As the end of the school year nears, students are finishing papers and cramming for finals. However, in the art department, students will celebrate the end of the year in the art gallery.
Even if you missed the juried student art exhibition, held April 2, you can still check out all of the students’ art and show support for their work until April 19.
This year, many mediums of art were exhibited.
“I think it’s the best student show I’ve seen in the four years I’ve been here,” 21-year-old fine arts major Sam Williams said. “It was diverse in content.”
“I’m really into digital photography,” said Jessica Emrick, a 23-year-old studio art major. “The digital photography pieces had great color. I also enjoyed the ceramic pieces.”
The student art show allowed future artists the chance to show off their creative skills.
“I was impressed with the paintings exhibited,” English major Kenny Richardson, 24, said. “Every single one of them was incredible. I especially liked ‘Julie’ by Jay Martin.”
Some students who exhibited their pieces were nervous, not just for their peers to see their work but for the impending critique.
“We don’t get to see the critiquing,” 24-year-old fine arts major Angie Carter said. “It was a little nerve-racking to think of my work sitting there being judged.”
However, criticism and comments are just a part of the artist’s work.
“I’ve gotten over being nervous,” fine arts major John Daugherty said. “People judge your work constantly. The faster you learn to listen, the better you’ll do.”
Whether or not someone will like or even appreciate a student’s piece, it is important they submit work whenever they can.
“What good does it do if you leave your work in the studio?” said Valerie George, assistant professor of sculpture. “Be brave. Share your ideas and thoughts.”
The judging allowed for an outsider’s opinion, which was beneficial for some of the students.
“The judging can surprise you,” Williams said. “They all come from different backgrounds. My only concern was that I wasn’t sure how learned the judges were in the field of video art.”
Students were able to submit up to three pieces. Some students were surprised to find out what made the cut. Katie Hoffman, a 21-year-old fine arts major, submitted two pieces. It was her paper dress that made it to the show.
“I made it around the same time as my sister’s prom,” Hoffman said. “I tried to talk her into wearing it.”
Other students said they weren’t even planning on submitting anything. Daugherty was busy working on pieces for his exit show. It wasn’t until a fellow student told him to submit his “Egg Assembly Line,” that he did — and he won first place.
“To be honest, I was surprised,” Daugherty said. “There were a lot of really nice paintings, especially those by Jay Martin and Mia McCann. I didn’t think I would get first place.”
Daugherty’s “Egg Assembly Line” is a stop animation video featuring sculptures Daugherty made himself.
“It took me about three to four months to make,” Daugherty said. “Most of it was just building the props. I didn’t know what I was going to do with them.”
Although the video looks simple, it has a thought-provoking concept behind it.
“The piece is about our K-12 system,” Daugherty said. “It’s showing how people go through the process. Some fall off and become fertilization for the land, a tree, and some become birds and feed off the tree.”
The show was also sad for students and faculty who will miss the graduating seniors.
“I will miss a lot of students, but I’m excited to see new students come into the art department,” George said. “I learn as much from them as they learn from me.”
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