Faculty
Barbara Fast
Barbara Fast graduated with a B.A. from Bethel College and an M.F.A. from James Madison University. She recently won a best in show award for her handmade paper and mixed media "Madonna of the Great Wave:Import/Export". Barbara teaches printmaking, papermaking, 2-D design, and art history.
Cyndi Gusler, Department Chair
View Cyndi's online portfolio at www.cyndigusler.com |
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Cyndi Gusler is an EMU alum and an M.F.A. graduate of James Madison University. Cyndi has a strong background in painting and drawing and working with mixed-media. She displayed,
Jerry Holsopple
Jerry Holsopple holds the following degrees: B.S., Eastern Mennonite University; M.Div., Mennonite Biblical Seminary; Ph.D. in Communication, European Graduate School Media and Communication Studies Program
Jerry, an artist and renowned videographer, teaches videography and digital media-related courses such as Video Camera Technology & Production, 2-D Animation/After Effects, Flash, Advanced Photoshop /After Effects Studio, and Film and Culture. The latter critically analyzes movies and their connection to popular culture. He also co-teaches Documentary Production with Steven Johnson. Moreover, he teaches an on-location video practicum reserved for outstanding students who participate at his invitation serving the Mennonite Youth Convention. The most recent convention, San Jose 2007, involved a full video crew of students.
In the fall of 2003 Jerry completed his dissertation, Toward a Poetic of Visual Music.
Jerry is the recipient of more than a dozen awards in recognition of his video, public service announcements, and websites. “Journey Toward Forgiveness”, a documentary that he produced, originally aired on ABC in December of 2001 and was recently aired again in 2003 on the Hallmark Channel. For more information see Journey Toward Forgiveness. In his 12 years at Mennonite Media, Jerry produced "Turning Toward Jesus", a curriculum to explore Jesus and faith. He produced several series: Rhythms of Peace, Beyond the News and Cloud of Witnesses, and developed the Third Way Café (www.thirdway.com)Mennonite Media's web site.
Jerry’s photographic work has periodically been on exhibit. Samples of this can be found at his personal site, Eyepan. "Seeing Jesus"produced with Kristen Kennedy, as an internet experience and as a gallery show, can be found at Seeing Jesus at Third Way Café. Jerry's photographs are part of galleries 1, 2 and 3 at Thirdway Galleries.
While much of Jerry's work focuses on the visual he also enjoys playing acoustic stringed instruments such as guitars, mandolins and bouzoukis, and writing songs. Jerry and his wife Mary, a gifted baker in the cafeteria at Eastern Mennonite High School, have two children, Dirk and Kate.
View more of Jerry's work at www.eyepan.com
Live from Lithuania: Follow Jerry's 2009-10 sabattical updates at http://emu.edu/blog/intothewindow/
Steven David Johnson
Steven Johnson holds a B.A. in Art from Houghton College and an M.F.A. in Computer Art (Emphasis in Multimedia and Interactivity) from Savannah College of Art and Design.
In addition to teaching and photography, he has a professional background as a Director of Digital Media and webmaster. Steve has exhibited his work in Georgia, New York, and China. You can view a selection of his photography at stevendavidjohnson.com or virginiajournal.org. Steve is a featured artist in the journal Rock and Sling and in Ruminate Magazine. His photographic images have appeared in Orion, National Geographic Traveler, Blue Ridge Country, Pastemagazine.com, npr.org, The London Guardian, and Les Inrockuptibles (France’s largest music and culture magazine).
Links:
Steven David Johnson Photography Portfolio
Virginia Journal (A photoblog of our life in the Shenandoah Valley)
Steve recently co- led a cross-cultural trip to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Concerning teaching, Steve writes:
I want to encourage students to stretch their faith, intellect, and creativity in a challenging interdisciplinary environment that promotes the development of a poetic sensibility. As an artist who professes the Christian faith, I’m passionate about the idea that art can help “name” the problem of alienation and can help bring forth authentic community. As a teacher, I’m interested in mentoring students as they add their voices to this community of namers.
Artists have the ability to transform their culture and communities through images and stories. In order to serve in this way, image-makers need more than technical competency. They need to possess a conceptual and aesthetic framework that will allow them to communicate effectively, passionately, and ethically. My approach to teaching attempts to provide this by weaving history, ethics, discussions, and studio exploration into a coherent whole.
Steve is married to Anna Maria ( a writer and artist). They have two children, Eliza and Magdalena.
Scott Keen
Scott Keen is a digital media designer and painter. Scott joins us for the 2008-2010 school years to teach classes in graphic design, web design, and printmaking.
Kreg Owens
Kreg Owens teaches ceramics and sculpture part-time.
Kreg Owens has been working as an artist for nearly 20 years. He has an MFA degree in ceramics from James Madison University and an MA degree in speech communication from Eastern New Mexico University. He has worked as an instructor in both disciplines at Northwest Nazarene College, ID, Eastern New Mexico University, NM, James Madison University, VA, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, VA, Southern Virginia University, VA and The George Washington University, in Washington, D.C..
His teaching background includes the instruction of courses in ceramics, three dimensional design, sculpture, public speaking, group communication, persuasion, argumentation and debate, classical rhetoric, reader’s theatre, interpersonal communication, individual events forensics, competitive debate, and numerous communication foundation courses.
His work has been included in the books Beginning Sculpture, 500 Teapots, Architectural Ceramics, Wheel-Thrown Ceramics, The Ceramic Design Book, and The Best of Pottery. He has also been featured in a number of regional magazines and the international trade magazine, Ceramics Monthly.
Kreg’s work includes functional pottery, sculptural pottery, architectural ceramics, large scale fountains and archways, multimedia installations and furniture design and construction. He has exhibited widely and his work is included in numerous private collections both within the United States and abroad. Kreg has been a full time instructor in speech communication studies at James Madison University since 2003.