2008 Woodie Awards
Exhibit showcases Mesa's finest
Brittany Wizcek
Issue date: 5/22/08 Section: News
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The event began with a reception and art sale where attendees were provided with refreshments and a first look at the students work, most of which was priced to sell.
Before the event, Instructors were given the task of selecting the pieces that would be shown in the exhibit. They had to choose from the collection of work all of their students created throughout the semester and narrow it down to just a few pieces to be presented.
"I try to choose pieces that show development…evolution" said Robert J. Sanchez, a painting and drawing instructor at Mesa.
San Diego Mesa College offers a wide variety of art classes for students studying at all skill levels. The work presented at the exhibit featured pieces done by students using a variety of different mediums. While most of the submissions began as class assignments, each student's different artistic vision showed individuality and gave the exhibit an eclectic feel of differing tastes and varying artistic voices.
This was also the first semester that the Mesa College Fashion department presented their work in the student exhibition. The fashion students had been working all semester on their individual fashion lines and class assignments. This new addition was truly a highlight of the event and featured garments made of interesting materials such as recycled neck ties, coffee filters, and ribbon. The few pieces that were shown in the exhibition served as a preview of the work that would be presented in their annual, end of the year "Golden Scissors fashion show," which happened on May 16.
While the exhibition presented some students with the opportunity to showcase the pieces they individually created, it also gave students the chance to work together on collaborative projects.
"Collaborative works are encouraged so that many students can showcase their work," said Sanchez. He added that collaborative pieces allow students to "share their ideas with others and create multiple voices in their work."
The students of Sanchez's freehand drawing class in collaboration with the museum studies students created one such piece. Each student was given the assignment to create an individual text drawing using single terms pertaining to art and drawing. The completed submissions were then handed over to the museum studies students who were given the task of using the pieces as the medium to create an artistic compositional layout. The final piece was on display at the exhibition and was created by over 16 students in collaboration. It was simply entitled "Mixed Media On Paper," and was truly a unique and eye-catching creation.
Overall, the student art exhibition's success was apparent in its ability to not only bring patrons to the gallery, but to surprise them with the quality and diversity of work that is created by the Mesa College students. The exhibition provided patrons with impressive pieces and something to fit every artistic taste. The Mesa College Art Department encourages even more students to get involved and share their voices in this semi-annual event that honors and celebrates the art, collaboration, growth and diversity among Mesa artists.
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