ALUMNI STORIES

Our Featured Alumni are a strong group of individuals, nominated by Faculty & Staff, who have worked hard during their time at Ramapo and have continued to excel in their fields, many of which currently working in Visual Arts.  During their academic careers these students were actively involved in the school’s Visual Arts Department, in their dedication to their classes, and some working for the Photography Lab or Berrie Center Art Galleries.  Outside of school some of these individuals have also interned at reputable organizations, photo studios or art galleries.  Read the entries below to hear about what it’s like to be a student in the Visual Arts program, and to learn of the wonderful accomplishments our Alumni have made since graduating.

Jon Bonacolta 2012

“While at Ramapo I was challenged, provided opportunities to develop personally, and given the resources to push myself creatively. The multi-disciplinary Visual Arts degree program offered by the School of Contemporary Arts gave me the technical skills to make work in different mediums, which broadened my thinking of how a theme or idea could be visually represented. My photographs took on elements of installation: I began thinking of two-dimensional images in three dimensions – trying to make the photos a part of the space they inhabit. As a result, I became very interested in the technical practices of photography. The projects I worked on in my Junior and Senior years became about problem-solving and troubleshooting in an effort to visually convey my ideas. This method of working is something I have taken away from my time at Ramapo and applied to my workflow now.

I am indebted to the engaging faculty and staff who showed me ways of thinking differently. My gratitude goes to Warner Wada, who showed how to shoot slowly – to take my time with an image – and think about each photograph as an individual work; to Yolanda del Amo, who encouraged me to take on extracurricular projects, which were internationally exhibited and who organized the Study Abroad program, which took me to Argentina and helped me turn a month of traveling into a series of images that I am most proud of; and to Eva Fazzari whose technical instruction and post-college advice while I worked in the Darkroom were as enlightening as any 4-credit course I took. The network of faculty at Ramapo provided mentoring that I am very grateful for.

After completing my degree program in May 2012, I continued to make work; applied to and have been accepted to show my work in group exhibitions; and am excited to still be working on projects of my own – with other artists collaboratively and independently.

Presently, I am a Senior Photographer in the US Studio for The Net-A-Porter Group – working in luxury fashion. While the subject matter is a divergence from my work at Ramapo, I still approach this style of photography in the same way. I enjoy the technical challenges associated with fashion portraiture and still life and look forward to what the future will bring.”

Alyssa Maurin 2015

“My four years at Ramapo helped open a lot of doors for me and provided me with a framework for success. The faculty at Ramapo helped me to discover my true artistic and academic potential. Both the Visual Arts and Psychology faculty helped me integrate my two majors in a way that made them feel like one fascinating and limitless topic, rather than two separate schools of thought.

John Peffer and Yolanda del Amo are two professors that truly enhanced my Ramapo experience and made my four years as valuable as they were. John Peffer challenged me to go beyond what I thought was my best. He taught me to think critically, and he changed the way that I approach the world. Within his classes, I found my confidence along with my love for knowledge and experiences. Yolanda del Amo helped me to realize my potential as a photographer throughout my time at Ramapo. With her encouragement and guidance, I was able to discover and hone my photographic style. During my senior year, my work was exhibited in five galleries throughout the country, and I am still selling work today.

Working in the Photo Lab during my junior and senior years definitely enhanced my experience as a Photography major. It was invaluable to be able to learn how to set up a darkroom on my own, and it provided me with a level of expertise in both analog and digital photography that I would not have gained from classes alone.

Ramapo also presented me with a lot of opportunities to travel. Not only was I able to participate in academic conferences in New Hampshire and California, but I was also able to study abroad in Argentina, Denmark, and Scotland. The faculty was always supportive of my ambitions, and they continue to motivate me to work hard and pursue my dreams even after graduation.

After graduating in May of 2015, I have been teaching ESL to adults and working as a dental assistant. I am leaving in January 2016 to teach English in Spain, and I will be looking into graduate school when I return.”

Ashley Pinto 2013

“My time spent at Ramapo was one filled with creative expression, long-lasting friendships, a faculty who helped guide me to a successful future, and a journey of becoming the person I’ve always envisioned.  When I was 19 years old my guidance counselor asked me bluntly, ‘What would you like to do for the rest of your life?’  I answered, ‘Create.’

John Peffer was one of my first Visual Arts professors.  He saw potential in me that I didn’t recognize in myself at the time, motivating me to reach greater heights.  In Advanced Photography, Professor Yolanda del Amo helped me develop my unique style. As our projects became more intense and personal, Yolanda encouraged me to put my all in my artwork and photograph with my heart.  I learned through her classes how to express pieces of myself and be able to communicate to an audience through imagery. These two professors inspired a new confidence in my art that I always strove for.

After I graduated in 2013, I worked for Lifetouch, a school photography business where I photographed yearbook portraits in a studio setting.  During the last two summers I worked as Group Counselor at Deerkill Day Camp.  I have also been pursuing my passion for singing through live performances.  I currently work in West New York school district as a Special Education Paraprofessional teaching children with Autism.

Moving forward, I’m looking into applying for Graduate school to obtain my Master’s Degree in Art Therapy.  With this degree I will be able to help others communicate through visual expression as I have learned to through Ramapo’s Visual Arts program.”