Sonia Pentz has been
consistently working the full 20 hours a week as required by the program. When I first met her, she had many different
ideas going about subject matter, scale, and materials. Since meeting, she has
honed in on her ideas, and narrowed down her subject matter and materials. She
is producing an interesting and explorative body of work. I am very pleased
with her progress, and in the short time I’ve been working with her, have seen
much growth, especially in her ability to define her subject matter.
Sonia, with all her
children, new baby, and many responsibilities, works very independently. She is
not the kind of student you have to “crack the whip at” to get them to produce.
She has been reading various books, including one about US military involvement
in other countries. While she has been reading historical books, she has also
been mining her past for images and stories to depict. This is the creative
fodder for her paintings.
Sonia’s understanding
of her work in the critical/ art historical context is growing. I think this is
where the MFA program comes into play, in helping her understand how she fits
into the dialogue. She links her work with Frida Kahlo, which is a good start.
I also see connections to South American folk art. I think she has a start in
this area, but needs some improvement on finding out what has already been
done, and what the purpose of her work is. Sometimes her work is very
illustrative and story-telling, and may lack another layer to make it
accessible to viewers with different experiences.
I suggest that Sonia
should finish her autobiographical narrative paintings and portraits of her
family on paper. And continue reading historical books, and also read up on
Hispanic Art Theory.
Sonia’s investigation
and accomplishment merit graduate level status.
Emily Fox King
509-554-8900
hermanfox@gmail.com
