The artwork of Melanie Bisbach, a sophomore cross-disciplinary fine arts major from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, was recently selected to be part of an international online exhibit. Bisbach’s entry was one of just over 80 pieces selected from 797 worldwide entries for the BOUNDLESS exhibit, sponsored by Art Fluent.
Bisbach entered her piece, “Craggy Teapot,” as part of an assignment for her Survey of Studio Art Practices course.
“We were working really hard on learning about what our artist resumé and artist statement should look like, and how we can get our art out into the world,” said Bisbach. “One of the assignments was to apply to any exhibition before the end of the year, so that we were comfortable with the process.”
Bisbach selected the BOUNDLESS exhibit because it was virtual and open to any theme and art media.
“I was really nervous, because I had never done this before,” said Bisbach. “But I applied and within a couple of weeks I received a message that I had been accepted. I was really shocked, especially looking at all the other work that was accepted, and because it wasn’t just a student exhibition, it was all ages.”
Bisbach created her piece during an internship she held over the summer at a ceramics studio in Dodgeville, during which she participated in a salt and wood firing process.
“I started to think about what kind of work I wanted to make that would go with that kind of firing process,” said Bisbach. “I really enjoy making teapots; they’re one of my favorite things to make. Also, over the summer my family took a trip up to Lake Michigan, and I picked the driftwood from the handle out of the lake there. That part is really special to me.”
"It came as no surprise when Melanie informed me of her acceptance into the Boundless exhibition,” said Scott Steder, lecturer of art at UW-Platteville. “Melanie is very passionate about her work. She is always looking to learn and for ways to push herself to the next level. To see her development set at such a high pace makes me excited for her. It's a competitive field and she is showing her determination to be successful in it."
Although she has always had an interest in art, Bisbach said it wasn’t until she entered UW-Platteville’s Art program that she became determined to turn that interest into a career.
“All my life, I’ve just wanted to make art,” said Bisbach. “I had a hard time deciding when I was coming to UW-Platteville if I wanted to major in art, so I came in as a graphic design major. But after getting into my art courses, I knew for sure that I wanted to do the cross-disciplinary program, and I’ve never looked back.”
Bisbach said she hopes to eventually teach art at a postsecondary level.
“I’ve always been into teaching, and I’m really passionate about teaching other people about the art that I’m so passionate about,” said Bisbach. “Getting accepted into this exhibition definitely makes me feel more confident about putting my work out there.”