The Channels

Issue date: 5/13/09 Section: Commencement

Media Credit: Bilge Akinci Eric Vrymoed puts the finishing touches on an aluminum sculpture in the art lab on April 28.

After four years spent perfecting his craft, 22-year-old art major Eric Vrymoed is leaving City College to continue his education in art, focusing on sculpture and art history.

Vrymoed, who has been chosen as an Outstanding Student of the Year in the art department, said he spends six to seven hours in the art department lab every day.

"He's here all the time," said Scott Dosch, another art student. "He's a lab monster. He's putting out a lot of good pieces," he added.

Vrymoed uses steel, bronze and aluminum in his art. About a year ago he became interested in casting sculptures out of metal, said Edward Inks, a professor who has been Vrymoed's sculpture teacher since he began at City College.

"He picks up skills very quickly," Inks said. "He is hardworking, driven, very focused and self-disciplined."

Vrymoed has an avid interest in art history, particularly the works of Louise Bourgeois and Martin Puryear. He is also fascinated by human psychological reactions to intimate spaces-reactions talked about in "The Poetics of Space," written by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard.

Vrymoed uses many opposites in his art. He works with characteristics like hot vs. cold, closed vs. open, functional vs. dysfunctional and the Jungian terms anima vs. animus.

"I mostly focus on the psychological response of being/nonbeing," he said.

Vrymoed said he has very supportive parents. He first became interested in art while he was drawing in high school.

Inks helped Vrymoed build a portfolio for four-year schools. He was recently accepted into the art program UCLA, where he will be majoring in Art Studio with a concentration in sculpture beginning in the fall.

"The best (thing) about Eric is that he is extremely outgoing," Inks said. "He works well with all the other members of the art studio."

Vrymoed has an exhibition at Casa Magazine's gallery, running until May 29.

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