Geisel School of Medicine Celebrates Artwork Honoring the Abenaki People

By in Native

Geisel School of Medicine Celebrates Artwork Honoring the Abenaki People

On Tuesday, Nov. 14, Project HEAL, part of Geisel School of Medicine’s chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS), unveiled a new work of art honoring the Abenaki people of the Upper Valley.

Welcoming everyone to this special community celebration, Geisel Dean Duane Compton, PhD, acknowledged the importance of the artwork in recognizing the Abenaki and Wabanaki, and thanked GHHS for their commitment to Project HEAL, Amal Cheema’24 and Arvind Suresh MED’23 for their leadership of this project, as well as Shawn O’Leary and members of the Abenaki Elder’s Council in attendance.

Before introducing the artist—Mateo Tlakuilkoatl Silva ’26, a Dartmouth undergraduate—Cheema expressed deep gratitude to those in attendance and explained that Project HEAL, health, education, art, and lives, was founded to promote anti-racism and critical self-reflection in both the Upper Valley and medical school through art, education, and advocacy.

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Photos by Rob Strong

Last year, “when considering what artwork could spur critical self-reflection, our group readily identified the need for a sustained acknowledgment of Native and Indigenous peoples, including the Abenaki and Wabanaki,” Cheema said.

“It is my hope that Geisel students will look upon this painting and be reminded of how they could use the privilege of their education and social position to advocate for greater representation, learn with Native communities, address health inequities and disparities in both care and system, and practice medicine compassionately in respect for history, culture, and heritage.”

Prior to unveiling his artwork, Silva talked about his open relationship with Abenaki elders—seeking their guidance while ensuring respect for all those involved throughout the creative process. He thanked everyone for attending the unveiling celebration, for inviting him to be part of their story, and hopes it will inspire people to reflect on how they live their lives.

“This artwork portrays the Abenaki as a vibrant, contemporary community with enduring values and traditions,” Silva said. He also hopes the painting encourages introspection about the kind of community Geisel aspires to be. “Geisel’s focus on medical education aligns with the healing aspects of Indigenous culture and offers an opportunity for the school to lead in bridging Western and Indigenous medical knowledge,” he said.

Amal Cheema plaque
Plaque made by Amal Cheema in Dartmouth’s woodshop

He also acknowledged not everyone will like the painting. “I hope this makes people think about how to live their lives, how to be stewards of this land, and how this land is taking care of us, which Indigenous people learn from birth. For Indigenous people medicine is community, music, art, family, and respect,” Silva said.

O’Leary, director of diversity, inclusive, and community engagement, said it was an honor and pleasure to work with Silva and appreciated his thoughtful approached to the artwork, which he described as powerful.

The artwork now hangs in Remsen 3 for all to see. Next to the work is a wooden plaque made by Cheema in Dartmouth’s woodworking shop.

2023 Modern Gift Ideas From Editor-in-Chief Caroline Williamson

By in Design

2023 Modern Gift Ideas From Editor-in-Chief Caroline Williamson

When coming up with gift ideas, I tend to think long and hard to make sure it’s something I really want and that I’ll actually enjoy. I have to really envision using something before I even think about asking for it so it doesn’t become clutter in my small apartment. I also don’t want anyone’s hard earned money to go to waste if it’s something I end up not needing. That said, my gift ideas are generally all over the place, from things I really want and wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself to practical asks of things I need. Below you’ll find a sampling of ideas that have popped up on at least one year’s wish list, if not more!

I don’t know if it’s the delightful color choices, the stripes, or the nostalgic nod to the old test patterns shown on TV way back in the day when a show wasn’t being broadcast, but I love this soap. It’s handmade with glycerine in small batches featuring eight stripes of vibrant colors with a fresh, light scent that has top notes of sweet basil, peppermint leaf, and flower buds.

dimly lit glass globe ball light

The 14 Series originally launched in 2005, but Bocci just recently transformed the ball-shaped design into a portable, candle-like light. Two poured-glass domes come together and filter light through three ambient light settings. It would be so easy to bring this lamp outside for dinner under the stars, set it on your bathroom counter while taking a bath, or leaving it bedside for an elegant nightlight. The imperfect glass casts a rippled, watery glow that anyone would love to carry around to elevate their life at a moment’s notice.

orange and white modern turntable

As someone who is a lifelong fan of vinyl, I’m always intrigued by all the new turntables that come out and this one really caught my eye. If you know someone with limited space that loves playing records like me, you’ll want to get them this 2-in-1 set. Not only is it a visually impressive design, it’s clever in that a portable Bluetooth speaker pops out from the turntable allowing one to listen to vinyl anywhere in their home. The overall design itself is so compact that it can also be considered portable and moved to any room one might want to take it. If orange isn’t their thing, the Hym Duo also comes in neon yellow and an all-black versions.

angled closeup of knurled black cabinet pull knots

Over the years, I’ve been slowly making upgrades to my apartment and next on my list is my small kitchen. I figured I can’t be the only one on the hunt for small but mighty ideas to overhaul a space without gutting it. They may fit in the palm of your hand but these cross-knurl knobs will transform any kitchen cabinet (or furniture piece). It’s like when you add a necklace or pair of earrings and it making your outfit, these knobs will definitely make your kitchen or bathroom that much better. I’m sure we all know someone who has recently moved into a new space or they’re trying to pull together a renovation. Help them out by contributing a pair (or enough for every drawer and cabinet) to elevate the heart of their home.

angled view of silver ring that resembles a twist tie

When you were a kid, did you ever snag the randomly found twist tie from the loaf of bread and pretend it was a ring? Well, I did and this sterling silver rendition brings it all back! It comes in sizes 4 – 9 with each size being cast in its own unique shape from an original mold made by the artists. I love simple band rings, but I really love unusual ones and this ring is that. So if you have anyone on your list that leans towards unique jewelry, this one is for them (and me)!

trio of pink and yellow shiny modern salt and pepper grinders

If you know a fan of Ettore Sottsass or someone who loves to cook and likes colorful kitchen gear, these Alessi grinders fit the bill. Available in three sizes – Short, Medium, and Tall – and made from sustainably sourced beechwood, these grinders are like small colorful sculptures that are functional. It would be impossible for someone to use these and not have a smile on their face! PS: If they’re not a fan of pink, there are two additional colorways (yellow and red) to choose from.

built Concorde LEGO model on red shelf in front of deep blue wall

It’s long been established that I’m an AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO) and I love all things aviation as well, so this set hits it out of the park for me. And like me, I’m sure we all know someone that already loves LEGO sets or has been tempted to buy them but hesitated due to the cost (it can be an expensive hobby). Either way, they’ll love having a new set to tackle over the holidays this year. When they’re done, the Concorde will look so sleek and cool on their shelf reminding them of you and the fun they had building it.

smoked gray glass decanter with egg shaped stopper that doubles as a glass

I’m someone who can’t go to bed without water on my nightstand and I know I’m not alone. For those seeking nocturnal thirst quenching, help them elevate their late night water drinking with this adorable glass set in a moody green hue. The cup with its subtle sleeping face works as a bottle stopper (or, let’s be honest, a top to keep dust and flying creatures out). They can have sips whenever they like and set the glass back into the top of the bottle till next time. When not in use or just empty, the bottle doubles as a design object that will look good anywhere it lands.

multi colored geometric bath rug on floor

Since I renovated my bathroom to a black and white color scheme, I’ve had fun adding super colorful textiles and accessories into the mix. There’s nothing better than the sight of playful designs and happy color palettes when you’re barely awake in the morning trying to get up and ready for work. While most people stick to the basics in the bathroom – beige, white, cream, various shades of gray, etc. – there are those of us that are at the opposite end of the spectrum and long for something fun and a fresh, new bathmat can do the trick.

styled down shot of brass canister with lid open and red-tipped matches hanging out

Just as much as I love the idea of a cool lighter, there’s still nothing better than striking a match to light a candle (or whatever). It just elevates the whole experience when setting the mood with a candle burning. While the traditional box of matches is functional, it leaves a lot to be desired visually. This brass canister can be left out anywhere as it looks like a small design object, but hidden inside are matches at the ready. Two surfaces of textured brass make striking easy, and with “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flame.” engraved on the side, it makes it a practical yet thoughtful gift someone will use for years and years and think of you.

Follow along so you don’t miss any of our 2023 Gift Guides this year!

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.

The Woodlands Photography Club announces 2023 annual photography contest winners

By in Photography

The Woodlands Photography Club announces 2023 annual photography contest winners

THE WOODLANDS, TX – The Woodlands Photography Club hosted its recent annual exhibition of submissions to its yearly photography contest at the South County Community Center. All of the submissions adorned the walls of the center for the entire day for judges and members of the public alike to admire, then that evening the winning photographers took a bow.

The contest committee chair, Randi Munsey, and committee members Chris Summers, Ann Greene, Becky Anderson, and Teresa Otto were proud to announce the winning photographers and photos:

Best of Show — Ann Green — Trees of Fog (ICM)
Member’s Choice — Tom Flink — Here I Come (TWPC Field Trips)

Texas
1st — Chris Summers — Stopping to Smell the Flowers
2nd — Andrew Steptowe — Caddo Calm
3rd — Randi Munsey Independent Spirit — Austin, TX
HM — Randi Munsey — Sunrise Amusement

Curator’s Choice
Andrew Steptowe — Road to Hell
Tom Flink — Pedernales Sunset
Michaels Schaffner — The Light Beckons
Bob Gower — Yee — Haw
Alicia Kominek — The blue house
Francisco — Collado — Texas Country Side

Architecture BW
1st — Michael Schaffner — Church in The Woods
2nd — Bob Gower — Escheresque
3rd — Richard Chesney — Houston Cistern — Underground
HM — Dahlia Dean — Aligned Rectangles

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — Form Ever Follows Function
Kathy Craven — Utility in Architecture
Joan Tilton — The Portal
Bob Jefferis — Kimbell Art Museum
Teresa Otto — In Savannah’s Defense
Bob Clemson — Lonely Street

Seasons
1st — Richard Chesney — Colorado in the Fall
2nd — Ann Green — Winter in Yoho National Park
3rd — Richard Chesney — Oregon Coast Sunset Splendor
HM — Andrew Steptowe — Winter Vista

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Magical Views from the Ice Caves
Kathy Craven — Sisters of the Summer Sun
Craig Micklethwaite — Autumn Sprinkles
Craig Micklethwaite — Symphony
Dahlia Dean — Fall Colors
Zoraya Stern — Early Stretch

TWPC Field Trips
1st — Tom Flink — Here I Come
2nd — Zoraya Stern — Wrapped in Love
3rd — Joan Tilton — Post Grid
HM — Kathy Craven — Mexicranios — The Post

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — In Nomine Patris
Chris Summers — ’51 Ford F1
Glenn Siegert — Hight and Dry
Glenn Siegert — Deep Roots
Richard Yzaguirre — Swamp Prince
Bob Clemson — Sunflower

Open
1st — Michael Schaffner — Striped Reflection
2nd Chris Summers — The Warm Jets
3rd — Teresa Otto — Are Your Affairs in Order?
HM — Craig Micklethwaite — The Ethereal and The Eternal

Curator’s Choice
Chris Summers — Dunk, Rinse and Spin!
Darryl Scearce — Displaying her beauty
Darryl Scearce — Vertrahorn by Night
Remington Mullins — Observant Eyes — A Shared Gaze
Zoraya Stern — Reflections Interrupted
Richard Chesney — Not a Baby Anymore

Artistic Digital Manipulation
1st — Dahlia Dean — In a Hurry
2nd — Becky Anderson — Sunflowers Dreaming
3rd — Joan Tilton — Spin City
HM — Chris Summers — Apollo’s Harp

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Whimsical Sunflowers
Becky Anderson — Raindrops and Flowers
Joan Tilton — Floating Flowers
Bob Jefferis — Sand Sailing Club on the Beach
Alicia Kominek — The House by the creek
Zoraya Stern — If Architecture Is A Reflections of Music Standing Still, Photography Is A Frozen Moment if the Composition

ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)
1st — Dahlia Dean — Downtown
2nd — Randi Munsey — Basket Weave
3rd — Bob Jefferis — Ocean View
HM — Kathy Craven — Windchimes

Curator’s Choice
Ellen Taylor — Out of the Park!
Tom Flink — To Infinity
Bob Jefferis — Sunset Watchers on the Beach
Teresa Otto — Sunbeam
Craig Micklethwaite — Passage of Time
Zoraya Stern — Lifeline

New Members — Textures/Patterns
1st — Kathy Hutchinson — Patterns on steroids
2nd — Kathy Hutchinson — Wild thing, you make my heart sing
3rd — Remington Mullins — Mamba Mosaic
HM — Craig Micklethwaite — Timeless Jigsaw

Curator’s Choice
Darryl Scearce — Wavy Sand Beach
Jim Anderson — Pathways
Kelly Geohegan — Ample Staple Inventory
Kelly Geohegan — Fuzzy Squash
Craig Micklethwaite — Frozen Fabric

Wild Card — Roadways, Bridges and Monuments
1st — Kathy Craven — Montrose Boulevard Bridge
2nd — Joan Tilton — Over the Top
3rd — Tom Flink — Exit Memphis
HM — Chris Summers — Forgotten Bridge to Nowhere

Curator’s Choice
Becky Anderson — Morning Stillness
Joan Tilton — Under the Boardwalk
Bob Jefferis — Meeburg Bridge in Bruges after 630 years
Teresa Otto — Below the Bridge to Nowhere
Zoraya Stern — Beyond
Bob Clemson — Dawn Patrol

NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts Announces Second Joint Fellowship with Juilliard

By in Native

NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts Announces Second Joint Fellowship with Juilliard

New York University’s Center for Ballet and the Arts has selected Mio Ishikawa to be the second recipient of its collaborative fellowship with the Juilliard School. Launched last spring, the CBA-Juilliard Fellowship supports a developing artist and Juilliard alum by providing space and resources that allows the fellow to take risks and try new ideas.

The CBA-Juilliard Fellowship spans the academic year. Ishikawa will have access to CBA’s studio and office space, its network of artists, scholars, and alumni, and NYU’s extensive academic and cultural resources. Ishikawa also will join the CBA’s other fellows for seminars and programs.

Ishikawa is a movement artist based in New York City who has a deep interest in collaboration. A native of Tokyo, she graduated from the Juilliard School in 2019 with a BFA in dance. She appears in Sleep No More, an immersive work by the British theater group, Punchdrunk, and with Sidra Bell Dance New York. Ishikawa has worked with choreographers Stefanie Batten Bland, Alejandro Cerrudo, Maleek Washington, Kyle Abraham, Mariko Kakizaki, and Celia Rowlson-Hall. She is an associate artistic director of Bodysonnet, a collective of contemporary dance makers who work in non-traditional spaces.

During her fellowship, Ishikawa will explore the Japanese concept of “yohaku ma,” which means negative space, by creating what she describes as “dance-based landscapes” that focus on the textures and emotions found in the space between movements.

“The process will involve subtracting movements to create an intricate interplay between what is seen and what is imagined,” Ishikawa says. She plans to develop the concept into an installation piece.

About the Center for Ballet and the Arts

The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University (CBA) is an international research institute for scholars and artists of ballet and its related arts and sciences. It exists to inspire new ideas and new dances and to expand the way we think about the art form’s history, practice, and performance in the 21st century. The Center is made possible by founding support of the Mellon Foundation and ongoing support of NYU and CBA’s Center Circle.

About the Juilliard School 

Founded in 1905, the Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education. The school’s mission is to provide the highest caliber of artistic education for gifted musicians, dancers, and actors, composers, choreographers, and playwrights from around the world so that they may achieve their fullest potential as artists, leaders, and global citizens. Led by President Damian Woetzel since 2018, Juilliard is guided in all its work by the core values of excellence; creativity; and equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB). Juilliard is committed to enrolling the most talented students regardless of their financial background.

Local artists reckon with selling art amid Burlington homeless crisis

By in Art World News

Local artists reckon with selling art amid Burlington homeless crisis

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Local artists are reckoning with selling art amid Burlington’s homeless crisis.

Burlington’s Winter Market kicked off over the weekend in City Hall Park. The annual market features two dozen vendors selling homemade crafts, food and drinks.

This is Holly Bahnsen’s third year selling jewelry at the market. She relies on holiday shoppers to make a living. But she can’t help but think of the unhoused frequenting City Hall Park on the outskirts of the market, who multiply each year.

“There’s the interesting duality of some people just recreating and then some people who don’t have a choice,” Bahnsen pointed out.

Bahnsen adds to a larger conversation about who gets to enjoy City Hall Park and who’s stuck there. This tension is particularly obvious in the winter when those with a home can enjoy the chill on their own terms.

The Winter Market runs every weekend until Dec. 23. Until then, Bahnsen hopes the homeless can enjoy the heaters and fires placed around the market, and perhaps use the vendor booths for shelter at night.

Copyright 2023 WCAX. All rights reserved.

Photographer Olivia Malone and stylist Camilla Pole reclaim paradigms, Frame by Frame

By in Photography

Photographer Olivia Malone and stylist Camilla Pole reclaim paradigms, Frame by Frame

Erik Torstensson’s designs are front and center for this fashion portfolio, lending classics like jeans and cardigans an elevated edge

Models Ruby at OPC, Jess at Storm, Dosha at Storm, Clementine C, Hope Fly at Photogenics. Hair Hikaru at Frank Reps. Make-up Karo Kangas at Forward Artists. Set Designer James Rene at Jones Management. Digital Technician Brendan Pattengale. Lighting Robert Kozek. Photographer Assistant Bono Melendrez. Stylist Assistant Jane Cody. Hair Assistant Drew Martin. Props Assistant Graham Law. Production Ilona Klaver at Home Agency. Production Assistant Chris Paonessa. Casting Dreamland Agency.

CIBC announces call for submissions for second annual C² Art Program

By in Art World News

CIBC announces call for submissions for second annual C² Art Program

TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2023 /CNW/ – CIBC today announced that it is now accepting submissions for its 2024 C² Art Program. The C² Art Program is an initiative designed to help emerging artists make their ambitions a reality with a unique paid opportunity to create and curate their art. The completed artwork will then be exhibited for three months at CIBC’s headquarters, CIBC SQUARE.

CIBC Logo (CNW Group/CIBC)

Program overview:

  • Applications are open to Canadian artists with two to 10 years of experience.
  • Selected artists will each be awarded a grant of $25,000 plus an additional $5,000 for material costs, over a of six-month period.
  • During the six-month period, the artists will create a series of works which will be exhibited in a solo exhibition for each artist at CIBC SQUARE.
  • Artists will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Toronto to attend the opening reception.
  • Application due date: 11:59 am EST, January 3, 2024

“We are excited to announce the second year of our C² Art Program,” said Claudette Knight, Vice-President, Workplace Design and Experience, CIBC. “By investing in these artists and providing a space to exhibit their work, we continue to support our commitment to fostering the ambitions of the creative community.”

Last year’s winners were Toronto, ON-based interdisciplinary artist, curator and designer, Maya Skarzenski and London, ON-based artist and educator, Mike Pszczonak.

CIBC invites all artists interested in submitting their artwork for selection to learn more by visiting the CIBC C2 Art website.

About CIBC 

CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 13 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network and locations across Canada, with offices in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at www.cibc.com/ca/media-centre.

SOURCE CIBC

© Canada Newswire, source Canada Newswire English

ODDICT TWIG 2’s Near Seamless Aluminum Case Wins Grand Prize

By in Design

ODDICT TWIG 2’s Near Seamless Aluminum Case Wins Grand Prize

Korean brand ODDICT (now confusingly concurrently branded as Phiaton) won accolades and our attention with their aluminum sheathed minimalist approach to wireless audio in the form of the TWIG and TWIG PRO wireless earbuds. While not yet officially announced, the company’s upcoming sequel, the TWIG 2 appeared on our radar upon being awarded the annual K Design Awards Grand Prize.

The true wireless stereo headphones case is a cipher when closed, with a near seamless closed fit across its diameter.

Arm reaching out with hand holding the circular and cylindrical aluminum charging and carrying case of the TWIG 2 with a wooden table blurred in the background.

TWIG 2’s seamless form is realized primarily in aluminum and applied across both earbuds and case to differentiate it from standard oblong/rounded corner rectangle case designs.

TWIG 2 takes a very similar route as its two predecessors, subtracting unnecessary details for an almost impenetrably minimalist design. Where those previous earbud cases unlatched from the top to reveal its pair of stem-based earbuds, the new design’s front lid opens in entirety similar to a makeup powder case.

Inside, a gently sculpted indent invites each earbud a place for storage and recharging between listening sessions.

Inherently durable and resistant to stains, aluminum is applied across the TWIG 2’s most frequently touched surfaces. The material’s lightweight characteristics also add to the design’s portability.

Closed case of the TWIG 2 wireless earbuds shown from the back, revealing its USB-C charging port, rear hinge mechanism and a small power/reset/pairing button flush with the rest of the case.

Anticipated for global release in 2024, there’s no word yet of pricing nor the exact specs attached to these ANC wireless earbuds, but it’s likely they will be outfitted with digital hybrid noise cancellation, multiple mics to improve ambient noise blocking, IPX4 water resistance, playback personalization, and quick recharging similar to – if not better – than the current $150 TWIG PRO.

* Apparently the “K” stands for “kudos,” not “Korea,” as one might assume of the Korean-hosted jury competition.

This post contains affiliate links, so if you make a purchase from an affiliate link, we earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Design Milk!

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.

Generative Art

By in Art World News

Generative Art

Ohio Wesleyan Professors Weave Art and Science Together in Team-Taught Course

By Cole Hatcher

Ohio Wesleyan student Elsa Hoam ’27 of Fredericktown, Ohio, uses a digitally controlled Jacquard loom created for a generative art course team taught by professors Craig Jackson and Jeff Nilan. (Photos by Paul Vernon)

Two Ohio Wesleyan University professors have developed a unique way to weave learning into a class that combines their diverse areas of expertise – Mathematics & Computer Science and Fine Arts.

Professors Craig Jackson, Ph.D., and Jeff Nilan, MFA, have created a digitally controlled Jacquard loom. The customized, computerized device creates intricate fabrics by using up to 400 miniature “servo” motors to precisely control the warps and wefts of the weaving process. The loom allows the professors to expand their focus on textile processes in their team-taught Generative Art 200.4 course.

‘New and Exciting Area’

Elsa Hoam ’27 works with Mathematics & Computer Science professor Craig Jackson (left) and Fine Arts professor Jeff Nilan on a custom-built mechanized loom that lets computer programs design the weavings it creates.

“We believe that using woven textiles as a medium for generative art is a new and exciting area for research, teaching, and artistic practice,” the professors say. “Very few artists are working at this intersection of generative design and textiles.”

When creating generative art, they explain, artists deliberately cede control over a significant aspect of their work to an external agent.

“Having access to a Jacquard loom greatly increases the control the weaver has over their design,” Jackson and Nilan state. “What we are interested in, however, is the ability a Jacquard loom gives an artist to relinquish control over their design. The artist still sits at the loom and weaves the textile, but the computer program dictates the design. So, we are exploring the use of generative design principles made possible by having a Jacquard loom that can be digitally controlled via a computer.”

In their class, OWU students work to create generative art across a range of 2-dimensional media, including textiles produced using the Jacquard loom. Housed in Haycock Hall, the loom also provides Fine Arts students with “a hands-on example of the use of digital microcontrollers in the production and installation of art,” the professors state, “an entire area of artistic practice (previously) unavailable to our students.”

A Successful Collaboration

Their collaboration already has resulted in Jackson and Nilan presenting at two professional conferences: In-person at Generative ART XXIV in Cagliari, Italy, and online at the 20th Annual STS Conference Graz, “Critical Issues in Science, Technology and Society Studies,” held in Graz, Austria. The OWU professors also have authored a peer-reviewed paper, “A Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Course on Generative Art,” published by the Graz University of Technology.

They earned an OWU Thomas E. Wenzlau Grant in 2022 to design and build the loom. The project, completed this fall, took longer than anticipated because of the time required to design and build a one-off device that incorporates hundreds of moving parts, said Jackson, who installed all the motors. They are a critical component of the loom, he explained, because they can be positioned at any rotational angle between 0 and 180 degrees via remote control, allowing creation of the intricate textiles.

The team-taught course furthers goals for both Fine Arts and Mathematics & Computer Science departments, Jackson and Nilan say, adding textile design opportunities for aspiring artists while enhancing the hands-on, applied offerings available to future mathematicians and computer scientists. The digital loom project already has led to the beginning of a small weaving studio in Haycock Hall with four looms and plans for dying yarn with natural dyes.

Exploring What’s Going to Happen

Tera Berko ’27 says working with OWU’s digitally controlled loom is ‘a huge learning experience.’ Miniature ‘servo’ motors installed by professor Craig Jackson precisely control the weaving process.

Elsa Hoam ’27 of Fredericktown, Ohio, is one of the students working with the Jacquard loom. Although she’s not enrolled in the generative art class, she learned about the project from Nilan when she toured campus as a prospective student. She asked about the project this fall, and Nilan invited her to help.

“I’d done some weaving by hand and on smaller looms, and just the idea of this new exploration with a large loom and hands-on experience with it really excited me,” said Hoam, a double major in Business Administration (Marketing concentration) and Studio Art.

“I think it’s kind of interesting because I don’t really have to think too hard about what’s happening,” she said. “It’s more I’m exploring what’s going to happen. It’s kind of like finding a new place. You just don’t know what’s going to come out of it, but it’s always exciting to see what’s going to happen.”

Tera Berko ’27 of Westerville, Ohio, also is working with the digitally controlled loom. “I’ve just always liked fabric, and I sew. So, I heard about the loom project and I was like, ‘close enough,’” said Berko, a double major in Pre-Medicine and Psychology. “It’s a huge learning experience and I’m thankful for what I learn through it.”

Learn more about these Ohio Wesleyan areas of study at owu.edu/FineArts and owu.edu/math.

Marie Tomanova’s raw, unfiltered portraits of New York youth

By in Photography

Marie Tomanova’s raw, unfiltered portraits of New York youth

In her new exhibition, 5 East Broadway, the image-maker brings together still photography and film to revive the optimism of the American dream

20November 2023

It was during a cold New York winter that Czech-born photographer Marie Tomanova first rented out a small studio space in Chinatown from a good friend. Over the next few months, the cluttered room – located on the fourth floor of an old walk-up building – would become the backdrop for her latest project 5 East Broadway, which opens this month at Prague’s Fotograf Gallery.

Growing up, Tomanova would spend much of her school days daydreaming and scribbling in notebooks. Despite always wanting to be an artist, her remote upbringing on a farm in the small rural border town of Mikulov meant that Tomanova didn’t have much confidence. “I was just looked on as a girl and of course the value in that really was as a sexual being, and really not much more than that,” she tells Dazed. She went on to graduate with an MFA in painting, and – unsure of her next step – moved to the United States to work as an au pair.

Moving to New York marked the start of a new dream for Tomanova. “That was the first moment when I actually felt like I could be something,” she remembers. She began documenting young people in the city, and published her debut photo book Young American in 2019. It’s a spirit she recaptures in 5 East Broadway, which sees her invite dozens of young people to talk about their experiences growing up in New York. As well as featuring her classic photography, Tomanova also includes short films in the exhibition, which show the young people dancing to a song of their choice. Below we talk to the image-maker about 5 East Broadway, what it was like moving to New York, and how the young people she’s met have inspired her. 

When you were talking to the young people about their dreams, was there anything that surprised you or that stood out?

Marie Tomanova: The thing that stood out to me and touched me deeply is the direct, raw and unfiltered honesty. The other thing is that these kids seem so sophisticated to me in a way. I don’t know that I would be able to talk about myself like they are able to talk about themselves. The opinions they have. The things that they stand for. The consideration of others. These are all things that stand out to me.

For me, talking about dreams is really an extension of what I have been doing since Young American and New York New York. I would go to peoples’ houses or I would meet up with them, and we would talk about our dreams, fears, anxieties and hopes. I came to New York with a dream and all of these kids either came for their dreams, or are staying here for their dreams. For me, that is really the basis of my photography, that interaction. It’s that connection with others. It’s about them being who they are. And it’s about me being who I am. It really is about connecting. And then, of course, it’s about the audience also connecting with my photographs, the people in them, and ultimately with themselves. When I take a picture of one of these kids what I’m really hoping is that somebody sees themselves in it or understands themselves better. My photographs do not simply show you another person, they also show you me, and they also show you yourself.

How was the connection you made with them an important part of the process?

Marie Tomanova: Connection is everything. In the show’s dreams film, Fourteen Dreamers (I Want to be the Next Courtney Love…But Better), Manavi says, ‘I’ve noticed that people are happiest when they are free, but I think that what makes me happiest is just connection”. I relate to that. I probably shouldn’t even say this, but for me the photographs are not as important as the experience itself of taking the photograph – the experience and the connection, that is everything, or almost everything. That’s why I took colour photos, black and white photos, made the films and asked about their dreams. [I wanted to talk about] the dreams we wish for and also the dreams we have at night – mixing the real and unreal, the subconscious night dreams that reveal our fears and deeper identity and the dreams we create for ourselves during the day as aspirations. The films are in a sense a very Freudian landscape and we are allowed to peek deeper into the inner, private world of these people. Through this work, I wanted to expand the nature of portraiture to create a deeper connection. 5 East Broadway is special in this way – it is like a super condenser. In this project, there is a super honesty, a super directness, a super rawness. People show who they really are – and that is profound.

“My photographs do not simply show you another person, they also show you me, and they also show you yourself” – Marie Tomanova

What is it like to live in New York and why did you decide on moving to New York in particular?

Marie Tomanova: I moved to New York to be free. I came from the Czech Republic and it was really sexist and oppressive and I was lost. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t even really believe in myself. I had not been supported in any sort of way in terms of being an artist. And so I came to New York City in search of something that I didn’t even really know that I could have. My first glimpse of what I could be came when Ryan McGinley came to see my Young American exhibition in 2018 and spoke to me like a peer. That was the first moment when I actually felt like I could be something. I mean, I guess I knew deep in my heart that I could be. But it really took that support and that love that Ryan showed me to believe that I could. It opened a whole new world of possibilities for me in my own head. But it took a long time to shake off that self-doubt. I like what Alex says in the video: ‘I love New York, I come every day. I love how big it is, how no one cares who you are, and that is a good thing. Because you can be the wildest, most spontaneous, yourself version there is and no one is going to judge you, no one cares’. I have found this to be amazingly true. In New York, I can be myself. That was the most important message in the New York New York work, and Kim Gordon talks about it, too, in her Foreword to the book. 

What message do you hope people take away with them after seeing the show?

Marie Tomanova: Be yourself. Be whoever you want to be. Be.

What are some of your own dreams?

Marie Tomanova: My dream is to continue working with people like this. My dreams are already my reality, in that sense. But I also want to share all of this with others. And I dream of inspiring people – there is a feature-length HBO documentary [about me] in the making, directed by Marie Dvořáková and set for release next year. I am super excited but also a bit terrified, as I will get to relive the past five years of my life on the big screen in cinemas and HBO (they started filming in 2018 before my first solo show Young American). I will expose myself and bring you into my life like never before. It’s a magnificent project and I don’t think I can fully process the whole impact of it yet. I haven’t seen the final cut yet, either – the first time I will see it is this December. It will be a big moment. Also, I am getting a puppy – a Brussels Griffon, maybe named Truffle? – and that’s always been a huge dream. 

Otherwise, I want a solo show at MoMA. How is that for truth? Can I really even say that? I am almost scared to be that honest, but I have to be. That is what my work is all about. Feel it. 

5 East Broadway runs at Prague’s Fotograf Gallery until December 16, 2023 

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