The senior studio art class opened their senior exhibition on April 5. It was a huge success, with many students, staff and visitors attending to enjoy their work. Their exhibit will remain on display through May 2 in the Sargent Art Building. 

This exhibit showcases the work of the five graduating studio art seniors: Sophia Chiesa, Jessica DiLucia, Sarah Henson, Joy Jaeger and Rachel Seanor. They began their work in August of this past year. The kinds of artwork includes mixed media, ceramic, and illustrative. Each artist has their own section of the exhibit.

The theme is “Reflect,” as seen on the posters that hang around campus. Kyle Markers, a graphic design major who worked with the studio art seniors, designed the posters.

“Everyone is very individualistic, artists even more so,” Rachel Seanor, a studio art senior, said. “We chose ‘Reflect’ as the theme because our work reflects us, the world God made, and because people can see reflections of themselves in artwork.”

Seanor described putting the exhibit together as a “really big learning experience.” The studio art seniors are responsible for the entire exhibit and all of the details. 

“It takes a lot of compromise and working as a team,” Seanor said. “My experience was super positive and I’m excited to be graduating with people who can be my colleagues in the art world.”

Jonathan Andrews is the studio art program coordinator. He has overseen the program as the seniors have grown over the past few years. 

The senior exhibition is the capstone project for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art and comes after working through the program with the art and design faculty, Andrews said.

“Students synthesize that knowledge with specific ideas, materials, and subject matter to make work that they want to share with the world,” Andrews said. “Each one is fulfilling the calling of their Creator to create.”

Some of the art pieces share truths students are learning, some tell stories and others highlight aspects of the beauty God has built into our world, he said.

“The planning, creating, installing, and opening of an exhibition offers the students valuable experience in career preparation for future exhibits,” he said.

Andrews said he is proud of the graduating seniors.

“It’s exciting to see the students’ efforts on display as they celebrate the accomplishment with family and friends,” he said. “Truly a culmination of years of training and dedicated creating.”

Seanor said that her professors were critical to her learning experience.

“I don’t think I can put into words what they mean to me and all the ways they’ve helped me in regards to art,” she said. “I respect them not only as a teacher but also as great artists.”

Seanor encouraged students to visit their exhibition.

“Art is a display of how the artist views the world,” she said. “You should view art because it opens your eyes to how other people view the world.”

Like their artwork is a reflection of themselves, viewers can also see a reflection of themselves through their art.

Visit “Reflect” at the Sargent Art Building through May 2.