Student artists gain exposure

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Since the Graduate Artists Association received $9,813 from the Student Government Association last week, it can continue to implement its special activities, including the traditional Graduate Thesis Exhibition.

The SGA, however, is not the artists association’s only source of funding for its special activities.

Since the Graduate Artists Association received $9,813 from the Student Government Association last week, it can continue to implement its special activities, including the traditional Graduate Thesis Exhibition.

The SGA, however, is not the artists association’s only source of funding for its special activities.

“Last year, the (Graduate Student Association) provided some money for the shipping of artwork and promotional postcards for the exchange show,” said Miriam Ewers, the group’s vice president. “The exhibition space in the fine arts building was free.”

Ewers said the association arranges an exchange show with another university’s art school. Artists from four departments, including painting and printmaking, sculpture, crafts and photography, each submit one piece of artwork to exhibit at the other school.

“Students studying for their MFA need this type of exposure,” Becker said. “Not only is it a career builder, but it also gives them the chance to show the public the diversity of their work.”

Last year, for instance, 25 VCU students exchanged their artwork with California College of the Arts in Los Angeles. This year 19 additional student artists joined the group that now totals 41.

Becker said this year the artists association wants even more students to participate, and it plans to organize exchanges with other schools, such as Yale University.

Allan Rosenbaum, the group’s adviser, said along with the money from the Graduate Student Association, the School of the Arts dean’s office donates money occasionally but not on a yearly basis.

“The largest chunk of the funding given by the SGA … will go the catalog,” he said. “We can only hold other activities if there is money left over.”

The artists association publishes the MFA Thesis Exhibition catalog each year with help from the art school, Ewers said.

The four departments pledge $200 to $250 to each graduating student in its department for them to publish their work in the catalog. Part of the money goes to hire a writer who individually critiques each student’s work.

“It gets the most exposure because 3,000 copies are printed, which is bigger than any audience,” Becker said.

The artists association also sponsors a curated show when funding permits.

“For this particular show, we invite an art curator or critic to critique or give intellect on the students’ artwork,” Rosenbaum said.

Ewers said last year the association invited gallerist Lisa Schroeber from New York to meet individual members to critique their work. She said the Schroeber’s three-day travel and her room-and-board were the lone expenses.

Although the exchange and curated shows are special activities for the graduate students, Becker said the graduate thesis exhibition catalog rates higher than all the shows.

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