Josh Roach, 2018 recipient of the Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award.
Wonsook Kim School of Art alumnus Josh Roach ’19, MFA shares how gifts made to the Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award and Scholarship made an impact on his time at Illinois State University and allowed him to be more experimental in his studio practice:
I received the Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award in 2018 and used the funds and [exhibition] space that I received to do a performance/installation piece at University Galleries. For my piece, I dressed up as and became a glitterbug and made little sculpture-creatures (on a glitterrug), which I placed upon shelves.
The money provided me the means to purchase the materials that I required for this project, which was a large relief during a time in which I was stretched very thin financially. It also allowed me to be more experimental in my studio practice, as having some extra funds and motivation for an exhibition pushed me to do some things that I’ve been thinking about but had not yet been able to do.
This large project was a big stepping stone for me as I combined video, performance, music, sculpture, and installation all together for a live audience. I’ve done several projects since which I see as a continuation of what started through glitterbug and will continue in my practice for years to come. Being afforded the privilege to create in a dedicated space in University Galleries gave me a chance to experiment and get weird, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.
Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award and Scholarship
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award has recognized artistic excellence and offered inspiration for Wonsook Kim School of Art students since 1970. This highly prestigious award was established by the Pitcher family in memory of Marshall Pitcher. Pitcher was a talented painting student, who was passionately interested in and influenced by the art, music, and poetry culture of his time. Before transferring to Illinois State University in 1969 as a sophomore, he studied at Antioch College. The MDP Award, as it has come to be known, honors outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in the visual arts who demonstrate exceptional artistic talent, dedicated studio practice, and academic excellence. In addition to a monetary award, this distinguished recognition includes an individual exhibition prominently displayed within the Student Annual.
Make an impact during Birds Give Back. Make your gift to the Marshall Dulaney Pitcher Award and Scholarship Fund.
