Second senior art exhibit displays artistic skills

The second installment of senior art work is on display in Gallery 101 in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building. Seniors Justin Collins, Rose Bermudez, Maisey Doheny and James Smead will have their work on display in the gallery from through Oct. 21.

There is a variety of artwork in this senior show including photography, ceramics, sculptures, hand-woven rugs, paintings and class sculptures.

Seniors who are in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program put together these shows as part of a requirement for their degree.

Doheny is BFA student with an emphasis in ceramics and a minor emphasis in sculpture. She said these exhibitions are like the equivalent of a senior thesis.

Smead is a BFA student with an emphasis in ceramics and minor emphasis in painting. He said he has been working on pieces for his senior show for about a year and half. The work that he has on display in the gallery is ceramic skateboards. Smead said making one skateboard can take about two days. The title of his collection is “Let Down.”

Smead said art students with shows in the future should start working on stuff for their shows early because there is a lot of work that goes into the creation of the show.

“Do not wait until your last one or two semesters to start the show, really consider what you want to do, figure out exactly how you want it to be and work as hard as you possibly can,” Smead said.

Both Smead and Collins said that they have been planning and preparing work for their senior show for at least a year. Collins said artists with upcoming shows should be sure to incorporate their best work into the exhibition.

“Consider it your senior thesis show,” Collins said. “It doesn’t have to be a new body of work, it needs to be your best body of work.”

Visiting Assistant Professor Brett Kallusky teaches photography and said he feels proud seeing his students’ artwork displayed in the gallery. Kallusky said he looks forward to seeing the work that students have been working on over the years.

“It’s really important that students have the opportunity to present their work to the public,” Kallusky said. “It gives them the true life experience.”

Students who are involved in the exhibition are also responsible for setting up the gallery prior to the opening of the show and they are also responsible for cleaning up afterwards.

There is an opening reception for the exhibition on Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, from 5-8 p.m. There will be snacks and beverages, and the artists will have the opportunity to discuss their work with visitors.

The reception is in Gallery 101 in KFA and is free and open to the public.

The third senior art exhibition will be up in the gallery from Oct. 27 to Nov. 4. The fourth senior art exhibition will be in the gallery from Nov. 10-18.

Gallery 101 is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. For more information, call the art department at 715-425-3266.