Welcome to our first alumni spotlight of 2023! We are thrilled to feature J-1 research scholar, Amy Bruning, from Scotland. Amy is a mixed media artist who currently lives in Finland where she is pursuing her Master’s degree in animation. From August 2021 until May 2022, she participated in an Artists-in-Residency (AIR) program at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute (MWPAI) and within the PrattMWP College of Art and Design Program, which was a “truly life changing” experience for her!
Amy’s residency was nothing short of productive. Throughout the 9-month program, she planned and taught community art classes to adults and kids, and facilitated projects for the museum’s Art Alive projects. She also taught two Light, Color, and Design courses to university students as part of the College of Art and Design program. Most excitingly, Amy was able to create works for her own exhibition, Days of Healing, which explored the journey of healing from grief and trauma through the various stages of coping with loss.
Can you tell us what you have been doing since finishing your exchange program?
I am pursuing my Master’s with the Re:Anima: European Joint Master in Animation program. It’s a collaboration between three universities, LUCA School in Belgium, Aalto University in Finland, and Universidade Lusófona in Portugal I am working on a research dossier for an expanded animation installation that I will be working on over the next two years. I recently put together an exhibition of animated projections and animated paintings, which was as part of the research and I will be taking this work further in May of this year during an artist residency in Italy.
Looking back, what are your thoughts about your exchange program?
I had a really amazing time on my exchange. It set me on a new career path and helped me to pursue what I truly wanted to do. Working as a community art instructor, as well as an adjunct professor at PrattMWP in Utica, New York, an extension campus of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, allowed me to rediscover my love of teaching. I would like to pursue a teaching career in higher education when I finish my Master’s.
How did your experience contribute to your career outside the U.S. and in your home country?
I am now able to live and work as an artist. When I returned to Scotland, I was able to secure another 4-month artist residency. I received a full scholarship for this Master’s program, which allows me to work on my artistic practice freely for the next two years. Prior to the exchange, I was supporting myself by working as a designer and editor while trying to pursue my artistic practice in the evenings and weekends. It was quite difficult and I didn’t enjoy the jobs I had. This opportunity gave me a huge boost in my art career and I do not think I would be where I am now without it.
Do you have any specific advice for new exchange visitors coming to the U.S.?
As soon as you arrive, try to immerse yourself into the place you are staying. Ask everyone you meet to go for a coffee and just really put yourself out there. Say yes to every opportunity and try to travel as much as possible.
Audrey Hasen Taylor, Community Arts Education + Residency Director at MWPAI, also shared thoughts with us about Amy’s residency.
“Amy immediately became very active and involved in our local community. She initiated both personal and professional meetings and connections with a variety of creatives in our area; she was commissioned to create a mural in a new retail shop here in Utica. We cannot say enough great things about Amy. We are lucky to have a part in her early art and teaching career.”
We can't wait to see what Amy does next!
If you are a visual artist looking for Painting or Drawing residency, the AIR program that Amy attended is accepting applications through March 20, 2023. Learn more about the AIR program here, or send us as email at outreach@artsandartists.org to learn about our exchange opportunities.