by Amy Waltner
Communication Services

"Every once in a while I get to see a student ‘connect’ with the big wide world and the lights go on and fireworks go off. That is why I teach." – Greg Senn

Greg Senn, a professor of art, started college as a science major. He changed majors during his sophomore year after taking a ceramics class taught by Ron Lang.

“Ron Lang was my first ceramics instructor and he encouraged me to go beyond the first right answer, to work as a student, and to develop my own direction and become self-motivating. When that happens, one generally becomes a lifelong learner,” said Senn.

“Ron introduced me to ceramics and conceptual art “which forever changed the way I see the world around me and the way I appreciate art,” he said.

Ron Verdon introduced him to working with red hot metal. He also introduced Senn to the “sensuality of soft steel” which has fascinated him ever since.

“Dick Dahle gifted me with an appreciation of surface, traditional learning, and the joy of painting. And D.J. Jawrunner introduced me to the three-ring circus of cast iron and bronze casting, and there is really no way to explain that adrenaline rush – you have to experience it,” he said.

The Wisconsin-born art professor has a love for clay. “Clay is the quintessential liar – one can make it look like almost anything else – which makes it a great deal of fun to use in making art.”

He grew up with five and a half brothers (including a foster brother) in a small town. “It was a great place and time to grow up. We had the run of the town and nobody was worried about our safety, other than bike crashes and skinned elbows. Rolling hills, woods, and more lakes than locals here can imagine, three nice seasons, and long crazy cold winters. We grew up in the woods – a great place for boys to learn about nature, science, and environment,” Senn said.

He received an Associate of Science from Wisconsin, Marathon County, Bachelor of Comprehensive Art degree from the University of Wisconsin Platteville and a Master of Fine Arts degree in ceramic sculpture from West Texas State University.

One of Senn’s proudest moments was being able to submit designs for ENMU's university’s Mace—used at commencements. “It was a really fun design opportunity, and became a great ‘teaching moment’ in the shop after the administration picked one of my designs to develop.

“The sculpture and jewelry students, along with faculty who wandered through periodically, got the chance to see how the concept, design, and physical fabrication all came together in a synergistic fashion,” he said.

“Steel, iron, and bronze all intrigue me. I love the idea of soft metal – casting or using it as chainmaille. It becomes a contradiction to normal existence or the way people typically see it. Many artists today go on at length over the spiritual and metaphysical nature of their work, and the verbosity goes on at length – in part I think as a justification for why the viewer should like it. I like the sensuality and textures of ‘soft’ metal. And if you like my work, great! And if not, there is a whole lot of other stuff to look at that you might like,” said Senn.

“I first became fascinated with scuba diving when I was eight years old, but was never in a place where the class was taught that I was aware of until I turned 40. A friend called and told me he was going to take the class at Clovis Community College and when I got home I told my wife I needed the car those dates. Best decision I ever made bar one. I am an assistant instructor certified through Professional Association of Diving Instructors, and scuba classes are a blast to help with,” said the self-proclaimed scuba addict.

When Senn isn’t underwater he can be found reading science-fiction, or in the water with a fishing rod. However, he prefers fly rods and canoes. He also is a Habitat for Humanity Brush with Kindness Committee person.

“I started casting concrete in molds, and then taking the pieces diving and leaving them behind under water. Many go home with other divers. At least they did at first. But over time they have taken on an aged patina – moss and silt covered artificial ‘rocks’ that have become interactive or performance pieces which happen under water.

“They get arranged and rearranged, used in other people’s underwater movies and pictures, and add an element of surprise and enjoyment to other people’s diving experience which I had not anticipated. And they generate dialog between divers who had not previously interacted. I remain anonymous for all practical purposes. And I take pictures of them as they age,” Senn said.

Senn has a love for working at ENMU that predominately comes from working with students. “Once upon a time Pat Rucker said to me that Eastern was paying him to do something he would do for free – but that I should not mention that to the administration,” he said.

“I love working with students. The ones who are actively involved in their own education and direction run me ragged.

"The ones who are coasting through challenge me to find ways to encourage them to become actively involved in their own education.

"Every once in a while I get to see a student ‘connect’ with the big wide world and the lights go on and the fireworks go off. That is why I teach.”