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Show WC of Artist Medium Preferred Porcelain and Pottery By Brenda Lee Jones Located on the southwest comer of the Westminster campus one will find the Eccles Art Center. At first glance, one would believe home, but it to be a misplaced .two-stor- y once inside one will find 15 potter's wheels, four kilns and one Kay Kuzminski. Kuzminski will be the one up to her elbows in clay, mixing glazes or firing greenware. Kuzminski has been teaching in the Center since 1973 after obtaining her MFA at the University of Utah in 1970. Prior to attending the U. of U., Kuzminski taught in elementary schools in the East after receiving her BA degree in Art from the University of New Hampshire. The circumstances which brough Kuzminski to Westminster are quite unique. While on vacation in 1973, Kuzminski and her husband stopped in Salt Lake to visit some friends. Kuzminski said, "It was so strange. I decided to go skiing alone one day. While skiing, I met a woman who had recently taken a pottery class atI Westminster. Through our discussions learned that the college was looking for a new pottery instructor. I inquired about the position, was hired and started teaching that fall" Kuzminski feels one of the unique characteristics of Westminster is that it offers students a liberal arts education. 1 take it upon myself to try it I often offer T new classes for students to enjoy, and Im open to any suggestions in. learning techniques." This semester, she is teaching fundamentals of pottery for the beginning student as well as classes for the advanced pottery student. Classes Involve hand building, throwing on the wheel and ceramic in which large abstract hand sculpture created. A new class, a are built pieces ceramic jewelry class, will be added this fall, Kuzminski said. "Fashion Jewelry is very at Linda Mason, an art major popular. This class will allow students to the of "One great create some unique fashion statements." Westminster, said, to Kuzminski exhibits work in local her is has attributes Kay promote ability allows Kuzminski shows as much as possible., Currently, two of r feels Mason creativity." students to be adventurous and to create her pieces can be seen in the Alliance for the Exhibition In Logan. using their imaginations. "Even though she Varied Arts Women's tea allows students to do their own thing, she is One piece is a large pot covered with a pedestal The forms. other cat when direct abstract and to there guide always Kuzminski said, "The art classes offered at the college are essential In helping students experience learning in a way that will help individuals them to become with the ability to reason, to understand and enjoy as well as enhance the world they live in." She feels that Westminster's art department course offerings may be limited, but the quality of art produced from the students isn't. "I am impressed with and amazed at the creative energy and talent of the students." well-round- I ed bowl. needed." "People often ask me why I use so and fish forms in decorating my throughout the year at the Shaw Center many catI feel one s own personal interests work. Lounge. Student work from Kuzminskl's influence ones art work. I ove cats likes and intermediate pottery and porcelain classes I of them if I could. As it have 50 would and with paintings by (spring 1989), along Kiki. I And I feel fish are have on one, is, just students of Don Doxey are currently I like to fish and I do quite a bit of beautiful. display. Kuzminski is constantly keeping it,- " said Kuzminski. abreast of new techniques and new ideas. Many of Kuzminskl's pieces can be She said, "If there is something new to learn. purchased at local locations, such as Student pottery is displayed keeps jay Kuzminski ln up-to-da- on new te techniqUes pottery, Womens Place Bookstore, Appleyard Art, Every Blooming Thing and the Kimball Art Center in Park City. Items such as pins, mirrors, wind chimes, vases and ceramic jewelry are available. Don Doxey as an Institute at Westminster By Dot Archibald Bathed in light, a nude woman kneels on the dais, head thrown back, breast uplifted, shadows puddling around her thighs. There is little conversation, but the sonorous voice of a poet echoes in the small room. Occasionally, pounding steps on the floor above reverberate through the room, breaking the tension. Is this the setting for a drama, a mystery unfolding? hi a way it is; the drama of creativity is taking place. The setting is a life drawing class temporarily housed in the basement under the gym where the Utah Jazz are practicing. To find this place, watch for a diminuwhite-haire- d man with piercing blue eyes tive and a warm smile, disappearing around a comer of the gym on the campus of Westminster College. Follow him because he is Don Doxey, professor of art at Westminster for 27 years. Doxey says, "I just find my own little comer and do my thing." His thing is inspiring and teaching art students, being good at that, and being happy about it...no small art. Doxey began his studies at Weber State College when it was only a two year facility. From there he went to the University of Utah for his MFA, completing his formal studies at American Art School in New York City. A man of intense humility, Doxey, when asked how he became an artist, replied, "Oh, I guess it was because I was always good at it You know, for some people its mathematics, for others, its history; for me, it was art. Whenever I wanted to get an easy A, I always took an art class." Although Doxey has worked in some areas that are exciting and unusual, there is nothing of flamboyance or ego In Doxey. The Koreanwar came along when Doxey was just starting graduate school. That year a law was passed that allowed young men in school to finish the academic year, so he did. ( Issue 24 April 25, 1 989 In the army, Doxey was offered some better opportunities because he had a college degree, and he became a member of the Army Special Intelligence. To hear him tell of It, that was just a matter of being able to wear civilian clothes, drive his own car, and flash a badge which would let him in wherever he wanted to go. Actually, he did investigations for sensitive postitions in the government Two years later, Doxey was a civilian again, this time with the advantage of G.I. Bill; so he went back to complete his Master of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. Although Doxey was offered a job immediately upon completion of his graduate program, he chose to perfect his work, to leave his wife and daughter in Utah, and go to New York for further study. While in New York, Doxey worked for television NBC creating props, and was offered the opportunity to stay on after the show closed to illustrate a book for the writer of the show. By this time, Doxey had been separated from his family long enough, and as he was offered a teaching positionwith the University of Utah, he chose to take a 50 percent cut in pay and return to Utah. When the position he was offered did not materialize, Doxey taught in the public school system, at the junior high level, for six years. Of this experience Doxey said, Junior a difficult time for kids, but someis high times, just sometimes, you can reach them through art when nothing else will work. Then you get to watch them turn around, start believing in themselves, and have a chance to become somebody." In 1962, Doxey was offered a position at Westminster and he has been here since then, teaching and loving it. For 26 years, he kept the coffee pot on the third floor of Converse Hall. With going the only men's restroom on the first floor of the building, Doxey said, We always did a lot of dancing around before we put down our paint brushes and hit the stairs." In 1962, the studio in Converse Hall was painted a dirty institutional green. Doxey painted it white, and then waited years before it was painted again. The ceiling skylights were doubled, with a layer of dust between; Doxey and his students finally took the lower skylights out so they could see to paint This year Doxey is in the basement underneath the gym. The thunder of the J azz practicing crashes overhead, drowning conversation. There are no windows and the lighting is somewhat dim. When asked how he feels about conducting a class down there, he said, Well, were close to the parking lot, and thats good." What about Don Doxey, the painter? Doxey paints in oils; he calls his paintings Western still fifes. When asked why he does this type of painting, he waxes enthusiastic about the state of Utah and its beauty. Doxey has no problem with a sense of place," that feeling of being rooted in his surroundings, enjoying them to the fullest, and expressing that rootedness through his all summer long, the paintings for one show are as much as he can or wants to produce. Doxey Is looking forward to next year when he can move back into his beloved top story in Converse Hall. There will be a bathroom on the third floor, and an elevator to the third floor. Best of all, there will be fight to paint by under the bright new skylights. As he tells it, the experiences in Doxeys fife seem to be matter-of-fac-t. Nothing special difficulties are not worth and the happened mentioning. In these times, a man who can find something he enjoys doing and does well; is willing to become the best he can be at it; and then spends his fife teaching and sharing his talent, this is the real hero about whom one seldom reads. Don Doxey will always find his comer to work in, be it basement or top floor studio. When people go there, they will find that comer filled with sunlight, because thats the biggest part of who Don Doxey is. 1 i n i t artistic ability. Doxey loves the antiquey," as he calls them, kinds of thins available to a painter here in the Mountain West He likes the tack, f sf the farm implements and the Indian artifacts to be found in Utah. He likes to paint their contrasting textures, and to use. them in expressing the feel of the West Doxey show his art in New Mexico and Arizona and in Carmel, Calif., where he sells everything he can paint He has won every award given by the State of Utah, and no longer submits for show, preferring to submit his work to a few galleries. Doxey does one show a year, in February, as he is a meticulous (he says slow") painter. Although he has a painting in progress at all times and paints Professor of art, Don Doxey, is a 27 year veteran of Westminster. Forum 7 |