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VISUAL RESOURCES AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY

16

THIS I BELIEVE

12

ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS DEFINE SERVICE

Bridge

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6VISUAL RESOURCES AND THE CREATIVE COMMUNITYUNITY

12 ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS DEFINE SERVICE

FEATURE ARTICLE

2 | Fall 2010

A MIAD class offers an experience for the community and students to work together.

Artists and Designers have great talents that can be shared through volunteering.

Visual Resources

This I Believe Article illustration by Leah Sablich

Cover | back cover Illustration by Leah Sablich

16THIS I BELIEVEFinding meaning and ones self in different locations.

MIAD Bridge | FALL 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEPARTMENTSS

10 REACHING OUT

11 SPRING BREAK

3 | Fall 2010

20 ART FOR OIL

21 FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE STUDIO

22 A SPECIAL THANKS

MIAD summer 2010 Pre-college

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

FEATURE ARTICLES

DEPARTMENT STORIES

QUOTES

IMAGES

4 | Fall 2010

MIAD Bridge | EDITORS NOTE

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Service is something that many do without putting a label on it. Students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design are required to do a minimum of 30 hours of community service. Students may choose a place to complete these hours.

This magazine focuses on how Artists and Designers can help the community with their talents. Students at MIAD contributed all of the the Articles and

Stories used in this magazine.

I used a graphic approach with lines to connect the different elements of the magazine together, much like how we are connected to our community. All the different pieces of the magazine are color-organized and connect back to a common line system, that allows the reader to easily find the particular section they are looking for.

Molly Simmons Radke

5 | Fall 2010

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7 | Fall 2010

During my relatively short time in the working world, I realized we must be creatively fit on a day-to-day basis. From August until May time has no meaning, just deadlines. Working all hours of the night doesn’t bother you when you realize the task at hand is nothing more than a challenge from one professional to another. However, with days of struggling for inspiration and grinding aimlessly though work, counting spreads or thumbnail drawings like a kid seems like the only thing getting you through the day.

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

BY KYLE BALDWIN

VISUAL RESOURCES AND THE

CREATIVE COMMUNITY

A MIAD class offers an experience for the community and students to work together in real life design projects; students learn valuable skills for the working design industry in Visual Resources.

Picture taken By Tanya Dhein

Student work from the Creative Fusion project in Visual Resources

8 | Fall 2010

driven students pursuing a career in the design industry. As professor of the only self-sustaining class at MIAD he accepts creative challenges from non-profit organizations from around the area and pushes the 8 students to solve these creative challenges by presenting design ideas to professionals. Students have the opportunity to get design solutions produced and to meet clients while creating valuable professional valuable relationships. However, there is a breath of fresh air in the city. While helping students within MIAD, Fran also contributes to the community. He does this by bringing young designers together with non-profit organizations that are in need of further marketing and advertising. Using his personable skills and charismatic personality, Fran not only teaches students about production issues designers must face on a daily basis but also connects them with outside organizations. This allows students to get a taste of the creative marketplace while letting organizations use the solutions produced within the group.

are a part of and try to give back. When looking directly at my life and inspirational designers surrounding the community I think about Visual Resources and Francis Balistreri. To most people within the community, Visual Resources is nothing but an odd name for a confusing class. However, for a select few within the design community it means much more. Currently enrolled as a Visual Resource student, I have known Francis Balistreri for two semesters. Starting off as a professor and student relationship he has become much more just a professor. Fran is a well-known designer and creative artist known for his radical thinking and passion for pushing the boundaries of design. Throughout the years he has worked with numerous professionals from various agencies all over the country. However, at MIAD many people have the pleasure of knowing Fran on a much more personal level. He no longer works solely as a professional designer, he instead has chosen to contribute his knowledge and design skills to teach

Then when we’re through the hard work block of April and May, restructuring for August and September seems difficult. Going into these months giving a huge push through the following months when people are worn out from a mismanaged year of tough work. At this time every single day you don’t have the energy to embark on new ventures like starting a new website. By the time the holidays come around, you can kick back and recover for the following year. Best of all is that by now you’re feeling fresh and can enjoy a good creative season, not having burnt yourself out working at 100% effort 24/7/365. However, graphic design is not an independent field; it is a collaboration of minds within a community of creativity. Creative community. What does it mean to be a part of a creative community? In today’s world it seems everyone is looking out for number one. What is best for you? Many people find themselves going though their lives looking out for themselves. Sometimes it’s hard to stop and look around at the community we

Student design work from the Visual Resouce class

project the graducation/senior thesis materials

“What does it mean to be a part of a

creative community?“

9 | Fall 2010

Many organizations would never be able to afford professional design unless a supportive designer like Fran was there for them to reach out to. He provides a much-needed service to the community by establishing relationships between creative students and driven organizations. Knowing Fran has allowed me to find my place as a confident designer at MIAD. He takes time out of his schedule to devote himself to any and all students who reach out to him. He enjoys spending time with students and his love for the class is overwhelming and intoxicating. On a personal level, being a part of Visual Resources has been one of the best experiences of my MIAD career. It forces you to push the boundaries of design while at the same time communicating a specific goal clearly for a client with a limited budget. It is an extremely rewarding experience that brings unity to the community and helps all involved.

“ While helping students within MIAD, Fran also contributes to the community.”

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

Student design work from the Visual Resource class

Visual Resource student Katie does final touch ups for her presentation.

Francis Balistreri teaching the VR class

Headline As a student at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, I have learned what a school can do to create a community within its walls. Classes, programs, majors, minors; they all combine to build report between individuals and groups. This idea of building and growing is what MIAD does within its walls, but it doesn’t stop there. MIAD continually reaches out to the greater community and helps to build relationships that are equally important. Of these outreach programs, MIAD’s Pre-College creates a bond with high school students and gives them an opportunity to view art as a profession.

Creating bonds between high school kids and MIAD starts in the fall of any given school year. These classes vary from simple figure drawing, to more in-depth and focused class, such as drawing for portfolio or advertising design. Often times these new interests or developing talents grow into a larger desire to pursue a career in the arts. MIAD’s curriculum is set up to transition incoming students from their studies in high school to their college career. Many of the skills previewed in pre-college are focused on in foundations studies, and continue to help the youth decide on a particular field of study.

Majors vary from Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Illustration, Photography, Interior Architecture, Industrial Design, and Communication Design. MIAD is dedicated to reaching out to the Milwaukee area’s high schools. The pre-college program has been helping students find themselves and pick careers for over a decade, and the program has been growing ever since. Hundreds of high school students are exposed to MIAD’s dedication to their curriculum and learning environment, and many of these students go on to study full time.

WWW.MIAD.EDU FOR MORE IN-DEPTH

REACHING OUT TO MILWAUKEE’S HIGH SCHOOLS:

MIAD PRE-COLLEGEBY: ERIC WHITE

MIAD Bridge | DEPARTMENT | REACHING OUT

Summer pre-college 2010 figure drawing students hard at work

MIAD Pre-College helps High School Students find their talents in art, and develop their portfolios.

REACHING OUT TO MILWAUKEE’S HIGH SCHOOLS:

MIAD PRE-COLLEGE

MIAD Bridge | DEPARTMENT | SERVICE EXPERIANCE

11 | Fall 2010

MIAD SPRING BREAK

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TRIP

Taking the strong MIAD foundation on the road, to volunteer in communities of need.

BY: RENAE BASTAR

Students working on the Habitat for Humanity house in Tennessee

Habitat for Humanity house in Tennessee 2009

Students always look forward to vacations during the school year, and one of the most popular is spring break. The majority of people would think the vocabulary for “spring break” includes; beaches, sun, relaxing, suntan, drinks, and partying. For a group of MIAD students who volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, spring break has a slightly different definition than its typical understanding. This group of students main goal on their vacation is to help people in need build homes. The first MIAD Spring Break Habitat for Humanity trip took place in 2008 and the tradition has been going strong ever since. That group of students took a road trip to the Smokey Mountains of Oakridge, Tennessee. Since then students have also traveled out west to Cody, Wyoming in 2009, and to the “birthplace of blues” Tutwiler, Mississippi in 2010. It all started when a group of six students from MIAD wanted to travel

somewhere for spring break, but wanted to do more than satisfy themselves with a week off from school. They all decided they wanted to volunteer for a week in an area that wasn’t familiar to them, where they could learn new things. Habitat for Humanity came to mind, because of their wide range of locations and their renowned efforts to create simple, decent, and affordable housing for people in need. This opportunity would not only broaden the MIAD community and skills of the students, but also it would broaden the student’s knowledge of the area and understanding of volunteer work. During the Habitat for Humanity trips MIAD students have experienced what it takes to build a house, and how fast and easy it can be if many people are willing to join in on the fun. Some tasks students have learned during their time volunteering for Habitat are the basics of construction, creating a foundation, installing roofing, siding, windows,

flooring, cabinets, lighting, dry wall, plastering, and painting. All of these volunteer efforts have helped people who had very poor living conditions to enjoy a nice, warm, money-conscious place called home. Spring break will be here before you know it! What better way is there to spend it than volunteering your time helping someone else? Get your work boots and hard hat on this spring break!

For more information about

the upcoming 2011

MIAD Habitat for Humanity trip contact:

RICKY HELDT AT RHELDT@MIAD.EDU

12 | Fall 2010

BY: MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE

Artists and designers have great talents that can be shared through volunteering. There are many ways these talents can be shared in communities to better the lives of citizens, as well as yourself.

ARTISTS & DESIGNERS

DEFINE SERVICE

What is service? Why is it important? How could sharing your talents help others? Why should artists and designers do service? Well, there is no simple answer to any of those questions. People choose to do community service for a number of different reasons. Some people volunteer to build their own self-esteem, to make themselves feel better, to feel needed, or to feel that they have a place in this world. Others do service because they truly feel like they are making a contribution to society, making the world a slightly better place. Many do community service because at one time they remember what it was like to need the help of someone else, and now they want to give something back to people who are in that position of need.

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

13 | Fall 2010

BY: MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE

“How can Artists and Designers help the community?“

There are many ways that people can get involved in service in their community. Artists and designers can do service in the neighborhood in which they live, perhaps working at a community center teaching classes, or helping the city commerce committee with some logo design work. Artists and designers can share their talents with others, and as a side benefit they can grow as an artist and designer; they gain experience with each project. Doing service locally can help keep an artist in touch with their community; it can help an artist to better know the area they live in and to gain a better understanding of what is important to the community and the people who live there. Another side benefit of knowing the community better is that you gain a sense of knowing your audience better. An additional reason to get involved in your own community is the networking component; you meet new people who may have business for you on another professional level. Directing your creative energy to help someone or a group; how could the task you’re doing help others & help yourself as well? Taking time away from your work and yourself will help recharge you, and clear your head. Doing art design as service work may force you to try something new and different that could actually help your professional work in the end.

Where one does their service can be art related or non-art related, so some artists/designers may choose to get a break from their everyday activities and try something completely different. It may be more rewarding to try something that is challenging (and different than art); there are so many good organizations that just need good-hearted people to lend a hand. At MIAD, all students are required to take a service class and complete 30 hours of service. Each student is given a choice of the place they want to complete their service hours, and where they think they will learn the most during the course of the semester. Many wonder why do we have to do service? How does this relate to my major? I think the service hours we complete are valuable to both us and to the service organizations. The organizations get much-needed help and we get experience. When we do service at non-profits organizations they benefit from our talents and skills (and we get the realization that not all design work has to be commercial). The main thing to keep in mind when starting any volunteer service is to know the mission/purpose of the organization you will be helping. If their mission inspires you to get involved it will be a much more meaningful

14 | Fall 2010

camp black hawkgrowing powermilwaukee histortical societyurban ecology centertrue skool

fit for both parties. You also have to be realistic in your expectations: about the actual time commitment, and the amount of work needed to be accomplished. Know your own limitations; don’t commit to do more than you have time to accomplish, or promise things that you are not able to finish. Doing service shouldn’t burn you out, but should give you satisfaction. Each experience can add to a person’s chaacter, and each experience helps to make us who we are. If we do good things for others, good things will happen in return. Remember, any contributions you make, big or small, will be beneficial; you will get as much out of the experience as you put into it.

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

15 | Fall 2010

“Directing your creative energyto help someone.”

PLACES MIAD STUDENTS DO COMMUNITY SERVICE

Camp Black HawkGrowing Power

Milwaukee Historical SocietyUrban Ecology Center

Betty Brinn Childrens MuseumNorthcott Community Center

Northshore Academy of the ArtsOakton Manor

On Ramp Children’s Hospital

True SkoolGuest House

Habitat for HumanityIndependence First

Milwaukee State Detention FacilityMilwaukee Women’s Center

Milwaukee Youth TheatreUnited Community Center

Urban Day SchoolRiverwest Cooperative Housing

Roosevelt Middle School of the ArtsBig Brothers. Big Sisters

Girl ScoutsGrand Avenue Club

Eisner MuseumRural Land Cleanup

Salvation Army Emergency LodgeSchlitz Audubon Nature Center

Second HarvestSection Elementary School

SHAREArtists Working in Education

Elm Creative Arts Elementary SchoolCass Street School

AVE Campus MinistriesBarnswallow Center

DaystarDiscovery World

Milwaukee Rescue MissionMilwaukee School of Languages

MS Accelerated Cure ProjectNational Abortion Rights Action League

Neighborhood HouseMitchell Park Domes

Youth Network CounciNext Door Foundation

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A MIAD student looking to find her sence of belonging goes to a seven-week summer camp in hope to comes back to MIAD and Milwaukee with a new outlook.

THIS I BELIEVE

BY: LESLEY ETTERSILLUSTRATION BY LEAH SABLICH

I believe that where you are is where you’re meant to be, or as the Beatles said: “There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.” I vividly remember watching my dad dance around our living room to the Beatles’ “All you need is Love” when I was 10 years old. Humans innately look for a place of belonging, a place that they can call home, a meant-to-be place. When I came to Milwaukee to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design my freshman year in 2007, I did not feel this way.

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

“There’s nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”

-The Beatles

I felt confused in my classes, frustrated I wasn’t making many friends, barely got along with my roommate, sad to be so far away from my friends and family, restless in the city, and mad that I chose to come to this school in this place. These thoughts continued to anchor themselves my Sophomore year. I did not feel any sense of home in my new apartment and lacked any form of a family. I would travel back to my hometown on the weekends whenever possible to feel my spot of “belonging.” I left Milwaukee at the end of my Sophomore year sure that I would transfer to a different school, a place I belonged, because this was “not where I was meant to be.” I had no idea of what the summer would hold and how much it would change me.

I spent the next seven weeks at my childhood summer camp in Northern Wisconsin as a girls camp counselor and trip leader where every day helped me see what the Beatles and my dad dancing meant. Living in a cabin of ten nine year old girls, I saw them struggle on our camping trips, get frustrated with their nine new roommates, and cry from feeling homesick. I helped each and everyone one them get over their hardships of being away from home; in the process I realized more and more everyday that I was helping myself. I would tell the girls if they continued to be stubborn: “Well, you’re here for 4 more weeks, so you can either complain about it or take advantage of the amazing opportunities you are given and have the best month of your life- It is possible,

actually more than possible, to live in the place you are, no matter what. And, in being in the place of the moment one finds love, or others and of self” it was through that repetition that made me realize that in Milwaukee, at MIAD, was exactly where I was meant to be in this particular time in my life. I believe that everything happens for a reason and though we may not know it at the time, knowing that there is not much you can do about some things actually helps. You can keep changing your situation and keep trying to find your mold, or you can make the best of the one you already have for the time being. I came back to school and Milwaukee with a whole new attitude and outlook. I am now best friends with my old roommate, have learned to love

“I would travel back to my hometown on the weekends

whenever possible to feel my spot of ‘belonging’.”

MIAD Bridge | FEATURE ARTICLE

the city, and seem to never go back “home” these days. I am still looking forward to the future, to moving away and experiencing new places and people but I believe that I am exactly in the right place at the right time wherever I am and whenever it is, because the time and place shape who I am becoming, because there is nowhere I can be that isn’t where I’m meant to be.

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“I came back to school and Milwaukee with a whole new

attitude and outlook.”

HeadlineOn April 20, 2010 there was a great oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon caught fire and exploded. Swiss-based Transocean Ltd. Owned the Deepwater Horizon and leased the rig to UK-based BP PLC. The 56-million gallon oil spill created environmental and political dilemmas and has led to the largest natural disaster in United States history. When reading many articles about the disaster, writers put the main focus on how it is affecting tourism and people who live and work near the coast, forgetting how it is affecting natural habitat. According to federal authorities at Associated Press, nearly 800 dead birds, sea turtles, dolphins, and other animals have been found in the Gulf and on its shores. At MIAD, we have many enthusiastic artists who are eager to help out in their community. Sometimes students reach farther than just the community by helping out with issues in the environment. Alex Perez, a painting major at MIAD, set up an art show called Art for Oil to help raise money for the clean up in the Gulf of Mexico. Art for Oil featured eleven artists whose work ranges from these categories: Printmaking, painting, photography, drawing, handmade, and digital artwork. Alex was inspired to start Art For Oil after she was given the

ART FOR OILBY: BRITTANY PATZ

MIAD Bridge | DEPARTMENT | HELPING WITH ART

MIAD student starts up art show to help with a good cause.

opportunity to put on an art show. She was also able to help others in the mean time. Her intentions were not only to help clean up the oil spill but also to support injured and disabled seabirds due to oil pollution. Alex states, “By purchasing an art piece through the show, you are supporting a young and upcoming local artist and also helping save the lives of wildlife struggling in some very important ecosystems.” All donations go towards the National Audubon Society and Save Our Seabird, Inc. Alex Perez brought together not only students from MIAD but also Chicago, Madison, Indiana, and Massachusetts. The artists from MIAD that donated their creative pieces are Alex Perez, Autumn Clark, Janson Rapisarda, Lilly Duermeier, and Nate Pyper. Other creative pieces donated were produced by: Erick Fruehling, Jeff Herwig, Erik Johnson, NERS, Cassandra Warren, and Lindsay Woods. These artists spent long hours on these pieces that they donated to help support the cause. They wanted this show to provide proof that art can make a impact. Alex really believes that this will make a difference since the community will be exposed to different styles of art not only from MIAD but also other artists from around the United States. She has set up a tumblr site for people to view and purchase artwork still available from the art show at artforoil.tumblr.com.

20 | Fall 2010Student artwork from the “Art for Oil” Show

Janson Rapisarda

Janson Rapisarda

Eric Johnson

MIAD Bridge | DEPARTMENT | STUDENTS SERVICE EXPERIANCE

21 | Fall 2010

FROM THE

CLASSROOM TO THE STUDIOBY: NATASHA DYER

In a one on one interview I chatted with MIAD grad, Jace Rauman, a Communication Design Major. Jace is a real down to earth kind of guy and he was more than happy to accept this interview. I focused around his experience at MIAD and his community service, and I also asked him about the job market and what advice he could give to those of us who are still transitioning through MIAD, and even to the future prospective students. Jace now works full time at Jockey International in Kenosha (WI) as a graphic designer. While at MIAD Jace volunteered his time as an assistant coach for a youth lacrosse team in Whitefish Bay. He said that he is currently looking into helping a team in the Milwaukee area. While making a difference with youth teams, teaching them life lessons, in addition to getting better at the sport, Jace said that he too walked away with valued skills. With volunteering to coach he was able to hone in on leadership skills. “I’m a pretty shy person, but coaching made me a better public speaker, and better at approaching people for information.” Overall, he said his participation helped to build his confidence. Jace also shared information that he would have liked to know during his career at MIAD. Jace said, “After graduation from MIAD you are 100% on your own so anything you do with service in the community or any

connections you make are only going to help you go further in the field of design.” It opens many avenues - even talking to people at concerts, bars, or any number of social events can help you find freelance opportunities. He stressed learning as much as you can; “if you only learn what MIAD teaches, you are for sure hindering yourself from possibilities. Learning different programs and venturing into every aspect of design will help you define yourself as a designer.” Jace said that now it seems like every employer wants a “jack of all trades,” it’s only going to help you after graduation if you are a well-rounded designer. He said, even learning a little of something you normally don’t do will go a long way in the real world. Lastly he said “try and become friends with everyone at MIAD, even if it’s someone to turn to if you need help with a project.” He said that he remembers numerous times where he wished he knew a photo student well enough to ask them for help with a project. “These people are good resources after school too- it seems a lot of people stay in the Milwaukee area at least for a little while after graduation, so it’s to your benefit to know a lot of people. Plus it’s more about who you know anyway.” So make as many friends and networks as possible, because when we are out of school these people will become the

back bone for your career in whatever you do. While much of Jace’s advice goes without saying, the four years will go fast, and when they are over we don’t want to look back and say “man I wish

I did more, and tried different things.” So work hard, learn a lot, but most importantly make friends and build lasting connections.

How service helped a MIAD student gain confidence.

Photo of Jace Rauman Picture taken By Juan F. Hernandez

A SPECIALTHANKS

FEATURE ARTICLES

DEPARTMENT STORIES

QUOTES

IMAGES

22 | Fall 2010

EDITOR - MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE

PUBLISHER - MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE

CREATIVE DIRECTOR - ANNE GHORY-GOODMAN

ART DIRECTOR - MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE

PHOTOGRAPY - MOLLY SIMMONS RADKE TANYA DHEIN JUAN F. HERNANDEZ

ILLUSTRATIONS - LEAH SABLICH

TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

MIAD Bridge | CONTRIBUTORS

23 | Fall 2010

CONTRIBUTORS

KYLE BALDWIN

ERIC WHITE

RENAE BASTAR

LESLEY ETTERS

BRITTANY PATZ

NATASHA DYER

BridgeSERVICE.MIAD.EDU