Damon McCloskey, of Hughesville, recently graduated with a master of fine arts degree in interdisciplinary studies at Goddard College in Vermont, according to a news release. McCloskey’s concentrations included “rigorous study and practice” of studio art like painting and drawing, art history — specifically the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, poetics as free verse, outernatinal aesthetics with an emphasis on social and economic justice discourse.

He graduated and was conferred his MFA on Jan. 28, the news release said.

Damon’s advisers, Dr. Gale Jackson, Dr. Jas Michael Courtney and MFA lead faculty second reader Ruth Wallen, all spoke highly of his work.

“Over the course of these fruitful and creatively prolific seasons of graduate study and composition, Damon McCloskey has generatively cultivated, expanded and deepened the rich terrain of his artistic/intellectual fields of inquiry, formal and experimental exploration, discovery and learning, and created a brilliant body of works in visual art, essays and ‘free verse’ poetry,” Jackson said in the release. “The bounty of his study and composition over the course of these seasons, his ability to riff about art and art making and the rich range of art and artistic scholarship that he has been engaging in, is wonderfully evident in his portfolio in fulfillment of the requirements for the MFA in interdisciplinary art…”

“Damon expanded his creative process by ‘making a series of mixed media collages,'” Courtney said. “He was able to establish a connection between his written and visual works through critical analysis of the two.”

They also said, “His literary research led to discoveries about the Barnes Foundation and its important as an American Institution. He has been encouraged to find the intersection of this studio practice and literary research and articulate this connection and influence through written reflections of his analysis… This semester has encouraged Damon’s commitment to create new work while deepening his focus on research.”

“He engaged in the creation of a substantial and radiant body of drawings and paintings, including the work in progress on an exciting historical series and on what may become a series of works in conversation with his studies in both music and in the work of modern and contemporary artists. He also engaged in the creation of a substantial body of poetry in rich conversation with his studies and (his paintings) and generatively exploring and embodying his inquiry into the personal narrative and contemporary storytelling,” Wallen said.

Damon is currently looking forward to an upcoming exhibition of his work and then taking time to “recharge and further his art practice” before pursuing a doctoral degree.

“If I can do this, so can you,” he said in the release.

He also serves as Democratic Committeeman of Wolf Township in Lycoming County and is employed as a lead bartender at the Williamsport Country Club.

In the past decade, Damon has exhibited his work both locally and nationally in Philadelphia, New York, Boston and Vermont. He has plans to add Europe to that list in years to come.