The Class of 2011 marches down Cabot Street, Beverly with President Stephen D. Immerman, artist Amy Sillman, former President James Davies, Mayor William Scanlon, faculty, trustees, staff and friends of Montserrat.
Friday, May 27, 2011

Graduates march into commencement events. Photo by Jenn Frankavitz '07

Contemporary Artist Amy Sillman, was the keynote speaker and received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree Friday at Montserrat College of Art’s 2011 Commencement ceremonies held at the Cabot Street Cinema Theatre. Sillman recieved an honorary doctorate for her contributions to the world of art, along with James Davies of Beverly, a former president of Montserrat who took the college from its early days as a professional school of visual art, to an accredited, degree granting college. Davies work toward accreditation is seen as critical to the success of the college.

President Stephen D. Immerman and the Montserrat Board of Trustees awarded the bachelor of fine arts degree to 71 students from as close as Beverly to as far away as Idaho. Faculty speaker Assistant Dean and Art Historian Marjorie Augenbraum was joined by senior Kathleen Brennan in addressing the crowd.

A reception and viewing of the All Senior Exhibition followed the ceremony at the college’s main campus building, the Hardie Building, at 23 Essex Street.

Graduation Awards

Graphic Design Award: Alexandra Fiore

Liberal Arts Award: Rebecca Figler

Painting Award: Rocco Capano

Photography Award: Deborah Gray

Printmaking Award: Jake Cassevoy

Sculpture Award: Kevin Quinn

Illustration Award: Dana Martin

Art Education Award: Clara Bohan

Interdisciplinary Arts Award: Megan Deede

William and Ruth Fusco Prize: Kalimah Muhammad

Cornelia Endowed Award: James Durrett

Luz Dorrien Faculty Development Award: Sarah Smith

Montserrat College of Art Commencement Ceremony:
Friday, May 27, 2011
Artist Amy Sillman to Address Graduates,
James Davies to be Awarded Honorary Doctorate

President Stephen D. Immerman, Ed.D. and the Trustees of the Montserrat College of Art will host  ceremony, Friday, May 27, 10 am, Cabot Street Cinema Theatre, 286 Cabot Street, Beverly, Massachusetts.

The keynote speaker will be internationally renowned artist Amy Sillman. Sillman’s canvases offer glimpses into a subliminal world. Strangely intimate, her abstractions negotiate a space of both ideas and feelings, inflected with an emotional empathy. In addressing the Class of 2011, Ms. Sillman will discuss how, “Painting is a physical thinking process to continue an interior dialogue, a way to engage in a kind of internal discourse.” She will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree along with James Davies, a former president of the College. Dr. Davies was instrumental in the transformation of Montserrat School of Visual Art into an accredited College, obtaining the authority to grant the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

Following the ceremony, guests are invited to the Senior Graduation Exhibition in the Montserrat College of Art Gallery, Hardie Building, 23 Essex Street, Beverly

Printmaking Award: Tetsuya Kamimura
Sculpture  Award: Allison Hornak
Illustration Award: Logan Faerber
Art Education Award: Margaurita Spear
Interdisciplinary Arts Award: Erik Lomen

William and Ruth Fusco Prize: Tetsuya Kamimura

Senior Exhibition Awards
First Prize: Sarah Sadowski
Second Prize: Rikki Beaupre
Third Prize: Erik Lomen
Honorable Mention: Emilee McGlory
Honorable Mention: Danielle Seymour
Honorable Mention: Niki Fandel

Luz Dorrien Faculty Development Award: Rob Roy and Gordon Arnold

Graduate Lindsey Parker with artistically crafted and unique mortarboard

Montserrat College of Art’s Commencement was held on Friday, May 22 at the Cabot Street Cinema, Beverly, MA, and two prominent artists, Jenny Holzer and Annette Lemieux, and Montserrat College of Art Trustee Steve Dodge were awarded Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees. Lemieux, a professor at Harvard University, was also the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Other speakers were Montserrat President Helena J. Sturnick, Ph.D., Professor Gordon Arnold and graduating seniors Sarah Desjardins and Judith Shimer. Beverly Mayor William F. Scanlon also addressed the graduate and their families.

To view additional Commencement ’09 photos, please click here.