International School of Art & Design Alumni Exhibit 2020

Alumni Exhibit 2020

Exhibit Dates: February 20 to March 26, 2020

Opening Reception: Thursday, February 20, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Artist Talk begins at 7:15 p.m.

HANCOCK, MI €“ The Finlandia University International School of Art & Design (ISAD) will present an alumni exhibit at the Finlandia University Gallery, located in the Finnish American Heritage Center, Hancock, from February 20 to March 26, 2020.

An opening reception for the artists will take place at the gallery Thursday, February 20th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. An artist talk will begin at 7:15 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

In the 21 years since the inception of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree at Finlandia University 191 students have graduated in five concentration areas: Ceramic Design, Fiber Arts/Fashion Design, Integrated Design, Graphic Design, and Intermedia.

The Alumni 2020 exhibit spotlights the current work of 29 Finlandia University BFA graduates. Here are a few updates on alumni exhibiting in the show.

Since earning her B.F.A. with a concentration in Intermedia studies from Finlandia University’s International School of Art and Design in 2018, Abigail Tembruell has moved to Royal Oak, Michigan. There, she is establishing roots within the Art and Design community through working within the galleries of Pewabic Pottery and Cranbrook Art Museum. In her studio, she has been developing her painting, hand lettering, and digital illustration skillsets. She is in the process of redesigning her personal entrepreneurial art brand, Gaileoart.

Elizabeth Turunen (€™02) For the past 18 years Turunen has worked in the design industry for brands such as Kleenex, Huggies and Hallmark and for companies such as Shopko, Meijer and Kimberly-Clark. Her work includes greeting cards, packaging, surface design, illustration, television graphics, environmental graphics, new brand development, photoshoot coordination and signage. She has had her own design business, Gravitate Design LLC. since March of 2014. Recently, Turunen has been working on a second book for her children€™s book series LUNCH BOX HERO on bullying and she hopes to continue the series over the next several years.

Gray (Pamela) Kotila (€™10) makes LGBTQA+ fantasy and sci-fi comics and art. In the past four years they have created and printed five books with the help of crowdfunding via Kickstarter: two volumes of an ongoing comic; a graphic novel; and two coloring books. Another comic volume and coloring book are planned for 2020. They freelance as an editor for other comic artists, and often teach (art in general, comics, or illustration).

Eric Hinsch (€™13) has earned an MS and PhD in Wood Science at Oregon State University. His specialty is Applied Mycology and he experiments with wood-staining fungal pigments as textile dyes.

William Thompson (€˜18 ) Since graduating Thompson has been involved with several different art organizations and events as an intern, instructor, demonstrator, and vendor. His current work, “Dysfunctionals” is a response to his solo show “FUNctional”, an exhibition of whimsical functional pottery. “Dysfunctionals” are wheel thrown functional pottery altered and ultimately disabled by/with emotion, robbing them of the ability to function as a normal pot would.

Gini Brewer (€™13) has been working as the Coordinator for Finlandia University International School of Art & Design since May 2018. Her recent artwork explores yarn wrapping as a meditative practice. The feel of the yarn and the weight of the object being wrapped is grounding. Each completed circle represents moments of time she allowed herself to get lost in the process of making.

Hayley Laban (€˜11) has been at Warehouse Twenty One, a creative agency in Cheyenne, WY since 2013. In the past few years, she has achieved Art Director, overseeing brand, campaign, and experiential design and advertising. Outside of her graphic design work, she loves to write and play music, customize her own fashion, draw, and paint.

Kenyon Hansen (€˜04 ) is currently teaching ceramics at Finlandia University and setting up a home studio in Dollar Bay, Michigan with his wife, Lindsey Heiden, also a ceramic artist. This year Hansen will be presenting at two conferences, The International Fusion Conference in Toronto, Canada &  Utilitarian Clay Conference at Arrowmont School of Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. His work will be included in several exhibitions around the country including Penland School of Crafts & Red Lodge Clay Center.

Brooke Cummings (€˜12) is a freelance illustrator and designer residing in Hancock. She does logo design work for small businesses, as well as album art and poster designs for bands. She works in a wide array of media and enjoys playing with new techniques in her personal work.

€œEvery two years I get to touch base with the alumni of the International School of Art & Design,€ says Gallery Director Carrie Flaspohler. €œIt is an honor for me to see the artwork of our alumni as it changes and develops over time, I learn from their paths and I get energized by seeing their creative processes.€

Please join us at the opening reception to learn more about the work of our alumni.  Media included in the Alumni Exhibit 2020 include ceramic design, mixed media, fashion design, painting, sculpture, graphic design and product design.

The Finlandia University International School of Art & Design Alumni Exhibit 2020 will be on display until March 26, 2020.

The Finlandia University Gallery is in the Finnish American Heritage Center, 435 Quincy Street, Hancock. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by appointment. Please call 906-487-7500 for more information.