New Faces at WSW: Summer 2015 Edition
July 15, 2015
L-R: Mara Hyman, Paula Lycan, and Emma Bilyeu
It’s that time of year again: a few weeks ago, we welcomed our latest group of interns to WSW. Studio interns Emma Bilyeu and Mara Hyman will be here for the next six months, assisting Summer Art Institute (SAI) instructors, working with resident artists, and maintaining the studios. Summer intern Paula Lycan will be with us until the end of August, working hard to prepare SAI lunches and help out on ArtFarm. We’ve asked these young ladies a few questions about themselves – read ahead to get the scoop on the newest members of the WSW community!
Emma Bilyeu
Title: Studio Intern
School: SCAD Atlanta
Major: Printmaking with a minor in Book Arts
Where are you from? Terre Haute, Indiana
Top 3 Favorite Artists:
Robbin Ami Silverberg, a book artist. A painter named Pablo Tomek, and a printmaker/installation artist named Xu Bing.
What do you like to listen to while you work?
I like to listen to The Books radio station, that’s good background music for working.
What are you most excited about for your time at WSW? Do you have any projects planned?
I’m excited about all of the artists and students who are coming through, and to see how they work and problem solve in a new studio space. For my first project here, I want to start working on some moss-inspired copper plate etchings.
What’s your dream job?
I’ve always thought something in the realm of master printing. Maybe a professional book binder or editioner, if that’s a career path. Or maybe some sort of archival business in a library, that might be fun too.
Mara Hyman
Title: Studio Intern
School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Major: Painting and Printmaking
Where are you from? Reisterstown, MD (just outside of Baltimore)
Top 3 Favorite Artists:
Margaret Kilgallen is one of my favorites. Kiki Smith was the artist who made me want to make prints when I was in high school, and Ann Hamilton was the same way. She made me start thinking more about materials and installations. Audre Lorde writes really amazing poetry and theory. Swoon is a street artist who also does installations and galleries. I also like Nika Rockford, who’s more contemporary.
What do you like to listen to while you work?
The Drake radio station on Pandora, or 90’s alternative lady rock.
What are you most excited about for your time at WSW?
I’m really excited about assisting SAI classes because I’ll get to learn about techniques that are new to me. I’m also looking forward to meeting everyone who comes through the studio during SAI, both the teachers and the students.
Do you have any projects planned?
I’ve been writing poems, but I don’t really know what I want to do with them yet. I want to work on some letterpress projects, too. I’m also really interested in the photopolymer class I’m assisting this week. I’ve been wanting to incorporate photographs for a while, but I wasn’t sure how to do it. This technique seems like it might be a good option.
What’s your dream job?
I always thought that being a radical sex or health educator would be a really cool job.
Paula Lycan
Title: Summer Intern
School: University of California Santa Cruz
Major: Art
Where are you from? Pensacola, FL, but I moved to San Diego when I was one. Then I went to Santa Cruz for school, and I’ve been there for the past five years.
Top 3 Favorite Artists:
I love Joel-Peter Witkin, because he makes really cool, creepy work, and I like Marlene Dumas’ paintings. I also love Edward Steichen, because he’s part of a photo movement I’m interested in for my personal work.
What do you like to listen to while you work?
Girly stuff, I guess. It changes a lot. Right now, I’m listening to Fleetwood Mac, but I’m also into the Cranberries and No Doubt and stuff like that. I wish I could say NPR podcasts or something, but I’m just into angry girls singing right now.
What are you most excited about for your time at WSW? Do you have any projects planned?
Meeting like-minded printmakers and learning more about the processes and how the studio works. I think I want to make a book, that’s my goal while I’m here. I’ve done bookbinding once before, but I hated it. That was right when I was starting to learn printmaking, so now I can really appreciate how printmaking and bookmaking go together. I want this book to be a combination of drawing and photography, maybe using polymer plates to combine the two, so I’m excited about the SAI class that’s happening right now. I want to learn that process.
What’s your dream job?
I want to be an aesthetician for teenagers with really bad acne. I have a thing about popping zits! On a more serious note, though, I’d like to be a working artist and instructor at the university level. I think I want to go back for an MFA in photography or printmaking. I love photography, but I’m struggling with the analog/digital debate and if I did printmaking I could avoid it.
What are you cooking right now?
Watermelon, pesto pasta, and a fresh salad with corn, arugula, and strawberries. I want to incorporate a lot of fresh foods and try some fusion stuff while I’m here. It’s hard cooking for so many people! But I’m really excited about it.