MUSE spoke to artist Julia Elsas, a graduating student in the UC Davis MFA program. Elsas and four other graduating students – Crystal Haueter, Cynthia Horn, Evie Leder and Josh Short – present their work at the 2009 MFA Exhibition, currently on display at the Nelson Gallery in the Art Building.
1. What will you be showing?
Mixed-media installation, including embroideries, mechanical sculpture and video.
2. How does this work sum up your art education?
I have spent the majority of my time at Davis experimenting with 2D and 3D materials. The interdisciplinary nature of this program along with the dialogue I have had with my colleagues and faculty has propelled me to explore my ideas more deeply.
3. How did your time at UC Davis prepare you for this exhibition?
At UC Davis I have spent my time working and experimenting in a variety of media. This program is very interdisciplinary and studio-focused. They don’t push you into a mold here, so you are really forced to figure out what is meaningful to you in your work.
4. What will you be doing after graduation?
I have yet to make definite plans, but will most likely stay in Northern California making art for the next year or so.
5. If you could give three pieces of advice to aspiring artists, what would they be?
Look through garbage, have a sense of humor, be impulsive.
RACHEL M. FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
