Interview with Vivian Cruickshank

Sophia Abrams 0:01

This is Sophia Abrams interviewing Vivian Cruickshank on Sunday, January 10, 2021. It is 2:33 pm Central Time. I am currently located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and she is currently located in San Francisco, California. And today's interview is for the UW Black Artist Project. So my first question for you is why UW-Madison?

Vivian Cruickshank 0:33

Yes. So, I've always heard great things about the school, being a Wisconsin resident for so long. And once I was in my senior year of high school, you know, that's definitely the time to start looking at schools seriously. And I was just kind of looking at more local schools and seeing who had kind of strong, like, art programs, and just strong academics in general. And UW-Madison definitely popped out to me for both of those reasons. And I went to this kind of diversity event for high schoolers my senior year and met someone who told me about the summer collegiate experience. And I might have also learned about the Powers-Knapp Scholarship that way too, I don't quite remember, but I was just really impressed with kind of what I heard, and then ultimately ended up getting the -- I did do the summer collegiate experience, and I had gotten the Powers-Knapp Scholarship, so that, you know, it was kind of nice to know that I was gonna get my tuition fully paid. You know, a lot these days, or a lot of people these days have tons of student debt, and I didn't necessarily want that for myself. And it's, it was kind of a win-win, you know, just getting that money for school, and the fact that it's a great school already. So yeah, and I just really like the city of Madison. It's such a, you know, it's a smaller city, right, compared to, you know, New York or something. But I just loved the fact that it's such a huge, you know, college town, and that community that I felt was pretty unique compared to a lot of other places that are maybe in a bigger city, and you can kind of get lost being in that city versus just kind of being in a community where so many people are students, so many people kind of have, you know, the same interests and everything. So I was definitely attracted to that, to Madison, for those reasons.

Sophia Abrams 2:58

So then, after you got the PK scholarship and decided on Madison, what was that 00:03:00first week of college like? Yeah, the first week of college, or what were your first impressions of Madison? And I think, would that have been in the fall of 2007?

Vivian Cruickshank 3:18

Yes, so. So technically, I kind of started school in the summer for the collegiate experience, which, I mean, definitely, those two experiences were a little bit different. So I can talk about those. The SCE was kind of a great starter because I got to take some classes. And what was also nice is that it was at no cost to me, so you know, who can say no to some free credits. And then, you know, just having the chance to live on campus, you know, living in a dorm. Also, I was with, you know, other students of color, which was nice. And, you know, it's in the summers, obviously. So it was a nice introduction to, you know, just how beautiful campus can be. And I already saw from the beginning that the classes were of high quality, and were going to be challenging. So, and also it was easy to, it was nice to make some friends even before kind of the regular semester started. So I kind of felt like I already had some people I could go to. So that was a really good experience. And it made me really excited to start the fall semester. And once I started the fall semester, I was also back in the Lakeshore Dorms where I was for SCE, different dorm but same area, which I really liked all the nature and all the great walks you could go on, so I just felt like that was already a very comfortable environment. And a great place to start. And what was a little bit different was, you know, taking these classes, kind of the general education classes with the, in the huge lecture halls with, you know, 500 students, that was a little bit of a kind of shock to the system. You know, you get used to it after a while, and then having, you know, just kind of getting those out of the way. It was, it was good, but it was also an interesting experience just being on a huge campus like that because, with SCE, I wasn't necessarily with, you know, 45,000 students at once. So, even though it was a bit intimidating, I kind of got used to it pretty quickly. And I actually liked being on a campus that was so large, because it could meet lots of different people all the time, from, you know, all over the world, from all 00:06:00over the country, studying so many different things. So I just really liked that aspect of it a lot. And definitely, it was great to just kind of experience all the different cultural events, you know, going to like the Chazen Art Museum and checking out, you know, lectures by special guests that are, you know, visiting from somewhere. So I think just that first, first couple months on campus was just really, you know, it was definitely a bit challenging. But I kind of got a good sense of the school and kind of what it had to offer me.

Sophia Abrams 6:48

So, upon entering Madison, did you know that you wanted to get a BS in graphic design? Or was that more of a learning experience to discover that you wanted to major in that?

Vivian Cruickshank 7:00

Yes, it was a bit of a, it was slightly a learning experience, I actually, I started off doing retail, actually. Because I was always really into fashion, so it's kind of struggling, I knew I wanted to do some sort of creative type thing, because I've always loved art and fashion. So I started off doing retail, but I realized that I really want to do more something in design and in art. So even though the classes I took for, in that program were interesting, and I did later on, take some other kind of fashion or design courses as well. So I didn't totally abandon that. But I think I learned after the, during the second, or I think the second semester, I switched to art. And I really am glad that I made that choice. Because I just really liked all of the different classes you could take. And even though I was gonna focus on graphic design, I like that you could take ceramics and 3D Art and all these other things. And I guess why focused on graphic design is I just knew that that was a field that seemed to be really great for getting, you know, just a good job after school. And I think a lot of people who have parents that are immigrants -- my parents are from Ghana, they want to make sure that you can get a real job, like right away. So they saw, okay, graphic design, computers, that sounds, you know, legit, so that was definitely a little bit of a push from them. But I've always loved design. So it was pretty-- I think it made a lot of sense. And I definitely don't regret having gone in that direction.

Sophia Abrams 8:57

So before we jump to your second semester, are there any other notable people or 00:09:00experiences during your first semester of your first year that you think are worthwhile to talk about?

Vivian Cruickshank 9:13

Hmm. Unfortunately, won't be able to remember all their names, but definitely being part of the Powers-Knapp Program. A lot of the staff there were really, I really liked the support that they would give us. You know, cuz it already helps that, you know, they're here for students of color, like me, and just the fact that we got to, you know, meet other students of color easily. And then we would have, we would have meetings and do various, like, you know, social events and do volunteering. So I think just getting to know those people and knowing that these people are always going to be here for me. It was really beneficial, I think.

Sophia Abrams 10:06

So then jumping to your second semester of spring to that 2008 semester, and you kind of talked about how that was, it's during the semester that you declared or switched to art. And then graphic design. So can you talk a little bit about what that experience was like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 10:27

Yeah, so, you know, I didn't expect, obviously, to kind of switch. So it was a little bit stressful in the beginning. But once I got over that, it was really great, because I just enjoyed being creative, and you know, having really fun classes where I got to kind of express myself any way I wanted. And not be so, I mean, of course, there was structure in the assignments, but being able to just bring my own, you know, energy into everything was definitely, it felt very freeing. So I think I just felt so much. Like, a lot more comfortable. And just being in school at that point, because now I felt like, okay, this is the path I want to go on. The first semester, I was feeling a little bit, I think, also overwhelmed by all the different courses. And I remember I dropped a few courses because I was like, oh, it just wasn't quite a right fit. And then I tried to scramble to, you know, make sure I had enough credits for the semester. Because also, a requirement to keep my scholarship was I had to have enough credits. So I was kind of just figuring out everything I needed to do that first semester, leading into the second semester. So you know, it was a little bit of a bumpy road, but I had a lot of help to get through that. So I think the second 00:12:00semester was a lot smoother.

Sophia Abrams 12:07

From that, do you remember any notable pieces that you made? Or maybe kind of what themes you saw circulating through your work at that time?

Vivian Cruickshank 12:18

Just during my time in the art department?

Sophia Abrams 12:21

Yeah.

Vivian Cruickshank 12:22

Okay. Yes. So, what I will say is, once I got to, I started taking a drawing course with Fred Stonehouse. He, I remember my, one of my first assignments, he, I remember, I was so embarrassed, because, I mean, he definitely he did the right thing in his critique of my work. It was kind of just comfortable stuff I was used to doing all the time. And he really forced me to kind of think outside the box going forward. And honestly, because of him, it really transformed how I approached my work. I think I was scared to like, take risks, and just try new things. Try different-- Yeah, just try different concepts and all that. So really, from that class, I think that developed my style today, and I wasn't expecting to take more drawing classes, but because I really loved him as a instructor. I took advanced drawing and all that. So that really, yeah, I think that really shaped kind of how I approach my work today.

Sophia Abrams 14:02

Um, so I guess from that time being a time when you really started to explore what it meant to be an artist. Were there any notable exhibitions your first year that you were a part of or any other notable experiences during your first year that really kind of shaped you today?

Vivian Cruickshank 14:26

Let's see, um, I can't remember if I was in any, I don't think I was. I don't think my art was shown really in any sort of formal exhibition, my first year. As far as other experiences go, I think actually, let me think about that. Nothing-- Nothing comes to mind at this moment. I think what really shaped me 00:15:00was once I had that drawing course, which I can't remember exactly when I took that. That might have been like my second year. Yeah.

Sophia Abrams 15:15

I guess another question I have too, which is more general about your experience, did you feel as a black artist that you were kind of pressured to create inherently black? Or just to create art that was explicitly black? Or did you feel that you had more leeway to create whatever you wanted?

Vivian Cruickshank 15:33

Oh, sure, I didn't, I didn't really feel any pressure to create kind of, you know, what people would consider Black art, I felt that I was free to really create anything I wanted, you know, within their guidelines. So, so that was nice. I didn't really feel like I was held back in any way.

Sophia Abrams 15:59

So before we move on to, like, the summer of 2008 and then the fall semester, are there any other things that you think are worthwhile about your first year?

Vivian Cruickshank 16:10

First year? Um, just in terms of like, my art and things are just kind of general?

Sophia Abrams 16:20

Art and in general as well.

Vivian Cruickshank 16:24

Okay. Um, yeah, I guess I would just say kind of that first year was just definitely a, you know, it was definitely challenging. Just trying to figure out kind of what path I wanted to go in. And just that experience of being away from home for so long. I had never, you know, done that before. It was nice, though. Being in Madison, I wasn't too far from, you know, my family. It's just two hours away. And I think just, you know, making new friends and just having all these other experiences going on, it did feel a little bit overwhelming, at times. Often, so I did spend a lot, even though I did make some new friends, for sure. I did spend a lot of time actually drawing, like, in my room for fun, you know, not for a class. So I kind of kept that creative energy going. And I think it was just nice being in the lakeshore dorms. Because anytime I was kind of feeling overwhelmed or stressed, you know, and just kind of go walk along the paths and look at the lake, and just kind of or go to the terrace and just kind of chill out. So it was nice to be close to all of that.

Sophia Abrams 17:57

So then, upon completing your first year, were there any notable events that 00:18:00summer of 2008?

Vivian Cruickshank 18:09

Nothing that I can think of I think, you know, I was just back back in Menasha, Wisconsin, where I was, where I grew up. I think just yeah, enjoying, enjoying some time off. So I probably, I think I would still, like, draw for fun, or, you know, just keep other creative things going. But yeah, I think that's about it.

Sophia Abrams 18:35

So then, now, sophomore year, fall 2008. How was that semester for you? In terms of at this point, you've, you know, you're an art major focusing on graphic design. So what was that like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 18:51

Yeah, sophomore year is where I felt like I finally kind of got into the groove of things just in terms of, like, social life and just being, I decided to stay in the dorms again. And, you know, just kind of really got used to campus life. And yeah, just creatively, you know, especially once I took that drawing class, I felt like I was kind of getting into my own. And also, that was the time I started thinking about maybe I should participate in one of the study abroad programs. So that was like, that was really exciting, just kind of trying to decide, ooh, there's so many different options all over the world. And with that, I settled on doing the London program, which I liked because you would study art, and history, and politics. So it's just kind of exciting knowing that was gonna be happening, you know, the next year. And yeah, I just felt like I really, I really got to express myself, kind of the way I wanted sophomore year.

Sophia Abrams 20:22

I'm curious, too, because 2008 fall, that was also an important election year. So if you have any recollection of how that time was?

Vivian Cruickshank 20:33

Yes, that was definitely a very exciting time. I remember I saw Barack Obama speak at the Kohl Center, which was just madness, and it was so cool to get that experience as a student, to see someone like that who would later become our president, as everyone knows. And yeah, just kind of went to show that, you know, Madison is kind of a big deal, like, you have these big figures coming to, 00:21:00you know, the school. And, you know, there's so many other great people have come through. And also, just Madison, you know, is known for being, you know, super politically active and just progressive. And I think that definitely kind of got me into politics and things. I was always into that kind of through my parents, but I think just being on campus like that just had me thinking about politics and social issues a lot more. And that's definitely shaped me into the person I am today. So I've always appreciated just being in that environment with a lot of people who are, you know, a bit more open-minded, and just also just really intelligent people. So I think, yeah, Madison was a great, great place to be for, for that.

Sophia Abrams 22:06

So then, I guess from fall 2008, just being a pretty important year in general. While also, at that time, you were important in terms of like, external world factors, but also for you in terms of growing as an artist. What was it like to, you know, go start your second semester spring 2009? So did you go study abroad that semester, or was it junior year?

Vivian Cruickshank 22:35

So I studied junior year. Yeah.

Sophia Abrams 22:38

But what was that semester like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 22:42

Spring, I think it was about the same as the fall, you know, just getting further into my art degree. And, gosh, also, I think, you know, spring in Wisconsin is always a nice time, because we are getting past winter, which, you know, is, can be difficult. So I think just with, you know, the snow falling and everything, it just kind of is an invigorating time. And just being able to like, go back outside again and enjoy it, I think, always just gets the creative juices flowing for me. Yeah, I think, gosh, I can't remember really anything specific. I think it was also probably a really good semester.

Sophia Abrams 23:42

I'm curious to know. So spring 2009. You're, you've been in the art major for about a year now after kind of switching over from fashion, but I'm wondering if any, like, you know, you're inspired by other art forms, like fashion and music, 00:24:00and travel too, but also like texture and small details. I'm kind of wondering like a year in if you kind of saw a style forming for your graphic design?

Vivian Cruickshank 24:14

Right. I definitely got into a bit more kind of abstract art. I'd have to check kinda of the dates, but I would really get into doing pieces with kinda intricate details. I would do a lot of kind of line work that would take, you know, hours and hours to do. And I would kind of for those, I would kind of just use really simple tools like Sharpies, that you know, I always had a lot lying around anyways. So I use a lot of those. I would try it out in different colors, and you know, metallics just to kind of give it some, some depth, or just really looking at interesting papers. It's also kind of, yeah, kind of, kind of goes along with the texture aspect. And also, I started playing around, I think this was sophomore year. I'd have to check. But I started playing around with ink, and glue, like just Elmer's glue. I think I remember as a kid, you know, say gluing something that had marker on it. And if it was too wet, it would bleed. And I started thinking about that in terms of like, "Oh, actually, it's kind of a cool effect." I mean, I didn't appreciate at the time because it ruined my drawing. But I kind of just liked playing around with that effect. So what I would do is just lay down some glue on I think, like, plastic wrap or something, and then put the, like dye into it, or ink into it. And you know, just how the two interact would kind of, you know, spread out. And then once you're mixing colors, and I, I also saw that depending on what color it was, it would react differently. So it was just really fun. Getting into that, and I think, yeah, I just really one to push the limits of what, you know. I wasn't necessarily using, like, traditional oil paints for these things. I mean, I did. I did definitely learn that in, you know, other classes, but I just wanted to play around with unconventional materials. So I definitely had a lot of fun experimenting with that.

Sophia Abrams 26:53

That's really cool. So from that, I'm just looking at my notes here. So I see in 2011 you had a piece or a piece of art published in Illumination magazine, but 00:27:00I'm wondering if beforehand if there were any student orgs that you were a part of?

Vivian Cruickshank 27:12

Student orgs? I was in Model UN for a semester or two. I'm trying to think if I was in any others. Um, gosh, I think just between doing the Powers Knapp stuff and then just all my classes, I think that was really mostly what I did. Or I would just be going to like kind of a lot of one-off things. Yeah, that's all I can think of for now. I might have to revisit that.

Sophia Abrams 28:08

So then, I guess, before we move on to the fall semester, are there any other notable experiences about your spring semester? Or maybe notable professors who you had at that time who were influential for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 28:27

Spring semester? Gosh, I need to remember what course I took. I have my transcript up here. Oh, I see 3D. 3D Design. That was, sorry, you said which semester?

Sophia Abrams 29:09

Spring? Spring 2008 or no, 2009.

Vivian Cruickshank 29:16

Spring 2000... Oh, spring 2009. Looks like I did. Oh, that was when I did, okay. That was when I did "Introduction to Painting," which I believe I'll have to double-check. That's what I did that, did the kind of glue art experiments. So if I remember correctly, for that class, we had to stretch our own, make, like, build our own canvas, which that was, I remember I was super, like, intimidated by that. Because I had to go by slabs of wood and get that all, you know, 00:30:00constructed. And then you know, there's certain technique to stretching the canvas over. And then obviously, the next, and it was a huge piece, I'd never really made anything that huge besides, I'd done mural work before. So maybe that's not exactly true. But that was kind of with other people. But this was my own, you know, huge piece I needed to do. So with that, I did that glue art concept. And because it was so large, I think I had like trash bags in my, in my room. And then I would pour just; I remember getting the huge like, gallon things of glue, and just spilling that all over the trash bags. And then also through that, because the trash bags weren't completely flat, you know, I was also getting the texture just in the wrinkles of the plastic. And then I was just doing; I think strips of one color. And then what I ended up doing was I cut those up to be kind of just these thick lines. And then I glued that to the canvas. I didn't actually like paint in the traditional sense on the canvas.I kind of, you know, painted on this plastic tarp situation and then glued it to the canvas. So I remember, that was really, really fun to do. And I'm trying to think if I had another class. Oh, three. And that was, well, that was fall. I also took a ceramics course, which was in a newer building. I can't remember what the building is called, but it was kind of brand new at the time. Now there were some technical difficulties because I think sometimes machines weren't working, so... But with that course, I've always loved ceramics. So I remember making some really funky pieces, like some octopus thing, and just a lot of other kind of, you know, one-off stuff. So I found that to just be a really therapeutic class, just you know, molding clay and just, you know, it's kind of like these stress balls, you could just see, you know, just feeling that kind of go between your fingers. It was definitely a class. It just made me feel a bit more relaxed. I just remember really enjoying that course. I don't remember who the professor was, unfortunately. But I remember he was a really, really nice dude. So yeah, so I think, you know, I'm just really enjoying my classes at this 00:33:00point and excited for, for more.

Sophia Abrams 33:11

No, that sounds great. So then spring 2009, you complete that semester. What does the summer look like?

Vivian Cruickshank 33:22

The summer? So I know I went back to Menasha. And I think I just worked over the summer, a part-time job at the mall. And I'm trying to remember, did I start interning then? You said this was 2009?

Sophia Abrams 33:55

Yeah.

Vivian Cruickshank 33:56

Yeah, I don't think I had started any sort of internships at that point, so I think I was just working and just enjoying the time off.

Sophia Abrams 34:07

Alright, so then now, you're starting your junior year in the fall of 2009. So what was that like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 34:18

Yeah, that was, that was good, you know, at this point. Yeah, I'm a junior. You know, I'm definitely have matured a lot since then, you know, freshman year and sophomore year, and just really getting into the groove of things. You know, by this point, I'm taking lots of really interesting courses, you know, getting further into the art program. And also was really excited about doing the spring semester in London. So it was kind of just going to lots of different kind of sessions, preparing for that. And just, you know, really trying to enjoy this fall semester before I go abroad. I remember I think that's when I really started getting into the graphic design courses as well because I think I was just taking the kind of general art courses by that point. So that's what I'm, you know, starting to get into graphic design. And I also took, you know, going back into the kind of fashion thing, I took a history of stage costume course, which was amazing, because I, I've always loved fashion, as I'd mentioned. And what was cool is, this was like part of the theater department. So kinda just had that like, theatrical twist on it, but it was basically just a history of 00:36:00fashion course, kind of, in general, because obviously, what's what people are wearing on the streets, you know, gets reflected on the stage. And I remember they had a really, had access to kind of, like, all these historical items from maybe like, the Historical Society or someplace, and, you know, they bring out dresses from like, 1920s, and, you know, this piece from 1960. And it was so cool. Just, I always, I've always liked courses where, you know, you're reading from the books, you're maybe watching, you know, clips or something, but then to actually see kind of what they're talking about in real life, I've always really appreciated. So that was just a really kind of, it was just, you know, it was a fun class. And I think just always being exposed to, you know, design in different ways, or art in different ways always just is a good thing. Because even though it wasn't graphic design it's just, you know, had me thinking about, you know, just the creative process people go through and just seeing the results. I was also now taking "Intermediate Drawing II", which, you know, I talked about how just taking the drawing classes had really transformed me. So, by that point, I'm really getting into the groove, just kind of my abstract style. And yeah, I remember it being a really good term.

Sophia Abrams 37:45

I'm curious to know, so you talked about the history of stage costume class and how, you know, it's great to take classes, perhaps outside of your discipline, because they influence you in different ways. So from that class, did you notice any particular changes in your art at that time? Or were there, were there any notable pieces that you made that semester?

Vivian Cruickshank 38:09

Um, I'm not sure I can think of anything kind of directly influenced by that, but I think sometimes these things are just kind of in your subconscious, and they just come out, I guess, maybe something that could relate is the kind of texture and attention to detail aspects, you know, some of these items of clothing I was looking at, you know, they had embellishments like beading and embroidery, and, you know, maybe interesting velvets or silk. And I think that just kind of, you know, reconfirmed my, my love for just like the little details that make things special. So I think maybe that's sort of the influence just kind of fashion has had on my art.

Sophia Abrams 39:01

So before we jump to the spring semester and talk about your study abroad, are there any other notable experiences or people from your fall semester that you think are worthwhile to include?

Vivian Cruickshank 39:15

Um, I mean, as far as notable people go, with the intermediate drawing again, that was with Fred Stonehouse, who just you know, kept, kept pushing me. And I always really enjoyed his class because he would kind of just let us be creative. And just, you know, he would, he would definitely, you know, talk about certain topics, but he would always put on an amazing playlist, I have to say, and I just kind of get into the groove of things, and it was just nice to kind of zone out and just create and also just see, you know, what other people were working on too because it's just a very open room. So I always just really enjoyed going to his class.

Sophia Abrams 40:06

All right, so then you finish that semester, and then it's 2010 spring semester. And now you're in London. So what was that experience like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 40:18

Oh, my goodness, it was; it was one of the best experiences. So I had actually been to London before. So it wasn't, you know, new from that aspect. But I always knew I wanted to spend more time there. Because when I've gone, you know, to London in the past for vacations, it's like, a week or two. And, you know, it's a lot different to live in a place versus just, you know, traveling there and being a tourist. So it was, it was definitely a bit of an adjustment at the beginning because it was kind of back to dorm life and sharing a kitchen with, like, 20 people. And, you know, that was a little nuts. But the neighborhood we're in was lovely. We were in Kensington, and right across from the park, on Kensington Palace. And I mean, it's one of the most beautiful areas in the city. So just the fact that that was my home for, like, five or six months was crazy. I also felt really safe there. So that was really nice. And in terms of like, the classes, how those went, they were really, really top-notch, I thought because kind of going back to what I was saying about, you know, when you see things in real life, versus just reading about them, I think that makes a huge difference. And you know, just how you learn about things. So I remember I had a history of London course, with this amazing instructor who had lived through so 00:42:00much. So even just him talking about his personal stories about being in London was really fun. And then, you know, we read about the Tower of London, and then actually go see it, you know, which was really cool. And we even went on, like, a curry tour of London and, you know, just learning about, you know, kind of how that came to be. And just the, you know, diversity in London and immigration and stuff was, was nice. And what I also liked about the program was I did take an art course, what kind of, like, art history about a British artist. And we would go to, you know, some of these amazing art museums and, you know, see exactly what the instructor was talking about. And even if it wasn't related to class, I took advantage in going to all of the amazing art museums in London and just checking that stuff out for myself. Also, another great thing about the program was for a pound, we could go on these kind of little field trips that they weren't required, but I found them to be also very beneficial, like going to Stonehenge and going to Bath, and just all these different kind of places outside of the city, which was good to just kind of get a good picture of what you know, England is like, and you know, viewing some, like, going to some iconic places. And also, what was nice for me personally, is that I have a few family members out in London, who I really got to know by being there for six months a lot better than just when I've seen them for like a week or two. So just personally, that was really nice to just have that experience and be there for birthdays and, and things like that. I did also do some traveling as well. I went to, let's see. I went to Berlin for like, Berlin and Hamburg for spring break. I had some friends over there, so it was really nice. And also, Berlin has an amazing art scene, which definitely inspired me, going to see the Berlin Wall, and all the street art was just fantastic. So that kind of just got my creative juices, you know, flowing once again and trying to think. I also went to Dublin as well for a weekend, and just the energy there too was ah, really 00:45:00great to be around. And yeah, just overall, just being in, spending that time in London was just amazing because there were just so many different cultural events and you know, that things that shaped me that you know. You know, that's definitely come through with my art later on. And I think just travel and meeting new people and going to, you know, different places is always just a great thing to experience for sure. Yeah, I will say after I did that, I was like, "Oh, I wish I could study abroad again in a different city because I, I absolutely loved it." So yeah, definitely anyone who, you know, is a student right now who's thinking about it, I know you can't do it right now with the pandemic, but I would 100%, you know, say definitely study abroad. I wish I could have done it. Maybe like, another time. It was just really great to have that six months away to just really challenge yourself, get out of your comfort zone a bit, and experience new things and meet new people.

Sophia Abrams 46:15

No, that sounds amazing, especially right now when we can't go on a study abroad, but it sounds really cool. Yeah. So then you were there for five or six months, you said, and then what did that summer look like? Cuz I see that you had two internships that summer. It looks like the Rushes' post-production and the Hoffman internship as well.

Vivian Cruickshank 46:39

Yes. So I, I stayed a little bit after the program was done. I think I was there for an extra month, because I think that's how long you can be on the, there on the visa. So that month I was in London was really great. I was at that point, I was staying with my family there. And you know, just still exploring and everything, going different markets, and, you know, art museums and everything. Then through that, I was able to do this kind of one week work experience at a post production company. And it was just kind of a glimpse into that, that world. I didn't really work on any creative projects there. But they worked on really cool things. They did a lot of, like, Hollywood-type films, you know, they did a lot of stuff that was obviously UK based. And it was just kind of a little like, you know, peek into that, that kind of lifestyle, I was definitely intrigued by it. And it's funny, because then, you know, I'm skipping ahead, but then later on, you know, I went and studied video and motion graphics. So it's kind of funny how, like, you don't know how different things are going to influence you later. So yeah, that was, that was definitely a fun kind of, you 00:48:00know, little thing to do when I was there. And then once I got back to the US, back to Wisconsin, kind of had my first proper internship. I was actually at my mom's company, this architecture firm, so I worked on a lot of different design projects, like fun little postcards, and little flyers and things. So it was kind of just a good introduction to what it's like to work as a designer in an office, you know, with the, with a desk and, and all that stuff. So yeah, it was just kind of a, yes, just a good overall experience to kind of just see, you know, what to expect for, you know, the future in employment, so.

Sophia Abrams 48:59

So I guess from it sounds like, in a way, like 2010 was a year of just really seeing what's out there and having all these new experiences, be it being in London and then having the internships as well. So then, now, fall 2010, you're starting, you're starting your senior year. So what did that look like? And also, I know, for your senior year, you're also preparing a BFA show too. So what was that process like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 49:30

Um, so actually, I didn't participate in the BFA show because I had my, I actually was the BS.

Sophia Abrams 49:42

Oh, yes.

Vivian Cruickshank 49:43

Yeah. Um, but yeah, definitely senior year is crazy, cuz, you know, a little bit bittersweet, because I really enjoyed my time at Madison. So it was weird to think about this being kind of the end and also, you know, starting to think about life after college is a little bit scary, jobs and everything. And just knowing at that point, the economy wasn't the best. So I know a lot of people are having a hard time finding employment. So it was a little bit kind of like, I don't know what to expect a year from now. Um, but that being said, you know, at this point, I'm definitely really getting into the design courses. And, you know, contrast from, like, freshman year, you know, once I started getting, you know, more and more into the arts program, you know, the classes are pretty small, and just having that kind of direct time with the professors was definitely very beneficial. And I was definitely taking a lot of interesting courses. Some of those that weren't, like directly in the graphic design program, but were related. I took, like, a computer imaging techniques course, 00:51:00which I believe that was all about using Flash, which now people don't really use Flash anymore, but kind of an introduction to this kind of animation, which I hadn't really tried that before. So that was a really challenging, but fun course. And see, I also, I'm trying to think what else I took, oh, then I'm also taking advanced drawing now. I'm still, I just want to take all the drawing classes, as I had stated, so it was great to see Fred again, and just keep, you know, kind of going with my technique. Trying to think, yeah, I think, you know, I'm just really, at that point, I'm really starting to kind of prep in my mind. Okay, you know, what do you want to do after graduation? So, you know, I still had a semester left to think about that a little bit more, but you know, you kind of have to start thinking about it. You know, I think that those first moments in the senior, senior year.

Sophia Abrams 52:23

That's really interesting. I guess from that, um, are there any, I have some questions about your second semester, but are there any other notable experiences from your first semester?

Vivian Cruickshank 52:38

Um, oh, actually, I think I skipped a class that was important. I'd have to check if the dates align, but it looks like I took a digital photography class. And I believe, I think one of the photos I took in that class, I'll have to check. Sorry. It's possible that one of the photos I took in that class was one of the ones that got published later. So I'll need to check if those dates align, or if that was just something I did on my own. I do remember for sure. One photo I took that was really fun. For this class, I believe, was you know, sometimes you're just playing around with things and as a joke, and then that ends up being the thing you like. So I went out shooting with my friend. And we with it being fall, you know, leaves are changing colors. And it's, you know, definitely Madison in the fall, it's just gorgeous. We saw this little red leaf, and it kind of looked like lips. So she just held it up to her mouth and kind of looked like she was wearing red lipstick. And it was kind of just supposed to be 00:54:00a joke. And then it ended up actually being really cool. So that was kind of a fun moment for that course. And as far as the photo I think that got published that was just I took a snapshot of State Street with buses and just with the, with the flash on it was an accident. And with that it ended up looking pretty cool because it kind of just had this flash of light during the day and it kind of just had this really cool effect on like these plants and things. So that one was published in the Madison, like, Visitor's Bureau, like, just I think the free copies you can get on State Street. So that was, that was fun, even if that wasn't for the class, I'm sure just having taken that class, you know, helped me to, you know, create better compositions, and photography, and definitely taking a photography course was important. Because you know, graphic design and photography kind of go hand in hand. At the end of the day you're learning about composition, and just aesthetics and everything. And a lot of graphic designers do photography as well, especially if you're at a smaller company, they kind of expect you to do everything creative. So that was just good to get, you know, more comfortable with a camera.

Sophia Abrams 55:46

So switching gears to your second semester, your final semester, I guess, as an undergrad at UW, I see that in 2011 in the spring issue of Illumination magazine, you had a piece in there. So can you talk about why you decided to, like, submit something and what that process was like for you?

Vivian Cruickshank 56:09

Yeah, so I think definitely, like someone told me about Illuminations. I, I probably learned about it in a class, it might have been the drawing course I don't, I can't quite remember how that came to my attention. But I was definitely very intrigued and you know, being published sounds cool. So I ended up submitting a piece that I believe I made in one of the advanced drawing courses. So it was this I believe it was on this kind of, like kind of pearlescent sort of paper a little bit, kind of had this kind of like, very-- 00:57:00Yeah, pearl-like finish with a little bit, like. tiny bit of sparkle, like not, not anything, you know, good super glittery or anything. And then I just used Sharpie. And just kind of had a few lines on kind of one side. And it was just really simple, but totally kind of what I was exploring at that time. And yeah, it was really cool to get that published. I think I just, you know, submitted it. And I assume that, you know, they had a bunch of submissions, and then they chose that one. And yeah, it was really, it was really cool. I made sure to get a million copies. And yeah, you know, now I, you know, having that happen, and then with the Madison Visitors Bureau thing, too. It's like, cool. I've had, you know, two of my pieces published. So I was definitely feeling really proud about that.

Sophia Abrams 58:06

I guess, too. So going off of that. What were other defining moments of your senior year?

Vivian Cruickshank 58:15

Let's see, I remember, I took a artists books class, which wasn't part of the graphic design program, but I thought, you know, graphic design and books go hand in hand. And it was really interesting just to learn how to bind books together. I know, most likely, if I was at a company where, you know, we design book covers, I'm probably not, you know, making them by hand. But I think you appreciate something more when you kind of done it yourself. And it just helps you to think about how things should lay out and, and all that. So one of the projects I did for that course was, my dad had written children's poems a long time ago, and had always wanted me to create illustrations for them. So it took me a while to get to it. But then I thought, Oh, this would be perfect for class projects. So I created this really cool kind of, kind of abstract-ish children's drawings of, like, animals and things like that. Which kind of reminded me of the things I was doing in the drawing classes but a little bit different, but kind of just more of this kind of abstraction. Really fun pieces. And, yeah, I remember just working on that whole process, was you know, definitely 01:00:00challenging. I think my. my hands because I had to like so you know, the pages together and I think my hands are getting all numb from all the needles and thread. But, uh, it was really, it was really fun. And it was also just really nice to show the end result to my, to my dad who really appreciated it. So it's kind of nice when you could see that something you did can make something, make someone really happy. So that was really nice experience. And trying to think what else. Oh, I, if I'm thinking about this correctly, I took a design trends course, which I think might have been in the, the, like more of a fashion program. So once again, I'm kind of like going dipping into that again. And we just talked about, yeah, like, like I said, current design trends, I think, you know, as an artist and designer, it's always good to know, kind of where things are going. And even though this one was more, I think this was, like, fashion focused, and maybe like furniture design and things like that, but they all kind of relate. So it was just really cool. Learning about that. And I just love, you know, discovering new artists, and just seeing what people are creating these days. And I just remember that being like, a really informative and fun course. And I think just always, you know, being exposed to that sort of thing, is a, is a benefit. Um, and yeah, I think I think those are some things that kinda come to mind as, as far as classes go, and then you know, the spring, it's, uh, you're just thinking about the future, and it's crazy, and it's scary, and you know, looking forward to graduation, and that whole experience was just so you know, so rewarding and so cool. So it was just a really, really nice way to kind of, end, end my time at Madison, looking back, I definitely, you know, I definitely miss, I missed that time. And just, overall, the experience I had at Madison was, was great. It's definitely, you know, a big influence on, you know, who I am today and what I do, and just everything. So it was really, yeah, I 01:03:00look back, I look back at those, you know, four years with a, with a smile, because it was challenging, was fun, I definitely made some friends who will be around for a long time. And every time I go back to Madison to visit, it's always, it's always nice to walk around campus and just kind of revisit all of that.

Sophia Abrams 1:03:24

I guess one of my last questions for you then is so, you know, spring 2011 you graduate, and then so what was what was next for you at that point?

Vivian Cruickshank 1:03:38

So yeah, it was definitely a very overwhelming time. Because all I knew is I just wanted to be a graphic designer, but you kind of have to, it, you know, it's like, where am I going to work? You know, what sort of work do I want to do? A, and what I had mentioned before, was the economy wasn't the best. So finding full time work right away was a bit of a challenge. So with that, I did do some internships. I went to New York for a little bit, and just being over there, it's crazy. And just, you know, so full of life and just the energy is, is nuts, but I did some, I kind of went back to the fashion route and did some internships related to that there. And you know, still was able to use some of my, my graphic design. I remember I was helping out making patterns for fabric and you know, you're just going into like Photoshop and Illustrator. So tools that I'm very familiar with, and just, you know, helping out with artwork on those. So that felt, you know, kind of related. And I think I also made a few, like, flyers and things like that as well. And, you know, once again, just kind of getting that experience of working in an office, it's definitely a different type of office then the internship I had at the architectural firm, so just kind of getting to know what, how these different spaces operate, I think was very beneficial. And also in, you know, a place like New York, as well, and just trying to manage just that kind of big city lifestyle. On my own, too, was always, you know, a good growing, or, you know, good way to grow. And with that too, kind of like when I was studying abroad, just being in New York, obviously, is home to some of the best art museums in the world. So even though I was very tired from my internship, because I worked pretty long hours, I would still make sure to go to every art museum I could find. And being a intern, you know, the 01:06:00money is not coming in so much. So making sure I like go on a day it's free, or, you know, this was like $1, or something, but still was able to take advantage of that. And also, just being in a city like New York, there's just so many creatives around you. So I think that just kind of was always inspiring. And then I remember I came back to Wisconsin, and I kind of just for while I was just kind of figuring out what to do. I think I did some more internships, I had some jobs. And then I ended up getting, going back to school, to study web design, just that the tech college in my hometown. So I did that, I think once again, also just kind of had some, you know, I did a lot of freelance work, and things like that. I also ended up, so this was all the time, I was pretty much besides being in New York, I was pretty much in my hometown, with my, with my folks and then ended up moving back back to Madison, which was great, because I missed it so much I ended up I was driving, often to Madison when I was in my when I'm staying with my parents and kind of like, well, I just might as well live there at this point. So with that, I, I lived pretty close to campus again. I was downtown. So it was kind of just nice to explore Madison outside of being a student. But what's great about being in Madison still is that, you know, a lot of these events are open to the public. So you can still go to, you know, go see certain speakers or go to the Chazen and things like that. So it's just nice. There's still that kind of community feel. And I ended up going back to school again to study video and motion graphics, which I found having the design and art background I had made it really, really fun. Because with you know, motion graphics, especially you're designing titles and things like that, which is basically graphic design just in motion. So I already felt pretty prepared, just from my previous education and, you know, all the internships and things I had done. So I did that. I also, I also, for a little bit, worked actually at the UW Business School. So it's also kind of nice being back in a UW-type environment. Again, I was working for the, like, IT kind of web department. So I was kind of doing some of the web stuff and graphic design, as well. So that was 01:09:00also nice. I was doing that.

Maybe not quite sure how long I did that. Maybe it was like a year or so. I also started working at Serrv, which was a fair trade store. And I was also doing, I wasn't like their official graphic designer. I was, like, a sales associate, but I would do some fun design projects there. So Madison, I definitely got to have some kind of unique experiences there. Once again, and then ultimately, I got a internship out in San Francisco. And in 2016, a design internship at a kind of commercial developer, like real estate. And yeah, I've been in San Francisco ever since and I've been working as a designer full time for many years now, and also just being in San Francisco, there's such a, you know, creative energy here with it being its tech capital, and you just have so many brilliant mind, minds here. So it's definitely just been a really inspiring place to be. And also just so gorgeous. So kind of related to travel, you know, just seeing different buildings and just the landscapes is always just like an inspiring thing. When it comes to, you know, just my, my art and just other creative pursuits. I also, I just like to keep learning. So I also decided to go back to school, part time, kind of in the evenings, and I have just recently finished a certificate program in UI UX design, which is user interaction design, basically, it's just kind of app development and the whole range of that, from, you know, doing user interviews to, you know, designing how the screen should look. So I kind of got that whole experience. And, yeah, just, I really love design. And I'm just so glad that my experience at Madison has kind of shaped all of my interests, and kind of everything I've gone back to school for has been still in that artistic field. So it's, yeah, it's been really, it's been really a good, good experience. There's definitely some ups and downs, for sure. It wasn't necessarily the smoothest experience, but I believe, you know, every experience, you know, everything happens for a reason. So even throughout all the 01:12:00challenges, I think that just made me a stronger person, and, you know, artist at the end of the day, so I'm really thankful for everything that has happened, because now it's kind of gotten me in a better, a better spot, just career wise, career wise, excuse me. And yeah, I'm just kind of excited for the future. And I'm not sure, you know, what's gonna happen next, per se. But yeah, it's, uh, yeah, I love, I love being a designer, I love being an artist. Also, just being out in San Francisco now has just inspired me to get into other creative pursuits. Like I'm getting into music now. And things like that. So I just think, too, people shouldn't feel pressured. If they're like a designer to only be a designer, I think doing other things too kind of keeps the brain fresh, and you're just kind of thinking about things in, in different ways. So for sure, for me, just staying creative, in all sorts of different mediums. I think just makes me a stronger artist at the end of the day.

Sophia Abrams 1:13:19

Well that's really great to hear and great advice as well. My last question for you is, do you think that there's something that's worthwhile to cover that we didn't cover? And if so, we can kind of talk about that a little bit?

Vivian Cruickshank 1:13:35

Sure. I'm trying to think. I guess. Sorry, one second. I can kind of just lightly talk about just being you know, a black female artist, and just that experience. So I will say, I know we've kind of talked about this previously. You know, to be honest, there weren't a lot of black women in the design program. But that being said, I didn't feel like I was at a disadvantage, really. Also, I was kind of used to being in spaces like that just having grown up in a small Wisconsin town. So I think that kind of helped to prepare me for just, you know, our faces aren't always in these spaces. And I think, oh, so actually, I can go talk about how I was an instructor for the PEOPLE Program. So 01:15:00kind of just having gone through that experience of being, you know, one of the few black people in my art program, I really wanted to inspire, you know, kids to get into the art field. Because I think, you know, just like in any industry, it's important to have people with different backgrounds telling their own stories, because I think that just makes the world a richer place. So with that, I did this twice, I believe, for two summers. And I was teaching graphic design to teens, who were kind of on the path on going to UW Madison. And it was my first time really being kind of an instructor. So that was kind of, you know, interesting, for sure. Also a good challenge, because now I have to think about, okay, what kind of project are they going to do, and thinking about kind of, you know, creating a syllabus, and all that. So I think that was just a really good experience overall, to do that. And I believe I had pretty large classes. So I think there may be, you know, 30 plus kids that I'm, you know, trying to teach. So, I had, that wasn't my first time, necessarily being in kind of environments like that. Back in high school, we were required to do community service to graduate, I think they just needed a minimum of 30 hours, but I ended up doing way more. So I was volunteering at summer school, in my hometown, helping out teacher with the art classes. So now that's a much younger group, and I wasn't necessarily instructing them, but I was helping out with them. So I'd always kind of liked being in a classroom environment, I think it's really fun to see how kids develop their skills or just what they're interested in. So that kind of prepared me for doing the graphic design courses for the oh year I think was PEOPLE Program. Yes, for the PEOPLE Program for that, and you know, even just knowing that I touched, you know, or let me rephrase that, just knowing that I, you know, inspired a few kids to maybe pursue that later on, was really just a rewarding feeling. Because I remember, a few kids would come up to me after class, and say, "Oh, that was so cool." Like, "I'm really excited to learn more," or maybe, you know, "I'll consider getting into design later." So I think 01:18:00just, you know, it's important for kids to see people that look like them, you know, succeeding and being in these creative fields. So I really, really enjoyed that experience. And I hope, you know, to this day, I can still find ways to inspire, you know, young kids, especially those of color to get into art, you know, whether it be design or fashion or, you know, whatever. Just because I think the world needs more of that, and it helps to see, you know, it helps us see others that look like you doing it because sometimes if you're not exposed to that, you don't think you belong in that space, and you absolutely do belong. So just showing that I thought was just really, really important.

Sophia Abrams 1:18:59

That's really great advice and interesting to kind of hear how, in some ways your experience became literally full circle when you're back at Madison teaching, but through a different program, but still just as important. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed hearing about your experience. And I hope that listeners will also enjoy hearing about your experience as well.

Vivian Cruickshank 1:19:29

Yes, yes, it was a pleasure to do this. Thank you.