Emerging artists: 'Storytellers' showcases works by students in CNM's art program

Come see the works of up-and-coming artists during “Storytellers.”

The exhibition features pieces by 13 students enrolled in the Capstone Portfolio Development class that is part of the art program at Central New Mexico Community College. The art show can be viewed from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. through Tuesday, Dec. 5, inside the Ken Chappy Hall Art Gallery on CNM’s main campus, 900 University Blvd. SE.

“Storytellers” showcases works from various mediums including painting, drawing, animation, illustration and sculpture.

Emerging artists: 'Storytellers' showcases works by students in CNM's art program

“They all have to do a series that they complete at the end (of the Capstone Portfolio Development class),” said Rachel Popowcer, instructor of the class and part-time faculty for CNM’s art department. “At the very beginning of the class, I kind of hold private meetings with each student to kind of talk to them and figure out what their series is going to be on. They’re allowed to work in any medium that they like.”

Students in the class learn about the business of being an artist.

“By the end of the semester, they finish up with a series of at least six pieces that (are) consistent, that go together, like something you could apply to a show or a gallery,” Popowcer said. “And then they also have to have good photographs of all of the pieces, of the series, and an artist statement and artist bio and CD or résumé.”

Popowcer also has the students write a fictional letter to a gallery that is included in their final digital portfolio at the end of the semester. The students also give an oral presentation of their work on the last day of class.

“The whole class is learning about how to be an artist out in the world,” Popowcer said. “We go on a field trip to galleries and art spaces. I think this semester we visited public art and the public art galleries. It’s really stuff that I kind of wish I’d had when I was an undergrad in grad school. They don’t always have those classes for artists about how to actually be an artist out in the world.”

Popowcer has had several student success stories where they have shown in a gallery or have done an artist residency after taking her class.

“They have all the stuff (they need) when they leave my class to apply somewhere,” she said. “They have good images. I edit their bios and artist statements with them. I work with them on that and edit all their writing so that they’re really set to go into the world with a solid portfolio.”

She added that her students have different strengths and different levels of ability. She said her favorite thing about the class is that students learn from each other.

She said the students are completely involved in the exhibition and take part in hanging the show, putting together an opening reception and other details. One student also designed the poster for the show.

Popowcer has been teaching college art since 2000, at CNM and the University of New Mexico. She is an artist in her own right and is currently part of “A Looking Inward,” a two-person show, with artist Helen Cozza, at Mariposa Gallery in Nob Hill. The show runs through Dec. 27.

“I’m a painter and photographer, and I’m always doing my own work as well, which is why I like teaching portfolio development, because I feel like I have a lot of experience and I have a good skill set for teaching this class,” she said. “My favorite thing is inspiring students to reach their best potential. So this class is kind of right up my alley.”

Rozanna M. Martinez is the arts and entertainment editor of the Albuquerque Journal. You can reach her at rmartinez@abqjournal.com.