For University of West Georgia art education major Jacey Singleton, being a UWG student means maintaining a strong sense of community. In the creative world, having others who are on the same mission as you is vital to making things happen, whether it’s pouring molten iron into casts, keeping a wood kiln running day and night, or bringing an idea to life through painting.
For more than 40 years, A Day to Give West has thrived in that spirit with a steadfast commitment to ensuring the university’s continued growth and success while contributing to its collective future. And this year, anyone who contributes $100 or more will receive a watercolor print created by Singleton featuring the timeless John F. Kennedy Interfaith Chapel.
The watercolor will coincide with the release of a new book from UWG titled “Many Voices, Many Views: The History and Legacy of the John F. Kennedy Interfaith Chapel,” which details how the chapel came to be on the university’s campus, the day ground was broken by Kennedy’s brother, Robert, and the chapel’s place at UWG today. More information on the book and its release will be announced soon.
Kennedy Chapel is a scene Singleton has felt drawn to for some time.
“I first painted the chapel when painter Brian Rego visited campus and hosted plein air (outdoor painting) workshops for students,” she said. “Faced with the multitude of scenes to paint, I was immediately attracted to this humble little chapel. When I learned it was to be the subject of this year’s A Day painting, I was excited to revisit the site in hopes of capturing the beauty I see in that building.”
The tradition of the A Day watercolor is in its third year. The inaugural painting by Rachel Christianson featured the signage of an entrance at UWG, and the second one illustrated Wolf Plaza by Chris Joyner.
Clint Samples, art professor and interim dean of UWG’s College of Humanities, Arts and the Social Sciences, personally selects the student artists each year and said Singleton was an obvious choice for the 2024 installment.
“Jacey immediately stood out for this project due to the technical abilities and creative mindset she showed in my watercolor class,” explained Samples, who served as the faculty co-chair for A Day in 2022. “She has a natural gift for painting and a strong work ethic, which I admire. Every assignment she completed was impressive. Jacey was an easy student to teach and just a great person. Based on my class experience, I knew she would create a strong painting of the Kennedy Chapel that people would enjoy.”
Guided by Samples and other faculty members, Singleton – who aspires to be an educator after earning her degree – said while enrolled at UWG she has learned the importance of creating authentic art that “is derivative of one’s own world: all of the tangible, palpable things and experiences that make our lives our own.”
“My experiences at UWG haven’t just given me creative insights to fuel my artistic talents to better reach students, but I’ve also learned practical knowledge that will help me succeed and make a living doing what I love,” she continued. “The most important thing is that I keep making art.”
That’s a crucial part of the fundraising drive, explained Director of Annual Giving Jess Lassetter, one that fosters a thriving academic community and supports the next generation of leaders and innovators.
“This special watercolor not only serves as a token of appreciation but also highlights the incredible talent within the UWG student body,” he added. “Donations made during A Day directly benefit students like Jacey, providing them with essential resources like scholarship support, professional development opportunities and much more. By supporting UWG, donors play a pivotal role in nurturing the growth and success of students who, in turn, enrich our university and community with their creativity, passion and drive. When you give back during A Day to Give West, you are not only joining a rich 42-year tradition, but you are also ensuring student success for decades to come.”
Singleton is grateful for the experience and the community that has impacted her life in both small and profound ways.
“I never thought I’d receive a commission that I’d be able to handle with such authenticity,” she concluded. “I was lucky it ended up being a building I had a genuine connection with. Having passed Kennedy Chapel every day on my stroll to class, having struggled to paint it once before, then finally returning to it midday to catch the shadow of the surrounding trees cast on the sunlit roof. I hope I was able to product a painting that, if nothing else, is authentic.”
A Day will culminate in celebration on Thursday, Oct. 17. To contribute, please visit the Give West webpage.
