GVSU and SeoulTech collaborate on ArtPrize entry

After traveling more than 6,000 miles to West Michigan from South Korea, 13 students from Seoul National University of Science and Technology spent the month of July creating the only ArtPrize entry currently on display at Grand Valley during this year's annual art competition.

During the International Ceramics Workshop, facilitated by Hoon Lee, associate professor of ceramics, four teams of students paired with both local and Korean artists to wedge, mold and sculpt nine ceramic columns, each standing approximately eight inches tall. 

The columns are currently on display outside of the Eberhard Center, but, following ArtPrize, they will find a new home in Grand Valley's permanent collection of more than 13,000 works of art. To vote for the entry, use the voting code 63800.

This year's workshop was another phase in efforts to nourish the collaborative relationship between Grand Valley and SeoulTech. The partnership began between the two universities in 2008 after Lee worked with Grand Valley's Padnos International Center for four years to initiate the international exchange program.

Since that time, students and faculty members from both universities have participated in various degree and study abroad programs to exchange creative practices and culturally diverse ideas. Lee said he hopes to expand the partnership by establishing a dual degree program in which students would be able to obtain degrees from both Grand Valley and SeoulTech.

In summer 2011, Grand Valley hosted the first international ceramics workshop, in which two faculty members and eight students from SeoulTech worked side-by-side with two faculty members and 10 students from Grand Valley.

The partnership continued in 2013 when the SeoulTech Museum of Art hosted the first joint exhibition between Grand Valley and SeoulTech art and design faculty. The second joint exhibition is currently on display in the Art Gallery, located in the Performing Arts Center, through November 4, as a part of the university's 13th annual Fall Arts Celebration. More information about this exhibition can be found at gvsu.edu/fallarts.

During this year's workshop, Wansoo Kim was invited to participate as a visiting artist. After meeting Lee at SeoulTech in 2012, Kim participated in a study abroad program at Grand Valley for three semesters after graduating.

While many Korean students and faculty members receive training from an industrial design background, Kim said he was enthusiastic to work with SeoulTech students to broaden their horizons about the expansive range of creative avenues that can be taken with ceramics.

"Korea has a simple, modern style because of the country's rich ceramics history," Kim said. "Students in Korea sometimes think ceramics is just making pottery and cups, but in America they are learning that this art form can be more colorful and creative with different variations."

 For more information about the entry, contact Hoon Lee at [email protected].