BFA alumna credits Morehead State faculty with nurturing her love of art
Before earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree from Morehead State, Sinclaire Marie (Class of 2022) of Tuscon, Arizona, was a working artist. Specializing in ceramics, Marie launched her own business while she was still an undergraduate student. Her devotion to the arts led to her current job as the education and events manager at the Gateway Regional Arts Center (GRAC) in Mt. Sterling.
Marie's current role involves planning for the GRAC Academy, which offers public classes in ceramics, painting, drawing, dance, and more. Marie schedules artists to teach the courses and help them design and implement the curriculum. She coordinates GRAC events, such as the Cay R. Lane Events series of performances and lectures, and installs exhibits at the GRAC Gallery. Marie also educates local artists on displaying their work in a professional gallery setting and helps them advertise and sell their work.
"I try to focus on regional and local artists to help them further their careers in the arts, whether that's teaching or experience workshops," she said. "It's a comfortable environment for them to do that here at the arts center so that they can work out the kinks, and we can prepare them to go out into the world and teach."
Marie said her as an Undergraduate Research Fellow at the Golding-Yang Gallery under the supervision of former Gallery Director Melissa Yungbluth gave her a wealth of knowledge while at MSU that has profoundly shaped her career and influences her work to this day.
"Morehead State University has had a very strong impact on where I am today," she said. Marie credits Yungbluth and Professor of Art Lisa Mesa-Gaido, along with Instructor Quinn Maher and Gallery Director Mike Bowen, for teaching her the skills to do what she does now. She said the faculty and her fellow students provided her with a supportive community of artists that allowed her to flourish.
"As a full-time student, having the community there at the art department to be comfortable in exploring my artistic ambitions was really helpful. My classmates there, the environment all the professors there created were phenomenal. I'll remember that for the rest of my life," Marie said, adding she's grateful for her impact on the regional arts community and individual artists and says she couldn't do what she does without the education she received at MSU.
Marie said GRAC offers numerous opportunities for students to gain valuable real-world art experiences. The center has an internship program, students can teach classes for the public at the GRAC, and they can also serve on one of the center's committees.
Explore programs at the GRAC at grackentucky.org.
Learn more about programs in MSU's Department of Communication, Media, Art & Design by emailing cmad@moreheadstate.edu or calling 606-783-2457.
