The Senior Spring Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition entitled, “PROM?” is currently on display at Appalachian State University’s Smith Gallery and includes artwork involving metals, relational aesthetics, video, ceramics and paintings.
The BFA exhibition is split into two parts; the first round, which is currently on display, opened April 8 and will close April 17. The second round will open April 27 and close May 8.
The artwork for the current round was completed by contributing senior studio art majors Alexandra Bird, Audrey Boyle, Emily Calhoun, David Jones, Madeline Lee, Haley McElroy and Catherine Michniak.
The studio art major’s senior class picked the name, “PROM?,” to portray how this show was the highlight of their senior year, similar to how prom is often regarded as the highlight of senior year in high school.
Lee, who plans to study art therapy in graduate school, said bringing together the artwork for this show took about a year.
“Every year the graduating studio majors have to plan and create artwork for a show in order to graduate,” Lee said. “It’s a year-long process in which you have to study, work and experiment to bring together all you’ve learned during your time at Appalachian.”
Lee’s paintings depict the demons people struggle with in everyday life and how they may appear to be cute and innocent to the people around them, she said. She used bright acrylics on watercolor paper.
“I love to use art as a narrative,” Lee said. “It’s a great way to illustrate stories or life events that are hard to put into words.”
Michniak has her metals and jewelry design displayed during the first round of the exhibition. Her display includes a series of five necklaces, each one containing an image that relates to things she learned from her grandmothers.
“My grandmothers have always been a huge part of my life,” Michniak said. “When I was younger, they taught me how to do things like cook and garden, and these things have influenced who I am and what I like to do as I’ve grown older. They’ve been very supportive of my decision to become an artist and I wanted to honor their presence in my life with this body of work.”
The second round of the exhibition will include paintings, sculptures, jewelry, video, ceramics, printmaking and mixed-media pieces by senior art majors Francisca Barros, Morgan Benshoff, Renee Cloud, Rachel Hallinan, Kenzie Knox, Carson Garner, Dylan Newton, Emily Rapp, Devyn Vasquez and John Whitfield.
Story: Molly Flinchum, Inter A&E Reporter
Photo: Courtesy of Madeline Lee