MELODY GUICHET
Professor
LSU School of Art

Provide an educational background including professional experience.

I have a BFA from LSU and an MFA from Temple.

How did your LSU degree help to prepare you for your profession?

The School of Art’s painting area has always had, in my opinion, a perfectly balanced curriculum of very structured courses and courses geared toward more independent work, giving students a good foundation in formal training while allowing them time in the more advanced classes to develop a unique, individualistic portfolio. I’m sure that was a major factor in my getting into such a good graduate program.

In those senior level classes, training in setting up a good regimen in the studio was of utmost importance. The stressed importance of that has carried me through times when it was a difficult thing to do. Because of that, I truly believe any achievements which I have had, would otherwise not have been possible.

What current or past research and projects/exhibitions have you done?

I am carrying out a project which started with a class assignment some semesters ago. My students were charged with painting their interpretations of aspects of quantum physics, after doing some preliminary research on the concept. Now I’m in the process of putting together an exhibition with faculty painters from LSU, UNO and Southern University, who will respond in paint to certain aspects of modern physics being researched here at LSU. I have physics professors here who are interested in participating, and I envision a symposium with those during the time of the exhibition, which is slated for November/December of this year in the Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts. I’m currently researching possible sources of funding, and would also like to bring in a featured speaker during this time. I think see this as exciting because artists are constantly looking at all aspects of reality for investigation and interpretation. And of course, physicists’ work is making sense of what we perceive as “reality.” I’m hoping we’ll all have our “realities” expanded.

Please list any awards or special recognition that you have received.

2007 HM “Hub” Cotton Award, Louisiana State University.
2006 Emogene Pliner Professor of Art, College of Art+Design Award.
2004 Visual Arts Fellowship, Division of the Arts, State Award.
2003 Distinguished Professor Award, Louisiana State University.
2001 Professor of the Year, School of Art.
1999 Grand Award, Alternatives Space, San Luis Obispo, Ca.
First Prize, “Visual Poetry,” Baton Rouge Gallery, Juror: Mark Tullos, Executive Director: Alexandria Museum of Art.
1985 National Endowment for the Arts, Major Visual Arts Fellowship.
1984 Visual Arts Fellowship, Division of the Arts, State Award.