Student Exhibit at Harlan Gallery

09/13/05

The Harlan Gallery of Seton Hill University (SHU) is currently hosting a student art exhibit through September 22. The exhibit is public and free of charge. A jury made up of the art faculty selects the artworks submitted by students who were enrolled in art courses during the Spring 2005 semester.

"I guess you might say the theme is 'excellence' since it's a compilation of the best art of the semester," said Dr. Stuart Thompson, professor of art education.

The art represents each of the classes taught last semester, such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Design, Digital Imaging, Photography, and Clay. Any student can submit art, but it's predominately composed of art students.

"Through viewing all art, it gives one the opportunity to be lifted out of the everyday to contemplate the human experience in all its complex expressions," said assistant art professor Pati Beachley.

"I'm most excited about the exploration of unusual media, the focus of work done in series, with a strong conceptual basis," said Carol Brode, the director of the Harlan Gallery.

There are artworks at both the senior and freshmen levels. The exhibit gives students an opportunity to see the opinions of a larger audience. It gives the community a chance to experience the best work that SHU has to offer.

"Things to note in the current exhibition are the variety of media represented, chock-full of invention and surprise and the playful use of installation as being paramount to the viewer's experience of the work," said Beachley.

"This year I'm particularly impressed by the level of sophistication of the 3-D sculpture and ceramics," said Thompson.

"I really enjoy seeing the studio work. It is such a pleasure to get to know students through their artwork as well as to observe individual responses to art history," said assistant art history professor Maureen Vissat. "The creativity and talent of our students impress me; they bring tremendous energy to our program."

"I think it sets a high bar for the other Seton Hill art students," said Thompson, "I'd be very proud to take any of my colleagues through the exhibit."

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Posted by Setonian Online at September 13, 2005 07:42 PM