Research in Arts Scholarship

The Research in Arts Scholarship provides financial support to students who participate in the School of Art and Art History’s annual Summer Paris program. During the fall semester, following their return from Paris, scholarship recipients create research-based art projects inspired by their summer experience. Projects are displayed in the OUR office suite for one academic year.

2013 Research in Arts Scholarship Recipients

While in Paris this summer, scholarship recipients will be documenting their experiences and recording the development of their research projects on the Research in Arts Scholarship Blog

2013 Award Recipients

Brianna Horn

Project: TBA
Mentor: Wendy Babcox

I am Brianna Horn, an artist and photographer with the extraordinary opportunity to visit and study in Paris this summer. This Research in Arts Scholarship is helping me make this a reality while helping me pursue my artistic interests! I’ll be blogging about some of my experiences and progress in this research project both on this blog, as well as my own personal blog, Snapshotof.Spirit

Candyce Strayer

Project: TBA
Mentor: Jaroslaw Studencki

My name is Candyce Strayer and I am a senior, B.F.A. art studio major concentrating in photography at the University of South Florida in Tampa. I was honored to receive the Research in Arts Scholarship. This scholarship is helping me pursue a photographic project that I am very passionate about revolving around ideas of home and culture shock in black and white film. Throughout the trip I will be blogging about my experiences in Paris, giving updates on the project and providing visual photographic sketches of my work.
Part of my project revolves around a blog I will upkeep everyday with my thoughts, experiences, sketches, and conversations with my mentor and other professionals from different disciplines. The blog will also be open to commentary from the public on my work and allow for questions. Follow my project

Phillip Townsend

Project: TBA
Mentor: Lou Marcus

My name is Phillip Townsend and I am an Art History major. I was born and raised in Tallulah, Louisiana, moved to Los Angeles, California to attend college, and relocated to Tampa, Florida in 2007 to continue my education. Upon my arrival in Tampa, I enrolled at Hillsborough Community College (HCC) studying Architecture. While at HCC, I was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and soon after awarded the Joseph Michal Memorial Scholarship by the Tampa Bay Builders Association for my academic excellence and commitment to examining the use of multi-media technologies in architectural development. During my studies at HCC, I traveled to Denmark to study sustainable energy practices. While in Denmark, I examined Danish Energy Policy as it related to the economics and politics of energy production and consumption with the goal of applying those approaches to my structural designs.

After graduating from HCC with an AA in Architecture, I enrolled at the University of South Florida (USF) to study Art History. I became interested in Art History through my education in architecture. The history of the built environment intrigued me and led to my fascination with historical artifacts, chiefly art. While at USF, I have had the opportunity to conduct independent research by becoming a CREATTE Scholar and participating in the 2013 Undergraduate Research and Arts Colloquium. I had the honor of working with a mentor, Dr. Mary C. Fournier, in examining ancient Greek pottery. That research resulted in me receiving the Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award, which was based on nominations by event facilitators, and reflected my group’s engagement, ability to address questions and the overall quality of our presentation and me. Additionally, I have been awarded the University of South Florida World Scholarship, School of Art and Art History Scholarship, and the University of South Florida Community College PTK Scholarship. I was recently inducted into the Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society.

Currently, I am currently developing an independent research project that examines the visual culture of mid to late 19th century Paris from the perspective of the African American artist. In the 19th century, blacks faced many social, economic, and educational obstacles in the United States. This was especially true for the black artist. The development of the African American artist has been set against many years of social and educational challenges. These challenges prompted some black artists to study and work abroad. The goal of this research is to provide a site-specific understanding of the conditions African Americans experienced during their art education and practice in mid to late 19th century Paris. The project will also examine the conditions in the United States during this time to determine what impact, if any, they may have had on African American artists. The project will also examine the reception of the African American artist and their works in Paris during this time. Overall, I am particularly interested in the relationship art has with minority communities. My professional focus will be examining modern paintings as an articulation of the social and political conditions of modern life.

Grace Strattan

Project: TBA
Mentor: Wendy Babcox

My name is Grace Strattan. I am a Junior BFA painting major. My work is inspired by art history and I am very interested in the idea of space—using paint to construct and deconstruct space in the same image. I am going to Paris to see the art there and to experience something new. The Research in the Arts Scholarship will help me make goals and learn how to create art based on research and it will also help fund my trip. I also appreciate the opportunity to exhibit my work in the Office of Undergraduate Research when we return. My most recent exhibits include showing at the 4th Annual Chinese Cultural Festival and a solo show at the Centre Gallery in the USF Marshall Student Center.

Erica Wold

Project: TBA
Mentor: Jennifer Greenwell

I am a BFA Photography student at USF Tampa. I am a senior, expected to graduate December 2013. I am spending my summer studying abroad in Paris and Venice. While there, I will be working on a research project and several artistic projects.

2012 Research in Arts Scholarship Recipients

Kristin Beauvois
Jessica Brantley
Steve Jean Louis
Jordyn Newsome
Sabrina Pingel
Tyler Staggs
2012 Research in Arts Information page