By Kacey Heinlei
For graduating art majors, the senior art show is a milestone event. Each department and concentration has a separate show to exhibit the results of months of working and planning. Two different shows for studio art/photography and art education majors will open tonight in Metcalf.
"It is a group show," said Ryan Maloney, senior art major with a 3D concentration. "There isn't really room for you to just make your work and be done. You have to be in constant communication with the others who are showing so that . . . there is a cohesive show for those who come to see it. It has definitely been a lot of planning as a group on top of creating our own work."
Assistant Professor of Art Suzie Dittenber said the students showing their work are responsible for all preparation, including taking care of all publicity, composing an artist's statement, coming up with a concept, presentation, installing the work and then documenting the process. "That's sort of the sweep of the project," said Dittenber, who is also the senior exhibition faculty advisor for studio art majors.
Although all art seniors are required to participate in a senior show, art education majors have additional requirements. Kathy Herrmann, department co-chair and senior exhibition faculty advisor for art education majors, said they must display their portfolios in addition to the work created for the show. "It's kind of like their philosophy of education, lesson plans, everything they need for getting a job," Herrmann said.
Art education majors must also complete a semester of student teaching, preferably in the fall. Some students, however, end up teaching while getting ready for their senior show.
"I planned ahead for my show, got my painting done last semester," said Jaime Hughes, a senior art education major who is currently student teaching. "But the other parts of my show have been a little stressful putting together while student teaching."
The art education show will include paintings and ceramics along with Kenyan-influenced work by senior Jacquelyn Curtis and cards with statements from elementary students answering the question 'What is art?' inspired by senior Emily DeMeester's student teaching experience.
"I'm very excited about my own show," Hughes said. "It's a testimony of sorts that I've honestly been working on in my head for the past four years."
According to Maloney, the studio art and photography show will include pieces in ceramics, installations of cast aluminum, wood and drywall in addition to photography. In his ceramics project, he said it's difficult to pick a favorite piece.
"Because of the motivating factor behind the production of this series, all of them have become especially meaningful, as individuals as well as a whole set," Maloney said.
The art education show will feature work by seniors Hughes, DeMeester, Curtis and Matthew Gilbert. The studio art and photography show will feature work by seniors Maloney, Alexander Moore, Brad Nickerson, and Glenn Skala.
Both shows open at 7 p.m. tonight in Metcalf.
