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Artist Profile: Chelsea Fagan
By Grace Mooney, courtesy of Kent News |
Chelsea Fagan, who takes advantage of the academic and athletic opportunities at Kent, as well as being a leader in Kent’s Student Council as Blue Key Head, has also long loved art. She says, “I’ve been interested in art since I was a little girl…I was always in ceramic or painting classes.” Her main focus, especially over the last two years, has been clay. “I love working with clay and building,” she explains. Fagan was recognized nationally during the 2009-2010 school year when she received the National Fine Arts Award for her hard work. She says she sees herself “working a lot more on the pottery wheel: things for your house - plates, mugs, vases.” Fagan’s most recent work is currently being displayed in the John Gray Park Library.
This year she took part in a rigorous AP art program. She began focusing mainly on sculpture during her Junior year at Kent, a medium she says she “had a lot of fun with.” With an interest in history, Fagan chose to include interesting architectural styles into her sculpture pieces for the AP portfolio. The Jackson Pollock technique, Monet’s water lilies and other influential artists and styles inspired the pieces. Fagan says she has “always found chairs really interesting” and so “decided to incorporate the two by doing different chairs based on different styles of architecture starting from the 14th century gothic to pop art and Andy Warhol.” The idea has led to her create chairs out a variety of materials, from empty coke cans to clay. Jenna Lynch, Kent’s sculpture teacher, calls her chair collection “fabulous.” Ms. Lynch says that “Chelsea is a great sculptor. Her aesthetic is refined and elegant, yet whimsical.” She singles out one chair from Fagan’s collection in particular: “I especially love her Romantic chair inspired by Caspar David Friedrich’s Polar Sea painting!”
Fagan’s artistic talent has certainly added a great dimension to Kent’s art program. Ms. Lynch is “eager to see what she will create…next year,” when Fagan will begin in the fall at Sewanee, University of the South. Fagan gives a few words of wisdom: “Don’t stress out so easily, make the best of your time here, and always make time for both work and friends.” As her final spring term comes to a close, it is clear Fagan, and her art, have flourished at Kent.
[2009-2010 Artists Archives]
[2008-2009 Artists Archives]
[2007-2008 Artists Archive]
[2006-2007 Artists Archive]