding of time and place and is presented within the context of spaces in the home. Derived from a number of contributing factors, though I am most conscious of the effects of trauma, grief, and the deep sadness associated with postpartum depression, the autobiographical content is an amalgamation of these coinciding experiences. The sum …

Haunt And Hold, Michelle Laxalt

Art and Design Theses

In my experiences with caregiving, I was confronted with the vulnerable physicality of infant and elderly bodies. In Haunt and Hold, I draw on two memories in which I observed the physical weakening of my grandparents’ bodies. Intensely visceral and existentially overwhelming, these moments compelled me to reevaluate my material existence as well as a number of family traditions that have complicated my spiritual assumptions.

Using the “Catholic Imagination,” the Medieval memory palace, the uncanny, and the abject as theoretical and conceptual frameworks, I make sense of these experiences and narratives. I create sculptural works that serve as reminders …

Action Through Aesthetics: Philanthropic Art Initiatives In South Africa During The Apartheid, Callie C. Crabb

Art and Design Theses

South African artists played an expansive philanthropic role throughout the stages of the apartheid movement. Their artwork ranged from reflective to pro-active and reconciliatory. Although many scholars argue that South African artists were agents of social change, scholars have not drawn a connection between South African art history and philanthropy. Philanthropy is a platform from which artists can serve as catalysts within society. This thesis argues that South African artists acted philanthropically through their work to challenge the destructive social mores enforced by apartheid.

Where Do We Go From Here?, James M. O'Donnell

Art and Design Theses

Where do we go from here? is a video installation by Atlanta-based artist James O’Donnell that attempts to provoke others into similar contemplation of that existential question through an immersive video and audio installation exploring the self through references to the internal and external; past and future; and connection and disconnection.

On Yonder Mountain, Christopher D. Walter

Art and Design Theses

The road to becoming an artist is paved with much confusion as we try to mold our brains into understanding abstract concepts and ideas. I became fascinated with how people perceive art, in particular, southern males that have no previous knowledge of art history or desire to learn. I contemplated long and hard about this and asked myself the question, “What if they did want to understand art?” The only difference between my brethren and I is this desire to pursue this seemingly foreign world. By creating an imaginary world and culture based on my own southern upbringing I have …

Parts Of The Sum, Andrew Cho

Art and Design Theses

Parts of the Sum is an installation of ceramic, wood, and drawn components which examines the symbiosis of individual and cultural identity: a recursive relationship which engenders unceasing diversity. The installation uses patterns and rule-based compositions as vehicles to address the development of complexity from compounded simplicity as it relates to personality. An immersive meta-network that emulates the complexity underlying identity, Parts of the Sum ultimately relies on the active participation and inclusion of the viewer for completion.

Ties That Bind, Jessica Marie Orlowski

Art and Design Theses

I am fascinated by the inner thoughts, the memories, and the cumulative experience that make us each a complex physiological puzzle. From birth, sociological building blocks are constructed forming emotional walls and unexpected doorways, boundaries and comfortable passageways through the architecture of our personalities. My thesis work, which is comprised of ceramic figures and interactive toys, offers playful memory triggers and evocative spaces in which viewers can deconstruct the building blocks of their social persona.

Nota: A Mark Or Sign, Claire Knob Paul

Art and Design Theses

“Nota” is a merging language of sound, instruction, and visual elements from the unique experience of performing on a wind instrument. I create improvisational drawings inspired by the nature of improvisational sound, performance, and the reflection of moment making. These works are tied to my interest in the human body and its endless variations. The anthropomorphic nature of these instruments ties closely to the human element of touch and breathing. As a focus for this experience, I create drawings that are inspired by the essence of communicating through touch what I am often trying to communicate though musical performance. The …

An Egyptian Royal Portrait Head In The Collection Of The Michael C. Carlos Museum At Emory University, Karen Margaret Bryson

Art and Design Theses

This thesis discusses a small, red granite, Egyptian royal portrait head in the collection of the Michael C. Carlos Museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The head is determined to be a fragment from a group depicting the king in front of the monumental figure of a divine animal, probably a ram or baboon. Scholars have attributed the head to the reigns of various New Kingdom pharaohs, including Horemheb and Seti I, but on more careful examination its style demonstrates that it dates to the reign of Ramesses II (1304-1237 B.C.).

Not Directly Evident, James Thomas Kennedy

Art and Design Theses

This thesis paper gives the reader the opportunity to glimpse the dramatic artistic changes that took place in my work. It will provide insights into my development as an artist and my experiences in graduate school. I will share how the process of making art became my main interest and how art changed me spiritually, mentally, physically, and personally.

Hype And Hypersexuality: Kara Walker, Her Work And Controversy, Erikka Juliette Searles

Art and Design Theses

Kara Walker, winner of the MacArthur “Genius” award and the Smithsonian Lucelia award, is one of the most critically acclaimed contemporary African American artists. Her work, especially her cut-paper silhouettes depicting grotesque antebellum scenes, has inspired as much outrage from an older generation of Black artists as acclaim from the mainstream media. This thesis gives an overview of the artist’s life, analysis of some of her works, and an examination of the controversy her work has caused. In the conclusion, I introduce the next generation of Black American artists, self-proclaimed “Art Stars,” including Atlanta artist Fahamu Pecou.

Russian Art Education: A Study On Post-Soviet Perspectives, Rosaria E. Bang

Art and Design Theses

This cross-cultural case study was conducted through questionnaire format by way of email correspondence with eight Russian art educators in May to June 2006. It was conducted to give an initial overview into Russian Art Education from the perspectives of eight Russian art educators. The data was analyzed to discover any commonalities in values, beliefs, and attitudes that may have significance to Americans wishing to learn about the structure, content, and pedagogy of Russian art education. The findings of this study reveal that Russian art educators embrace a very traditional and classical approach to the teaching of art. Today Russian …