Graduating seniors from a variety of areas within the School of Art and Design will display their work at the DeVos Museum starting today and will go through the end of the semester during the Fall 2018 Senior Art Exhibition.

“There is always the challenge of time, and juggling all the different aspects of life while making the time to get the work done,” senior art and design major Emmalene Oysti said. “It will be a relief once everything is done and on display.”
Oysti, with a concentration in illustration, will display her book cover illustrations, which are an important part of her portfolio, she said.

The art displayed will be from the 30 graduating seniors within a variety of concentrations including, art education, ceramics, computer art, digital cinema, graphic design, illustration, jewelry, sculpture, furniture design, wood sculpture, painting, drawing, photography and human centered design, art and design professor Brian Kakas said.

“Everyone will find something they find interesting or can connect to because there are so many topics and subjects being covered in all forms of media,” Oysti said. “There is also a lot of talent in this group and I don’t think anyone would want to miss a chance to see their work.”

Months of preparation go into creating the works that will be
displayed at the exhibition and it is a way for students to build up their portfolios and experience having their work on display, Oysti said.

“It is important for artists to get to display their work to an audience, as well as building a professional network by working alongside their fellow artists and then the prospective clients that view the exhibit,” she said. “It’s also a way for art students to learn the process of organizing an exhibit which includes everything from the display set-up to writing art statements, and how to collaborate with a gallery museum.”

Throughout the process of getting the work ready for display, students work closely with the museum staff and learn about different tools and installation techniques providing real world experience and insights into the field, Kakas said. He added that they also work on marketing techniques and creating professional documents such as resumes.

“For some, this is the first time they are experiencing the real world gallery museum exhibition procedure from cradle to grave in real time,” Kakas said. “[I am looking forward to] seeing the labor of love, typically hidden from view and locked away in studios; physically on the walls and floor throughout the gallery spaces.”

There will be a closing reception from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14. The DeVos is closed on Mondays and open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 6 p.m. on
weekends.