“It’s always been my outlet,” Baldwin, an art major at Alpena Community College, said.

ACC President Don MacMaster recently told The News that the Fine Arts Program – headed by Brian Schorn – is thriving and students and instructors say they’re enthusiastic about the program’s classes and direction.

Angel Burcar, a freshman liberal arts major, said Thursday she took ACC’s Design 1 class to fulfill a requirement, but is taking Design 2 for fun.

Burcar and Baldwin said design classes are a way for them to lose themselves in the art and unwind from the stress of life and other classes. Burcar said all of her other classes are online, so the arts program gives her a chance to come to class and interact with other students.

Courtesy Photo Brett Budnik, architecture major at Alpena Community College built this 3D cardboard art in design class.

“‘I want to see what you are going to do next,'” Jason Allen Pemberton, art instructor, said the students say to each other. “They feed off each other.”

Pemberton, an ACC graduate, is in his first year teaching art at ACC. He traveled and worked for 20 years in Corporate America after graduation and said he’s come full circle with his return home.

“I went to ACC,” Pemberton said. “It was a springboard to my career.”

Pemberton said he purchased a studio across the river from the college and plans to have the students help him refurbish reclaimed cedar and concrete from the area to make an outdoor sculpture garden in the spring as well as some murals.

The students said they are excited about the classes and the enthusiasm of their instructor.

Courtesy Photo Brett Budnik, architecture major at Alpena Community College completed this design work in class at ACC.

“He is new and he is nice,” Burcar said. “He is doing a really good job. He is friendly and upbeat. Jason is fun and he makes sure that everyone understands everything.”

Burcar said her confidence level has improved so much in just a year.

“I am fully learning something,” Burcar said. “In other classes you just memorize stuff for the test, but with this you can really see the progress on paper.”

Baldwin, who took four years of art at Alcona High School, said her high school art teacher taught her how to finish her work and find the confidence to push through it.

“Jason is doing the same thing, but taking it to a whole new level,” Baldwin said. “He really pushes you to grow and to get out of your comfort zone,” Baldwin said. “It really sets you up for success.”

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Jason Allen Pemberton, art instructor at Alpena Community College, turns the 3D artwork of Angel Burcar to show the detail in the design on Thursday at Alpena Community College.

Pemberton said technology and digital tools are great, but he would like to see more emphasis and funding come to hands-on, real life programs like ACC’s Fine Arts program.

According to Pemberton, the college has not had a painting class for years and he brought that back because he feels it is a valuable tool in teaching students how to practice problem solving skills in the real world.

“These days some people don’t even know how to use a ruler,” Pemberton said. “I have nothing against computers, but we need a balance. These are the skills that art can give. The power of a hammer in your hand.”

News Photo by Barbara Woodham Monroe Baldwin holds up her design work Thursday at Alpena Community College.