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News: Art instructor brings wealth of experience to Roane State's Campbell County campus

William Sarno

William Sarno

 

July 7, 2015

William Sarno wanted to be a sculptor since he was 6 years old. Michelangelo was his first hero.

Sarno pursed his childhood ambition. He taught in Thailand, sculpted pieces for Miller Brewing Company and spent three years creating a major exhibit for the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. His list of achievements is lengthy.

Now, he teaches at Roane State Community College’s Campbell County campus.

“I have always found a way to teach,” Sarno said. “You watch someone go from ‘I don’t know’ to ‘oh wow!’”

Sarno’s career took him across the country and all over the world. He eventually settled on a farm in the Lafollette area, dropped by Roane State’s Campbell County campus and offered to teach a few art classes.

Sarno had taught figure modeling/portraits, model building and basic design studio for the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school. He earned his master’s degree in fine arts from Penn in 1989.

For the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Roane State art instructor William Sarno led a team that designed and created 20 life-size figures in South American tribal ceremonies. The project involved months of research and consultation with anthropologists, and it took more than three years to complete.

For the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Roane State art instructor William Sarno led a team that designed and created 20 life-size figures in South American tribal ceremonies. The project involved months of research and consultation with anthropologists, and it took more than three years to complete.

Needless to say, when an Ivy League instructor shows up on your doorstep offering to teach, the answer is “yes.”

Sarno teaches art appreciation, an introductory course. He said he strives to ease students’ anxiety about art.

“A lot of people are scared of art,” Sarno said. “What I try to teach students is that their opinion is as good as anyone else’s. The more you take to a piece of art, the more you are going to appreciate it. I hope that the students start to appreciate art more and not be scared of it. I hope that they enjoy the class and learn something. If I can make learning fun, then they will learn”

Art is important for students, Sarno said, because it “broadens their horizons.”

“When I traveled to other countries, I did not speak the same language as other artists,” Sarno said. “But we still appreciated each other’s work. Art brought us together.”

Roane State art instructor William Sarno created this piece for Miller Brewing Company.

Roane State art instructor William Sarno created this piece for Miller Brewing Company.

Tennessee’s Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. All colleges in the system offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit tncommunitycolleges.org.

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