Meredith International Association
Caroline Mata Discusses Her Homeland
by Kelly Massey
Caroline Mata, president of the
Meredith International Association,
hopes to make more students aware
of the different countries represented
at Meredith College this year.
“Many students are not even
aware of MIA,” Mats said. In order
to provide more information on in
ternational students and their coun
tries, the “Herald” will focus on a
different student in every few is
sues.
MIA plans their annual chapel
service for October 11. This service
will consist of scripture readings in
different languages, and interna
tional students will express their
feelings on living in America.
In the spring, MIA will host a
faculty and staff luncheon. Mem
bers of MIA will cook a dish from
their country to share at the meal.
“MIA provides support and
friendship to international students,
and promotes cultural awareness on
campus,” Mata said,
Mata is from Costa Rica, which
is one of the few democratic coun
tries in Central America. Having
lived in Central America all of her
life, she feels that her home country
is more laid back than the United
States. “Any excuse is a good ex
cuse to take a holiday,” she said.
There are many differences be
tween Costa Rica and America that
she has had to get used to over the
past three years. In Costa Rica the
children participate in the election
process of their president. While a
child’s vote is not counted, it serves
to teach them the democratic proc
ess. A president can never be re
elected after he has served one term.
Also, all children are required to
wear uniforms to school. A foreign
language, which is usually English,
is taught from the time children are
in elementary school.
Kapsner's Artwork Comes to
Meredith's Weems Art Gallery
by Mary Moore
This month in the Frankie G.
Weems Art Gallery there is a show
ing of the work of Charles Kapsner.
Kapsner is teaching at Meredith in
the Art Department this fall.
Kapsner studied for seven years
in Florence, Italy, and the influence
of the great Italian Masters such as
Da Vinci and Michelangelo is evi
dent. In his Artist’s Statement found
in the gallery, he states that we should
“take time to enjoy the beauty that
nature and life have bestowed upon
us.” Kapsner’s work is found in
private collections around the world
and across the United States. A
portrait of Charles A. Undbergh, Jr.
a native of Kapsner’s hometown of
Little Falls, Minnesota, now hangs
in the American Embassy in Paris.
There are 29 pieces of art, in
cluding portraits, still Ufes and land
scapes on display in the Weems
Gallery. The artist has used pencil,
charcoal and oil as his mediums.
Some of the best works include
two small landscapes entitled “Pyra
mids" and “Studio in Saint Cloud.”
“Rex Bench” is a wonderful char
coal portrait of a handsome man,
and after looking at his picture, the
viewer will want to meet the subject
Kapsner’s 1988 “Self-Portrait”
shows the artist in a white turtieneck
and black coat. As in the rest of the
paintings, there is terrific use of light
The subject seems to be alive and
reading your innermost thoughts.
There is a very realistic portrait of
Robert Lamm, a member of the
musical group Chicago.
Dominating the gallery is a large
painting entitled “Tribute to Paintr
ing.” It was painted after a fijre
devastated the home of the artist’s
parents and destroyed much of his
work. It shows many elements that
artists use and is testament to its
creator’s love for his craft
Meredith is very lucky to have
this diverse and extremely talented
artist on campus this semester. The
show in Weems Gallery will be on
display until October 15, and every
one should take the time to view this
v^ special exhibit.