Shawn Brewer, a senior in Printmaking, will be the first student to graduate from MECA&D with a minor in Public Engagement, which was added this year. For his capstone project, he worked with the local organization The Art Department, an innovative experiencial community support program that teaches art to adults with intellectual uniqueness.Shawn spent a month with participants to create a series of artist's books engaging the topic of local community. These books serve as a catalyst for a series of large, hand-printed maps that were altered with drawing. An exhibition of the books and prints “Mapping ME/Maine” will be on view April 19 – May 1 in the Joanne Waxman Library at MECA&D, with a reception at 1pm on April 19.
To qualify for a minor in public engagement, Shawn completed an internship at Space Gallery, an alternative arts venue in Portland. He also launched “Fast Food Prints,” a mobile art event that engages the public in the printmaking on demand. Customers get to choose imagery and compositional elements to create an original piece of art on site. Shawn has brought Fast Food Prints to the First Friday Art Walk, the Maine Mall, and the Kahbang Arts Festival. This summer, it travels to Freeport and the Furniture Society Conference. Also this summer, Shawnwas selected as a summer intern at Wingate Studios, a professional Intaglio printshop in New Hampshire.