Zachary Smith

This is a photo of me and a person receiving a favor token. I’m on the left, and they’re on the right. The OneFavor Project is focused on community engagement and mutual aid, using these little ceramic tokens I made to represent my offer of a “Favor” to that person.

Degree: BFA, Ceramics

Expected Graduation Date: Spring, 2022

2021-2022 Scholarship
David McCosh Memorial Scholarship in Fine Arts
Joe and Alona Fischer Scholarship

I Am Originally From Eugene, OR

WHY I CAME TO THE UO AND HOW I CHOSE MY MAJOR
I chose the UO because most of my life is situated in Eugene, and I had heard good things about their ceramics department.

I’ve been a potter and artist for about a decade now, and wanted to move forward on what could be called a career path, namely that of a teacher. I’d like to teach Art at the college level, which requires an MFA. A BFA isn’t required to be accepted into an MFA program, but pursuing more intensive studies felt appropriate to my interests.

UNIQUE QUALITIES I BRING TO MY STUDIES
I’ve worked a lot of blue collar jobs, and the biggest thing I’ve learned is that I don’t want to work blue collar jobs. I left my contracting business behind to pursue my passion for art, and have found to my great surprise that the skills and work ethic that served me in my business are also very valuable in the academic setting. Simple carpentry, for example, is of the utmost importance to building effective shipping crates and pedestals. I’ve learned that these skills are in some demand for the artistic types among us.

MY INFLUENTIAL PROFESSORS
Both of my ceramics professors, Stacy Jo Scott and Brian Gillis, have been hugely helpful in my experience here. They have modeled good habits and processes for being a working artist, as well as a teacher. I hope to emulate what they’ve done for me in the future for my own students.

MY EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
I have been doing a project this year that I call The OneFavor Project, where I go out and do acts of service/labor for local artists/collectives. This is a self-directed charity of just me. 2020 was a very difficult year for a bunch of reasons, and I’m trying to mitigate the disaster of my 30th year on earth with a more connected and community oriented 31st.

MY GREATEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE AT UO
I took a time based digital media course, and found that I have a knack and enthusiasm for Visual Effects, and have since then expanded my skill set to include a robust set of digital tools.

AFTER GRADUATION
I hope to go on and earn an MFA. I’m keen about the program at Alfred University in New York, but I’ve been looking at some schools in the midwest, and New Orleans that are of  special interest to me. Things that I’ve learned here at UO that will have the greatest impact that I would like the space to explore more thoroughly are queer theory, gender studies, and having a greater appreciation for my position and privilege in the global community. I’m hoping to utilize that understanding to create work that helps in some way, whether through direct action or objects.

YOUR GIFT
The scholarships and awards I have received make the difference for my family and me. I work part-time while going to school, but the wages I earn from that job are insufficient to cover all the expenses my wife and I have. Cost of living is only going up, and the scholarships I’ve received cover that gap. It lets me breath more easily, and focus on my education.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for choosing to support me and my dreams. You are funding my explorations. My family and I thank you for your contribution to our life.