The Core Program is an absolutely vital component of the undergraduate experience at the Department of Art and Art History. In a freshman year, the Core program transforms individual incoming students into a connected community of aspiring artists, art historians, and art educators. We sat down with two students from this year’s Core freshman class to learn more about their experiences. Read through to hear from Elaine McMurray and Carlos Arick Moreno!
Elaine McMurray grew up in Flower Mound, Texas, where she took classes in art throughout high school and volunteered at the Dallas Museum of Art as a tour guide. As a junior and senior in high school, she worked in various position as artists’ assistant with the Crow Collection of Asian Art and the Nasher Sculpture Centre.
The following Q+A has been edited for brevity and clarity.
What excites you the most about art?
The thing that I love the most about making art is the effect that it has on the viewer. When I am creating art, I like to focus on subject matter that captivates the viewer and allows them to get lost in the art. An artist that inspires me to create more whimsical subject matter is Casey Riordian. She created a series of “Shark Girls” that are sculptures intended to bring a sense of wonderment to her viewers.
Why did you decide to major in Art? Has the experience of being in your Core classes been different than you imagined?
Ever since I can remember, art has been a constant in my life that has brought me joy. The feeling I get when I am creating is not a feeling that I can get in any other field and I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. The experience of being in my Core classes has been very different from high school. A beneficial part of my Core classes is that the classes are twice as long as a high school art class, which gives me more time to plan out my piece before I start on the final product. Planning and research for my projects takes a significant amount of time. When I start a project, I write down ideas in my sketchbook and do small scale drawings of what I am going to do. From there, I start taking notes about things I want to change in my first sketch for the final product. If I am drawing a more organic figure, I will find reference photos to make sure I capture the movement of the figure properly. Even when I am working on my final piece, I still use my sketchbook as a guide and as place to test ideas.
What’s been the best part of your experience as a Studio Art freshman so far?
One of the best parts about being a Studio Art freshman is being able to attend the artist talks that are put on in the art building. Going to these talks are enjoyable and allow me to better myself as an artist by listening to what professional artists have to say. Their experience and practice helps me further my understanding of what art is and what it is to me.
What’s your favorite part about Austin?
My favorite part about living in Austin is that there are always things to do! As an artist, I draw inspiration from my everyday life and from the world around me. Being able to live in such a dynamic city has heightened my artwork and I am always able to find inspiration. Most of the work that I do is a form of mixed media illustration. I have always loved illustrating and my focus now is to enhance my pieces with new techniques and materials.
Carlos Arick Moreno is from San Antonio, Texas and went to Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School of Art and Design located in the heart of downtown San Antonio. The urban location of his high school allowed him to develop deep connections with his community and he became actively involved in arts organizations including Artpace, San Antonio. Carlos currently works at the Visual Arts Center as one of our fantastic gallery assistants. Make sure to go say hi the next time you’re in the gallery!
So, Carlos, have you always had a love for art?
During high school, I became very involved with Artpace, an international artist-in-residence program in San Antonio. I was part of the Artpace Teen Council, which is a diverse group of teens who represent their community and work with Artpace staff and artists to develop programming that is "For Teens By Teens." I also had the unique opportunity to represent Artpace at the National Convening for Teens in the Arts, which was held at the ICA/Boston. My time at Artpace was a transformative and pivotal moment in my life. Artpace where I was able to develop my personal connection to art.
Why did you decide to major in Art History?
I decided to major in Art History and minor in Arts Administration, because of my passion for facilitating and curating opportunities for underrepresented artists. More specifically, LGBTQ+ artists and artists of color. I'm inspired by how art can impact individuals and communities in powerful, transformative ways. It turned out that my experience at Artpace also gave me insights into what I wanted to pursue in college.
How has working with students in Studio Art and Visual Art Studies been for you in your Core classes? Any collaborations outside of class on projects?
I love the cross-over with disciplines in my Art History core. I love how open my peers are to helping one another when we need it. I recently worked on a performance piece, and my peer, who's a Visual Art Studies student, was more than happy to assist!
How does your Art History background affect your work at the VAC?
My Art History background impacts my work at the VAC in a very significant way! I am able to help our visitors think critically and creatively about their life and the world around them. I love having the opportunity to engage art and non-art students with the art of today that’s exhibited in our galleries.
What’s your favorite part about Austin so far?
Since moving back to Texas (I transferred in), I've learned that Austin is such lively city. I've especially enjoyed exploring the arts community, UT tailgating, partying in West Campus, and the establishing a new cohort.