MICA Art Walk 2019

With delight and pride, we returned to Baltimore recently for our daughter Daisy Braun’s culmination of four fruitful years of study at Maryland Institute College of Art. We heard many, many phone calls about the obstacles and stress of getting through the demands of a rigorous program. Recognizing the hard parts, it’s gratifying to see Daisy’s work mature and manifest. Students made proposals for their thesis installations. Daisy printed this of hers:

She was granted the space she wanted, a classroom in the Interdisciplinary Sculpture major in the Station building. She shared it with her classmate, Fanni Somogyi. They designed this announcement, Fanni’s sculpture on the left, Daisy’s sculpture on the right, as photographed in MICA’s Annual Benefit Fashion Show in April, which I blogged about HERE.

They called their combined installation Colocated Current; both are interested in networks and connections, the web of life.

They completely transformed the space, Fanni’s work rooted on the tiled floor, Daisy’s suspended from the ceiling or activated by models, bathed in glowing light. Each of them eagerly discussed their work on opening night, May 17.

Below in the foreground is Fanni’s piece titled Sprue Systems, made with steel, aluminum, silica shell, and foundry sand.

Below is Fanni’s Archaic Image Building Forward, made with the same materials.

Their individual works combined for a fascinating symbiosis of multi-layered forms.

In the foreground below is Daisy’s Exoskeleton (small silk drifter) made with reed, silk organza, and baker’s string. She applied for a micro grant in order to pay models to activate some of the sculptures during the opening night and for a few hours during the rest of the exhibit, which ran through Monday, May 20.

Down the hall Daisy’s roommate and Fibers major, Ellie MacInnes, featured delightful work that appeared in MICA’s recent event, You Are Here.

Ellie transformed a computer lab into a dreamy hall of garments with exquisite detailing of ruffles, bows, and loops, hanging from shower bars as if in a pastel chamber of intimate choices.

We wandered all through Station finding Daisy’s classmates’ work.

Annie Kwon created a room of sculpture and video, lined by a repeating pattern she designed.

The variety of fabrication here is incredible, each searching to translate her heritage.

In a nearby gallery, Fibers majors displayed color and engagement.

Miles Barnett designed a unique bicycle for carrying loads.

I loved the vibrant signature of doodling found in Alexa Johnson’s work, that combined textiles and printmaking that emerged from a solid sketchbook practice. This is a large work, and yes, those are Marty’s feet at the bottom.

Also impressive was a room shared by Andrea Barnes and Madeline Lavosky. I loved Andrea’s use of masks and garments, and all the narrative elements drawn on the walls and windows.

We circled back to Daisy’s gallery.

And just in time to meet Pooneh Maghazehe, Daisy’s thesis professor last semester!

Small world surprise: her partner is the nephew of former Peaks Islander, Pamela Paparone. They visited our little rock about five years ago, before either Pooneh or Daisy were at MICA. Island life casts a wide net.

As the evening came to a close, we met Daisy’s thesis professor during her final semester, David Brooks.

Daisy headed to a senior party and we passed by what we call the Iceberg on our way to our hotel. What a night!

We picked Daisy up on Saturday at her Eutaw Place apartment, soon to be vacated.

After brunch at our fave spot, we returned for more Art Walk. While a single model performed, Daisy talked with her art history professor Joan Watson.

For awhile we just enjoyed the shade outside Mt. Royal Station near the railroad tracks.

We visited the Fox Building that houses many majors including printmaking, animation, illustration, and graphic design. Below is a mixed media piece by Jackson Kramer.

With 90 seniors, the Illustration program is the largest at MICA. Everyone made great use of limited space!

This black and white display really stood out, by Kaede Kojima.

Daisy’s sculpture classmate, Glen Smakula created a fantastic stop-motion animation with his carved puppetry and environment also on display. Plus a sweet banjo soundtrack!

Sunday morning we met the Kwon family at Red Emma’s for brunch and continued our Art Walk adventures.

We saw more more more work at Fox, now swarmed with incoming families. We met Jayde Xu, and enjoyed her painterly animations.

Here Alex gives a talk regarding their Animalia research into classification systems.

We stopped in Bunting, to see Daisy’s part in Unsaid, Original Research in the Humanities, required of her dual degree in Humanistic Studies. She gave a talk in April that condensed her paper, Messages for Future Humans about the history of long-term images, notably the nuclear waste warnings designed by the U.S. Government.

We ran into the Minter family, celebrating their son Azari’s work nearby. He created the mesmerizing interactive environment on screen behind himself and his aunt. Bravo!

Such a blessing to run into our Maine neighbors!

We followed Daisy back to Station, where her three models, James, Kristen, and Moira, were back at it.

Daisy met her model, MICA rising junior Kristen Tapia, in the Benefit Fashion Show, and we loved her Contigo collection.

Back to more Art Walk, so much to see, not enough time. Kurt Guo’s work, a Photography and Humanistic Studies graduate from Beijing, focused on the topic of massive surveillance and social control.

Sarina Angell’s fiber gown floating in the sunshine in the Brown Building was beyond dreamy.

We spied President Sammy Hoi taking in Art Walk, too.

After some restorative libation at The Brass Tap, we returned for MICA’s Film and Video Senior Thesis screening.

All compelling films, especially those by Theo Spaulding Gray, Patrick Montegna, Cassandra Fayorsey, and ReAnn Orr.

Monday was the big day: commencement! I drew the fauna in the courtyard at our hotel to calm myself.

We snuck in half an hour of Art Walk at the Main Building before Daisy donned her regalia.

It began with a big hug from True, her faculty advisor.

The ceremony was held at the nearby Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. So many proud families trying to wave to their loved ones.

After honorary doctorates were awarded to Tehching Hsieh, Howardena Pindell, Anne Perkins, and MICA alum Abbi Jacobsen, the grads had their turn on stage. Finally, Daisy’s handshake with Sammy!

Daisy Braun, BFA candidate in Integrative Humanistic Studies and Interdisciplinary Sculpture, cum laude, is greeted by MICA President Sammy Hoi, March 20, 2019

Smiles all around!

MICA class of 2019: Fanni Somogyi, Daisy Braun, Annie Kwon

After a breezy reception, Ellie and Daisy wanted to see more art.

There was all manner of fascination, including opossum bones in this sumptuous display of nature objects.

Interdisciplinary artist Nguyen The Vu Bao distilled evidence and memories from their grandmother’s chapter in the North Vietnam Army.

We then celebrated our graduates with the MacInnes family at City Cafe. So much joy!

With no time to exhale, we rented a U Haul in the morning and all seniors began their tedious de-install.

When we were nearly done the following day, a visit to Cosima was sweet reward.

It’s always a treat to see our dear friend, Donna Crivello! Thanks, Donna, for feeding our souls for the long haul ahead.

We bid Ellie farewell, and hit the road.

With an unexpected detour over back roads in the County, a few more to avoid low bridges, we made our way to CT in 10 hours, intact.

Thankfully dear friends, Annie and Dave Joly, welcomed us with bleary eyes at almost 11 PM.

I managed to sketch in the morning for my #100dayproject.

We made it to Casco Bay Lines and sailed over choppy seas. Home at last on Peaks Island!

After unloading, we slept like logs. In the morning Marty brought the truck back to U Haul in Portland behind our neighbor, Andy Jackson.

That’s a wrap! It may take awhile to unpack all the art, books, good times, and incredible memories of MICA, but we will savor this milestone for life. Congratulations, Daisy!