Amber Patterson

Art Education–Sculpture
Class of 2008
Hometown: Naples, FL

What is your favorite spot on campus?

My favorite spot on campus is [the] Neusteter [building]. It is dusty and loaded with a wood shop and all the clay you could ever need. I'm also a work-study for Neusteter, so it's kind of a special place to me. All the tools and materials I need are right there along with my favorite professors.

Where do you like to work on your art?

I like to work in Neusteter and in my studio in Spivak. Spivak is always a lot of fun and it's nice to be able to bounce ideas off of my peers—there is great energy there. It's so nice to have a space of my own, where I can keep all of my materials and work, but still have friends nearby for comic relief.

What did your favorite professor do to earn your respect or admiration?

It's hard to choose a favorite professor, because the faculty here is what makes RMCAD such a phenomenal school. However, Rebecca Vaughan has spearheaded so many wonderful events, and provided us with so many incredible opportunitie. Such as hosting the Critical Art Ensemble; organizing a collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art; and organizing a collaboration with Johnson and Wales. She does her best to provide all of her students with real-world professional experiences, which is invaluable.

How would you describe the students who attend RMCAD?

I think the students here are quite diverse, yet it's still a very inclusive environment.

Was there a moment when RMCAD changed from "a school" to "my school" for you?

RMCAD became home to me when I took Ceramics Handbuilding 1 with Martha Russo, and Intro to Sculpture with Rebecca Vaughan. It was then that I realized art is my passion and that this is the safest place to experiment, fail, and succeed. I was introduced to so many different genres of art and artists—it was inspiring.