By Truett Jackson
Staff Reporter
Students from CNM’”s art department are celebrating the completion of the capstone to their degree. The Portfolio Development course, instructed by Rachel Popowcer, empowers students in the business side of art and enables students to begin their careers as professionals.
On a breezy Friday evening in late March, the graduating class exhibited their completed works in CNM’”s gallery at Main Campus in a display they have named Behind Closed Eyes.
“It really is the business of being an artist,” said Ms. Popowcer. “I take them on field trips to galleries, we talk about social media, we talk about how to put together your portfolio, we do the bio and artist statement, then I proofread and edit that.”
She said that she enjoys helping students gain the knowledge and confidence they can use to know their worth as an artist. Doing an oral artist presentation for their entire class and consolidating their work into a focused series is part of that process.
“It has to be a series, because that’s part of also being a professional artist, is starting to focus in on your work,” she explained, “starting to hone in a little bit more on theme and what they want to do with a series of art, so that they can start to apply to things.”
She encourages them not to pigeonhole themselves, but also to define who and what they are as an artist. “My goal is to help them consolidate all their artistic information into something that they can go out into the world with professionally. A student from last semester got into a gallery, and it was so easy for him because he had everything that he needed.”
“This class has really helped me to focus more on my art, and to prepare and organize everything,” said Fakhrossadat Zarifkarfard, who hails from Shiraz, Iran. “It’s very helpful for me, this class.” She said, explaining the Persian influences in her art and the gorgeous frames from her homeland she has displayed her work in. “It’s my first work, and I love them.”
Briana Lee has become more assured in her work since coming to CNM. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” she said, showing her mixed-media collage, Majestic Being. “It’s finally let me show my work, instead of keeping it hidden away.”
“I started out with a series of eight”, said Gerry Beard of their work, When the Music Died. “The whole theme of all of them is events, whether natural or man-made, which basically caused the music to stop… culture to stop.”
Beard explores the impact of events such as the 9/11 attack, the bombing of Hiroshima, and other heart-stopping events in history. “That’s Buddy Holly’s plane crash,” she explained of one particularly harrowing scene. “I was collecting a bunch of reference photos, but some of them showed bodies, so I just put guitars instead.”
Aaron Schmidt, who designed the poster art for Behind Closed Eyes, has shown particular growth, despite being an accomplished artist prior to the program. “Rachel really helped me because she pushed me to try oil painting,” they said. “I’ve been painting with acrylics for probably six or seven years, but I’ve never really delved into oil painting.”
They said that learning the business side of art has been an invaluable experience, and that having such a dedicated professor makes a huge impact. “She’s helped a lot with that. Also, doing the technical stuff, like putting together and artist bio and other things you need to have as a professional artist.”
Schmidt said that it is an exciting time to be a talented newcomer in Albuquerque’s art scene. “I think it’s definitely growing,” they said. “When I first started doing art and taking it seriously, it was quite a bit smaller.”
With the culmination of their student art career at an end, it is an exciting, yet bittersweet time for the students and instructors in Ken Chappy Hall. Many have had years-long relationships with their peers and professors.
“About half of the class I’ve had as students before,” remarked Popowcer as she readies to send her fledgling expert artisans out into the world. “It’s nice to see the evolution, and I like having a continuing relationship with my students, who are wonderful.” Behind Closed Eyes can be experienced at CNM’”s Main Campus art gallery, in KC Building, Room 103. Call 505-224-3000 for more info.
