by Jessica Breger
Staff writer
Courtesy photo
Jack Ousey gives demonstrations on a potter’s wheel to students and the public. Many of these demonstrations are in his 3-D classes at Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
How long will you stay at Southeastern? Will you stay two years? Or five? Associate Professor Jack Ousey has been at Southeastern for 10 years now.
The Ousey, born in Canada, came to America in 1993 to pursue his Master of Fine Arts at the University of North Dakota.
Ousey received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Manitoba in 1988.
It was while in college that Ousey discovered his passion for ceramics. This passion led Ousey to America to pursue his master’s.
When he entered college, he did so because he could draw. Ousey said that he had never before worked with three-dimensional art until college.
Ousey revealed that he has always had a passion for art. Although he recognizes that not everybody is an artist, he said he feels “everybody should at least give it (art) a shot.”
He said a person may not know that they have a skill or interest in art until he/she attempts it, as he did with 3-D art.
After graduating, he worked at the college in the School of Art’s Sculpture and Painting Divisions as a technician for some time. When he first considered pursuing a master’s degree, he said he was not sure what would happen.
With the encouragement of his professors in Manitoba who told him that it would work out, he set off to North Dakota.
Although creating art was Ousey’s passion, he said he was realistic about his future; he knew he would eventually teach to support his art.
After graduating from the University of North Dakota, Ousey married a woman he had met while earning his master’s degree. It was her career that led Ousey to Oklahoma.
She had graduated from the University of North Dakota one year before Ousey himself graduated and took a position at Murray State College.
Ousey took a position with Oklahoma Art Council where he worked for five years.
During these five years, he did a number of residencies at different schools and colleges, including Southeastern. He said he has taught ages ranging from four to 84 years old.
When Southeastern found itself in need of a new art professor, Ousey was offered the position. He was hired on a temporary full-time status.
After three years, the university was able to hire a permanent professor. Ousey gained the position.
Ousey said that as an undergraduate in college, he did not like talking in front of groups and that teaching was nerve-racking in the beginning.
He said once he started teaching, however, he found he loved it.
While he juggles his work and being a father of two, he said he doesn’t see these as challenges because he enjoys them both so much.
Ousey said that his biggest challenge while teaching has been finding time to make his own art outside of class.
The challenge, he said, lies in making his own art just for himself. He said he makes plenty of art while at work, but it is mainly when demonstrating for students.
To make his own art, he utilizes an iPad. He said that when an idea comes to him, he sketches it on his iPad so that when he does get free time he remembers the idea.
Ousey now teaches multiple subjects including all of the 3-D arts, such as ceramics and several graphic design classes.
His forte he said is in “how-to” classes where he demonstrates and then aids students as they create.
Graphic Design Graduate Coleman Shelton said “Jack was more than your average professor. He was a guide and mentor.”
Ousey said “Really what teaching is, is giving people ideas and getting them to create.” He said he has a passion and love for art and wants that to rub off on his students.
He said he wants students “to take it [whatever their passion is] as far as they can take it and further than they thought they could.”
According to his rating on ratemyprofessor.com, a site where college students can rate professors and give reviews, Ousey has a rating of 4.3 out of a possible 5.
Comments claimed that he is knowledgeable and helpful. One comment said “He may seem abrasive and rude at first, but he’s actually a really nice guy and just likes to kid around with his students.”
Shelton said that Ousey “has a way of connecting the content to his students making it not only easy to understand but enjoyable. Ousey said he thinks both teaching and learning should be enjoyable.”
“I am the teacher, and they are the students,” Ousey claimed. “But,” he admitted, “it’s probably important not to be the teacher no one likes.”