order to travel to
India with a study-
abroad program called There Will be Dragons.
Upon her return to the United States, Mariah
enrolled at the University of North Texas,
where she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts
degree with a concentration in Studio
Ceramics.
After graduating in 2010, she apprenticed at
a production pottery studio in Whitefish,
Montana, followed by
an internship at the
Clay
Studio
of
Missoula. Deciding
that it was time to get
back to an academic
setting, she returned to
Sul
Ross
State
University a year later.
Currently a Masters
of Arts degree candi-
date, Mariah can often
be found at the univer-
sity’s clay studio per-
fecting her craft. “As a graduate student, I have
had the opportunity to further develop my own
work and discover the intricacies of creating my
art.” With her graduate exhibition approaching
this spring, she is working on a variety of pieces,
many of which feature Asian lotus motifs on
porcelain.
Mariah joined the staff of Marfa Studio of
Arts as a teaching artist in the fall 2013. “The
SITES program has enabled me to teach these
young children the basic foundations of ceram-
ic art. Exposing them to hand-building tech-
niques (including slab and coil building, pinch
pot forming and the combination of each of
these fundamental foundation skills) is extreme-
ly rewarding. It’s a real joy to share my knowl-
edge with them.”
The Marfa Studio of Arts is a non-profit
organization that operates the Studio in the
Elementary School and after-school arts enrich-
continued from page 4
sT. JOnAH
OrTHODOX CHUrCH
Marfa’s Swiss Café
◊
Come, See & Hear the Services
of Early Christianity
Sunday 10 am • Wednesday 6:30 pm
405 E. Gallego Avenue • Alpine, TX 79830
bigbendorthodox.org
888.989.6900
432.371.2727
Terlingua, Texas
FM 170
River and
Mountain Bike
Tours
rentals & shuttles
desertsportstx.com
/desertsports
ment programs as well as a gallery located in
downtown Marfa at 106 East San Antonio
Street. The gallery is dedicated to the exhibi-
tion of student artwork.
“Our goal is to provide a variety of high-
quality arts activities to the community’s chil-
dren and young people.” explains Meyer-
Madrid. “The SITES in-school curriculum is
designed by local artist’s each of whom also pur-
sue their professional careers in a variety of dif-
ferent disciplines.”
“In addition to
Mariah, I am joined
by artists Wendy Lynn
Wright,
Katie
Smither, and Dione
Acosta in teaching our
classes. Each year we
are fortunate to host
visiting artists from
other organizations as
well.”
“All of us are partic-
ularly proud to partner
with the Marfa Independent School District in
making art an integral aspect of the elementary
school curriculum. Without our programs, stu-
dents enrolled in grades Kindergarten through
sixth would have little or no exposure to the
visual arts on a regular basis. As artists and as
educators, we know that art activities have
proven to increase student performance in aca-
demic areas and help develop problem-solving
skills. Further, and perhaps most importantly,
all of our students can take pride in what they
create in the SITES and afterschool studio
classes. When creating art, all students are suc-
cessful!”
The Marfa Studio of Arts is funded, in part,
by the Texas Commission on the Arts, the City
of Marfa Parks and Recreation Board, the
Brown Foundation of Houston, Marfa
Education Foundation, business and individual
donors, and a supportive board of directors.
D Avis M OUnTAins
n UT C OMPAnY
roasted and Dipped Pecans
You can taste the difference care makes!
Please stop in for FREE SAMPLES
Hwy 17 in Fort Davis • Open: Mon. - Sat. 9 to 5
great handmade gourmet gifts!
visit us on the web: www.allpecans.com
26
800-895-2101 • 432-426-2101
dmnc@allpecans.com
Cenizo
First Quarter 2015