Undergrad art on display in Frick

Undergrad Art Exhibition University Art Gallery Frick Fine Arts Building Runs through April 27

Artwork by undergraduate students in the department of studio arts is on display until April 27 in the University Art Gallery in the Frick Fine Arts building. Pieces in the exhibit include paintings, drawings, sculptures and digital works.

There are 99 works displayed in the exhibition, including pieces from 24 seniors and 20 other undergraduate students.

“The exhibition showcases the work of not necessarily only studio arts majors, so it’s a nice mix of pieces,” said Delanie Jenkins, professor and chair of the studio arts department.

Nikki Rosato, a senior studio arts major, is responsible for the installation piece tied to the exhibition’s press release photograph. “Unravel Me to the Core” is a hollow body sculpture Rosato made in her own likeness with packing tape and filled with balls of yarn.

“I am interested in the body as an exterior shell and what is shelved underneath,” Rosato said. “It was a crazy idea in my head. I thought about the internal versus the external.”

Inside of each yarn ball is buried a word related to the soul and human characteristics. As the yarn unravels, the word is revealed, which Rosato compares to the process of cracking a fortune cookie.

Rosato’s innovative self-portrait piece, one of five total she is exhibiting at the gallery, offers an alluring preview of the other 98 pieces on display.

Seven graduating seniors will host a discussion of their pieces on Wednesday in the University Art Gallery.

“Students will clarify what they tried to, or did, achieve conceptually and aesthetically, or discuss the process in which they arrived at the final piece,” said John Tronsor, one of the speaking artists. Tronsor has four pieces on display including two sculptures, one found object and one video.

The other artists who are speaking include: Jen Barker, Julian Betkowski, Terri Bradley, Margaret Mary Meinzer, Jason Pippi and Lori Anne Sharpless.

The exhibition showcasing the work of Pitt students will be on display until the end of finals week, so take a break from studying and support Pitt artists by visiting the gallery.