There are two new part-time professors in the art department this semester. Roxanne Kaufman will be teaching Basic Design and Cassandra Bacon ’10 is teaching the Drawing 1 and Intro to Oils just for one semester.
As more students have taken an interest in computer graphics Barbara Bushey, head of the art department, said she thought that Basic Design should be available both semesters instead of just one. So she hired Kaufman, who already had some connections to Hillsdale. The other part-time professor, Cassandra Bacon ‘10, is teaching Drawing 101 and Intro to Oils this semester. She is filling in for Katharine Taylor, who is currently on maternity leave.
Kaufman did her undergraduate studies at Spring Arbor University, a school that is connected to Hillsdale’s art department. She later went on to pursue her master’s degree in fine arts at Goddard College in Vermont. She started out working at a studio and doing commissioned pieces, and then went on to teach at Spring Arbor. Kaufman also did some work at The Manor, a residential treatment facility in Jonesville, before coming to Hillsdale.
Most of Kaufman’s work is digital and film photography focusing on portraiture, revolving around storytelling through photographing people, although she does have a passion for illustration and sculpture as well.
“Photography came at an early age, and I’ve always been interested in photographing people. That I’ve never swayed away from,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman’s mom was a teacher and this was what made her want to inspire people and help them learn.
“When I was a junior in high school I knew I wanted to be a professor,” Kaufman said. “I like helping people bring their creativity to life and understanding it so that they can share what they see and feel with other people.” She was mentored by William Bippes, a professor who used to teach at Hillsdale, and she saw him as a good example of what a professor should be.
Some of Kaufman’s interests outside of teaching art involve taking care of horses and enjoying nature. She lives on a small farm with her husband and three kids where she loves gardening, hiking, and being outdoors. She draws inspiration from nature.
“I really take refuge getting away from the news and things that you can’t control and just appreciating creation,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman was led to Hillsdale by her mom, an alumna, and she also lived around the area for most of her life.
“I really appreciate the vision of Hillsdale College. I like their stance on issues and their beliefs,” said Kaufman, who is looking forward teaching at Hillsdale and loves the atmosphere of the school so far.
While Kaufman is getting to know the school for the first time, Bacon is returning.
Bacon graduated from Hillsdale with the class of 2010 and then took an internship in Chicago to learn more about gallery work. She came back to Hillsdale as an assistant to professors Knecht and Taylor with Drawing 101. She learned a lot about teaching through helping them with their classes. Bacon was asked to teach Drawing 101 and Intro to Oils soon after this. She also had a teaching position at Hillsdale Preparatory School.
About two years after graduating Bacon moved back to Bryan, Ohio where she tried many different jobs before deciding to do freelance artwork for people who wanted portraits. This kept her involved in art. She later opened her own gallery and had an art show using professor’s Sam Knecht and Bryan Springer’s artwork.
“I wanted to thank them as well, bringing their artwork to Bryan. I wanted to show people in Bryan that this is the caliber of artwork available,” Bacon said.
She had another art show featuring local artwork and then worked on some of her own projects. She ended up moving on to do different jobs before coming back to Hillsdale.
Bacon’s favorite artistic medium is oil painting, though she enjoys photography and finds watercolors freeing as well.
“I’ve always made art. I’ve been obsessed with it my whole life. Creating is what I fill my time with,” Bacon said.
All the teachers she had along the way encouraged her to continue and stick with it.
“At different crucial points when I had the choice to stray away from art or to continue to pursue it something would rise up that caused me to continue to pursue it and then I was determined to make a career out of it no matter what,” Bacon said.
When she entered high school, however, she wanted to follow a more practical and academic route, but her art teacher told her that she shouldn’t give art up and that they wouldn’t let her. As soon as she took her first course she knew she had made the right decision.
After spending time with professors Knecht and Taylor in their classes, Bacon realized how fun it was to help other people and teach them to hone their artistic abilities. She realized it was something she loved to do, because of the energy it gave her. She enjoys working here with the students.
“They’re very talented and have a wide variety of interests,” Bacon said. “It’s interesting to see what backgrounds they come from and what artistic goals they have.”
