Whether exploring materials for glaze chemistry or delving into the world of a Japanese paper-maker in his village studio, Ava Bromberg isn't shy about pursuing a new field to study. "The best part about liberal arts," she said, "is that it lets me decide where my education will go."
A double major in Asian studies and sculpture, Ava is fluent in Japanese and has spent a semester in Japan studying both language and art. "It was a romantic idea about Japanese aesthetics and the way they use materials that compelled me to begin studying the language in the first place," she said. "Eventually, that led me to study in Japan."
Although Ava studied the intricacies of the delicate art of papermaking in Japan, she spends more of her time at Hamilton with welding equipment and power tools. She assists in the introductory sculpture courses, demonstrating proper welding techniques and is also putting her skills to work in the sculpture studio of a local professional, creating a commissioned work for a new sculpture on campus.
When not immersed in her art and studies on campus -- where she was just elected into Phi Beta Kappa -- Ava is planning her itinerary for next year. She was just awarded a prestigious Watson Fellowship to study public art and how it serves and responds to local conditions in Australia, Thailand, Brazil, and Spain.
"The environment and the faculty at Hamilton have allowed me to pursue so many different things," she said "My liberal arts education has made me not only technically competent but also capable of addressing much larger endeavors."
