Keeley Hagen – Summer Independent Study

 06/30/25:

School Research:

Maryland Institute College of Art:

- Multidisciplinary, 2-year program with a small cohort (6-8). Has a little bit of funding but costs around 40k. The first round deadline is January 19th. 

Yale University: 

- Multidisciplinary, 10 students, 2-year program, but no facilities for metal casting or ceramics. I don't connect with any of the faculty's work, so this is a big no. 

Statement of Intent:

I intend to focus on some of the schools I researched last year and spent time further researching their faculty and alumni. I then went through all of their application requirements with a focus on their statement sections, so I can begin writing those papers in advance and get some feedback on those. The requirements for each school are all over the place, but range from short statements to 2-page statements, and they all require pretty much the same details.             

ASU: address artistic interests, why this program, and professional goals. 1000 word limit

UGA: Describe focus of research, why this program, and what I intend to accomplish. 1-2 pages

MU: goals for graduate study and description of current work

KU: goals for graduate study and wants me to specify the area of study. 1-2 pages

OU: goals for graduate study, why this program, and priorities specific to my work/research. 2-page limit

Kent: Goal statement- goals for graduate study and why this program (250-500 words) AND artist statement (250-500 words)

JMU: Artist statement (300-500 words) AND Statement of intent (300-500 words)

MICA: address portfolio of work and goals for the graduate study (300-500 words)

Project Plans and Sketches:

6/17/25

Paper & Steel #1:

I plan to utilize paper casting techniques, dry-brushing, and fiber inclusions for the paper portion of this piece. I've also been considering changing the soft material to fabric. I'll do some experimentation with both to decide which one I like better or fits the concept better. For the steel, I have some small pieces already plasma-cut that just need to be formed using blacksmithing techniques. Since I have a bit more time under my belt, I might expand the scale on this piece. The only things I need to consider are finishes for the metal, like what kind of patinas I should pursue to achieve a pink/skin tone kind of color, and how these pieces are going to fit together and ultimately stand. I want this piece to be in the round and on a pedestal. 

Artist Inspiration:

• Eileen O'Shea website – Instagram:
• A jewelry designer based in Washington who utilizes natural forms like lichen, moss, and fungi to influence the forms and color within her work. I really enjoyed and found inspiration by looking through her Instagram because it showed more experimentation and progress updates on her sculptural pieces. 

• Cal Lane website – Instagram
• For almost every sculptural project I set out to do, Cal Lane is a driving influence behind it. I really enjoy the way she combines fancy and light objects with steel and plasma cutting. I find that her messages and materials sort of align with me own. 

Paper & Steel #2:

This project is absolutely going to require the entire summer to complete. I intend to cast a variety of teeth in paper to create a plant-like hanging sculpture. I'm still trying to figure out a color palette, if one is needed. I think this piece isn't like anything else in my portfolio, so I am trying to figure out where this might be headed. I want to weld and fabricate a steel armature with forged ends that look like tendrils coming out of the paper elements. The paper-casting is going to require the most time, and I might be incorporating some of the cast metal teeth I've made throughout the last year. 

Artist Inspo:

• Naja Utzon Popov: website – Instagram
• Popov mostly works in ceramics and textiles in response to the natural world around her. She mostly creates site-specific sculptures and rugs. I connect with her hanging forms that replicate plant life and show gravity. I want to see how I can take that inspiration and combine it with my more quiet yet morbid and grotesque style of work.

• Ann Goddard: website - Instagram
• Ann Goddard's use of material and experimentation is inspiring to me. I really enjoy the works that have little tendrils of material extending from the main body of the object and want to take some inspiration from that. I also really enjoy the finish or treatment in her paper pieces. 

Component Piece:

Still working on ideas!

Fabric & Found Object Piece:

After many conversations about how to approach this piece, I think I want to replicate this object in interfacing and fabric. I want to recreate this object at the same scale or a little larger, but with fabric and then bead over specific points of the piece. I need to figure out how to make this object stand or hang on a wall. It might also be fun to cast fabric off of specific portions of the speculum with more shear fabrics or even knit thread. 

Artist Inspo:

• Kathleen Ryan: website - instagram
• Ryan is interested in utilizing mundane everyday objects with the meticulous craft of beading to explore ideas surrounding seduction and repulsion while also touching upon the idea of life and death. Ryan's beadwork is captivating and truly an inspiration to me, and I want to take inspiration from her use of color and texture to replicate naturalistic forms of decay or grotesque images. 

• Lorenzo Nanni: website - instagram
• Nanni utilized fabrics, fibers, and beadwork to depict organisms and extensions of the human body while also making some of his works feel and look alive. I really enjoy Nanni's use of color and find similarities within both of our chosen color palettes. He is mostly within my inspiration for his forms, beadwork, and textures he achieves. 

 Overall Goals

Projects:

June: Place finishing touches on all works created during the spring and take photos 

• Finish beading found object piece and add more fabric dripping onto floor. Get rid of the fabric rings
• Clean up paper on knit still piece and epoxy in hanging hardware of some kind. Dry brush and finish detailing said paper. 
• Continue to photograph the wood and fiber piece, and possibly add more components to it.
• Consistently make smaller things for the farmer's market!

Gather materials and begin planning out 3 major projects for the rest of the summer with deadlines and updates. 

July:

• Begin and complete paper and steel piece with fiber inclusions
• Begin and complete a component piece
• Begin cast paper teeth piece

August:

• Begin and complete the found object and fabric piece
• Finish the cast paper teeth piece. 

Graduate School Research:

Schools I've previously researched:

• Arizona State University
• 3-year program,  sculpture and multidisciplinary, has some funding, 18,600 per semester
• University of Georgia, Athens
• 3-year program, sculpture/multidisciplinary, fully funded
• University of Missouri
• 3-year program, sculpture, fully funded options, 12,500 per semester
• University of Kansas
• 3-year program, sculpture, liked the professor's work, funding?, 37,500 per semester
• Oregon State University
• 3-year program, sculpture, funding?, 9,000 per semester
• Kent State University 
• 3-year program, sculpture/multidisciplinary, TA stipend, 40k per year
• James Madison University
• 3-year program, sculpture, tiny cohort, funding?, 77k per year

Schools I still want to look into:

• 
  

Graduate School Requirements:

(Highlight once complete for all schools applying to)

• 20 Images of work
• List of Works – Title, medium, size, date
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Intent and/or Artist Statement
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts

Bethany Piece #1

July 3rd

1.Artist Influence

Which artist did I draw inspiration from for this piece, and how did I interpret their techniques, themes, or forms in a way that feels unique to my own practice? I was inspired by artists Lorenzo Nanni and Hiné Mizushima. I enjoy their use of beadwork, embroidery, and bright colors. I like how Hine Mizushima combines different parts of nature to create new specimens. Lorenzo Nanni likewise makes creatures with lots of embellishments and color. Both display them like specimens, but I don’t think I want to include that in my practice.
Hine Mizushima “Heart Moray EelLorenzo Nanni “Stapelias”

2.Technical Growth

What new techniques or materials did I explore in this sculpture? How did I push beyond what I already knew, and where do I see evidence of growth in my craftsmanship? I worked on embroidery and beading onto felting in this project. There was some trial and error in this, but once I found some needles that worked well for me, it was easier to execute. I used yarn and loose felting to try and make some texture and volume to the bird. I think they blend well. I improved a lot in using a base structure and having strong pieces to put together. My last felted work fell apart a few times, but this one stuck together well.

3.Material Relationship

How did I balance fiber with any other materials I incorporated? Did I consider texture, weight, and structure in how these materials interact?

I am very pleased with the finished product. The roving ended up being a nice match to the flower I was referencing. I think that the dark purple added nice shadows to the mix. 

4.Conceptual Development
What idea, feeling, or narrative am I communicating with this work? How clearly does the sculpture reflect that intention?

I am not sure this artwork communicates what I want it to, but perhaps if there were more pieces involved, it could create more of a narrative. I think it needs to be more obvious in the flower elements, because right now it just looks like a pretty bird.

5.Craft and Detail
Did I demonstrate care in construction and finishing details? Did I include a complete color inventory and think intentionally about scale, stability, and presentation?

I think the finished product turned out very detailed. I think if I was to continue working on this, I would make something for the bird to perch on, because it looks stuck to the ground. I also think it would help with keeping the bird upright, while it stands up just fine, I would be concerned about it getting knocked over easily if displayed. The colors ended up matching the original flower very well, and I was pleased with the size getting to be roughly life sized for a sparrow.

6/23/25. 8:44am

 For project one I am still working on constructing the individual parts to piece together. I created my base and have started covering it with roving. I am hoping to start on beadwork soon! I found some clear and blue beads downtown that I think will look very cohesive with the color inventory. I am still deciding on color choices for the  body of the bird, but I think bluish purple will look best  

I am nearly done with my project now. I added beading to the face, wings, and tail. I experimented a little with how to add embroidery and yarn to the felting and it worked very well! The looser threaded materials were harder to add on, but I was able to sew those in place. I found a scrap from a fake flower for the beak. I also found some beads to use as eyes, though I had to felt around them to make them look plausible to be in a skull. I really enjoyed adding the beading. I think I could do a little better planning out patterns for that part next time to make it more cohesive, but now I know some different techniques of getting them on and hiding the knots. 

Jun 16 3:18pm

Reply from Bethany Lee RussellOne of my favorite passages from the Bible is Matthew 6:25-32 because Jesus tells us to cast our anxieties on the Lord because he will provide for us like he does sparrows and clothe us like he does lilies (most likely meaning wildflowers). I wanted to combine these as sparrows made of wildflowers. I wanted to start with the columbine version, because it seems the most feasible. I will use the columbine as my color inventory.

One of my favorite passages from the Bible is Matthew 6:25-32 because Jesus tells us to cast our anxieties on the Lord because he will provide for us like he does sparrows and clothe us like he does lilies (most likely meaning wildflowers). I wanted to combine these as sparrows made of wildflowers. I wanted to start with the columbine version, because it seems the most feasible. I will use the columbine as my color inventory.

I was inspired by artists Lorenzo NanniLinks to an external site. and Hiné MizushimaLinks to an external site. because of their use of beadwork, embroidery, and bright colors. I want to use beads and embroidery floss to add texture and pattern to my piece.

I will need to make an amateur for the bird’s body and use wire to make the feet, wing, and tail. I will use beads for the eyes, and I think I will use sculpy for the beak. I think I will cover the body with flat felting and add loose roving and yarn to make feather textures.