The Western Carolina Student body is diverse in hobbies ranging from mountain biking and hiking to reading and collecting. Our student body is creative, active, and waiting to be recognized. Three students from three different concentrations agreed to meet with me to show our readers what making art as a student is like and their responses help others to understand that art is lively and for everyone.
Brandon Rice, Violinist
Q: What kind of art do you create?
A: I make art whenever I play/perform on my violin! Whether it’s playing at weddings on my acoustic violin or performing in the Pride of the Mountains marching band with my electric violin, the kind of art I demonstrate is meant to be shared with anyone!
Q: How did you get started in your craft?
A: It all started back when I was 10 years old and picked up the violin for the first time. It obviously took some time to get used to holding the instrument and reading music notes. However, as the years progressed, my performance and confidence level started to rise and eventually brought me to where I am today!
Q: Where do you derive your inspiration from?
A: In terms of music, there are many violinists out there that I’ve looked up to and gained inspiration from over the years. For example, an extremely talented violinist named Lindsey Stirling is someone I have looked up to since I was 10 years old. She’s a non-traditional violinist that also dances while playing the violin. I was super fortunate that I could meet and talk to her in person last December while she was on her holiday tour! Other violinists such as Black Violin, Brian King Joseph, and Nuttin’ But Stringz are also people I’ve gained inspiration from. With me being in one of the best marching bands in the country, that accomplishment just strives me to perform at my best level and be better every performance we do!
Q: What are some struggles you face being a student and an artist?
A: Being a black violinist, it just feels rare to find someone like me to do what I do. I mentioned Black Violin, Brian King Joseph, and Nuttin’ But Stringz as being an inspiration to me. All of them are black men that play violin and strive to be different. That’s what my goal is. While it is nice being compared to other talented people, I want to be the first Brandon Rice that is different in my own way. That way, people can reference my name in the future.
Q: What do you want people to know about your work?
A: Honestly, I only want people to know that I’m proud of what I produce. It’s not easy coming up with creative ideas when playing the violin, but putting in the work and effort into it can exceed your own expectations. I believe in moving people through music. If I can move and inspire people through my violin, then I’ve done my job correctly.
Timo Cashman, Photographer
Q: What kind of art do you create?
A: I’m a photographer specializing in film photography.
Q: How did you get started in your craft?
A: I got interested in photography because I went to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC back in 2019. I thought it would be cool to take a camera to New York and take pictures of the city and my friends. I rented out a camera from the WCU tech commons. It turned out to be so much fun taking photos that I wanted to continue doing it. That summer, I took my mom’s camera and started taking photos of my friends in the city and experimenting with it, watching videos, etc. one thing led to the next, and eventually, people started asking me to take their photos, so I saved up for my own camera, a Sony A7ii. After shooting digital for a couple of years, I realized that I had more creative potential shooting analog, so I slowly started to ditch the digital format and shoot 35mm film. Now all I shoot is film, and I love it.
Q: Where do you derive your inspiration from?
A: I draw inspiration from cinema, music, and especially history. I always think, “how do you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?” Ernst Haas is my biggest inspiration. Haas is an Austrian photographer born in 1921 and a pioneer of color film. He was especially notable for bridging the gap between photojournalism and creative work, starting out as a photographer for the Red Cross in WWII and then becoming a creative photographer for MAGNUM alongside Cartier-Bresson, Capa, Bischof, and Rodger. Haas was the first to have a color photo exhibit in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Haas is such a big inspiration to me. He believed that there were no rules in photography. He also believed that a black and white photograph isn’t a photograph without color, and a color photograph isn’t just a black and white photograph with color.
Q: What are some struggles you face being a student and an artist?
A: Being a student photographer has its challenges. Nobody really understands that photography is a real profession. It’s not “just taking pictures.” Lots of time goes into education, editing, post, film development, printing, scheduling, building contacts, and behind-the-scenes work that people don’t know about or give much attention to. It’s always more than just pressing a button.
Q: What do you want people to know about your work?
A: Photography is a time capsule. It is the capture of light, space, time, humanity, and creation into the composition of a frame that you can look back on that can never be recreated again. Don’t shoot for other people and never try to force emotions or find a style. Shoot for you and have your art be both a reflection and an extension of yourself.
Jenna Cary, Oil Paint Artist
Q: What kind of art do you create?
A: My favorite media is painting and drawing.
Q: How did you get started in your craft?
A: I started at a very young age. In my household, art was always encouraged as my grandmother was also an artist.
Q: Where do you derive your inspiration from?
A: My inspiration comes from all around me. I use memories, friendships, and experiences I’ve had to create new works.
Q: What are some struggles you face being a student and an artist?
A: Something that I have struggled with as an artist and student is coming up with new ideas and supporting myself financially. Being an artist can sometimes be a very expensive hobby/career, but it is worth it at the end of the day, as this is how I express myself and communicate my experiences to the world.
Q: What do you want people to know about your work?
A: I want others to know that I can’t wait to share my experiences as an Art Education major with my future students!
