Seven CFA Students to Present at 2023 President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence

By: Mahnoor Khan

Seven distinguished CFA students will present their outstanding research at the 2023 President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence. This year’s presenters are Sarah Kate Evans (BFA class of ’24), Bronson Leiro (BFA class of ’24), Luke Meunier (BA class of ’24), Andy Mills (BFA class of ’24), Will Pekins (BFA class of ’24), Anna Speer (BFA class of ’25), and Rheanne Walton (BA class of ‘24). 

Through poster and oral presentations, these IDEA Grant winners and undergraduate scholars from the Department of Art and School of Theatre will highlight creative activity, research, and innovation happening in the arts at Florida State. Their projects share the College of Fine Arts mission of highly innovative scholarship, creating, teaching, learning and serving the FSU community and beyond with passion and intellectual rigor. Supervising faculty mentors are Chari Arespacochaga, Carrie Ann Baade, Tra Bouscaren, Mona Bozorgi, Diane Roberts, and Kevin Curry. 

The President’s Showcase is sponsored by FSU’s Office of the President and the the Center for Undergraduate Research and Academic Engagement (CRE). It serves as the culmination of the IDEA Grant, Tech Fellows, and iGEM summer awards. This year, the showcase will celebrate a notable achievement for the Department of Art, which had the largest share of IDEA Grant winners in the university at 25 percent.

The work these students present does not end here. Many of the award recipients will continue their intellectual pursuits through honors theses, independent study projects, graduate research, and entrepreneurial and creative work, both on campus and beyond.

The showcase will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM in the FSU Student Union Ballrooms. 

Sarah Evans (BFA class of ’24)

SARAH KATE EVANS

Faculty Mentor: Carrie Ann Baade

Party People: Florida State Nightclub Culture as Modern-Day Ritual

IDEA GRANT Awardee

Sarah Kate Evans is a senior Bachelor of Fine Arts student with a concentration in painting. An Undergraduate Honors Thesis Candidate and Bess H. Ward Honors endowment recipient, Sarah investigates the popular mythology surrounding the collegiate nightclub scene and its role in modern youth culture, examining the influence of groupthink and wishful identification on modern representations of the self and the perpetuation of a culture of excess. Sarah’s work has been published in SIX magazine and the Kudzu Review.

Poster Presentation,

Ballroom D

Abstract:

Florida State University, like many other colleges in the US, is known to have an active nightlife scene and is often referred to as a “party school.” Frequent partying, drinking, “pregaming,” and clubbing are often entwined with participation in social groups and understood as a staple of youth culture, defining the “college experience.” From viral videos featured on @barstoolfsu and the social currency of drinking stories to unwritten dress codes and theme nights, the conventions of FSU nightclub culture are as coded as they are ubiquitous. Using crowded collage compositions, neon pigments, and glitter, my paintings echo the “anything goes” attitude of the setting. Synthetic colors and materials compounded with pop culture easter eggs and wild costumes illustrate the pervasive ideas of this sect of youth culture. Varied background interactions compose a greater nuanced narrative within the idealized chaos of the scene. Though the notions of freedom, homosocial bonding, and the creation of a social identity demonstrated by popular collegiate culture are matched by equal and opposite threats, the allure of the party scene keeps participants returning. With its unique visual language, the Florida State nightclub scene functions as a cult-like venue for the shared ideals of reckless abandon and euphoria. This series of narrative paintings examines the popular mythology surrounding the collegiate nightclub scene, depicting the idiosyncrasies of this ritual of modern youth culture.

Bronson Leiro (BFA class of ’24)

BRONSON LEIRO

Faculty Mentor: Tra Bouscaren

IDEA GRANT Awardee

Bronson Leiro is a senior in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Studio Art program. Primarily interested in filmmaking, he plans to incorporate multiple avenues of expression into cinematic experiences. He prioritizes healthy, sustainable creative processes. Much of his research pertains to finding and creating environmentally safe alternatives to the toxic materials previously used in his creations. Leiro was featured by the Digital Media Fab Lab for his rapid-prototyped Art Machine entitled “Blumen Pad”. An interactive “Exhibition” experience where viewers themselves are engaged with artmaking utilizing sound vibrations to create organic splatters of paint.

Poster Presentation,

Ballroom D

Abstract: 

This research project tackles the challenge of sustainability and toxicity in sculpture materials, with a focus on finding an alternative to concrete due to its harmful ingredients and environmental impact. Utilizing concrete exposes the maker to harmful substances and its future disposal will leach chemicals into the environment; along with the pollution already created from mining its components. Through extensive research, an innovative solution emerged: a novel material composed entirely of oyster shells. Although untested for construction, it proved structurally robust for sculptures, offering safety and eco friendliness in disposal and a healthier work environment. Further exploration revealed materials like concrete made from wood ash; intentionally impermanent, it is not only safe for the environment but beneficial. Plans are being processed to infuse wood ash concrete sculptures with native seeds and nutrients. The idea being that these sculptures will serve as art installations for limited time up-close viewing, to then be taken by the elements. My first intention was to make sure my sculptures did not harm the environment, and this has now evolved into works that can benefit the environment. Through the support of the IDEA Grant, great insight has been reached regarding responsible artistic creation, transforming the process into one that respects personal well-being and contributes positively to the environment.

Luke Meunier (BA class of ’24)

LUKE MEUNIER

Faculty Mentor: Mona Bozorgi

IDEA GRANT Awardee

Luke Meunier is a senior in the College of Fine Arts working towards his Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Photography. He has a specific interest in war, post traumatic stress disorder, and trauma due to service in the armed forces, his pieces manipulate scale through the use of figurines to recreate the dramatic and realistic scenes of war torn personalities. Luke is a part of the Honors in the Major Program as well as an IDEA Grant Recipient. Following graduation, he hopes to receive his Masters in Art Therapy to better serve Veterans in his community through art.

Artist Talk, 6:35 PM, Ballroom E

Poster Presentation, Ballroom D

Abstract: 

Carnage Captured is a project that I designed to honor the sacrifice of our veterans and represent the physical and mental toll that comes as a result of their service for our country. As the visibility of mental health grows, I want to shed greater light on a demographic that is often overlooked. Within this project, I conduct interviews with veterans in my local community to better understand their experiences and shed light on unforeseen aftermath active duty has on these vulnerable subjects. Photography is my chosen medium for this project, capturing staged photographs using toy soldier action figures. My work is meant to crucify the objectification of soldiers, often cast aside by society as mere statistics, and attempts to bring recognition to their traumatic experiences in hopes to bolster awareness of their needs for mental health support. As an artist, it is important to me to portray this concept in a way that doesn’t make light of what many have gone through in the past and what many may experience in the future. Furthermore, this project aims to explore the fracturing of the mind and body as a result of dramatic and horrific experiences through combat. These effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder are widespread and can vary as a result of the diversity found within contemporary conflicts. By shining a light on these heroes and what they continue to go through, I hope to educate my audience that the injuries they sustain are not simply physical.

Andy Mills (BFA class of  ’24)

ANDY MILLS

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Diane Roberts

Room to Grow and Other Stories

IDEA GRANT Awardee

Nancy Casper Hillis and Mark Hillis Undergraduate Research Awardee, Andy Mills is an interdisciplinary artist and writer from Tallahassee, Florida. They are interested in memory, rock and roll, poetry, and the transformative properties of the ocean. Their work has been published in The Eyrie, the Kudzu Review, SIX Magazine, and the Exposition Review, where they were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Additionally, their work has been included in exhibitions at LeMoyne Arts, the Greenville Museum of Art, and the Dorothy Uber Bryan Gallery at Bowling Green State University. They are pursuing a BFA in Creative Writing and Studio Art at Florida State University. They have interned for the Southeast Review and for Professor Lilian Garcia-Roig.

Oral Presentation, 6:15 – 6:30 PM, Ballroom C

Short Story Reading, 6:55 PM, Ballroom E

Abstract: 

The mid 20th century was a time of radical change within American culture. This period of time is defined by the Vietnam War and its many aftermaths, the rise of vibrant and explosive counter-cultures, the proliferation of images and information through mass media, struggles for liberation, shifting expectations of women, and changing norms around sexuality. None of these examples are separable; the changes are interconnected and led to a profound reconception of what it means to be a person living in America. This research project investigates the turbulent cultural developments of this period through five interconnected short pieces of fiction. When read together, the collection suggests the form of a novel. With an intimate, character-driven approach, I focus on providing readers with a rich sense of vast changes through personal stories. In producing this project, I used a two-pronged research model, utilizing both academic and artistic modes of investigation. The former consisted of historically-informed research which constitutes the study and analysis of both secondary sources and primary sources. The latter consisted of experiments with form, craft, language, and perspective. In the culminating collection, each story delves into a moment in time in the last four decades of the 20th century through a different lens and comes away with different, sometimes combating conclusions.

Will Pekins (BFA class of ’24)

WILL PEKINS

Faculty Mentor: Kevin Curry

Style Writing: The Current State of New York Graffiti

IDEA GRANT Awardee

Will Pekins is a multidisciplinary artist and senior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate. Through printmaking, painting, and sculpture, Will’s work explores the chaotic and fractured nature of his coming-of-age experience as a young graffiti writer. After graduating in the spring, he plans on moving back to New York City to continue his career as a Scenic Artist. This location will provide the ideal community for him to pursue his professional career while also continuing to develop his personal artwork as well.

Poster Presentation,

Ballroom D

Abstract: 

Graffiti can be seen everywhere throughout modern society. While most of us have encountered it in our day to day lives, few people find themselves interacting with the actual graffiti artists themselves. Through first-hand interactions and interviews with New York graffiti artists, this project explores the behind-the-scenes aspects of the art form to create a dialogue that analyzes the hidden social structure within. Through examination of their livelihoods and the motivational factors that drive these artists, my work provides a commentary on the contemporary condition of this often vilified art scene. The location of New York City bears much significance for this project as it is both the birthplace of graffiti and the epicenter of the art form to this day. By synthesizing my research into the form of an artist book, I aim to shed light on an under-studied artistic culture so as to further the dialogue with those on the “outside”.

Anna Speer (BFA class of ’25)

ANNA SPEER

Faculty Mentor: Carrie Ann Baade

REST (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy) and the Creative Process

IDEA GRANT Awardee 

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Anna Speer is a junior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate majoring in Studio Art. Primarily, Anna works with oil paint, but she also utilizes collage, printmaking, and various drawing mediums. Her past work is inspired by nostalgia and feelings of uncanny familiarity while simultaneously exploring atmosphere, isolation, and the unconscious through color and the use of recurring symbols and settings.

Artist Talk, 6:15 PM, Ballroom E

Oral Presentation, 6:55 – 7:10 PM, Ballroom C

Abstract: 

The minds of people today are extremely busy; stimulation never ceases and the consumption of media, especially among young people, is constant and overwhelming. The opposite of the extremely busy reality of the modern individual can be found through complete sensory deprivation. For my project, I will research how the consistent use of sensory deprivation float therapy (also referred to as Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy, or REST) can affect my creative practice. I am curious about how this experience could influence my mentality on a daily basis, as well as how it can affect my approach to ideation, techniques, and compositions for my paintings. Over the summer, I will be attending a one hour sensory deprivation session at a floatation therapy center two times a week for eight weeks and documenting my experiences with a series of five to six large oil paintings and sixteen small nonobjective pastel drawings. I will work on the paintings during and after the eight weeks, while the pastel drawings will be done immediately after the float (within the same hour) to visually capture my initial experience. My main goal for my research is to gain an understanding of whether or not periods of limited sensory input can serve as a catalyst for more frequent periods of creativity and productivity. Although my findings will be a personal narrative, I hope this project will contribute to a broader discourse regarding the relationship between sensory experiences and the dynamics of creativity.

Rheanne Walton (BA class of ‘24)

RHEANNE WALTON

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Chari Arespacochaga

A New Musical: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Rheanne Walton, originally from Lawrence, Kansas, will complete her dual degree in Theatre and Marketing this May, 2024. Throughout her life she has been writing music and plays and this project is her second one-act musical. Rheanne was inspired by The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, which she read in high school and which captured her imagination ever since. After graduation, Rheanne plans to get involved in corporate events and continue developing her musical, hopefully culminating in a world premiere.

Artist Talk, 7:35 PM, Ballroom E

Poster Presentation, Ballroom D

Abstract:

My project is a rock musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s novel The Picture of Dorian Gray centered on a modern queer high school storyline. I began my writing process researching the work of Stephen Sondheim, a prolific musical theatre composer. His book Finishing the Hat holds three tenets of musical theatre lyric writing: Content Dictates Form, Less is More, and God is in the Details which I strove to accomplish in my writing. Additionally, I researched popular musical adaptations that achieved what I was looking for including Shiek and Sater’s Spring Awakening, Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar. This summer, my goal was to complete an entire first draft of the piece by working on 2 songs or scenes per week. I made many discoveries this summer, and even changed the setting from college to high school. Throughout this process, I also latched onto what I most connected with about The Picture of Dorian Gray: side character Basil Hayworth’s queer longing for the beautiful Dorian Gray. I freed myself from a complete echo of the novel and centered on Basil. As of now, I continue to edit this draft in preparation for a reading this fall and another this spring before the completion of my Honors in the Major project.

Read the full program HERE.