University News

Foundation Holiday Card Designed by WIU Studio Art Major, Macomb Native

December 13, 2022

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MACOMB, IL – For 10 years, the Western Illinois University Foundation has worked with the WIU Department of Art and Design to select a student to design the Foundation's annual holiday greeting card. The opportunity gives a student the chance to showcase their skills and build their portfolio and also gives WIU alumni and friends a first-hand look at the talents of WIU students.

Senior Studio Art Major Kaylee Agans of Macomb, was selected by her instructors to paint a winter-themed picture for the Foundation card. The finished product is an original watercolor painting, which is one of Agans' favorite mediums, of the Col. Ray "Rock" Hanson bronze statue near Hanson Field on the Macomb campus.

"It's an honor to have been selected as the artist for this year's holiday card, and I had so much fun working on it, especially since we chose a new subject for this year's card," Agans said. "I knew many of the previous artists for the holiday card, so to have my work displayed next to theirs, makes me feel truly thankful and I'm so glad for the opportunity."

Along with completing the holiday card this semester, Agans has assisted one of her professors with the restoration of one of the original Rocky on Parade statues, as well as work on the upcoming mural for the Sports Corner.

Agans will graduate Summa Cum Laude in December 2022 and has the honor of serving as a marshal at the Dec. 17 Commencement ceremony. A member of Western's Centennial Honors College, Agans is also the Fall 2022 Departmental Scholar for Art and was awarded the James Patrick O'Toole Memorial Scholarship and the Fall 2022 Tuition Waiver. After graduation, she plans on working to get her teaching license or continuing her education, possibly in museum studies.

"Each year, the wonderful faculty in our Department of Art and Design select a talented student to bring our annual holiday card to life, and we are so appreciative of the support we receive from our faculty and students," said Brad Bainter, executive officer of the WIU Foundation. "We're thrilled to add Kaylee to our collection of beautiful holiday prints, and we extend our gratitude to her for sharing her talents with us."

As the selected artist, Agans received a $500 honorarium from the WIU Foundation. The original piece will be on display in the Foundation office following the holiday break.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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