Every year, Baccalaureate Visual Arts seniors develop a cohesive, conceptually tight body of work reflecting their personal vision. The following five artists’ work can be found at the Memorial Union Gallery at NDSU starting on November 26 through December 11.
A public reception will be held on Nov. 26 from 5-7 p.m.
Emily Mulvaney
Mulvaney’s work includes fabrications in white plaster of found objects from nature. The forms are placed in display vessels to communicate the importance and connection to nature. Featuring leaves, sticks, rocks, bark and lichen, her work explores the sacredness or significants of nature through self reflection.
“It speaks to the purity of the object itself, having them be fabricated and not real allows for remembrance of their place in the greater system,” responded Mulvaney. “It gives them more of a lifespan, more time to exist in our memory.”
“I would like to thank Kim Bromley for consistently challenging my ideas, while always respecting my intention and direction. The entire faculty in the NDSU Visual Arts department has given me incredible guidance throughout this semester and I’ll never forget the lessons I have learned from them.
“I would also like to thank my dad and my grandpa Jack for instilling within me a love for nature, which has been the driving force behind this show, and all of my work thus far. To the rest of my family, thank you for never doubting me.”
Vada Murphy
Vada Murphy is a BS of Art Education candidate working with video and installation. In her upcoming capstone exhibition, “8 Count,” Vada observes the compilation of habits and rituals. This series examines the lost purpose of intention within manufactured personal systems. “8 Count” seeks mindfulness of monotony and the mundane.
“We’re so burdened by screens and flatness and that existence, so I think the opportunity to navigate and interact with something in a space instead of it exhibiting as not an object is interesting,” said Murphy. “There’s something to do with people feeling more comfortable interacting with these videos, or engaged with them if they’re a physical object.”
Eric Wehrs
In his artist statement, Wehrs explains, “This collection of ceramic vessels demand your attention. These works interact within a landscape of highly layered forms connected by color, texture and proximity. There’s a curious relationship of attraction and repulsion that may challenge the viewers comfort level.”
Wehrs uses a unique and somewhat-improvised process to create the colorful pieces of pottery. First he creates the forms, then they are stacked in a big pile to be glazed chaotically. The pieces are removed from their configuration and put back again in a different order to be glazed a second time.
“I just kind of read the landscape that they develop in the table and choose the natural path for glazing,” said Wehrs.
Kendra Neu
With an emphasis in graphic design, Neu’s work brings the bright imagination of art and wildlife to a comprehensive promotional campaign for Arizona Wildlife Park. The park is a creation of her own imagination and features four sections themed by the different continents.
“I’m branding a game reserve called Arizona Wildlife Park, so I’ve been making merchandise plus materials like a travel guide, signage you would see in the park.”
Jun Hyun In
Hand-drawn in a frame-by-frame progression, animations by artist In will be shown on a multi-channel display, playing with peripheral vision and calling attention to details in the forefront. The work explores what it’s like to experience being away from home and how one can return home in memory.
“I like to work with the design of various things around us or redesign it with a different perspective,” said In. “I want to learn what other artists are doing in our industry and what they build with. What I learned from these experiences will be present to the audience.”
The video explores change of self and place while instilling a sense of curiosity and nostalgia.
“Thank you Anthony Faris for clarifying my thought through this show and Andrew Stark for giving directions that I can go from what I had,” said In.
Find out more
Ask the question, why are different artists compelled to create such different bodies of work?
Find Memorial Union Gallery online for more info.
