Kristen Franke, art education, senior, worked with student Matt Grant, art education, senior, on a project titled "Light Beyond the Wall," which won 2nd place in a national art contest. (Photo by Jennifer Meahan for The Current)
University of Missouri-St. Louis students Kristen Franke and Matthew Grant recently won the German Embassy’s Freedom Without Walls national art contest. Kristen Franke tells The Current about the artwork and how the experience changed her life.
The Current: What was the German embassy’s Freedom Without Walls national art contest?
Kristen Franke: The German Embassy’s Freedom Without Walls national art contest was a national contest for college students to create a sculpture commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This involved designing a project and then building it within about a month’s time.
TC: What was your artwork?
KF: Our artwork was called “Light Beyond the Wall.” It was meant to draw an emotional response from the viewer that would make them think of the struggle that the people endured on the east and west sides of the wall. By day a faint shadow of a person could be seen, but at night the piece was lit and the shadows of people could be seen. Humans could not be seen on the other side of the Berlin wall but they were still present.
TC: What inspired your piece?
KF: Matt Grant and I combined our ideas to form our piece. I was inspired by YouTube videos showing the emotional response of the residents of Eastern and Western Germany.
TC: How did it feel getting second place?
KF: I was shocked to get second place. Even though it is a great honor, it does not even compare to the journey that the group took to get to the finished piece. We learned so many new skills and worked through so many problems together. I really wish we could all have got to go to Washington.
TC: Because of your win, you get a trip to Washington in October. What will you be doing?
KF: In October, Matt and I will be attending the German Unity Celebration at the German Ambassador’s residence. This is a VIP-only event and we will get to meet the ambassador, along with some senators and Hollywood stars like Sandra Bullock!
TC: What was it like working with Matt?
KF: Working as a team was the best thing that could have happened in sculpture. [The] trip is going to come and go, but I will always have the memories of the good times that we shared as a group. It isn’t easy coming into class and trying to solve problems using materials that you are not familiar with. We experienced many problems but that will never change the time that we got to spend together.
TC: What was the most challenging part of the process?
KF: The most challenging part of the process was figuring out how we were going to turn our design into reality. Sketching a project in 2D is completely different than actually constructing it.
TC: If you didn’t go into art, what do you think you might’ve done instead?
KF: If I didn’t go in to art, I would have gone into counseling. I may get a master’s in art therapy or counseling anyway.
TC: What are your plans for the future?
KF: I hope to be teaching art in a K-12 school within the next two years. I will pursue a master’s degree in either art therapy, counseling, or studio art someday. It would be wonderful to go to graduate school for painting. We will see! I know that as long as I keep dreaming and working hard to make things happen, then I will achieve them.