By Linda Ahnert Published 05/23/08

The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts graduates gather for a final photo after their graduation ceremonies.

You may not think of Old Lyme as a “college town.”  Perhaps because the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is not your typical college.  Rather it is a unique school whose mission is to educate artists, but, like colleges everywhere, May is graduation time at the Lyme Academy.

The commencement ceremony for the Class of 2008 took place Saturday, May 10, in the auditorium of the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.  Fourteen seniors received Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in painting or sculpture.  In addition, two students earned post-baccalaureate certificates.

Alan Proctor, the chairman of the board of trustees, welcomed the audience and noted that the graduates were “a very diverse and accomplished senior class.”  He also said that the college is going through a period of change and transition.  Two long-time faculty members—David Dewey and Joy Pepe—as well as Dean Alan Barkley are retiring.  Proctor thanked them all for their years of service.

Eyes right: Graduation dignitaries listen attentively to a speech.

This was also the first graduation ceremony for Debra Petke (second from left in photo above), who became president of the college on November 1, 2007.  She told the seniors that “my first six months as president were your last six months as students.”

The college awarded two honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees.  Robert Storr, who is the dean of the Yale School of Art, was recognized for “his stunning career as a painter, curator, writer, and educator.”  And Philip Pearlstein was cited for “his outstanding contribution as a distinguished and visionary artist.”

Storr delivered the commencement address.  But he began by stating that it wouldn’t be the stereotypical speech because he didn’t want to sound like a preachy Polonius.   Instead, he spoke about Pearlstein and stated, “Philip is one of the great figurative painters of the 20th century.”

As a young man, Pearlstein arrived in New York with his friend Andy Warhol.  Pearlstein actually began his career as an abstract expressionist, but is today known as a master of contemporary realism.  He is particularly noted for his monumental paintings of nudes.

Storr did take the opportunity to offer one piece of practical advice to the graduates,  “Make sure you have a job.  Make sure you have an interesting job . . . a job that feeds your spirit and your pocketbook.”

Pearlstein spoke to the audience about changing his art style when he was about the age of forty.  He was going against the dominant aesthetic of the 1960s—abstract expressionism—and Pearlstein said, “I knew it would be tough.”  Some of his former colleagues treated him as if he had joined the enemy camp. But, Pearlstein said, “I wanted to paint the human figure from direct observation” and that he was trying “to reinvent representational art for myself.”

Now in his eighties, Pearlstein summed up his career, “I put myself out on a limb … and found it a very interesting place to be.”

William Allik (pictured above), who teaches at Lyme-Old Lyme High School, received the Distinguished Service in Art Education Award.  Dean Barkley noted that Allik “has created a passion for the visual arts in high school” and that the influence of his teaching can be seen in the high caliber of artwork that his students exhibit in the annual school district show.

Speaking on behalf of the college’s alumni, Matt Quinn, Class of 2001, joked that he had just “three minutes to give you advice that could change your lives.”  He said he was glad that Robert Storr had mentioned “having a job.”  Quinn also counseled the graduates to heed two simple words: “Have friends.”  As artists, they will need a support system—someone to share studio space with, someone who has a truck, someone to attend openings.  And someday, it will be their turn to be a friend to a fellow artist.

The graduating seniors rose to their feet many times as awards were presented.

Two graduates were chosen by their peers to speak for the Class of 2008.  Jerry Montoya thanked the faculty, staff, and students “for taking a kid like me in.” [In the program for the Senior Project Exhibition, Montoya wrote, “My artwork shows the beauty in the struggle to survive within a lower socioeconomic status.”]

David Whelan warned about complacency.  After reading a poem written when he graduated from the eighth grade because it showed “fearlessness and a time when art was magical and earth shattering,”  Whelan said he doesn’t feel that way now and that it is essential for artists “to always make things new.”

Saying he wants to find that time again, “When things are alive and exploding in your heart,” he concluded by urging his fellow classmates to … “Come with me.”

The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts graduates are:  Carmen Rose Abbot, Charles Cunningham, Adam Gordon, Allan Harwood, Ernesto Leal, Jason S. Litton, Yelizaveta Yuryevna Masalimova, Jerry Montoya, Corey Eiser Nemkov, Susan Leslie Nichols, Hannah Rossi, Claes Philip Schamberg, Tara Rose Smith, David Valentine Whelan, Jr.

Oriana Alexander Shaplin and Aaron Vincent Koehn received post-baccalaureate certificates. 

Students receiving awards included:  Adam Gordon for excellence in art history; Corey Nemkov for excellence in painting; and Jason S. Litton for excellence in sculpture.  The Diana Atwood Johnson Leadership Award was presented to Jerry Montoya.  Claes Schamberg was the recipient of the John Stobart Fellowship.  Vermont Studio Center Fellowships were awarded to Carmen Abbot and David Whelan.