Ericka Walker
The world can be a daunting place for anybody interested in making visual art the focus of their college education. No matter the career path they may envision, choosing one's passion for art can feel risky, almost like a gamble. The reality is that, while there are no guarantees of "making it" in any field of inquiry or professional practice, there is a lot to be said for giving oneself the best possible chance. In my experience, this determination generally rests on two factors: my willingness to provide the pushing power, and the quality of the guidance I receive. UW Steven's Point was the first institution I found where this confluence put me in a position to have real choices about pursuing a full-time career doing what I love.
The quality, commitment, and diversity of faculty at the UW Stevens Point Department of Art and Design created an especially productive learning environment for me. Small class sizes meant regular interaction between faculty and peers at a depth that not only challenged me to improve my work ethic and to take responsibility for my studio time, but also broadened my outlook on the myriad ways to develop a meaningful individual art practice. Courses provided a comprehensive look at visual strategies for art making, from traditional figure drawing with professional models, to computer mediated 3-dimensional design, to class trips to Milwaukee, Chicago, and other metropolitan art centers that provided the benefit of seeing art-at-work in important cultural institutions.
For its place in a small midwestern city in the middle of Wisconsin, UWSP's Department of Art and Design impressed me with its high standards, and its expectations of faculty and students. The Department fostered a level of healthy competition and professionalism that pushed me in the studio, and prepared me for tackling graduate school applications, future exhibition opportunities, and faculty applications and interviews. It is with sincere gratitude that I reflect on Bob Erickson - my primary faculty mentor in the printmaking area - and the students with whom I shared those facilities. I not only remain in contact with many of these, who are still involved in print and art making, but I also see how Bob's tutelage and dedication to the print facilities have influenced my own teaching philosophy and conduct as a faculty member. By people like Bob, I was challenged with a living model of what it takes to think through and make art, and help guide students who choose to walk the same rewarding path.
My studies at UWSP ultimately directed me towards completing an MFA in Fine Art, with an emphasis in printmaking, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2010. Today I am an Assistant Professor in the Fine Art Division at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University, in Halifax, Canada, where I teach printmaking to graduate and undergraduate students pursuing BFA and MFA degrees.
Website: www.erickawalker.com