Barbara Westman Biography

Barbara Westman, a printmaking and fibers art professor at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU), was born in Gdansk, Poland. Growing up, Westman went to gallery openings with her parents. She would go to work with her mother at the gallery, Wojewodzki Osrodek Kultury. Her mother, father and grandfather were all artists. Her mother made sculptures, and her father was a photographer. Her grandfather was professor and a painter.

There was a political turmoil in Poland while Westman was in high school. In 1989, the government changed from communism to democracy. However, the times were peaceful afterwards for Westman. In high school, she took art classes and participated in track and field.

She completed all of her education in nine years in Poland. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Poznan University. She completed her bachelor degree in art-graphic design, art-prints, and art-fibers at University of Arts in Poznan. Westman did not have clubs in Poland, but got involved with a group of friends in the city. All of the shows that she displayed were group work. In graphic design, she made illustrations for books and magazines. She worked in a small graphic studio company called Studio 37 in Poland.

Then, she completed her dual master degree in prints and fibers at the Academy of Fine Arts in the University of Arts in Poznan. In prints, she worked more with techniques and composition compared to fiber art. In fibers, she works more on creative thinking and combining materials.

“Paper is fantastic to work with,” Westman said. “You can cut paper into pieces and change the color, and it becomes something else.”

In 1998, Westman married to Grant Westman, and in 2002, she moved to the United States. In 2005, she started working at SRU.

Currently, Westman enjoys teaching printmaking and fiber art to college students.

“I’m not the type to sit behind the desk all day,” Westman said. “I like the pace and the activities in the college classroom.”

               

Westman is the advisor for the student-run Martha Gault Art Society (Art Club). Students in Art Club coordinate lectures and field trips for students to participate in. She represents the art department for the Kaleidoscope Festival where members schedule performers and events, make budget plans and promote the festival. She helps out with the Student Exchange Program between the Art Department and the University of Arts, Poznan.

She has submitted her work in national and international competitions, group and solo shows. Her work is focused on Intaglio Printmaking and Fiber Art. She focuses on texture and composition. She keeps it simple by making it monochromatic or achromatic.

After years since the first request, the “temporary” fibers art building on Kiester Road will be moved to Patterson building by the end of the summer.

Westman’s semester goal is that students gain knowledge and cover printmaking processes so that they can work independently. She focuses on teaching the technique and then work on building conceptual thinking for projects.

“People don’t realize the kinds of materials that you can use,” Westman said. “You can find beautiful things in the trash can.”
Fibers Studio With Rhellie Beach

Outside of Fibers Studio With Eric Berdis

Advanced Studio Fibers Class

Printmaking Studio With Cheyenne Kelley

University of Pittsburgh Bomb Threats

Event occurred: April 4 at 9:20 p.m. First Posted: April 5 at 9:06 p.m.

Students roamed around the residence halls.

The University of Pittsburgh had another set of bomb threats on Wednesday shortly before 9:30 p.m. Students and faculty had to evacuate from Victoria Hall, the Frick Fine Arts Building and the Music Building. No students or faculty were hurt and no bomb was found. Pitt had 23 bomb threats in the past few weeks. Clancy Hanagon, a freshman neuroscience major, was at the bomb threat on Wednesday night. "It's beginning to get boring," Hanagon said. "It's a routine, I've had to miss classes because of it." Some threats were emailed and written on the bathroom stalls, investigators reported.

The 2012 National Cherry Blossom Festival

The 2012 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. celebrated the gift of cherry blossom trees that were given to the United States 100 years ago by Japan. There are 200 events that promote arts and culture. They offer films, ceremonies, and galleries to attend to. One of the most popular events is the 2012 Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival on April 14 at 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Constitution Avenue. The Opening Ceremony featured performers such as Sara Bareilles, The Washington Ballet, and the Samurai Sword Soul on March 25 at 5 p.m. in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The National Cherry Blossom, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose goal is to promote beauty and build community. The organization is run by a board of directors and is supported by donors such as Canon, FedEx, and the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C.

There is no additional cost to see the 3,000 cherry blossoms. The average date that the blossoms bloom is April 4. In the embed slideshow, the pictures were taken on the Washington Monument Grounds.

The College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts Walking Tour

There are more programs and opportunities in the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts.


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Tom Connelly Art Show in the Hoyt Art Institute of Fine Arts

The Hoyt Art Institute of Fine Arts is located in New Castle, PA. Tom Connelly's artwork was displayed on January 10 through February 24. Connelly has taught at Penn State University, Art Institute of New Kensington. The Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts offers a variety of education classes for children and adults. Sonya Domaracki, a junior art major, explains why this drawing is her favorite artwork in Tom Connelly's gallery.

Legalizing Marijuana: Both Sides of the Issue

The subject about legalizing marijuana is a controversial idea.

Marijuana can significantly impair the body and mental functions. It is associated with memory loss, cancer, immune system deficiencies, heart disease, and birth defects, according to Stimson.

Marijuana has negative effects on the heart and lungs, according to NIDA. Marijuana uses have about five times greater risk in getting a heart attack within the first hour of smoking. Since the heart rate increases palpitations and arrhythmias occur. Marijuana smoke contains 50-70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke which irritates the lungs more.

Marijuana can become an addictive drug if it is used for a prolonged time. Long-term users, who are trying to quit, can experience irritability, sleeplessness, decreased appetite, anxiety, and drug craving. Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) are against the legalization of marijuana usage. In 2006, FDA found a vast amount of scientific evidence that marijuana is harmful.

Eight states might legalize marijuana in 2012, according to NORML. The states are California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington. States may regulate marijuana like alcohol and tax on them. By using marijuana, the US government can make more money by putting taxes on it, according to URI.

People can also receive health benefits from using marijuana, according to URI. The American Medical Association says that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol, cigarettes, and even most over-the-counter medicines or prescriptions. Although marijuana smoke contains more tars and carbon monoxide than tobacco, marijuana users don’t smoke as much as cigarette users. Therefore, they don’t get the full potential and harmful toxins.

Since 1972, 16 of 50 US states and DC have legalized the medical usage of marijuana, according to ProCon. Using marijuana is a safe and effective drug for treating symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, and epilepsy, according to ProCon.

Tiger Mom Amy Chua

Amy Chua

Amy Chua is known for sharing controversial topics in her book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” which was rated number six in the Amazon sales rankings on the day that it was released, according to Washington Times. Some argued that she committed a crime for abusing her children, according to New York Times.

Amy Chua is the John M. Duff Professor of Law at Yale Law School, according to Amychua.com. Chua is a known power on international business transactions, ethnic conflicts, law and development, and globalization and the law, according to SpeakersAcademy.com.

She was born in the Year of the Tiger (1962) in Champaign, Illinois. In 1984, she graduated from Harvard College, and in 1987, she graduated Harvard Law School.

Recently, Chua wrote the Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance—and Why they Fall and World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability, according to Yale.edu.

If I were to interview Amy Chua, my first question would be, “Have you ever considered what makes your children happy as opposed to making yourself happy?”

I picked Washington Times and New York Times as a reliable source because both papers are well-known and are written by professional writers. AmyChua.com is a dependable site created by Jefferson Rabb who is a freelance designer, developer, and composer for websites. SpeakersAcademy.com started in 1997 and is a leading institute for professional speakers. Yale.edu has an “edu” domain extension, and other sites say that she wrote for the same books.