The Tamarack Foundation for the Arts is proud to announce the first two Emerging Artist Fellows who will kick off the pilot year of this new program. The fellows are graphic designer and illustrator Rosalie Haizlett of West Liberty University and ceramicist Hannah Lenhart of Fairmont State University.
Emerging Artist Fellows are thriving early-career creatives. They demonstrate not only a superior level of mastery in their craft, but also the aptitude to become successful professionals leading well-managed creative enterprises. Haizlett and Lenhart will be part of a program that will include mentoring and training to help transition their academic success into fully-fledged creative careers.
“These fellows represent potential for our state. They are set to become valuable contributors to growing local economies, and leaders of businesses that make communities more desirable places for everyone to live. This program will help to ensure that this is a viable outcome of their work,” says foundation Executive Director Alissa Novoselick.
The competitive selection process included solicitation of nominees from West Virginian colleges and universities with qualifying arts programs. The fellows were selected by the foundation’s independent Fellowships Committee from a pool of 17 candidates representing seven schools, including Marshall University; West Virginia University; Fairmont State University; West Virginia Wesleyan College; Shepherd University; West Liberty University; and Glenville State College.
“It was a tough decision. We saw a great deal of talent coming from artists that are sure to have promising careers, certainly some of the best of this next generation. The candidates that we evaluated are producing work that is competitive on a national scale,” says foundation Fellowships Committee member and artist/blacksmith Jeff Fetty, owner of Jeff Fetty Designs.
The Fellowships Committee is comprised of established artists and arts administrators from across the state, including Chris Dutch ; Jeff Fetty (Jeff Fetty Designs); Molly Baker Halstead (Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia); Keith Lahti (Lahti Art Clay Studio); Matthew Thomas (Thomas|Work); and Megan Schultz (formerly Marshall University).
ABOUT THE FELLOWS
Rosalie Haizlett is a graphic designer and illustrator from the northern panhandle of West Virginia who will be graduating in December of 2016 with a B.S. in Graphic Design at West Liberty University. She specializes in combining sophisticated design with lively, hand-drawn illustrations to create work that is completely unique and customized to her clients’ needs. Haizlett is inspired by connecting with people from other cultures and backgrounds and spending time in the stillness of nature. Apart from her time as a student at West Liberty University, she has also studied abroad in France, Cyprus, and South Korea. Find more about the artist at rosaliehaizlett.com.
Hannah Lenhart is a Fairmont, West Virginia native who will be graduating May of 2017 with a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.S. in Business at Fairmont State University. She predominately works in ceramics and is focusing on creating functional yet whimsical tea sets. Lenhart is very disciplined about her work and aspires to establish a successful business with her unique style of pottery. Outside of her academic studies she works at Mountain Creative, a ceramic studio, where she is gaining experience and establishing relationships in both art and business.
