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

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, Charlotte 2005, 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 CafÈ. 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

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, he has a professional background as a Director of Digital Media, webmaster, and photographer.

Steve has exhibited his work in Georgia, New York, and China. You can view a selection of his photography at his portfolio site or follow his life in the Shendandoah Valley at www.virginiajournal.org. Steve is also the featured artist in the Spring 2005 issue of Rock and Sling.

Links:

Steven David Johnson Photography Portfolio

Virginia Journal (A photoblog of our life in the Shenandoah Valley)

The Lion Diaries (An experimental video about a group of sentient lions and their struggle to come to terms with their newfound consciousness)

Lepidoptera Flux (A new series about butterflies and energy)

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 ( (formerly a gallery director and currently a mixed media and fiber artist). They have two children, Eliza and Magdalena.

 

Lara L. Scott

Lara Scott arrived in Fall of 2006 as an associate professor in the newly formed Visual and Communication Arts department. She holds a BA in art from Yale University and a M.F.A. from the University of Pennsylvania. She comes most recently from Greenville College, another CCCU school in Illinois, where she taught digital video, graphic design, digital imaging, digital photography and painting. She has had numerous solo and group exhibitions including two live video shows with the band Jonas Lyn of St Louis, MO. Lara is working on a feature length script on the Book of Ruth, cowritten with Carolyn Hsu, a professor at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY.

Lara's teaching goal is "to create an environment where students will engage with the whole fabric of aesthetic, political, cultural and theological questions as they make art. Together with my students, I hope to create a learning community where we engage with the created and creating world, in the context of Christian faith, through the process of artmaking.”

Of her recent work she says, “I’ve learned so much from my collaborations and from my collaborators. Working with other artists, with musicians, is challenging, but it sharpens and softens you too. It enriches your individual art practice to defend your vision, and to open your heart to someone else’s.”

She is inspired by many artists, filmmakers, musicians, and writers, including Henri Nouwen, James Baldwin, Mary Cassatt, Charles Burnett, Bob Dylan, and Lorna Simpson. “Everyone has their creative family, the folks they look to for reassurance that it’s worth it to keep making.”

Lara has friends and family all over the country and abroad. She grew up in Connecticut, near New York City, and has lived in Washington, D.C., San Diego, CA, Philadelphia, PA, Greenville, IL, and St Louis, MO. Her favorite places are the ocean and Lighthouse Free Methodist Church in St Louis. She has two nephews, Silas and Jasper, two goddaughters, Dasia and Lin, and a niece on the way.