Assistant professor of fine arts Delaney Me-Sun Shin is the fine arts department’s newest addition to the staff. She wishes to create an environment within her classroom where students can thrive as artists.
“I believe that much of the learning process in visual arts occurs while creating artwork,” Shin said. “I aspire to foster a supportive community of artists at FMU, where students can develop their skills, explore their creative potential, grow as individuals, and make connections between real-world situations and the materials learned in class.”
Shin was born and raised in Wisconsin, attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in drawing and a minor in art history. Shin would later receive her Master of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in 2D studies at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, Ohio. After graduating, Shin returned to BGSU to teach art before coming to FMU to teach.
“I was drawn to FMU by the strong sense of community that permeates not only the art department but the entire university,” Shin said. “The genuine support for the arts, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated faculty members and interact with passionate students, compelled me to join FMU.”
Shin teaches figure drawing and 2D design aworks with the Art Club as their faculty advisor. Shin hopes the club can encourage a greater sense of community within the FMU art department among students and faculty.
Shin’s art is not exclusive to the classroom, as she is always creating wherever she goes.
“Outside of teaching, you will find me in my own studio, experimenting and creating, or in the kitchen,” Shin said. “When I am not doing traditional visual arts, I love creating in the kitchen! I love making Korean food or anything with cheese.”
As she does with cooking, Shin uses her unique background and differing cultures to create meaningful art.
“Through hanging objects in open environments, drawings and paintings, I share how my artwork is a way to explore the interconnections of feeling as if I’m not being fully seen and accepted,” Shin said.
Shin primarily works with paper to create environments for people to reflect on their identities in the same way she reflects on her own.
“I have found that when I take time to understand the values of other individuals, more layers start to be unveiled,” Shin said. “With my studio practice, and through the artwork I create, I invite viewers to reflect on their identities as they see how I have exposed the layers of my cultural heritage.”
Shin hopes to create a future in South Carolina and FMU through her artwork and students.
“I am eager to continue contributing to the FMU community, particularly through my involvement in the arts,” Shin said. “The warmth and generosity of everyone at FMU, from the faculty to the students, have been truly remarkable, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back and contribute to this exceptional community.”
For more information about Shin and her work, visit her website https://delaneyshinstudio.com.