Julie Pointer ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Take Root: Ordinary Gifts

To be vibrant, healthful citizens within our places, we must earnestly participate in the web of relationships composing these civic spaces. People are in danger of losing the meaningful connection to place that comes with communal rituals and interdependent relationships. This is due to widespread social independence, globalization, and a growing reliance on technology. I have invited individuals to engage with the ordinary gifts already existing in our local place by inspiring excitement around a communal neighborhood feast. This anticipation has been built through the tangible gifting of objects, written communication, and personal encounters.

To achieve social and personal fulfillment, we need mutual trusting relationships in which we can exercise contribution and creativity. People want to know their neighbors, to have shared experiences in their immediate environment, and to feel they belong in the places they live. The communal meal has been organized in hopes of encouraging these sensations within our neighborhood community. The feast, as well as the gifted ephemera leading up to the gathering, introduces a mediating element into the neighborhood. This mediator unites us. My work is making tangible objects and spaces that create this intercessory connection between people and place.

The completed process reveals that thoughtful, experiential communication of this manner results in the development of trust and the advent of true, reciprocal relationship. I believe the success of this type of social organization hinges on the quality of the communication on both a personal and public level. Further, to inspire a sense of individual and communal belonging, people need to feel they are participant in a compelling, enriching experience. The organizing leader must facilitate and activate an occurrence that is relevant and welcoming for all.

Awarded the 2011 MFA Applied Craft and Design Practicum Award

Kristin Smallwood BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Asha Whittle BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Chase Velarde BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Brian Visser BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jon Werrin BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Sivonna West BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Kristen Wright BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Leo Zarosinski BFA Thesis Spring 2011

David Boekelheide ACD MFA Capstone Spring 2011

Michael O'Malley BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Sokhun Keo BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Matthew Philip Williams ACD MFA Capstone Spring 2011

Devin Trainer BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Samantha Almanza BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Shevawn Armstrong BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Eva Ashford BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Beth Austin BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jeffrey Baratta BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Amanda Belmont BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Karen Berger BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Chris Bodven BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Cassandra Boggio BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Phillip Bone BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Janessa Bork BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Alison Brockel BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Brennan Broome BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Heather Chase BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Katie Clayton BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Samala Coffey BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Madeline Conn BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Nicole Marie Cuvin BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Dominic De Venuta BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Kevin Graham Schmidt BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Ray Anthony Barrett VS MFA Thesis 2011

Daniel Glendening VS MFA Thesis 2011

Bryson Hansen VS MFA Thesis 2011

Carl Klimt VS MFA Thesis 2011

Elizabeth Malaska VS MFA Thesis 2011

Tyler Stuart VS MFA Thesis 2011

Michael Welsh VS MFA Thesis 2011

Laura Allcorn ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Rachel Cox ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Anne Crumpacker ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Nico Sea BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Trillian Spencer BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Melissa Larsen BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Ali Leeds BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Justin Lefor BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Natalie Lomeli BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Israel Lund BFA Thesis Spring 2011

London Lunoux BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Nelleke Mack BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Leah Marvin BFA Thesis Spring 2011

William Matheny BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Kevin McLain BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Andrew Meeker BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Lo Miller BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Robin Milliken BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Brandon Phuong BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Antonia Pinter BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Kyle Raquipiso BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Portia Roy BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Selja Ojanne ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Julie Pointer ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Leslie Vigeant ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Paty Elguera BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Frances Embick BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Eartha Forest BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Danny Frazier BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jung Le Han BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Val Dean Hardy BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jennifer Hayes BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Rachel Haywood BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Morgaine Hendricks-Casey BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jim Hill BFA Thesis Spring 2011

James Jigarjian BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Leah Kiczula BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Chris Kim BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Tabitha Knight BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Chloe Steinhoff-Smith BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Cassandra Stemler BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Ali Gradischer ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Evan Holt ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Chelsey Thornton BFA Thesis Spring 2011

J. Eric Morales ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011

Amanda Townsend BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Morgan Ritter BFA Thesis Spring 2011

Jason Lee Starin ACD MFA Practicum Spring 2011