Book Parts
Cover Sheet
Dedication*
Table of Contents
Foreword*
Introduction*
Tabs
Interviews*
Afterword*
Annotated Bibliography
It is hard for me to believe that I am almost at the end. In less than one week I will have turned in the whole thing to Monica. This section will include in the correct order, the *items above.
Dedication
With love…
Foreword
MALS contributions to my process of learning, and to my process of being.
Although I have always considered myself to be a “think outside the box” thinker and artist, I am most comfortable with the restraints of scientific mathematical rights and wrongs. With a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Photographic Communications, my undergrad studies focused science, math and perfection in lines. To receive my degree, I had to complete a co-op. I applied, interviewed and was offered a position in a preceptorship with Miami-Dade County where accuracy of my photographs would remain the key element. Every autopsy, piece of evidence, and crime scene photograph would need to be as accurate as I could possibly make them. There was no room for error.
During the time between graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology(RIT), and beginning my graduate studies at Nazareth, I took a hiatus of sorts to work on my mental and physical health. My daughter and I moved cross country, looking for new adventures and opportunities. We grabbed onto as many of them as we could. Enjoying our freedom from schedules, school and family requirements. Our year in Washington went by quickly. I married Robyn, we were working full time, enjoying life, our friends and the Starbucks coffee on every street corner. My daughter became first in the state for her weight class in wrestling, with the boys!
With life changing, and slowing down from the fast paced world of being at a university on trimesters, my physical and mental health were screaming for attention. A move from Washington back home to New York gave a new sense of a hope. With the help of Robyn, and my doctors and therapist, I finally received a correct diagnosis of Rapid Cycling Bipolar II. With a newly assigned therapist, medications, and life becoming more controllable, I decided I needed to create a new plan. With hundreds of applications in for positions I wasn’t getting, I decided to return to school. I knew from friends that if I had a masters, that perhaps I’d find more work, and new doors would open.
Robyn and I began looking at the different graduate programs at RIT, Nazareth College, and St. John Fisher. I went to all the open houses and talked with the career counselors about what each program was about. As fate would have it, I was the only student who came interested in the MALS program. Having the initial 1:1 with Dr. Weis was a perfect scenario. Both Robyn and I asked a ton of questions. Every single response made the program look like a perfect fit for me. She said she could get me in on a fast-track and start that Spring. I couldn’t believe it was possible to start within a couple weeks! I had been looking to start in the fall, I felt convinced this was the program, and that I wanted to go ahead, and dive in. So, I did!
I came into the MALS program with a scientific mind set. Right. Or wrong. No grey areas existed. Though this was a struggle, and still is, a few of the courses helped push those black and white boundaries, into the grey areas. LST503 Values and Actions made me re-evaluate my own life, my own values and my own actions, especially in the way they often times were misaligned. Through this process, I also learned that many of our values evolve over time because of our experiences, our gaining of knowledge and our family influences. This course along with Journalism, Italian Holocaust and Reading the Roaring Twenties improved my writing, and my basic editing abilities. Though I still have a long way to go in writing, I have learned basics that will help me from here on out.
The best part of being a MALS student, was being encouraged to include our backgrounds. I loved how we were able to incorporate our passions with our classes. Sometimes it made for some very interesting connections, ones that perhaps you wouldn’t see otherwise.
Introduction
A Briefing Perhaps?
This is not a typical masters thesis paper. In fact, that had been the goal all along. From the first time I was in the MALS room, looking at the shelves of past papers, I knew I didn’t want mine to be lost in that sea of black print on white paper and spiral bindings. I wanted people to be drawn to it. I wanted my thesis to be a bit like a book Robyn authored, and I illustrated for The Sketchbook Project back in 2010; a book that when you saw just the binding, you’d want to grab it off the shelf and read it first!
There are multiple components that I have been working on, to create a whole package. The most important and probably the biggest portion for me, was learning how to create and run my own blog. The learning curve on this is a huge one, and I continue to learn as I post writings and pictures. If you are holding this in paper version, everything from the blog including all images are here in your hands. I wouldn’t want you to miss a thing! The second area to focus on are the family trees, both the written, and the created. When you are looking at these you will see just how many artists there are in my family, their preferred mediums, and some images from each one. This portion of my work ties in with the internal and external influences that I deal with on an everyday basis. I have shared within the posts that you will be reading, my personal artwork from the semester, art work from the art therapy class I participated in, as well as pieces that I created especially for this thesis project. Throughout you will see that I have integrated readings and family interviews in many of the posts. If you get a chance, I hope you come visit my blog! I will be continuing to work on it, adding more information as I can, and of course more pieces of artwork as I create them as well.
Interviews
From those who responded. For those who did not, I gathered a bit in an effort to speak on their behalf.
Family Interviews
First Name: John F. T.
Birth Place/Year: Binghamton, NY 1916
Relationship with Stacey? Maternal Grandfather
[Grandpa passed away in 2007, information here is what I know of from Grandpa, and from his daughters.]
Who/What inspires your creative thoughts and artwork? National Geographic, Look and Life Magazine
Do you have a favorite medium to work in? Photography
Are you a published artist? Where are you published? John’s photographs have been on display in many different settings including one-artist shows, gallery showings, yearbooks, magazines, Bucknell University newsletters, Vick’s Chemical Company, Crowley’s Milk Company, Corning Glass and others. John also has work housed at the Rochester Institute of Technology where he created the Biomedical Photographic Communications baccalaureate program.
Do (did) you have a favorite art teacher? Why? What did you learn from them? John’s father (John W. T.) introduced him to photography in 1932 by showing him how to use a folding pocket size kodak camera.
[Images of work posted under Family Tree]
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First Name: Peggy
Birth Place/Year: Rome, NY 1918
Currently Residence: Canandaigua, NY
Relationship with Stacey? Maternal Grandmother
I am filling out this questionnaire on March 23, 2013 (Daughter Patricia wrote responses for Peggy)
Who/What inspires your creative thoughts and artwork? I’ve always wanted to make things – my mother encouraged me, even though she didn’t make anything. She didn’t sew or knit. I went to Briarcliff School of Design for one year, but I left because I didn’t feel I was learning anything. I worked at Macy’s Department Store on 34th Street in NYC. I applied for a job at Lanz of Salzburg on 5th Avenue, and interviewed with Mr. Lanz. I took in some samples of my work – drawings – can’t remember what – I don’t think he looked at them. He hired me and at first I did embroidery on socks – I made the designs up as I went along. Like, a line of embroidery going up along the outside of the sock. I did two big baskets of socks!! Then he sent me to his factory, and I worked for him for 2 years. I would sketch clothing design ideas, always with embroidery, and when I was finished I would put the sketch on a table in another room. Customers would come in for custom made clothes, look over all the sketches from the designers, pick what they liked, then Lanz seamstresses would make the clothes up. I never knew if they used my sketches or not.
I always wanted to inspire a new line, a new view of clothes, adding original ideas. Looking at fabric gives me ideas, magazines, especially quilting magazines and Kaffe Fassett work. I don’t copy, they give me ideas of different ways to use fabric and combine colors.
Do you have a favorite medium to work in? Fabric – designing on and with fabric.
How old were you when you first thought of yourself as an artist? About 20 years old, when I was in NYC working at Lanz.
Do you consider yourself to be an artist today? I have an artistic temperament – I have always wanted to create.
Is there a type of artwork that you would like to learn? No – I’m 95!!! [laughs]
Are you a published artist? Where are you published? Some of my designs were used for advertising at Lanz – in the newspaper. When I was designing doll clothes I had a small catalog for doll clothes and dolls I designed. I advertised in doll magazines. [No published articles/features of her work ]
Do (did) you have a favorite art teacher? Why? What did you learn from them? No– I left Briarcliff School of Design because I wasn’t learning anything – my friend left, too, and we moved to NYC together. Elizabeth Haas or Muriel Haas was a well know designer at that time and was advertised as a teacher at Briarcliff; supposed to be reason the school was good. I think I met her but never had her as a teacher.
Did you have an art teacher that you did not like? Why? In the end, what did you learn from them? No one in particular – wasn’t learning anything at Briarcliff
What do you think about the ‘Artistic DNA’ in our family? Do you know of other families with so many being artistic? I was the only one who was interested in any creative arts in my family. [Wasn’t able to get any comments about her kids or grandkids]
[Images of work posted under Family Tree]
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First Name: John
Birth Place/Year: Trenton, NJ 1946
Currently Residence: Bloomfield, NY
Relationship with Stacey? Father
I am filling out this questionnaire on March 26, 2013 (Via Email)
Who/What inspires your creative thoughts and artwork? This is kind of a hard question for me to answer. Generally when I was in business, I just picked the brain of my customers to see what they wanted and then just designed the work around what they wanted.
Do you have a favorite medium to work in? Not really. Wood working, electric, plumbing, anything to do with construction.
How old were you when you first thought of yourself as an artist? Do you consider yourself to be an artist today? Never have considered myself to be an artist.
Is there a type of artwork that you would like to learn? Wood Sculpting.
Are you a published artist? Where are you published? No
Do (did) you have a favorite art teacher? Why? What did you learn from them? No – never had an art teacher.
What do you think about the ‘Artistic DNA’ in our family? Do you know of other families with so many being artistic? On my fathers side of the family Dad was pretty good with design. Other than that there is no artistic ability there. On the Trauger side of the family there is artistic ability in all members of the family.
As you know Stace my handwriting is terrible and getting worst every day so I will just email this to you.
Additional Comments: I don’t know if I would call Robbie a wood worker. He has a good deal of mechanical talent just like my Dad. Michael has electrical talent and David has chemistry talent. He also sings and writes songs and plays the guitar. All three seem to have some photographic memories which I did not inherit.
Hope this helps you with your research. I do have several pictures of my work. I don’t know if you would want them or not? [Images of work posted under Family Tree]
Love you – Dad
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First Name: Barbara
Birth place/Year: Fresno, CA 1945
Currently living: East of Cleveland, OH
Relationship to Stacey: Aunt on her mother’s side
I am filling out this questionnaire on 4/10-11/13
Who/what inspires your creative thought and artwork?
That is a very large question for me as I have in the past and continue to derive inspiration from so many people, artists and schools of thought. I’ll try to line them up in three categories: craft, art and art therapy.
Craft: I learned to sew from my mother (Peggy) when I was quite little. I learned to cut with scissors (I’ll try to locate an amazing photo of this for you. Cutting is still one of my best things. I can cut a line better than I can draw it.) I learned to (or it was part of who I am naturally) combine fabric and patterns together, picturing the final product easily in my mind. I was making most of my clothes by the time I was in 7th grade so had the training to (later) do soft sculpture from then. (Soft sculpture was some of the first “real art” that I created.)
I took the required 8th grade art while in school, but had already learned by 3rd grade that I wasn’t particularly gifted at art. (My clear thoughts about that now are that art should never be graded. Effort, yes, the end product, no.)
From the time I can remember, I was always making something; dolls, doll clothes, costumes, things with wood or paper or cardboard, glue, crayons and whatever we could find. But not “art.” My childhood friend (Pam) and I were always making things together and inspiring each other as children can.
I studied interior design privately with an AID Designer (Dorthea Seely Davis) and learned even more about putting together color, period style, fabrics, wallpaper and design. It was noted by my teacher that I am able to recall colors in my mind which she said was unusual. (DNA?) By this time I considered myself “artistic,” and would acknowledge that but would not identify myself as an “artist.”
Art: I started doing “art” when I returned to college as an adult. I was enrolled in the art therapy program (on an undergraduate level) and that is when, I would say, I began doing “art.” One of my majors was studio art. I preferred the three dimensional work: clay, fibers, and soft sculpture, but also took painting and design classes. At the final senior art exhibit I received Best in Show for an ikat weaving and honorable mention for a watercolor collage, and I sold a few clay and raku hand built pieces as well. I have never had the shoulder strength to throw.
Around this same time I was invited to illustrate publications for children through the Baha’i Publishing Trust, Chicago, Illinois. Over the years I have done many collages using cut paper for illustrations in: The Brilliant Star (including 3 covers), and the core curriculum story book series. Most recent illustration done in 2012, last year.
I also started a graphic rubber stamp company, Stampinks Unlimited. I worked with about 16 artists from all over the country who created images that were sold as rubber stamps through our mail order catalog. After about 10 years of being in business, when I was working on my Art Therapy Master’s thesis, doing clinicals and working full time at hospice, I had a dream that I needed to sell my business. I listened to my dream and subsequently sold it (within the week) to my youngest sister, E. Robin, who was one of my best and most prolific rubber stamp artists.
So I suppose this is the time of my life when I began to consider myself an artist. (When I was in my thirties.)
Art Therapy: About 8 years later I entered a Masters of Art in Art Therapy program. Within this curriculum art making was connected to every class, every paper, and every project. So I began doing art daily (which always increases ones abilities). During this time all of my art was in response to my learning, my life, my experiences, my feelings and my emotions. I loved it! I learned how to make art in a way that was deeply personal. My mastery of techniques improved but most importantly I began to trust myself. It was at this time that my art began to “flow.”
The artists that I have greatly admired over the years are Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Louise Nevelson, and many primitive artists. I have admired the work of and taken classes from many contemporary doll makers like Patti Culea, Eleanor Peace Bailey, Christine Shively, and Leslie Molen. Doll making is one of my most favorite art endeavors. I am continuing to strive to make original dolls of my own design and imagination.)
My favorite mediums are doll making, all kinds of collage (I recently became a trained SoulCollage facilitator), simple printmaking, tempera painting, watercolor and pastel, visual journaling, altered books and boxes. (Most of my photography has involved taking photographs of patient artwork but I do enjoy taking pictures as well.)
Do (did) you have a favorite art teacher? Why? What did you learn from them? My favorite art teacher…I would say all of the professors of my undergraduate art classes. No one stands out except perhaps Cynthia, my fibers and soft sculpture prof, (but sadly I can’t recall her last name). I learned that there is “no one right way” to do things. She helped me break down barriers of the “you should do it this way” of thinking. This was the biggest hurdle for me in created artwork. And she helped me immensely.
How old were you when you first thought of yourself as an artist? Do you consider yourself to be an artist today? Not specifically. I do recall that when I did art in grade school by the 3rd grade I believed that I was “not very good at it.”
What do you think about the ‘Artistic DNA’ in our family? Do you know of other families with so many being artistic? I do think we have creativity in our DNA. I also believe that we have a good deal of excellent craftsmanship in there as well. I believe we all have a pretty good eye. I think we get it from both patent’s sides. Mabel Helen Fenstimacher (spelling) Trauger, Grandpa’s mother’s family, were stained glass (church) window makers. (That is what her name means in German). Grandma’s father (Floyd Sears) was involved in the early photography scene and was a contemporary of Georgia O’Keefe’s husband, Alfred Stieglitz, and they lived in the same general area at the same time. (Grandpa Sears got side tracked with his drinking or he might have been a more successful photographer. He made films of his family and I recall a photograph that we had hanging in our home while we were growing up.) I approach everything in a creative manner and am always devising different ways of doing things.
So Stacey, I may think of more to say but I want to get this to you. I will try to find Grandma Trauger’s maiden name spelled correctly for you. I’ll check out your blog later today and try to find some photographs of my work to attach to another email.
Hope this is what you were looking for. If you want any clarification just email me.
Love you!
Aunt Barbie
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First Name: John Terry
Birth place/Year: 1944?
Currently living: Pasadena, CA
Relationship to Stacey: Uncle on her mother’s side
From the JPL website: http://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Trauger/
Dr. Trauger is developing high-contrast imaging techniques and mission concepts for the direct imaging of exo-planetary systems from space, including coronagraph design and implementation, deformable mirror technologies for active wavefront control, laboratory testbed demonstrations, and the inception of the High Contrast Imaging Testbed at JPL. He was Principal Investigator for the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope, and has served on various NASA HST, JWST, and ExEP science advisory groups.
John’s education includes a BA and a PhD both in Physics.
[Under Family Tree there are images John is credited with using the Hubble Space Telescope. For more information on John, see link above.]
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First Name: Evamae Robin
Birth place/Year: 1955
Currently living: Shortsville, NY
Relationship to Stacey: Aunt on her mother’s side
I reached out to my Aunt Robin, and sadly she did not respond. What information I have I gained, is from visiting her blog: rainbowzebragraphics.com.
Her “About” page reads:
“My name is Evamae Robin Allen. Most people call me Robin. I live in Shortsville, New York. I have had a hard time deciding what to write for my biography. Usually I start with I have a BA in Art and Design to prove that I am an “artist”…but most of my art experience was after I graduated. I enjoy looking at and creating art. I get inspiration looking at magazines, shopping, as well as my backyard. I find joy in things that sparkle or are pink. Rainbows and finding pennies helps me know everything will be ok. I have loved black and white since high school but it has been reflected more recently in my animal companions…black and white horse, miniature horse, cat and dog. Did I mention I like animals? My artwork often portrays the impossible to seem possible…like zebras flying. I hope you enjoy looking at my gallery.”
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All of them except one was sent via email. The one written was my mom. Her’s is enclosed as a file so you can read it in her own handwriting.
Patricia’s Interview
Mindfully Artistic 