Graduating Student Artists Not Afraid To Take Risks
Graduating art students present a variety of work from their time at Alma College, including digital prints, ceramic sculptures, paintings and drawings, at the annual Senior Art Show in the Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery.
The exhibit continues through Saturday, April 23rd. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. A gallery reception with the artists takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 9th. For gallery information, call (989) 463-7286.
Each year, senior art majors seeking a bachelor of arts or bachelor of fine arts degree are required to present a thesis show as part of their graduation requirements. The show exhibits the culminating works of these young artists as they begin their journey into the professional art world.
"Creator of the Mediator" — Renee Willoughby
Featured in this year’s show are the creations of 12 students: Amanda Cruickshank (Lake Linden), Renee Willoughby (South Lyon), Aleigha Sova (Alma), Tom Hardin (Grawn), Sarah Linsley (Onondaga), Jaclyn Dittmar (Troy), Shaina Buhl (Beverly Hills), Chelsea Clark (Coopersville), Dani Cunningham (Cheboygan), Joseph Kobayashi (Mason), Elizabeth Webster (St. Clair Shores) and Alicia Monday (Toledo, Ohio).
Willoughby, an aspiring graphic designer, says taking risks as an artist is a necessity.
“A lot of people tend to be safe, but you don’t need to be polite or safe,” she says. “Say what you need to say, and it will have more meaning. Don’t be afraid to take risks.”
Willoughby is presenting a photo mosaic titled “The Ideal Fabricat,” which is an installation piece inspired by Jared Diamond’s book Guns, Diamonds, and Steel.
“Basically, I wanted to explore the idea of how humans create in a materialist context,” she says. “How can you create something if it does more harm than good? My piece is meant to challenge the idea of human dominance over the earth.”
Linsley, who is a writer in addition to being an artist, is presenting her illustrated books, “Rabacoon” and “Rabacoon: The Field Guide.”
“They’ve taken a good deal of my time here at Alma to complete, as well as nearly my entire life to culminate,” she says. “The most important thing I've learned is that when I leave Alma I have to keep learning and wanting to learn in order to succeed.”
Clark, inspired by experiences in Berkeley, Calif., created a drawing in her first year called “Summer Dreams.” The piece is the hallmark of her collection, since it led to ideas for other pieces in her show.
“What’s the most important thing I’ve learned at Alma? That’s a tough question,” says Clark. “I’ve learned so many things: that accidents are often the best inspiration, to trust my instincts, and that often my fellow art majors are the best teachers.”
Posted: Wed, March 23rd, 2011 at 11:29AM
