Norwalk Community College

Spotlight

Kyle O’Malley, Graphic Design, 2012

Graphite Self-Portrait

When I first entered Norwalk Community College in the fall of 2009 it was after a less than spectacular performance within high school. Due to a somewhat skewed sense of entitlement mixed with a stubborn, subversive disposition, I wasted my time in high school without concern for my future. Finally when senior year came around I found I suddenly had to formulate some kind of plan for life after childhood. Because I felt that I wasn’t really good at anything, I saw my only options as being either the military or to give education another shot by attending community college. In hindsight, I’m very grateful to have chosen to take up Graphic Design at NCC.

While I did have some formal art experience I had never taken my own education within art seriously. I’m very happy to say that what I feel most proud and fulfilled about my time at Norwalk is that with the fresh new educational setting and the ability to study subjects that I personally had interest in, that I was able to transform, and better myself not just artistically but in terms of my entire perspective on my own life and what I may be able to achieve within it. After graduation I plan on attending Virginia Commonwealth University to continue my education and see where it brings me next. I hope, one day, that I may be able to teach students and aide them in bringing about their own transformations and sense of pride in their own work, the same way the NCC faculty has aided me.

Within my artwork you may see some of this struggle with transformation as well as my very opinionated outlook on current events and social issues. I find I put the most thought and effort into the work when it is something that I care very passionately about, which typically is something that is happening currently that I am frustrated about. While it wasn’t until my last semester that I had my first true experience with oil paint, I think I can safely say that it, along with sculpture and drawing, are my favored outlets of creative expression as opposed to the various disciplines of Graphic Design which I will receive my degree in. I hope to continue my experience in art as long as I possibly can and hopefully with some patience and determination, to make a career out of it either as a teacher or designer.

Lastly I’d like to thank the faculty members, Ken Lalli, John Alvord, Chris Durante, Charles McGill, and especially Joe Fucigna for all their help I received in my time at Norwalk. If you are a prospective student reading this, you should be very appreciative to have any of these great teachers in your upcoming semester schedule.