MIU graduate Molly Duff
Working in the studio at MIU
Untitled by Molly Duff
Untitled by Molly Duff
MIU student Molly Duff finished her MA in Studio Art in December and will be attending the MFA program at the University of Southern Florida, Tampa, in the fall. Molly will receive a full scholarship, a paid teaching assistantship, and a stipend for the entire length of the program.
Molly studied printmaking, ceramics, and sculpture at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After getting her undergraduate degree in 2016, she completed a 200-hour yoga teacher certification program in Costa Rica. That was her first exposure to Vedic science and Ayurveda, and when she saw an ad for MIU, she became curious.
In 2018 she decided to return to school, and MIU’s MA in Studio Art appealed to her. During a Visitors Weekend she met students and faculty and was impressed by the success of previous graduates securing MFA scholarships at prestigious graduate schools.
“The program was fantastic,” she said. “The faculty members are incredibly knowledgeable about art history, as well as the contemporary art world. They do a good job of catering to each individual student and making sure they are exposed to artists that relate to their work.”
Molly was grateful for having her own private studio space, as well as being able to build a portfolio and prepare for her MFA application. She enjoyed the integration of the Transcendental Meditation® technique into the daily routine, which helped her become regular with her practice. “Transcendental Meditation is a beautiful tool for any artist,” said Molly. “It clears your mind and allows you to drop into a creative space.”
In the future Molly would like to teach art and incorporate the philosophy of yoga and the practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. “Having TM incorporated into the curriculum offers a lot of growth, especially in the creative field,” she said. “It helps with trusting your intuition and being able to freely explore without inhibitions to find something new that works in creating this artistic language for yourself.”
While staying at home in Michigan during the summer, Molly is leading a yoga teacher certification training for some of the staff and faculty members at MIU.