Meet Heather Hoskins, Adult Education and Reuse Specialist at SCRAP Denton. Hoskins started in Denton in January of 2019 as a Reuse Specialist but Adult Education was soon added to her title. Hoskins has a wide variety of art and craft skills as well as a background in education that she draws from to lead adult workshops in Denton. The popular ‘Upcycled Paper Making’ workshop created and lead by Hoskins regularly sells out.
Hoskins was born and raised in Texas where she’s been her whole life. Originally from Irving, Hoskins now lives in Denton where she attends graduate school at the University of North Texas earning an MFA in Sculpture. Her artwork deals with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Read our Q&A with Heather to learn more about her.
A: I became a SCRAP addict during my first semester of Graduate School. A fellow grad student told me about SCRAP. I thought they were talking about a scrap yard, but once I stepped into the store I heard the craft/art goddesses singing to my ears. Once I heard about the mission of the store it solidified my love for SCRAP and what we do for the environment and the local community. When I was working on earning my associates degree from 2011-2014 I got heavily involved in an organization called Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for junior colleges, and took on many roles in community and service engagements that dealt with sustainability and the environment. I took on the role of managing their community garden which provided community service and free fresh vegetables to students and local community members who were in need. So it's only obvious that an organization like SCRAP would pull my heart strings and call my name.
A: I love all things art and craft, cooking, and my three cats Ayasha, Jet, and Basil. My goal is to finish my last year of graduate school and pass my thesis defense, continue to grow the Adult Education Program at SCRAP Denton, hopefully land an adjunct or professors position in Denton, and to stick around long enough to see SCRAP grow into more locations and reach more communities.
A: My artwork deals with a heavy topic but it's an important concept to me. It talks about the condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). Where individuals live, often in silence, with a feeling that there is a flaw or something overtly wrong with their appearance. It ultimately consumes their life and it is much more than just having a body-image issue. One in five individuals struggle with BDD, yet it is an often misunderstood and under-diagnosed condition. My work has been a reflection of my journey with BDD, but also is a way to bridge the gap between those who have BDD and those who do not. I strive to create a safe place to talk about these issues and to process, heal, and work through living with this condition.
Most of my materials come from SCRAP Denton. My work is composed of paintings, drawing, sculpture, and so much more. Lately I have been making assemblages with fabric, yarn, and handmade paper. It's important to me to use materials that I can afford but also to not waste. A lot of my work reuses materials from past works just to keep the waste to a minimal.
A: I will be having a month long solo exhibition next year in March at Tarrant County College Northwest. It’s amazing to me that I was approached to do the show. I'll also be having my Thesis Exhibition in April. And, of course, I'm looking forward to finding new and exciting ways to help SCRAP Denton grow.
Recently I was accepted into the 60th Annual Voertman Competition which was juried by Andrea Karnes who is a Senior Currator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort worth. My work Untitled (Visceral #2) was selected as the First Place Voertman Award. The 60th Annual Voertman Competition will be at the Cora Stafford Gallery at the University of North Texas from January 30th through February 15th. My solo exhibition, Visceral Reflections, at Tarrant County College Northwest will be open from February 24th-March 27th of this year. My thesis exhibition will be at The University of North Texas in Cora Stafford Gallery April 15th-17th. I am graduating with my MFA in Sculpture from the University of North Texas on May 7th, 2020.
I am also egely awaiting the news on my nomination for the Dedalus Foundation Fellowship in Painting and Sculpture. I submitted my materials on January 10th. If selected this fellowship comes with a huge stipend. Each University with graduating MFA candidates are allowed to nominate two individuals from each graduating year to be considered for the Dedalus Fellowship. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Website: www.HeatherLeighHoskins.com
Instagram: Heather_Leigh_Art
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