FellowsPressRelease Fall 07

(more) 1100 N. Main Street Suite 106 Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Phone: 734-747-8300 Fax: 734-747-8530 www.ArtrainUSA.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 31, 2007 Contact: Debra Polich, President/CEO Phone: 734-747-8300 Artrain USA Welcomes Three Allesee Fellows Plus a New Assistant Tour Manager Ann Arbor, MI – Artrain USA, America’s Hometown Art Museum, is pleased to announce that Emma Faruolo, Dina Sherman and Kirsten Young have been selected as the Maggie and Bob Allesee Fellows for the Fall 2007 Tour. Fellows will travel with Artrain USA on the final leg of the Native Views: Influences of Modern Culture exhibition tour. Emma Faruolo of Rochester Hills, Michigan has a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan. Faruolo worked as a studio assistant in the School of Art and Design's ceramic studio and spent three semesters involved with art outreach programs in Ann Arbor and Detroit, which influenced her decision to pursue work in the community arts. She looks forward to sharing her genuine enthusiasm for the visual arts as a demonstrating artist, one of the many roles that Allesee Fellows take on during their tour of Artrain USA. Dina Sherman of Columbus, Ohio received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Ohio State University (OSU) earlier this year. Born in Moscow, she attended a study abroad program at the University of Central England in Birmingham, England. Prior to joining Artrain USA, Sherman held an internship at the Wexner Center for the Arts. Kirsten Young of Davis, California holds a Bachelors of Arts in painting from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Young studied art, music and dance for ten months in Ghana, Africa during her junior year of college. During this time she developed an enthusiasm for helping others discover their creativity while cultivating her own passion for the arts. This will be her second tour as an Artrain USA Allesee Fellow. Joining tour manager Nathan Zamarron and the three Allesee Fellows will be Joshua Wallin serving as the assistant tour manager. Wallin holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography and Sculpture from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. Prior to joining Artrain USA, he worked as a teaching assistant at Cranbrook and an assistant preparator at the Cranbrook Art Museum. In addition, Wallin was commissioned in 2006 by the City of Midland, Michigan to create a public art work for Spray Park. Established in 2001 by long-time art supporters and philanthropists Maggie and Bob Allesee, the Allesee Fellowship program provides postgraduate work experience to build fine arts, museum practice and arts administration skills. Through a juried process, Artrain USA annually selects up to four graduates to serve as exhibition, administrative or touring staff for one to two years. Fellows are selected based on their qualifications pertaining to their degreed program, artistic, museum or arts administration experience, diversity of skills and ability to interact and share their creative talents with others. Allesee Fellows have the opportunity to see the country, meet thousands of people, build networks and contacts with artists and galleries and gain valuable work skills. Most importantly, while sharing their creative talents onboard Artrain USA, they enrich lives and help build communities through the arts. “The Artrain USA Allesee Fellowship program provides a wonderful opportunity for students committed to the arts to extend their education while traveling onboard Artrain USA,” said Maggie Allesee. “It is our desire that this fellowship program help many young artists and arts professionals pursue their creative passions and gain valuable life experiences. Bob and I are honored to be part of this exciting program.” Maggie and Bob Allesee’s (Bloomfield Hills, MI) abiding interests in music, dance and the visual arts have brought them leadership roles with a host of arts organizations and institutions throughout the country. A nonprofit organization, Artrain USA’s mission is to enrich lives and build communities through the arts. An art museum housed in vintage rail cars that travels via the nation’s railroads, Artrain USA brings world class art exhibitions and art education programs to communities and their residents and delivers exceptional opportunities for learning, growth and art appreciation while encouraging the development of local cultural programs and organizations. Artrain USA received the 2006 National Service Award for Museums by the Institute of Museum and Library Service. Since its founding in 1971, more than 3.2 million people have visited Artrain USA during 83 community visits across the nation. For additional information on Artrain USA, visit our website at www.ArtrainUSA.org. or call 734-747-8300. ###