member wins award for contemporary art
By Lauren Highfill
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Matt Haffner Photo by Patrick Bowling |
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(Above) "The Conversation" from the "Used Fiction Series" Silver leaf, vinyl and spray paint on panel (Below) "Layin Low" from the "Used Fiction Series" Silver leaf, vinyl and spray paint on panel |
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Although he’s known around Kennesaw State as a photography professor, Matt Haffner was recently rewarded for his talent with paint.
Haffner is one of the three artists to win the 2008 Working Artist Project from the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia funded by the Charles Loridans Foundation. As a recipient of the award, Haffner will receive a $12,000 stipend and will have a paid studio assistant. His winning portfolio showcased his unique painting style. “It’s a spray-paint stenciling technique reminiscent of a graffiti technique,” he says. Haffner hopes to transfer this type of art “into installation-based works in the future.”
Haffner has won awards and grants for his art before, but he says he was still surprised to receive this recognition from MOCA. “I knew there were so many other talented artists applying.” Haffner’s surprise turned to appreciation soon after he won. “MOCA is such a big part of the Atlanta arts community. They really strive to be exclusively dedicated to contemporary art by southeastern artists.”
When Haffner won a grant last year from the KSU Foundation for his photographic project “Serial City,” he says he spent most of the funds on his equipment. With the MOCA award, “I want to dedicate more toward the time I spend in the studio.”
His studio time will be spent in part “mentoring an up-and-coming artist” who will work as his assistant. Although artists at any stage of their careers can apply for the studio assistant position, Haffner encourages students to apply and says, “It could be that a KSU student is chosen.”
Haffner’s benefits from winning this award are more than monetary. He’ll also be featured in a solo exhibition at MOCA GA and with have a work of art added to the museum’s permanent collection. “It means a lot to be honored by an organization with whom I have such a supportive relationship.”