Undergraduate student pieces from the visual arts departments were spread out over two floors of the Anderson Gallery Friday for the annual “Juried Student Fine Art Exhibition.”
The Anderson Gallery holds the “Juried Student Fine Art Exhibition” series each spring and displays pieces from the painting and print making, photography and film, sculpture, extended media, crafts and material studies departments.
Because space was limited, students presented their pieces before the show to guest juror David McFadden, chief curator and vice president for programs and collections for the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.
Art students refer to the selection process for the annual spring gallery show as a cluster of works because the art pieces are displayed side-by-side after long hours of labor put in by students.
Madison Fisk, a sculpture major, said she was excited about her piece, “Damocles 2,” being selected for the show. The piece explored anxiety, fear and eminent peril.
“The piece was done in a weekend for the studio class,” Fisk said. “I never thought I would get in.”
In addition to being chosen, a smaller group of students was awarded for their works within their individual art concentrations.
Beth Hertzler, a sculpture major, had two pieces, “Puppy Calendar” and “Two Boys, One Couch,” selected for the show. “Two Boys, One Couch” earned Hertzler a Sculpture and Extended Media Award. Hertzler wanted viewers to derive their own meaning from “Two Boys, One Couch.”
“Puppy Calendar,” however, was based on the general concept of passing time, more specifically to the yearly holiday calendars. Twelve separate puppy sculptures were displayed on the wall to represent the months of the year.
Amidst the event, the Anderson Gallery buzzed with art students as well as community members.
Anderson Gallery director since June, Ashley Kistler saw the first round of student shows since she took the position.
“This is the Capstone experience for them,” Kistler said. “They do an exhibition of their work as sort of a final step for graduation.”
Future shows include the first round of the “MFA Thesis Exhibition, ” which is scheduled to take place in the Anderson Gallery starting April 21 from 5-7 p.m.