Clearly influenced by apartheid, Claassen creates pictures of enforced separation and barriers – pictures that invite the viewer into conversation. “I wouldn’t describe myself as an activist,” he says. “I’m a bit introverted. I find if I make art that brings up those kinds of issues, then that’s an opportunity to talk about them.”
When Dr. Rochelle Johnson interviewed for a position at The College of Idaho in 1999, she hoped to work at a school where she could teach American literature, develop environmental studies courses, and spend time in the outdoors. Check, check, and check.