A few students who work in the Art Department and are art majors (or minors) chimed in about their experiences with the senior art exhibition that took place in Studio Art Hall in December 2021. The fall graduating seniors in the show included Hannah Avalos, Alexis Rudy, Malik Sims, and Chloe Wanaselja.
“The artwork exhibited in the fall senior show was fascinating to view and in some cases be immersed in. The work demonstrated the skills of the students as well as their original ideas. Personally, I enjoyed the installation work of student Malik Sims. Between the lights, music, sculptures, and drawings the artwork overwhelmed the senses of the viewers in a calming and welcoming way. Alexis Rudy's artwork uniquely demonstrated to the viewer how visual media can be presented in a nontraditional form by using virtual reality and sculpture to change the perceived environment of the viewer. Hannah Avalos's work took over an entire wall and included several different prints that all contributed to creating a cohesive and beautiful piece. I loved seeing how Chloe Wansaselja manipulated the familiar natural material of tree bark to create a new visual experience for the viewer. I was inspired by the freedom each artist had when it came to material use and conceptual ideas proposed within each project.”
Aja Trice
“The red shirts, which read Chan Gallery in a psychedelic font, stretched over long sleeves and sweaters. As gallery attendants, it was important that our shirts were visible, but we couldn’t deny the brisk weather. I anticipated that being a gallery “usher” while a contagious virus loomed would amount to pestering people about their exposed nose and the need to sign in for COVID tracing. I now see that I mistakenly overlooked the draw and purpose of the event. Guests of the senior gallery exhibition were pulled to the art with such fervency that the sign-in was merely added anticipation. At the sign-in post I'd sometimes have to repeat myself and do a little dance to get a guest's attention because, although the podium and my red presence unconsciously signaled them to a halt, they were too distracted to hear my request. They peered into the gallery, and it was as though the power of the colors stunned their senses and shut off their hearing. They came to a full stop at the entry and pretended they were listening, but their eyes invariably wandered to the wall behind me that housed a cacophony of geometric homes. Other times, guests would need no instruction as they absent-mindedly scribbled their name and email while beginning to process the messages of the wall adorned in prints. I could sense that guests outside felt teased by the distance between them and the unexplored symphony of meaning and aesthetic that was inside. The excitement in the gallery transformed an uninspired COVID protocol, much like Christmas morning transforms the quotidian night into one of sugar plum fairies.”
Kate Menninger
“Needless to say, my experience working the senior show was filled with both high excitement and anticipation. After a year of remote learning, it was a cheerful and needed experience for a community-wide event where we were able to celebrate the work of graduating studio art seniors. Working the show, it was a pleasant evening being able to reconnect with old friends and meet new students like Aja and Kate where we joined others in touring the gallery. Having the opportunity to see the show being built up from the ground, it was cathartic to see the gallery come to life by both the vibrancy of the work themselves and the gathering of the Claremont community. Overall, my night working the show was an incredibly positive, uplifting, and memorable experience.”
Austin Kim