BFA art exhibition displays visual joy and thoughtful content

By Julie Carle

The School of Art’s 2019 BFA Senior Thesis Exhibition earned praise from exhibition juror David Hilliard, a well-known photographer from Boston.

In his comments about the show, which runs through April 14 in the Fine Arts Center galleries, Hilliard said, “The exhibition was a joy to jury. The artwork felt very interdisciplinary and the best pieces hit a wonderful balance between sharply skilled form and rigorously critical content.

“This exhibition is generous in terms of its visual joy and thoughtful content,” he stated.

During the exhibition opening, School of Art Director Charles Kanwischer announced that the undergraduate show demonstrated talent that is as good as any other school in the country, public or private, and equal to a lot of graduate-level work. Hilliard’s comments about the quality of work aligned with statements previously made by NASAD evaluators, Kanwischer said.

During the opening ceremony, Kanwischer described the process of creating: “Creation is often an individual act – made in the isolation of a studio or classroom as you face a blank canvas or screen.” Among the rewards is working within a creative community comprised of people who have similar passion and drive.

To conclude the opening ceremony, Kanwischer announced the exhibition awards.  

“The awards are affirmations of the value of hard work and sacrifice.  But the memory of difficult sacrifice fades as it’s replaced by the feeling that comes from putting your work into the world and having it recognized – the feeling that someone else believes that what you do is valuable.”

FACULTY AWARDS:

These awards are judged by the faculty, the people who best know the work taking place in the school.

Scott Jones, Aaron Macy Memorial Scholarship; Zoё Farr and Kelly Stockard, Dave Cayton Memorial Award; Todd Hall, Dr. Elizabeth Casey Friends of the Libraries Sculpture Award; Emma Robinson, Elizabeth S. and Gary L. Cole Scholarship in Art; Laura Dirksen, James W. Strong Studio Achievement Award; Cara Schmidt, James W. Strong Digital Arts Studio Achievement Award; Cessna Manalili, James W. Strong Graphic Design Studio Achievement Award and James W. Strong Outstanding Senior Award; Olivia Jones, James W. Strong SACI Scholarship; Leann Ream, Marilyn Singleton/Medici Circle Leadership Award (Undergrad); Alyssa Johnson, Marilyn Singleton/Medici Circle Leadership Award (Graduate); Fawn Denbow, Mark Borsz Memorial Scholarship; Kelli McKee, Robert W. Hurlstone Memorial Art Glass Award; Kimberly Tumblin, Thomas Hilty Scholarship; Heather Rudolph, Tom and Jane Vanden Eynden Photography Award; Sarah Clark, Tom and Jane Vanden Eynden Art Education Award.

EXTERNAL JUROR’S AWARDS:

Dylan Kraska, Captive, Alumni Association Award; Nicholas Welker, Some Things to Talk About, Dominick and Elizabeth Labino Art and Technology Award; Heather Rudolph, Main Street Photo Award; Clara Delgado, Photographs, Monnier Family Foundation Outstanding Artist Award; Erin Clarkson, Medici Circle Cup Best of BFA Show Award.                        

PURCHASE AWARDS:

Erin Clarkson’s artwork Alexander and Robert earned the Arts and Sciences Purchase Award, and Chelsea Ford’s “Idea of a Goblet” received the Medici Circle Purchase Prize Award.