This spring, the Mellon Initiative, through its student mini-grants, was again proud to support diverse Arts and Humanities projects as students developed their capstone, senior thesis, or Spring Art Show pieces.听听听听听
With an applicant pool larger than ever, the听Steering Committee听was able to award seven mini-grants for traditional research projects, such as archival research for an honors thesis in History --听Jordan Bruce听researched aviation policy at the听听--听but also, for the first time, for innovative, 鈥渙utside the box鈥澨 projects that push the boundaries of their respective discipline. Not surprisingly, an art project proposal was among those first-ever innovative grants awarded!听听听(Jessica Halonen,听instructor) won funds to support her 鈥淧ainting with Found Materials鈥 project, which explores the relationship between painting and textiles. As Layna points out, 鈥淭his grant will allow me to further investigate working with textiles and discover new ways of incorporating different materials, while also developing a better understanding of the relationship between craft and art.鈥
Real听Nonsense,听2020 Wool,听cotton,听polyester,听and听various听fibers 50听x听29.5听inches
Layna鈥檚 work will be part of the听听on听April 30, which will also include the work of these extremely talented and dedicated Art major Mellon grant recipients, who had to carry out their projects in their homes due to the Covid-19 outbreak and requisite distance learning.
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,听鈥淧ecan with Gall / Dad鈥 Drawing听Liz Ward,听Instructor
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,听鈥淧laying House鈥 Installation听Jessica Halonen,听Instructor
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,听鈥淟abor of Love鈥 Craft Objects听Kate Ritson,听Instructor
Communications major听Mary Margaret Herring听(Aaron Delwiche,听instructor)听was awarded a mini-grant for her听innovative听project听and honors thesis, 鈥淐urbing the Spread of Disinformation through User Interface Design,鈥 which explores听how users interact with technology, specifically social media platforms, which are a major source of news for most Americans. Not all news on social media is true, and why is this not-true information more likely to be spread than true information? Her research will contribute to developing scholarship on the link between interface design and user behavior on social media platforms. Ultimately, Mary Margaret hopes to help scholars recommend ways to curb disinformation.
Combining her love for classics and theatre,听Sarah Bastos听(Ben Stevens,听instructor) was awarded a mini-grant for her听innovative project听and theatre capstone听titled 鈥淒ionysus in Performance.鈥澨齋arah is creating a solo performance based on her arrangement of a translation and script revolving around the ancient cult of Dionysus.听 鈥淯sing theatre as a medium for research will allow for innovative academic and dramaturgical discoveries to appear in a unique way. By performing my research, I鈥檓 opening up my insights to the general public, and inviting audience members to experience the material in a fully immersive, sensory manner,鈥 Sarah explains.听
Please join us in congratulating these seniors on their achievements and be sure to stop by the听Senior Show "Show & Tell" Virtual Opening on Thursday, April 30 from 5 to 7 pm,听hosted by the听Michael and No茅mi Neidorff Art Gallery.听
Mini-grant applications for the fall semester will be available in August 2020.
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