FMU Visual Arts Alumni "Working In The Business"

Lisa Chalian-Rock (FMU 2002)

Editor, The Messenger, Hartsville, SC.

Rock named Hartsville editor
8/6/09
The Messenger

After nearly two years in Darlington, Media General welcomes Lisa Chalian-Rock, 28, back to the company as editor of The Messenger in Hartsville.

“I look forward to serving the Hartsville community and giving them the best paper I can,” said Chalian-Rock.

She began her career in the Morning News newsroom as a graphic artist creating informational graphics, maps and charts. Five years later, she was named interim visuals editor and continued her duties in graphics.

For two-years she served as the graphic design director at The News & Press in Darlington, where she updated the Web site, created ads, wrote stories and designed pages among other things.

Her work has garnered her numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including 20 last year, for her design, writing and ads.

Chalian-Rock grew up south of Birmingham, Ala. Her family moved to Florence in 1995. After high school, she attended Francis Marion University where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Arts, specializing in Painting and Graphic Design, and a Creative Writing minor. Her artwork has been displayed at Francis Marion University, the Florence Museum and Chameleon Art Gallery.

She lives in Darlington County with her husband Loren and seven dogs.

Visuals Editor / Graphic Artist, The Florence Morning News, Florence, SC. Lisa designed feature pages and created infographics, maps, charts and illustrations for the newsroom.

Lead Designer, Carolina Publishing Quarterly Newsletter.

Lisa continues to paint and maintains a Web Gallery of her work at www.lisarock.com.

2005 S.C. Press Association First Prize Winner Daily, Page Design.

2005 S.C. Press Association Second Prize Winner Daily, Page Design.
2005 S.C. Press Association Second Prize Winner Open Division, News Graphics.

2004 S.C. Press Association First Prize Winner Daily, Lifestyle/Living Page Design.
2004 S.C. Press Association Third Prize Winner Daily, General News Graphic.
2003 S.C. Press Association First Prize Winner Daily, General News Graphic.
2002 S.C. Press Association Second Prize Winner Daily, General News Graphic.

Ryan Crabtree (FMU 2004)

Concentration:
Ryan's degree was in Visual Arts with a specialization in Ceramics.

Advance Training:
He interned for six months at One Eared Cow Glass in Columbia, South Carolina.

Currently:
Ryan is now employed as a full-time artist, working with the most famous blown glass artisans in the state.

Colleen Appleton Critcher (FMU 2002)

Painter, Florence, SC.

While at Francis Marion, Colleen received the John W. Baker Fine Arts Scholarship and the Peggy Love McLaughlin Art Award. She graduated summa cum laude in 2002.

Colleen actively exhibits her work throughout South Carolina. Her paintings have become part of private collections nationally and internationally. In 2008 Colleen was invited back to Francis Marion to exhibit her recent works in the Hyman Fine Arts Center Gallery.

She maintains a website of her work at www.colleencritcher.com.

Michael Edge (FMU 1999)

	Graduate School:	MFA, Illustration, Savannah College of Art & Design
	Currently:	Adjunct Professor of Art, Broward Community College, Pembroke, Florida

Crystal Edwards (FMU 2006)

Director of Business Development, Armstrong Wealth Management Group

Principal, Crystal Edwards | Graphic Design & Photography

Graduate School, completing her MBA in Business Administration at Francis Marion University.

"It's so important to establish relationships with your professors and utilize their advice when building a portfolio and getting your name out there. In the long run, a degree will be more valuable than you realize."

Check out the Feature Story on Crystal in the FMU Patriot's online newspaper to learn about the importance of networking in starting her own business.

Leah Gibbons (FMU 2001)

Hometown: Florence, South Carolina

Resides in: Lincolnton, North Carolina

Current job: I handle all the graphic design for Showstopper American Dance Championships, which is a national dance competition that hosts over 100,000 dancers each year. I create everything from commercial ads and program books to video design and large tractor-trailer graphics. I am also the company photographer, which is great because I am able to see an idea all the way from concept through set-up and shooting to finalizing the finished product.

Biggest career accomplishment: I think that the most exciting thing for me was the first time I was able to see my work in a national publication. We advertise in several large magazines, and my photos have been used many times for articles and other things. It's great to be working on that scale with such a large audience.

Has worked with: Many current stars have tested their wings on the Showstopper stage. If you look on our website, in the "Where Are They Now" section, you'll be able to see some of them. We also work regularly with many rising stars and experienced professional performers who teach conventions for us or judge at the competitions.

Favorite thing about FMU: The challenging problem-solving projects at school definitely helped prepare me for what I'm faced with in my job. I love the fact that I can be creative in my career and am so grateful for the encouragement and inspiration I got at FMU.

-- from Spring 2003 Francis Marion View

Amy Green (FMU 1997)
Outstanding Graduating Senior in Art 1996-1997

	Graduate School:
	Currently:
	Previously:	Creative Director, Chiat/Day Advertising Agency, New York City, New York

Carolyn S. Jebaily (FMU 1993)


	Currently:	Studio Artist and Teacher of Sculpture and Ceramics Grass Roots Activist for responsible economic development
	Recently:	One-person Show, Kalmia Arts Artist Showcase, Hartsvilles SC One-person Show, Francis Marion University, Florence, SC "Women's Work" Show, Cheraw, Marion, Florence and Hartsville, SC

Jaime Owens (FMU 1997)


	Currently:	Photo Editor, Skateboarder Magazine, Los Angeles, California

Jaron Sanders (FMU 2007)

	Currently:	Full time Graphic Designer with Lockertags of Florence, SC.

Jim Stephens (FMU 2004)

	Currently:	Graphic Designer with Campus Outreach Raleigh in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
	Recently:	Check out Jim's website at www.seedsandroots.org to view recent graphic design work and see what he has been up to since leaving FMU

Patricia Tallon-Blanchard (FMC 1980)


	Currently:	Office of Cultural Enrichment, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee Freelance Fine Artist and Consultant, Nashville, Tennessee Visual Arts Alliance of Nashville (VAAN) Statement, sample art and recent exhibitions listed on MNAC Artist Registry
	Previously:	Assistant to Director, The Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, California CAFAM Staff Liaison to the Contemporary Craft Council, Los Angeles, CA. Founder, Still Life With Women studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Allen Vassalotti (FMU 2007)

	Currently:	Full time Graphic Designer for Minuteman Press of Myrtle Beach, SC.

Cynthia Warden (FMC 1980)

	Graduate School:	MFA, East Texas State University
	Currently:	Director of Residence Life, Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, Georgia