Full disclosure: Reporter is currently an intern at The Gallery.
This year’s annual Visual Arts Student Exhibition located at the Mercer Gallery, opened on April 22 and includes 103 pieces of work by 60 fine arts students at Mercer.
Rachel Levitt, a third year student as well as an intern at the Gallery has submitted her art work for the student art show for two years now. She says, “The Student Art show helps prepare artists for future shows they may encounter, such as how to hang their artwork properly, understand how to submit their artwork, as well as speak about their work”.
Fine Arts Professor Lucas Kelly told The VOICE: “For me exhibition at any level has been a confluence of anxiety and pride. It feels good to share, but there is always the fear of the unknown response that the viewer may have.”
Prof. Dylan Wolfe who is the current Gallery Director says, “This year, in consultation with the visual arts faculty, the Gallery instituted a requirement that student artworks be reviewed and endorsed by an arts instructor before submission.”
Prof. Kelly says this change made things more competitive, and professional and prevented the show from looking like a “flea market.”
Maia Seals, a second year arts student at Mercer said that “submitting your work can be extremely stressful, and take up a lot of your time but the end result is always rewarding”. Seals says the knowledge she has gained through submitting her work has inspired her to maybe open up her own gallery someday.
Sarah Cronin, a first year student said that although she is not a fine arts major, she enjoys the artwork the gallery has shown. Cronin told The VOICE, “I wish they could do more student art shows, it is exciting to see some of my friends’ and family’s art work up in the gallery.”
The Student exhibit is held every spring and showcases student work including paintings, sculptures, photographs and mixed media.
The Exhibit will be open until May 8 free and is free to the public.
