Campus dynamics

EDITOR’S NOTE: Throughout the semester, The Volante will be featuring a variety of students and their unique stories. If you or someone you know has an interesting story, contact [email protected].

For Reanna Schultz art is more than her major, it’s her passion.

The fifth-year student from Yankton is pursuing a fine arts degree with a sculpture emphasis.

“It’s always been a passion for me since kindergarten,” she said. “Growing up, I knew that I liked working with my hands.”

Schultz’s mother attended the University of South Dakota as well with a ceramics emphasis.

“(My mother) always encouraged me,” she said. “It does help that I had that upbringing.”

At this point in her college career, Schultz spends most of her days in the studio.

“I go into the studio at 9 a.m. and basically work all day,” she said. “An early night is going home at 10 p.m.”

Schultz said her love for art is what keeps her moving forward.

“It’s something I know that once I get my Bachelor of Fine Arts, I know I won’t be satisfied with just that,” she said. “I’ll go for my Master’s in Fine Arts and continue my journey as an artist and maybe become a professor, because those are they people that really inspire artists.”

During her last year as a student, Schultz has had the opportunity to present her work to the students on campus. Her assignment was to transform a space based on a concept, which brought about her Stress Series that is on display on the first floor of I.D. Weeks Library.

“It began as an investigation of material significance,” she said. “I’m kind of fascinated with a material that’s harsh and changing it in a way that is a contradiction.”

That contradiction is shown in the form of materials such as concrete and glass molded into dresses.

“Having a dress made out of concrete is the most solid metaphor that I have,” she said.

The exhibit currently features four dresses, but Schultz is in the process of adding more pieces to it.

“I’m struggling with one right now that is going to be made out of aluminum sheet metal,” she said.

Schultz enjoys the idea of the intimate interaction people can have with a sculpture.

“It has everything to do with how you relate to people,” she said. “Being able to communicate in a way that doesn’t necessarily need words. People are more likely to relate to a physical object that’s there.”

The art student said sculpture was a tipping point for her.

“It was intimidating, but intimidating in a way that it challenged me, but made me want more of it,” Schultz said. “It was a fear that I wanted to conquer.”