Senior Exhibit

Senior EXHIBIT! has since come and gone. Leaving the twenty-one senior art majors incredibly relieved yet possibly in a state of mourning. Though our work is on display until the beginning of May, the night of the opening March 29th, seemed to be what we had diligently worked so hard for. Now with its passing I almost feel sad…disillusioned, asking myself, could I have made more designs? how could I have made my show better? where can I market these patterns? will a company want to buy them? are they good enough to get me a job? and ultimately what do I do with my life? My focus now on graduation and the future, this is a time of unknowns and unanswerable questions. Where will I live, who will I live with, can I bear to be apart from certain individuals? The only other time I remember feeling this way was when I graduated from high school…face to face with significant changes and brand new opportunities this time around the real world seems a whole lot scarier.

Here are some images from my show! enjoy:

16 days til go time

The end of this week brings the LONG awaited spring break ‘08! While in past years I have volunteered on a service trip to North Carolina, hung around a South Carolina beach with good friends, and toured the Italian countryside, this year I am left with uneventful break plans. With the art show going up in 16 days myself and many of my senior art peers are prepared to stay around campus and party it up with our work. A week or so ago I was OK with this outcome, enjoying most hours I worked on my show. But now three days away from break I wish I was going somewhere warm and far far away. It is true by this point in the semester, after suffering through numerous late nights (or early mornings I might say), and this far into the school year, everyone just needs a couple days to get away from work. And maybe it will be possible to slip away for a day or so, in order to keep my sanity. But the end result of a beautifully hung show remains in my vision field and for that I say bring on Spring Break ‘08!

the show

WEll it has been a long time…and for that I am truly sorry. While this semester has been fairly light on the academic side I am right in the middle of preparing my Senior Show. Exactly a month from now Climenhaga Fine Arts Center will be completely covered with artwork created by the senior art majors. In past years there have been multiple exhibits featuring seven to eight students at a time. But this year the show was changed so that all senior art majors are showing their work at the same time. Thus from the upper lobby of Climenhaga to the lower lobby to the gallery, student artwork will be on display.

Pressure to create a stunning show causes most of us to dwell on NOTHING but out exhibit. While I may not always be working on my designs I am constantly thinking about them, worrying about them, and hoping it will all turn out as planned. As a freshman I remember sitting in the first intro art class with nineteen other unfamiliar faces hearing that in fours years we would have to create a our own self-proposed show and being utterly terrified. Walking into the gallery that spring of my freshman year, and seeing the seniors work just solidified by fears. Everyone’s work seemed so professional…so good! And now I am in their shoes…finishing the course that four years ago seemed unachievable.

While with each passing we my finally product slightly shifts and bends into something else, at this point I can explain the overall design of what I am creating. I really enjoy patterning, but have never gotten a chance to design and create patterns. So for my show I have designed 20-25 patterns. These will be printed on paper and/or fabric and used to created lampshades. These 20-25 lamps will then be hung together as an installation. When all are illuminated it should create a beautiful atmospheric space! Bellow are some images that have inspired me thus far. I will be sure to post more as the show draws closer. :)

pattern

pattern

and its finally the last day

Today concludes classes for the semester! While finals will continue next week, tonight will be one of celebration at the annual Christmas Tradition! There are about 3,000 students at messiah and I heard from a pretty trustworthy source that over 1,000 students already bought tickets, which makes it a huge event. Its held at the Hershey Lodge, which is about a half hour from campus. Its an upgraded change from the gym where homecoming is held. Ladies attire will range from people’s old prom gowns to trendy jeans. And it is difficult to fathom what this DJ might find enjoyable to listen too. But there will be food, punch, dancing, and friends galore, sure to make it a fantastic evening. Maybe for one night we will all be able to erase our minds or lengthy papers, oral presentations, and complex projects.

and then there were none

With break right around the corner campus is beginning to quiet down. Although the senior art majors will be sticking around for a few choice hours. Having class the evening before break starts is one of the small let downs about the college experience! haha luckily though this is the first time I have had to stay until the bitter end. For our senior seminar class tonight we have a rather important, foundational paper due. Its called the Faith Integration paper. We must write about how how aspects of our faith and our major correlate. I am discussing the use of art as a tool for service. As humans we all have a right to aesthetic beauty. While we all have physical needs, God is the creator of beauty and quality and thus art is not only for the elitists of society but people in the margins without a voice. As artists it becomes our duty to service with the talents we have been given. It was funny because last night there was an army of art majors inhabiting the library writing. An then during a study break run to the local Sheetz there were about 25 Messiah students swarming the place at midnight. The “Sheetz Run” as it is known to be called has become a crucial aspect of Messiah life for many of us students! :)