When Cana Pistar, a senior studying graphic design, came to college, she started having panic attacks. Now she is helping others with her senior thesis in graphic design.
Pistar is one of 20 graphic design bachelor of fine arts, or BFA, seniors who will have their work showcased today in Seigfred Hall. The students' pieces, which range in media from posters to T-shirts to videos, took one year to complete.
Pistar's piece is based on her personal experiences with panic attacks. When her symptoms began, Pistar went to Hudson Health Center for help, and a doctor gave her a tape of deep breathing exercises. This tape is included in her piece as an audio portion to provide healing to others.
I wanted to do something personal
Pistar said.
She originally tried to make a video, but when that did not work out she turned to typography and screen-printing, which she just learned last quarter. Her piece includes four pieces of Plexiglas placed one behind the other. The letters of the word panic are on different pieces from front to back.
The panic' letters are my handwriting to add a personal touch to the piece, Pistar said.
Symptoms of panic disorder and the personal feelings she had during the attacks are also written in red on the Plexiglas which is intended to create a feeling of panic while also being informative.
The graphic design students started their projects by choosing their subjects last year and had weekly meetings with professors this year to stay on track. Part way through the process
they gave the faculty a presentation of their work for approval. If successful
students could continue the project. If not
they had to start the process again.
All of the projects will be on display in Seigfred Hall until May 23.
There will be a BFA Exhibition and Reception at 6 tonight on the fifth floor of Seigfred Hall.
,",3,Culture,Jen Pontzer,28330a.jpg,Cana Pistar
a senior studying graphic design
stands next to her thesis piece
Panic and Healing through Visual and Audio Translation. (Joel Hawksley | Staff Photographer),",",",","
28330,2009-05-12 00:00:00,Senior graphic designers show off work,When Cana Pistar
a senior studying graphic design
came to college
