By: Linda Ahnert Published 05/18/09
Adjusting those hats one last time.
25 Seniors Receive B.F.A. Degrees, Honorary Doctorate Awarded to Aaron Shikler
May is the time for graduation at colleges across the country. And last Saturday, this springtime ritual took place at the Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts. The college—whose mission is to educate artists—awarded Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in painting or sculpture to 25 students.
The commencement ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School.
While one student walks by, a large mirror in the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School cafeteria captures the reflection of other students preparing for the ceremony.
The noted American sculptor Elisabeth Gordon Chandler founded the Lyme Academy in 1976 because of her concern that art schools were no longer putting the emphasis on skill development in representational art. Today the college is one of the few schools in the country which is solely focused on the fine arts.
The college’s president, Debra Petke, welcomed the audience and told the graduates that “you have been a really extraordinary class” and thanked the faculty “for demanding excellence of our students.”
A smiling Emily Bedard enters the auditorium.
Laura Zarrow, the college’s new dean and vice president of academic affairs, also noted “that the level of accomplishment was very high.” Students receiving special awards were:Thurston Belmer for excellence in painting; Emily Bedard (pictured above) and Darren Beistle for excellence in sculpture. Adrian Waggoner was the recipient of the John Stobart Fellowship. The Diana Atwood Johnson Leadership Award was presented to Jeremy Wilson (pictured below.)
Wilson was also chosen by his classmates as the student speaker. He noted that he “wanted to say something heartfelt and profound,” but that it was hard to reduce four years into a few sentences. So he used the metaphor of an artist making marks for a sketch or painting to try and describe his college experience. The artist must keep making marks to create a work—drawing on the successes and learning from the failures—to reach his next level.
He thanked “all those who have struggled to get us here”—not just the faculty, but also family and friends. And he concluded that “we are ready to make the right marks.”
President Petke presented the Distinguished Service in Art Education Award to Andrea Haas. She is the president of the Connecticut Art Education Association and has taught art to elementary, middle, and high school students.
Associate Professor Peter Zallinger (pictured above) was recognized for outstanding faculty service. Petke explained that this particular honor is not granted annually. But this year the award was merited because Zallinger had also served as the interim dean until the recent appointment of Laura Zarrow. Petke said of Zallinger, “It was a job well-done.”
After a speech by Susan Nichols (pictured above) from the Class of 2008, who represented the Alumni Association, the college then conferred an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree on Aaron Shikler for his achievements as an artist in a career which has spanned over 50 years.
He is best known for his official White House portraits—including those of First Ladies Jacqueline Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, and Nancy Reagan.
Aaron Shikler (left) stands beside Laura Zarrow, Dean and Vice-President of Academic Affairs, immediately prior to giving his Commencement Address.
One of Shikler’s most noted works is his posthumous portrait of John F. Kennedy. This oil painting of Kennedy—with his arms folded across his chest and looking downward in a thoughtful pose—was recently pictured in newspapers. Shortly after President Obama moved into the White House, he was photographed looking up at Shikler’s portrait of Kennedy.
Not only has Shikler had a long and distinguished career, he also has had a close association with the Lyme Academy where he served on the faculty from 1986 until 1994. In fact, Shikler said that he has been in many classrooms, but that his “most enjoyable time teaching was in Old Lyme.” He added that, “it was a small community where everyone knew each other and it was lovely.”
While the graduates, two of whom are pictured above, have learned the “mechanics of discipline in painting and sculpture,” Shikler noted that there is still something missing. This is something that “no teacher can give you and that you must find on your own.”
Though the students have acquired the skills, they must learn for themselves what makes a true artist. Shikler concluded by noting that “when you find the answer, you will know it . . . that is what art is and what makes it great.”
After the ceremony, a champagne reception was held at the Academy (above) for all the graduates, faculty, speakers and guests.
The Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts graduates are: Alexis Jane Baliotis, Emily Ann Bedard, Darren Carter Beistle, E. Thurston Belmer, Phillip Berry, Kathryn Elena Brubaker, Kenneth Caldwell, Emilio Coyra, Drew Ashley Gilbert Driscoll, Jr., Jason W. Fay, Robert James Kramer, Judd Levy, Samantha Marie Linn, Sherrie Lyn Parenteau, Tyler Martin Pindell, Alan R. Proctor, Tallmadge S. Renault, Shane Scarratt, Samantha Smith, Alicia Renee Templin, William Touhey, Adrian Waggoner, Dinah Lacy Williams, Jeremy Lawrence Wilson, and Sophie Eliza Wondolowski.