Reading time: 4 minutes The Department of Art and Design presented the Spring 2024 BFA Group Exhibition, showcasing the talented students participating in the program.
Each semester, the Department of Art and Design offers a glimpse into the strides they are making to educate and influence the next generation of artists by hosting a BFA group exhibition. Students in this program are given the opportunity to present their artistic vision to the world, and attendees get the chance to witness their unique and insightful perspectives. The 2024 Spring Showcase runs March 19-28 in the 4th and 6th floor galleries of UVU’s Gunther Tech Building.
The 4th floor gallery hosts works by three artists: Emrey Maybee, Kylie Beutler, and Bryson Finley. Their artwork consists of painting, sculpture and photography and focuses on aspects of recognizing inner struggles and inner beauty.
Maby’s collection, called “Invisible Battles,” uses acrylic and charcoal to create abstract images of the process of healing from trauma. She plays with the contrast between light and dark, as well as with organic and geometric forms to represent the idea of loss, transformation and reconciliation.
“Vital Organs” by Beutler is a collection of rock sculptures. Each sculpture represents a different part of the body, including the soul. Beutler tries to capture the idea stated by Wassily Kandinsky that “the spirit, like the body, can be strengthened and developed by frequent exercise. Just as the body, if neglected, weakens…so the spirit perishes if it is not cared for.”
Finley’s collection of photographs, called “Ship,” seeks to capture the beauty inherent in everyone that transcends physical form. Using light and shadow cast on the human form, he photographed close-ups of body parts with plants as if joined together.
The 6th floor gallery hosts works by six artists: Alyssa Bennett-Stoliker, Yen-Chen Liao, Rachel Le Sueur, Shala Manning, Oliver Winegar, and Erin Darby. These works cover a wide range of mediums and themes, focusing on feelings such as loneliness, vulnerability and nostalgia.
Bennett-Stoliker blended photography and poetry in the piece “Exposed.” These works seek to capture experiences of vulnerability in an attempt to make sense of complex feelings that are sometimes overlooked. Each piece has an accompanying poem that offers more depth into the purpose behind the images.
“I Think, Therefore I Am” by Liao is perhaps the most eye-catching of the exhibits pieces. When one enters the room, one will immediately see the large sculptural heads dotted with interesting objects. Liao expressed how these works were inspired by a trip to Samoa and were intended to convey introspection and meditation.
Lesueur’s ‘Solitude – Loneliness’ collection, using linocut, creates images that capture the essence of loneliness, often featuring isolated individuals who would otherwise remain overlooked. The purpose of these works was to explore the complex relationship between people and loneliness.
“Shalah Kay’s Natsukashii” draws inspiration from Pokémon, Andy Worhol and the Korean art style of carved green. These pop art pieces try to capture the feeling of joyful nostalgia.
Letters to Eliza by Winegar uses archival pigment prints to create a story through everyday objects. Winegar presented his artist’s statement in the form of a letter to Eliza from her father, further bringing the story behind these works to life.
Darby’s abstract oil paintings in the section “What We Are Made Of” explore the concept of the human experience in relation to the wider universe. It draws inspiration from William Shakespeare’s quote, “For as we are made, so are we.”
These works of art come together to create a beautiful exhibition of the talented students at UVU. Although they cover a diverse range of styles and themes, they are united in their desire to explore the complex depths of the human experience.
Chase Martin is a senior at Utah Valley University studying English with an emphasis in creative writing.