SARASOTA – Students from the past return to Ringling College of Art & Design for their annual alumni show. “We just made your degree that more valuable because the reputation of Ringling College is just sorb,” said Larry Thompson.
The Made By Gallery at the Ringling College host their annual alumni show featuring alums that specialize in abstract art and pottery.
“It’s great to be able to bring my work back to Ringling, and it’s very different than what I was doing before,” said Julie Knight.
Knight is one of the featured alums that specialize in pottery art. Knight says she chooses to work with ceramic clay because she wants to create art that will be used in by people in their everyday lives.
“I’ve been working on functional work,” said Knight. “I love the idea that someone can actually use a piece of artwork every day like a mug or a bowl and it’s not like anyone else’s.”
Scott Causey has been making pottery sculpture since he was nine-years-old. He says he jumped at the opportunity to come back to the college.
“I want the students here as well as other alumni to see what I’m doing,” said Causey. “It’s always fun to go back and kind of let everybody know that you can actually make a career as an artist full time.”
The galley features five alums work up for sale. Thompson, President of Ringling College of Art & Design, says he’s proud to show that through the resources at the school, students at Ringling are putting an end to the myth of a hungry artist.
“It’s a great inspiration for them and they’re able to see also students who may have graduated 20-30 years go and here they are selling their artwork,” said Thompson. “Because we don’t believe in starving artists we’re all about shattering the myth of the starving artist.”
The gallery will be up on display until February 15th at the Made By Gallery on 2700 North Tamiami Trail.
