A Show in the Gallery: Wells Alumna Stephanie Achille '06

A Wells College education culminates with a senior thesis project. In the senior year, each student reviews the work of their major with the purpose of integrating such work with other fields. They then demonstrate their knowledge of the major to the appropriate faculty before being awarded their degree.

During the summer of 2006, artwork produced by graduating visual arts major Stephanie Achille of Erie, Pa. was on display in the College’s String Room Gallery. Stephanie’s senior thesis show exhibited her original drawings, raku ceramics, and lithographs. 

Says Stephanie of her work: “I have been design-driven for as long as I can remember.  The act of taking ordinary objects and creating them into something visually different has always appealed to me.  My approach to art is oftentimes a bit different to the eye, usually with something running off the page, being off center, or adding a certain twist here or there.  For instance, looking at autumn leaves has been a favorite past time of mine.  I view them differently than others do, and so my impression of that basic form comes out differently in design, composition, and color.  If I personally feel an image is not interesting, I move it around until I am more interested as the viewer.”

Wells art professor Ted Lossowski has worked with Stephanie in the studio for four year. “Stephanie Achille is one of the most diligent students that I have encountered here at Wells. She is extremely disciplined… and as a result, her work has grown tremendously over the past year. She is one of the best ceramics coil hand builders I have ever encountered at Wells. Her skills in this area are superior to those of some of the graduate students I went to school with. I am absolutely certain that this young and shining star will be very successful in whatever area of the arts she decides to choose as her future occupation.”

Art seniors are expected to plan and implement their entire senior thesis exhibit, including the creation of the artwork to be shown, hanging the pieces and preparing the gallery, and coordinating the opening reception. 

After graduation, Stephanie was an art camp counselor. She returned to Wells to fill the role of program intern in the Office of Residential Life for the 2006-07 academic year. She plans to pursue her masters in fine art next year.