AUM Fine Arts student captures ‘Life as a Warhawk’

AUM Fine Arts senior Kelsey LeMaster recently received a unique undergraduate research opportunity that allowed her to create a visual display capturing the AUM student experience.

LeMaster’s artwork, “Life as a Warhawk,” is currently on display in AUM’s Office of Central Advising (Taylor Center 145) and features eight vinyl panels depicting the student experience through advising, academics, self-growth, athletics, peer mentoring, volunteerism/service, campus involvement, and graduation.

“Kelsey’s artwork has transformed our new office suite from an employee-centered workspace to a student-centered advising space,” said Office of Central Advising Director Stephen Bray. “AUM students do great things, and Kelsey’s work showcases not only her own incredible talent and creativity, but also the amazing opportunities available to AUM students.”

The vision for the making of “Life as a Warhawk” unfolded for LeMaster when she received an invitation from Department of Fine Arts Chair William Fenn to work with Breuna Baine, associate professor of fine arts, on a special internship project for the Office of Central Advising.

“I was given the internship opportunity to work specifically on this project and gain real-world experience,” said LeMaster, who is majoring in graphic design. “I knew that this was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down because this was my first huge project.”

After accepting the internship, LeMaster was introduced to Bray as the project’s “client.”

“Stephen Bray had the vision and suggested the vinyls to show the various ways that AUM students engage with the university,” she said. “I took his vision to create eight vinyls that show what an AUM student might experience on campus.”

Throughout the project’s four-month creative process, LeMaster was guided by Baine, her faculty mentor, to capture the essence of being an AUM student.

“Professor Baine would give me feedback each week on my rough drafts and walk with me step-by-step through the whole process, from submitting my work to the client to having it print out,” LeMaster said. “Not only did Professor Baine help me with this project, but she helped me gain confidence in my work and always made sure that this is something I should be proud of. I couldn’t have done it without her support and mentorship.”

LeMaster’s vinyl artwork project was funded through a grant from AUM’s Experiential Education and Engagement Center (EEEC) and Office of the Provost, which allowed her to receive credit for the project as undergraduate research.

“I can’t thank AUM enough for the support I have received on this project,” LeMaster said. “I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity and to have a piece of my work at AUM. This wouldn’t have been possible without the EEEC and (AUM Provost) Dr. Mrinal Varma. This is definitely an experience I will never forget.”

Before the Office of Central Advising project, LeMaster said she struggled with whether graphic design was the right area of academic focus for her as a fine arts student.

“I’ve always had an eye for designing, but never knew that I would create a career out of it,” she said. “I mostly viewed it as a hobby. In fact, I’ve changed my major twice before deciding on graphic design. It wasn’t until I took a 2D design class as an elective that made me realize that this is something I want to do for the rest of my career, projecting communication through visuals.”

LeMaster, who expects to graduate in Fall 2024, hopes that current and future AUM students can visualize themselves in “Life as a Warhawk.”

“I wanted to create a space where students felt seen and welcomed into the space,” she said. “I hope even non-students and future students who walk through Central Advising are able to capture the life of a college student and what their college journey looks like.”