From the stages and classrooms of the newly expanded Maltz Performing Arts Center to collaborations with nearby cultural organizations, Case Western Reserve University is home to incredible opportunities in dance, art, theater and music. Students, faculty and staff at the College of Arts and Sciences and beyond routinely showcase their talents through exhibitions, productions, concerts and more. In honor of Inspire Your Heart with Art Day (Jan. 31), The Daily is putting a spotlight on individuals across campus who have a passion for creating—whether that be through painting, theater or even baking. We were so blown away by the volume of submissions—and the talent in our community—we’ve decided to dedicate a whole week to showcasing some of the many artists at CWRU.
Today, we’re highlighting two more artists: Laura Fuchs (CWR ’89, LAW ’92), a staff member in the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and a painter, and Olivia Dhaliwal, a poet and a member of the School of Medicine’s Class of 2024.
Laura Fuchs
When Laura Fuchs picks up a paintbrush, she loses track of time. A hobby that ramped up for her during the pandemic, Fuchs’ artwork focuses primarily on human and pet portraits. But her goal for 2022 is to venture into landscapes.
1. Describe your art.
For years, I painted only portraits of humans and pets very realistically. Recently, I have been challenging myself artistically to create landscapes with a more impressionistic style. I am always drawn into other artists’ landscapes and carried away to the place in the painting. My goal is to create landscapes that capture the viewer by creating a mood, instilling a feeling or reviving a memory.
2. What intrigued you about this art form?
What intrigues me the most about painting is that there is always room for exploration, improvement and growth. Painting is challenging and each hour I paint, I am building my skills. It is an activity with a tangible result and the more I dedicate myself, slowly but surely, the more I can see improvement and feel a sense of achievement. I can change subjects or try out new techniques or materials. Recently, I explored mixing cold wax with the paint to give my landscape painting of Jackson Hole more texture.
3. Where do you take inspiration from?
Nature and my memories provide great inspiration to me. Recently, I have been working on painting forest scenes. My first memories are playing in the woods with my sister. In my mind, I can see the path we walked and the dappled light on the ground coming through the trees and I can feel the quiet calmness. I want to capture that memory and feeling on canvas.
4. How have you shared your work (if you have)?
I mainly just post my art on Facebook and Instagram.
5. What do you love most about creating?
What I love most about painting is its ability to keep me in the present moment. It is hard to dwell on troubles once in the flow of a painting. It has the power to engage me so fully.
Olivia Dhaliwal
As a second-year medical student, Olivia Dhaliwal uses poetry as a means to explore “what it means to be human.” With a goal of becoming a family medicine physician, Dhaliwal has used the School of Medicine’s Humanities Pathway to further study literature, poetry and dance. She even took an undergraduate poetry course taught by Dave Lucas, a lecturer in the Department of English and former Ohio Poet Laureate. Read a sample of Dhaliwal’s poetry.
1. Describe your art.
My art is poetry. I write about my own experiences and observations. Often my poetry feels like me journaling, but in a more concise way.
2. What intrigued you about this art form?
I like the way that poetry can be bite-sized and challenges you to use fewer words. I also like the way that you can play with the placement of words on the page, and the structure of the poem.
3. Where do you take inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from whatever is on my heart and mind and whatever I’m encountering in my life. I write to transform and let go of the things I carry because it feels good.
4. How have you shared your work (if you have)?
I’ve shared my work on my Facebook a lot, but I really hate social media. I have also sent a few poems into competitions and some journals, so we will see where they end up. I plan to make a mini anthology of poetry as my capstone project for the Humanities Pathway at the medical school, consisting of poems telling the story of my journey as a medical student. I will have to be extra disciplined to be sure I find time to write during my third year.
5. What do you love most about creating?
What I love most about writing poetry is the way it makes me feel. It’s like taking the deepest exhale, being able to see my feelings and experiences condensed into a poem. Although I am glad my poems often resonate with others, I write first and foremost for me, because of the way it offers me new perspectives and a heightened awareness of my own lived experiences.