School of Art
Our Alumni

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Our community of graduates extends the School of Art beyond the walls of the Ames Art Building into the entirety of the world. Many of our alumni have gone on to do advanced study in art, design, communications, education, and art history. We number many well known artists among our group and IWU grads are making a major mark in visual communication and design. We are equally proud of our graduates who have applied their creative talents to fields outside of art.

1980s

1900s

2000s

1980s

Jeff Curto '81 is Coordinator and Professor of Photography at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where he has taught since 1984. Courses frequently taught include Creative Process, History of Photography, Digital Imaging and Photographic Composition. Prior to employment at College of DuPage, Curto worked extensively as a freelance photographer, specializing in event and public relations photography, architectural interiors and exteriors, portrait and product photography. Curto was awarded a Master of Fine Arts degree from Bennington College in Vermont in 1983. Additionally, he attended Ansel Adams' last workshop in Carmel, California in 1983.

Since 1989, Curto's primary photographic subjects have been found in Italy, where he travels yearly. While it is the country's landscape and architectural qualities that interest him, it is not the large, expansive view which draws his attention. Rather, he chooses to examine selected fragments of the Italian environment, seen in quiet, intimate glimpses. In this way, luminously peaceful courtyards, sunlight on ageless monuments and the warmth radiating off of grapes ripening on the vine are all given equal importance as subject matter. Jeff exhibits his work periodically in both group and one-person shows. His glowing black and white and color prints are contained in numerous private and corporate collections. Examples of Jeff Curto's work can be found on his website at www.jeffcurto.com

Robin Asbell '84 (formerly Calhoun) has switched her creative drive away from painting into a career as a culinary professional, writing, speaking, and teaching about food. Her first book, The New Whole Grains Cookbook, will be published by Chronicle Books in October 2007. Her food writing has appeared in magazines such as Taunton's Fine Cooking, Better Homes and Gardens, and Vegetarian Times. She has been a featured speaker around the state of Minnesota, addressing groups of up to 300 people at the University of Wisconsin Healthy Women's Expo, among others. She has been teaching classes about the joys of delicious, healthy food for over ten years and travels the country spreading the word.
Robin enjoys life in Minneapolis with her husband and three cats. Her schedule of events, and some articles and recipes are at www.robinasbell.com.

Renee McGinnis '84 did graduate work in sociology and anthropology at the University of Chicago. Her paintings has been exhibited widely in Chicago and has also shown in Germany, Australia , New York City, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Her curatorial debut occurred when she launched "The Chicago Solution Show  2003" with the late Ed Paschke as juror, then again in 2005 with Art Institute of Chicago curator of contemporary collections- James Rondeau. In 2002 Renee stared as herself in the Iranian-American film "American Burqa." She currently lives in Chicago where she also works for WGN Television as a news graphic designer. McGinnis also gives slide lectures of her work at Universities and in the inner city public schools.

1990s

Justin Ahrens '94 is principal of Rule29, a strategic creative firm in Geneva, IL outside of Chicago. Rule29 strives to spread the company credo, "making creative matter", to clients ranging from non-profit to Fortune 500 by creating design that reflects an innovative and contemporary design aesthetic, while integrating critical marketing solutions. Justin's passion for his profession is evidenced by his extensive involvement in organizations that support the design community. Justin regularly speaks around the country and is a member of the STA & AIGA, has held a position on the AIGA Arizona & Chicago board and most recently serving his third year on the HOW Conference Advisory Board. Over his career, Justin has been fortunate to create award-winning work for several organizations and has been recognized in several magazines and books including Communication Arts, HOW, PRINT, Create, Rockport Publishers, STEP, and Graphic Design USA picked Justin as one of the top designers to watch in 2004. With all that said Justin's greatest passion is being home with his wife, Sarah, and four amazing children who think Dad's job consists of listening to music, drawing and playing on the computer.

William Matznick '94 is a senior art director for Digitas, an interactive marketing agency with offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, London and Chicago, Bill works in the Chicago office. He  creates Web sites and online advertising and works in broadcast and print as well. Digitas is owned by the Publicis Groupe, an advertising holding company which also owns Leo Burnett, Arc Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi, Publicis and Fallen. Bill is the creative lead on Miller Brewing and Nokia USA accounts and works on Whirlpool and new business initiatives as well. He has been with Digitas for three years and really enjoys working in the online field. Bill says that staying ahead of the curve and delivering innovative work is challenging.

Bill and his wife Lisa and have a 2-year-old son named Samuel and they are expecting their second child in October. The Matznicks have lived in Phoenix and London and have traveled all over Europe. Bill said that his art history education has paid off as he was able to keep pace with his wife in every museum they visited (she has a master's in Contemporary Art History).

Dmitry Strakovky '98 is currently an Assistant Professor of Intermedia at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. He teaches art students how to program computers, make video and print-based work, design their own electronic contraptions and occasionally has been know to torture them with art theory (insert evil laugh here.) Since graduating from Wesleyan, Strakovky earned his MFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and then spent a couple of years in the toy industry working on Elmos, Barbies and other wild things. He has been exhibiting pretty regularly trying to make new and better art for the masses. You can see his work at http://www.shiftingplanes.org

2000s

HeidiSpring'01 graduated (Summer 2005) with a master of arts in Fine Art from the University of Brighton in England. Heidi is currently living in the greater Los Angeles area and is working for the man to pay the bills. She is also teaching an evening painting class at the Palos Verdes Art Center and would much prefer that to be her full-time occupation. Heidi was recently been accepted as a member of CATALYST, a non-profit artist collective that provides affordable studio space in a “colorful” neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles. Though she has yet to get a web site up and running, you can see her work at www.myspace.com/heidispringart.

Mike Mayo '02 graduated (Fall 2006) with a master of arts in organizational & multicultural communication from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, then spent a year working at the university in a marketing communications role. Mayo and his wife Sarah Evans (2003) have moved to Columbus, Ohio, for his work with JPMorgan Chase. Carys Eiddwen Evans Mayo was born on January 30, 2008. Mike explains Carys is a Welsh name that means love. Congratulations Sarah and Mike!

Elizabeth Walker '04currently lives in New Mexico, where she works for a small art museum and continues to paint.  Her work has also been exhibited in Chicago and L.A. and can be viewed at www.lizpaints.artspan.com  Her other interests include bees, crafts, making jam, and all things kitsch.  Please send her words of encouragement and pies!


Andy Frederick '06, a Perfumer & Flavorist magazine graphic designer was honored last week as a finalist at this year's Creative Excellence in Business Advertising awards, sponsored by American Business Media, for his work on the Mosciano's Flavor Library campaign on www.perfumerflavorist.com. Named among the final three nominees in the Digital, Online Advertising category, Frederick's competition included OMD Digital for General Electric and Sigma Group for Panasonic.  Read a press release or visit the CEBA awards site.

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