Student art on display

Studio Arts Student Exhibition Various Artists Frick Fine Arts Building Through April 29 (412)… Studio Arts Student Exhibition Various Artists Frick Fine Arts Building Through April 29 (412) 648-2423

One of the main highlights for students of the arts is the annual Studio Arts Student Exhibition, which showcases and honors their creative works.

The exhibition, located in the University Gallery in the Frick Fine Arts Building, will display student pieces through April 29. About two dozen seniors, juniors and sophomores participated in this juried exhibition and were chosen according to the excellence, ambition and overall presentation of their work.

Several students received prestigious art awards, including the A.J. Schneider Award, the Betty Blockstien Levine Memorial Award, the Martin Richard and Susan Baer Gluck Award and the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Award.

The first room features everything from photography to paintings to multi-media installations. An untitled installation by John Tronsor provides the only sound that visitors will hear in the gallery: static.

The noise seems to resonate from the featured, plastered figure that’s attached by wires to three overhead televisions. The piece focuses mainly on the message it communicates about the power of media and commercialization in our society.

Another striking piece in this portion of the gallery is a series by senior Padraic Driscoll. The work features a series of three digitally altered prints that display a spiraling, organic design. Driscoll received one of the three A.J. Schneider Awards presented to the artists.

Myke Harrier’s photograph, “contrast: life and death,” cleverly captures starkness of dead, white trees set against a lush, green forest. The contrast of life and death and white and green creates a stunning image.

Moving into the other rooms, viewers encounter a beautiful self-portrait by senior Eva Ramirez de Arellana. The large drawing almost emerges off the paper – the feminine figure and lightness of the pencil and its tone create a calming effect. The piece was awarded the Betty Blockstein Levine Award.

A variety of mediums are represented throughout the exhibit. For example, “Drunk in Antarctica” by Megan Sharrets is primarily made from bottle caps. Interactive pieces beckon viewers to stretch their imaginations and creatively consider the meaning behind these up-and-coming artists’ works.

Tomorrow at noon, the gallery is hosting an event in which viewers and students can converse with the artists about their work. Contact the University Art Gallery at (412) 648-2423 for more information.

Editor’s note: Megan Sharrets is a copy editor for The Pitt News.