Story by Mary Zielke, Arts Columnist
The Art department at Aquinas College hosted an opening reception to recognize and display various students’ artwork. On Wednesday, February 21st, from 12-2pm in the Arts and Music Center(AMC), 28 students decided to reveal art that they have accomplished.
As any academic grade could submit their work to be featured, this allowed inclusivity to any student willing to participate. At least 50 people came to attend the event, as family, friends, students, and professors came to support the undergraduates and to join the social occasion.
There was a wide assortment of creations that ranged from paintings to ceramic art. An array of art mediums were presented; ranging from charcoal drawings, monoprints, pastels, photography, oil paintings, and many more artistic styles. Students were able to set a price on their designs if they wished, collectively gaining experience to judge and value their products. A list of these costs were provided to anyone who wanted to buy artwork, or simply acknowledge those who participated.
One senior artist, August Emerson Davis Hagedorn, described their approach to coming up with a collection. “Finding my lineage in relation to where everyone came from, was cool to research,” they said. Going into depth on a specific ceramic piece, August comments, “The cobalt represents German and Slovainian signs, but the shape is supposed to represent a bird’s nest.” Being inspired by heritage, their piece called Vogelnest ties concepts of familial backgrounds. Their whole collection presents an expressive way to remember and cherish their ancestors.
Other themes that emerged in the show were nature, campus scenes, still life, portraits, and classroom settings. Overall, the reactions from spectators were very positive, as this offered a great way for Aquinas to organize more conversations around art, and the importance behind applauding those who put so much effort into their craft. Individuals did not seem to have a favorite piece, since each design was unique, where a diverse expansion of talent was shown.
The gallery will be promoting the artwork for a whole month, concluding this series on Friday, March 22nd. Held in the second floor of the AMC, specifically in the center gallery, anyone interested in viewing an assortment of different works can stop by Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Saturday 12-2 p.m.
The Saint 