ASHLEY GAFFNEYthe life of

Novem

ber 2009

life at SCAD some HOME RECIPES life in my APARTMENTlife in the SUMMER life on SUNDAYS INTRO

Ladies & Gentlemen,

First I must apoligize for the delay in this newsletter and the overall updates on

my life! I know many of you were thinking, “She said she would e-mail us...” or

“I haven’t gotten a 3 KB picture from Ashley yet. I wonder if she’s doing okay!”

But, alas! I am here, and have plenty of stories and pictures to tell you about

my new life in Savannah.

I have a lot to catch you up on! Starting with my decision to transfer from Wheaton College and visitng SCAD with the family over the Summer, all the way to my 21st birthday and finishing my first quarter at SCAD.

So go grab a cup of something hot,

block off 15 minutes on the calendar,

and read about my new life. I promise

you, it won’t be boring.

Ashley Gaffney (Off-Campus Student)231 West Boundary Street

Savannah, GA 31401

GaffneyAshley@gmail.com

Dates in Colorado:December 17, 2009 -January 2, 2010

Dates in Chicago:January 14-18, 2010

NEW PROJECTS

IN JULYSavannah

with the family

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In July, my Mom and I ventured down to Savnnah to check out the area and look for apartments prior to me moving down to Savannah. It was probably one of the funnest, yet frustrating, experiences to try and navigate my Mother around downtown Savannah with Gertrude (the GPS device) screaming directions at us. Nevertheless, we made it around town and found the perfect apartment! After a few days, Isaish flew in from California and we picked him up form the airport. It was a blissful reunion. Pretty much the best EVER!

From the airport we then drove 4 hours to Florida, where we stayed on Daytona Beach for the weekend and then drive back to Savannah to sign the lease on the apartment I had found. It was a great 4-day get away.

While on the road, we stopped by many fabulous reastaurants! If you’re ever in Savannah you must do 2 things, 1) Call me and 2) Eat at Hueys on River Street. You have to order the fried green tomatoes. They will melt in your mouth and you will rejoice, out loud at the table because they are THAT good.

NEW PROJECTS

SCADSavannah

College of Art and Design

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I will first start off by informing those who don’t know, that I transferred from Wheaton College to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design-the new love of my life. Why did I leave Wheaton? In general, the art program, and more specifically, the Graphic Design program was not as challenging as I needed it to be. I wanted to experience faculty who were indsutry-based, students who would have intellectual discussions over tea about ”gestalt” and color theory and a program that was rigorous, demanding and worth the blood, sweat and tears I put into it. I needed a challenge and students who were just as motivated and inspired by the artist within them.

I found all these things and more at SCAD.Next quarter I am taking the History of Graphic Design, Introduction to Graphic Design and Drawing for Design. Am I nervous? Naw. Ready? Yes! I can’t wait to learn about the nooks and cranies of design-the do’s and the dont’s. I want to learn the rules so I can break them! This school, and this town, has an abundance to offer and while I’m here I’m going to make sure I take advantage of it.

Speaking of abundant resources, within the first month of me being at SCAD I’ve already met with my Career Services counsler, and had a portfolio review with 3 directors from American Greetings. In addition to that, two of the “Oh, you need to take a class withi him, he’s good” graphic design professors go to a church I’m considering attending; and I meet students everyday who are just as passionate about their artistic love and the purpose it serves in our world.

NEW PROJECTS

FOODMmmmm...

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Next to riding my bike everywhere, cooking has officially become a number one favorite of mine! I make dinner almost everynight and the only time I didn’t was the last week of school whern I lived at the library during finals and ate out on Broughton Street. But it was quality food-sushi, mexican, noodle bowls, Panera, etc. So don’t worry, Mom! I wasn’t indulging on the dollar menu everyday. Anyway, below are some of the concoctions I’ve creatively assembled in the kitchen here in Apartment D! I live two blocks from “Brighter Day,” a local

Mom-and-Pop natural food store, and four blocks from Kroger. Either way, if I need anything for a recipe I can pretty much get it. This is a curse, but also a blessing at times. For example, one night I felt so hungry! But it wasn’t the kind of “eat something and be full” hungry, it was the “specific kind of food, but I don’t know what kind” hungry. I spent hours thinking about what it was that I wanted, and at 11:20 it hit me: Brownies and a glass of milk. So I rode my bike down to Kroger and that’s what I got.

ABOVE | Romaine lettuce with red onion and slices of Fuji apples dressed with lime and lemon juice | Sunday dinner | Chicken breast stuffed with vermont cheddar cheese, onions and apples | sweet potato balls

FAR RIGHT | Broccoli, banana pepper, and cheese on cracker | chicken, banana pepper, cheese and dijon spread on cracker | fruit salad | broccoli and cheese on cracker

BELOW | Chicken noodle soup | fried green tomatoes | homemade macaroni and cheese | Sunday dinner dessert

NEW PROJECTS

DApar

tmen

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My humble abode is the best thing since twitter.

It’s a small apartment with a room, bathroom, kitchette, living room area, hard wood floors and a washer and dryer! I live by myself which is spectacular and all it’s cracked up to be. My apartment is one of four that are located in a renovated house. So think, one house, four entrances in four different quadrants on the house. I’m in the bottom, back quadrant of a house which neighbors the back of an old baptist church. On Wednesdays they have service and the stained glass lights up as they play hymns on the organ.

My neighbors are hilarious. There are three SCAD students and three other women. All girls. We keep saying we’re gonna all get together and have a dinner one of these days, but, that apparently is still in the works. On a side note, My Uncle Lonnie was so gracious to buy me a bike to get around on. It’s a tan and copper Huffy Beach Cruiser, and I call her Missy.

ABOVE | Left to right: Kitchen and bar area | My vintage, marigold lounger found on Craigslist for $20 bucks! | Living room wall | Living/Dining/Work Area room| My room! | The bathroom

NEW PROJECTS

CREWThe

life at SCAD some HOME RECIPES life in my APARTMENTlife in the SUMMER life & FRIENDS INTRO

SCAD has the most amazing, hilarious, entertaining, adventurous, motivated, inspired, talented and down to earth students... all of whom are my friends! When my Mom and I came to visit in July, I talked to Jayme a bit because I was considering renting a carriage house that was next-door to the house she is renting. The housing situation didn’t work out, but we kept in contact and when I got to Savannah in September we hung out everyday. Whether it was the gym, or lunch or a movie we were together all the time and had so much fun. Once school started we met Kevin and Cyrus, two grad students in the film department. Let me tell you, the world is so small. Kevin and Cyrus went to undergrad at Shaw University, and knew Steve and Crashonda; whch is how I met them. On top of that, Crashonda and I were involved with BSA (Black Student Association) and she introduced me to John, who also worked at the library with me. John is a graduate graphic design student who was in design classes with Julius and that’s how I met him. This is the fashion in which I continue to meet people and build a great network of friends.

ABOVE | Top photo (L to R) Crashonda,

performing arts; ME!; Jayme, photo;

Kevin, film; Tara, architecture. Bottom

photo: Jerry, ME!; Julius, graphic design

ABOVE | Top photo (L to R) Cyrus, film;

Crashonda, Kevin, Ian, animation;

Steve, film; LaToya, film; Nina, film;

Jayme, Duvey (Kevin’s brother)

NEW PROJECTS

MY WORK

life at SCAD some HOME RECIPES life in my APARTMENTlife in the SUMMER life on SUNDAYS INTRO

ABOVE | The first assignment for my Color Theory class was to design the cover for our textbooks/sketchbooks we created over the course of the quarter. Above is mine.

RIGHT | The final drawing from my Drawing II class. You did not want to see the first 7. In case you can’t tell, I am blowing a bubble. Yes, my cheeks look a little famished, and the chin is rather pointy, but... I was proud of myself because of the overall realism that is found within the details it; and for me, that is a hard thing to do!

FAR RIGHT | This was a side project I took on for my Color Theory teacher. He is a color genius, and is in the process of writing a book and currently has numerous articles published. After we finished the quarter he contacted me asking if I could design a few images and pieces for his book. Thus, is the dual color wheel! He has a theory about how there is another dimension of color that has never been investigated when it comes to the color wheel. Depending on what kind of pigments you use, you

can obtain an additional twelve colors. I’m sending the image off to the editor today, so when the article comes out I will be sure to send it to everyone!

And last but not least, I am currently designing a website for my hair dresser, Joy Love. A url soon to follow.

NEW PROJECTSNEW PROJECTS

life at SCAD some HOME RECIPES life in my APARTMENTlife in the SUMMER life on SUNDAYS NEW PROJECTS INTRO

BELOW | My color theory final project. I developed and tested a visual and auditory study

NEW PROJECTS

PHEW.Well that was fun.

Same time next quarter? Deal.

life at SCAD some HOME RECIPES life in my APARTMENTlife in the SUMMER life on SUNDAYS OUTRONEW PROJECTS