New Faces at WSW: Summer 2018 Edition

July 4, 2018 by

We are excited to welcome our newest interns, Emma Difani and Ashleigh Pillay, to the Workshop! Folks will be well fed during our Summer Art Institute thanks to Emma, the summer intern, who is busy visiting local farmers markets, planning menues, and making delecious meals. Joining us as our third studio intern, Ashleigh jumps right in to our summer programing and will get to know the Workshop well over the course of 9 months!

Find out more about these talented women in our Q&A below.

Emma Difani

Internship: Summer
School(s): University of New Mexico
Major(s)/Minor(s): Studio Art/Spanish

Where’s your hometown (or place you call home)?

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Who are your top three favorite artists?

Julie Mehretu, Sara Sze, Paul Klee

What art-making supplies did you bring with you to WSW?

I brought my nori paste, graphite powder, kneaded erasers, and sharp knives.

What music do you like listening to while you work?

Lately I’ve been listening to Diana Gameros, Ana Tijoux and Margaret Glaspy

What are you most excited for at WSW

Paper, paper, paper and beautiful summer produce, berries especially!

What’s your dream job?

My dream job is to open a cafe/bakery with my sister that doubles as an art gallery, weaving together all my favorite things in one place.

Ashleigh Pillay

Internship: Studio
School(s): University of Santa Barbara, CA
Major(s)/Minor(s): Creative Studies, Book Arts
Where’s your hometown (or place you call home)?

I lived in the Bay Area, CA up until going to college in Santa Barbara, CA. A couple days after I arrived at WSW my family moved to Roseburg, Oregon. SO, I will be finding my new home once I leave. Wherever that may be. I would love to live in the Bay Area with my two best friends Wea and Les.

Who are your top three favorite artists?

I don’t quite have a list of my top 3 artists but I love following the work of Rachel Newling, John Babcock, Pitch Pine Pottery, Swell Ceramics, Callahan Ceramics, Joyce Scott and Kehinde Wiley.

What art-making supplies did you bring with you to WSW?

I brought my most important and portable art making supplies to WSW. I packed carving tools, Prismacolor markers, lots and lots of seed beads, some of my previous classmates handmade paper, clay tools, and some book binding supplies. I am also hoping to have my dry earth pigments mailed to me by the end of July!

What music do you like listening to while you work?

My music is usually all over the place but I generally enjoy slower songs or really uplifting music while I am working, depending on whether it is the first or last hour in the studio. Right now I have a crush/super soft spot for Swae Lee. I also really love Post Malone, Miguel, Jaymes Young, James Vincent, Odesza, Louis the Child, ZHU, Chelsea Cutler, Quinn XCII, Big Wild, and Khalid.

What are you most excited for at WSW

I am most excited to work in the studios and learn as much as I can about the different facilities. I would love to make etchings and silkscreen prints as I have never ventured into those areas of printmaking. I also want to learn as much as I can in the clay studio. I would like to practice throwing and decorating whenever I get the chance. I will also be pulp painting!!

As I am here for 9 months I also want to visit the city and become more acquainted with the different areas around Rosendale. I think it would be really awesome to meet people and make friends in the community!

What’s your dream job?

I have a range of dream jobs. UCSB has my heart so I would love to work there one day. That would be the ultimate dream. I also have a lot of other dreams such as becoming a Papermaking Instructor, Printmaker, Ceramicist, Archivist or even a Small Business Owner! More dreams to come!