September 2021 Edition |
PNCA News |
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Dear PNCA Alum,
Another academic year has started and we are diligently working through the process of aligning PNCA and Willamette processes, calendars, academic offerings, staff, and more. It is an exciting time to be on campus but we also recognize there may be a hiccup or two as we work through bringing these two impressive institutions together.
One of the new faces at PNCA this fall is Dean of Students Dr. Olivia “Oli” Muñoz. In this new role, Oli will oversee the Office of Student Life, which includes areas such as student activities, ArtHouse, intercultural engagement, student care team, and student conduct. She will also serve as a deputy Title IX coordinator. Oli brings a wealth of interdisciplinary experience in academia, nonprofits, and media to her work. She has held positions at Mills College, University of San Francisco, and with the Semester at Sea study abroad program. Her most recent university experience was in Student Activities here at Willamette University in Salem.
Speaking of our students and recent graduates, please take a few moments to explore some of our year-end 2021 galleries featuring the MFA Thesis Exhibition, the MFA 1st Year Exhibition, and the BFA Thesis Exhibition. While many of us may not feel comfortable venturing out to an art show, we can still enjoy and appreciate the talents of PNCA artists from the comfort of our homes.
We are also proud to continue our collaboration with Argyle Winery in support of the talents of our student artists through its Art of Sparkling program. Each year, three PNCA student artists are selected to receive the Argyle scholarship. The students then immerse themselves in the Argyle story by visiting the vineyards, winery and tasting house. This experience serves as inspiration for their artwork. The three pieces of art are then turned into labels for the Art of Sparkling three-bottle set and the labels for 2021 will be revealed on September 25th.
We will be hosting our Mail Art project this fall and invite alumni and friends to mail art pieces (10” x 12” max) to the Office of Advancement (900 State Street, Salem, OR 97301) from October 1st to December 15th. These works will be compiled by Mary Jo Cook ’74, to be featured online in a virtual gallery before joining other alumni artwork in upcoming displays and promotional materials.
Our Alumni Connections speaker series is also back, with our first virtual event on Wednesday, October 20 at 5:30 p.m. featuring Alejandra Arias Sevilla BFA’20, in conversation with Melanie Stevens, MFA’17. Sign up here!
We also are working to host a virtual forum this fall for PNCA alumni and friends as a way to hear from campus leadership and staff about what’s happening with the merger, how the search for a new dean is progressing, and to answer questions you may have on these and other topics. Stay tuned for further details.
And finally, look out for a postcard to arrive later this fall that will ensure you are receiving all of the latest news and event invitations from PNCA, highlight your exclusive benefits as part of the Willamette alumni community, and make sure we have your preferred contact information. We will also use this information for our comprehensive alumni and friends survey at the start of the new year in 2022.
We can’t wait to hear from you about your PNCA experience and learn more about how we can work with you to ensure that PNCA continues to offer a vibrant and expansive fine arts education to our students.
Until then, I hope you and yours are staying healthy and well.
Warmly,
Tyler Reich ’06
Associate Vice President
University Relations
Willamette University |
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Featured Events |
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The Future of Money in a Digital World |
Oct. 13, 2021 |
Willamette College of Law Assistant Professor Rohan Grey will guide us through the largely uncharted digital financial landscape. Join us to learn about the evolving area of law around digital fiat currency, cryptocurrency and NFTs (non fungible tokens), and how your financial life may be impacted. Professor Grey is the author of the forthcoming book, "Digitizing the Dollar: The Battle for the Soul of Public Money in the Age of Cryptocurrency." |
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PNCA Alumni Connections: Alejandra Arias Sevilla BFA’20 & Melanie Stevens MFA’17 |
Oct. 20, 2021 |
Join alumni and members of the PNCA and Willamette University communities for an exclusive interview of PNCA alum Alejandra Arias Sevilla BFA'20 by fellow alum Melanie Stevens MFA'17. Alejandra is an interdisciplinary artist and printmaker based in Portland, Oregon. She investigates semantics, familiar spaces, and personal history to reflect and analyze the language that knits her selfhood. |
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