Art professor Susan Rankaitis’ work often extends beyond the borders of Scripps College and Claremont, and for the third time it’s landed in the Smithsonian. “Marvel,” now appearing in the National Museum of American Art in Washington, DC, is one of only 113 pieces selected (out of 7,000) to appear in its A Democracy of Images exhibit.
“I love the museum, and was thrilled my piece was selected out of such a large pool of images,” says Rankaitis. “The curator wanted to feature artists who forwarded the field of photography, so having my work shown has definitely been a professional highlight.”
Rankaitis’ artwork has also been featured in museums and galleries such as LACMA, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and the Robert Mann Gallery of New York.
Although Rankaitis is actively engaged in her career outside the college, she is committed to applying her professional experiences to the classroom setting. As an advisor for studio art majors, she encourages students to explore other disciplines to better understand the world around them and to develop a personal style. Additionally, she prepares them to thrive in competitive MFA programs and art world jobs by giving individual attention to students as they prepare their senior art projects.
“I love seeing seniors create a project that will inspire, stretch, and change them before they graduate,” she says. “It is important for students to have the criticality and self-confidence to see the importance of their endeavors.”
A Democracy of Images is on view until January 2014; you can also see sets designed by Professor Rankaitis at The Pennington Dance Group in Concert in Pasadena this November. Visit www.arcpasadena.org for more information.