LDSOA alums in residence at Bemis Center

Congratulations to Rachel Dubuque (MFA '13) and Justin Plakas (MFA '12) who were selected to live and work at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts in Omaha, NB this summer:

The two are part of an international group of 18 artists who were selected out of a pool of 800, working on individual projects for a funded cycle of three months.

"It has been an amazingly transformative experience," Plakas said.

"I have largely been a video, photo and 2D artist throughout my career and at Lamar Dodd but I came here with the intent to extend my practice into sculpture. I have been doing a series of material investigations all summer - working with plaster, cement, wood and ceramics. I have created a whole new body of 3D work that I am really excited about," he said.

Debuque arrived at the Bemis residency fresh off of a site specific installation she created with UGA alumna Dana Peters in Seattle at SOIL Gallery. At Bemis, Debuque is building a set for a large scale video production which shares some of the thematic language featured in her live performances.

Great work by terrific alums who continue to make the most of their UGA experience and transform it into the lives and careers they want.

Image: Justin Plakas (MFA '12) in his studio at Bemis.