Watercolor of UWG Newnan by art student Desteny Pelcastre. A Day donors who contribute more than $100 will receive a print of his piece.
As the nation celebrated its 250th birthday, University of West Georgia student Desteny Pelcastre turned to one of America’s founding ideals – its enduring promise of possibility – to inspire a watercolor that now anchors this year’s A Day to Give West. Donors who contribute more than $100 will receive a print of his piece as a reminder that investing in UWG’s future is part of the same hopeful spirit that shaped the country’s beginnings.
Pelcastre said he was inspired by the university’s Newnan campus, a historical building that was built in 1925 and once served as the town’s hospital.
“UWG Newnan has always been one of my favorites because of the columns,” said the fine arts major and art history minor. “I love the Neoclassical facade of the building that symbolizes democracy, which is one of the foundations of America. Through the building’s many past functions as a hospital that saved lives and now educates future nurses, lawyers, educators, artists and politicians, it symbolizes one of the foundations of America: the pursuit of happiness.”
This age-old philosophy has always been rooted in opportunity. At UWG, that opportunity takes shape through scholarships, transformative learning experiences, mentorship and student support programs. A Day invites donors to invest in those pathways, helping more students discover and pursue their own aspirations.
Director of Annual Giving Jess Lassetter said the artwork incentive helps donors feel more connected to the impact of their gift.
“It’s a simple way of showing that what they give here really does matter and is part of something bigger than a transaction or a single moment,” he said. “It also reflects how we try to show up at UWG. We care about people feeling appreciated and staying connected to the difference they help make. That sense of community is at the heart of who we are for both our donors and our students.”
Pelcastre said community is vital for his artwork and is the exemplification of the Go West spirit. While at UWG, access to art studio facilities has allowed him to grow his skillset and has learned a variety of mediums, from oil painting to welding. Thanks to supportive printmaking professors like Stephanie Smith and Cynthia Lollis, who helped shepherd Pelcastre’s A Day project, he was able to create the intaglio print.
Intaglio is a drawing technique that is scratched through a protective layer onto a copper plate, Pelcastre explained, and then etched in ferric acid. The acid eats away at areas where the copper layer is exposed, which creates deep marks where ink is held and printed onto paper. He said he was grateful to Smith and Lollis and proud to add the piece to his portfolio.
“My artwork encourages conversations about my subject matter and educates the community about societal issues,” Pelcastre shared. “At the center is my community who I speak up for and interact with through my art. As the assistant in the printing studio, I help many people with their projects and love encouraging their artistic expression.”
Associate Professor of Art John Morris said the program recommended Pelcastre because of his sustained excellence both inside and outside the classroom.
“As a B.F.A. student in printmaking, Desteny has distinguished himself through his artistic accomplishments, earning awards and exhibiting work in numerous regional and national juried exhibitions,” Morris described. “He is also a dedicated volunteer who actively contributes to campus life. Desteny represents the creativity, commitment and service that we strive to foster in our students, and we believe his success at UWG reflects the impact and success of A Day.”
Pelcastre plans to attend graduate school for fine arts and printmaking.
“I fell in love with printmaking in my first class, and I would love to inspire future printmaking,” he concluded. “As the print studio assistant, I find myself helping other students and have always enjoyed assisting and getting to know them. I love seeing the artwork that other students make and spreading the power of print.”
For more information about A Day – which will be held on Oct. 15 – and to make a gift, please visit the Give West webpage. Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive the watercolor print.
Author: Julie Lineback
