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North Carolina Student Designs Annual WIU Foundation Holiday Card

December 20, 2023

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Every winter, the Western Illinois University Foundation partners with the Department of Art and Design to create the annual holiday greeting card. This unique tradition provides a WIU student the opportunity to showcase their talents and put the spotlight on a beautiful campus scene.

For the 2023 holiday card, senior Studio Art major Rivers Ashton, from Lincolnton, NC, produced the card art, creating a watercolor painting of a wintery scene featuring the Alumni House. Art and Design Professors Jan Clough and Bill Howard nominated Ashton for this opportunity.

"The WIU Foundation's annual Holiday Card is a great opportunity for the Art and Design department to feature one of our many talented students," Clough said. "Rivers is and has been an outstanding, motivated and involved student artist since her first semester. I had no doubt that she would create something exceptional, and she definitely did not disappoint."

Completing this piece was an exciting challenge for Ashton. "Working on this project seemed a tad bit intimidating. Using watercolor was a first for me since I had just taken the watercolor course this fall semester," Ashton said. "I found that adding the snow over everything really tied the image together. That was definitely my favorite part."

Creating this work provided a full-circle moment for Ashton, who will transition to alumni status as she crosses the graduation stage next spring. While Garwood Hall has been Ashton's home during her time at WIU, the Alumni House will be her new home as a WIU alumna.

Ashton started her WIU career in the fall of 2020, choosing to relocate from North Carolina for a fresh start.

"I wanted to have the ability to be alone and learn how to survive without my family close by. There were a lot of challenges for that; however, I knew this place was my home. My professors have really guided me and helped with everything I do. They really care about our futures as artists. Western means a lot to me," said Ashton.

In addition to creating this year's holiday card, Ashton was named the recipient of the inaugural International Day of Peace Award this past November and was a finalist in the Macomb Art Center's Battle of the Brushes event in January 2023. Her work has been displayed in multiple gallery installations, including a 2022 art show at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA. Additionally, her work has been sold at the biannual Department of Art and Design Art Sale.

These opportunities have helped prepare Ashton for the next step in her career.

"After graduating from WIU, I want to continue to get my MFA in painting and drawing," Ashton said. "I also want to continue making art and sharing it with as many people as I can. I am very grateful for this opportunity and for my time at Western."

The annual initiative not only celebrates the artistic abilities of students like Ashton, but also provides a connection point for WIU's generous donors. Donors receive a reminder of campus in the winter and receive a first-hand look at the talents of WIU students.

"We look forward to this project every year. Being able to share holiday greetings with our donors and to showcase the incredible talent of our students are always meaningful experiences for our team," said Brad Bainter, executive officer of the WIU Foundation. "We are grateful Rivers lent her talents to this year's card and are thrilled to share her creation with our community."

As the selected artist, Ashton received a $500 honorarium from the WIU Foundation. The original piece will be on display in the Foundation Office following the winter campus closure.

For more information on WIU's Art and Design program, visit wiu.edu/art.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing