2022 Merit Scholarship Recipient: Sage Phillips

Describe the work you submitted for merits.

Oil paintings and paper-cut outs of people and animals having great and not-so-great times.

Why did you decide to come to MCAD?

I wanted to be more intensive about my art practice, and support/be supported by peers who want the same. Minneapolis is pretty sick, too.

What are your plans for your senior year? And beyond?

Work really very super duper mega hard... and adopt a rabbit!

Favorite thing about college life (so far)?

The promise of a non-college life :-)

What's the best thing you've got from MCAD's free shelf?

The Bird Of Big Balls: a ceramic bird statue which is supposed to be a robin perched on some seed pods but just looks like he has... well... balls. I bring it to critiques to manifest Big Ball energy.

What inspires you? 

People-watching, Oda Iselin Sonderland, paperback fantasy novels, speedcore, fluorescents, Hylics 1 and 2, blackletter fonts, realistic stuffed animals, bones under flesh and movement, trying to create your own world.

Do you have a favorite piece you've made? Describe it!

I don't know if I have a favorite, since I'm never that content with finished work. But, I've been making digital collages in Photoshop using overlay layers (just for fun,) using found images. Sometimes I use so many layers that Photoshop glitches out and starts pulling assets from all my computer files, which is very cool!

Anything you're obsessed with at the moment? 

Gold and silver metallics, putting bumper stickers on my car, things that give you the vibe of a soul-sucking and high-powered corporate yacht, Pinterest, small-town goths, the Kentucky Derby, and talking about a horse like it's a machine, leeches, eBay, asiago cheese on sourdough bread.

Are you famed and feared historical pirate Calico Jack?

No... why would you ask that?