Barbara Fast

Spring semester of ‘08, Fast was granted a sabbatical term in Egypt. In addition to a teaching assignment at the Coptic Cathedral under Mennonite Central Committee in Cairo, she studied major ancient monuments and artifacts in Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Alexandria, and the Sinai. A second interest was an investigation into contemporary art in Egypt where she visited galleries in Cairo and Alexandria. She was also fascinated and challenged by life in one of the largest developing cities in the world and learning about the complexities of Muslim/Christian relationships in the Middle East.

B.A., Bethel College
M.F.A., James Madison University

Honorable Mention for the mixed media art piece “Madonna of the Dome: Ishmael and Isaac,” Annual VMRC Art Exhibition, June, 2008
Juror, VMRC Annual National Art Exhibiton, May, 2007
Visiting Artist, Pathways Visual Arts Vocations Symposium, Papermaking Workshops, Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH. October 29-31, 2006
Solo Exhibit, Bluffton University, Bluffton, OH. October 29-November 17, 2006

Worship planner and leader, Mennonite Central Committee EME (Europe/Middle East) Retreat, Alexandria, Egypt, May 15-20, 2008
Church Council member, Park View Mennonite Church
Visual Arts Committee, member. Park View Mennonite Church
Choir Member. Park View Mennonite Church

Summer Teaching Grant to develop new course, Modern and Contemporary Art History. Summer 2007

National Art Education Association, member
American Craft Council, member

Modern and Contemporary Art, fall semester 2007

Lecture on artist Miriam Schapiro for Visual Communication Theory course
General Education Curriculum Committee
Committee on Teacher Education
Writing Committee