April 5 will kick off the Nicholls Art Club’s spring seniors art show that will last until April 30. The senior art show will contain exhibits from four graduating seniors. The first exhibit will take place from April 5-8 with senior Alicia Vinning showing displays in recent prints. A joint exhibition will take place from April 19-23 with senior Nicole Nobles displaying photographs and Sherry Arcement displaying a collection of ceramics. The final exhibit in the senior art show will take place from April 26-30 with Kendra Miller displaying photographs.
All exhibits are displayed in the Ameen Art Gallery, 200 Talbot Hall. All exhibits are open and free to the public.
The senior art show is a graduation requirement for graduating seniors enrolled in Art 499. Students are required to present a proposal for their exhibit idea to art faculty members for approval. Once their idea has been approved, students have a minimum of one semester to finish their art exhibit for display. According to Deborah Cibelli, associate professor of fine arts, most student shows are centered on a single art medium and contain about 20 pieces of work. The average senior art show averages about four exhibits per semester.
Once the show has been displayed, students are required to write an artist statement to defend their show, in which the artist addresses his or her goal and makes suggestions to the audience on ways to interpret the show.
“The senior exhibitions allow the students to put forth professional portfolios, and to make their first formal presentation of their artwork before graduation,” Cibelli said.
What some people may not know is what jobs are available for art majors. According to Cibelli, many prospective jobs are available and the senior art show is a formal display that students can present to graduate schools and prospective employers.
Graphic design majors can go into the field of newspaper layouts and design. They can also become a freelance artist, designing posters and advertisements for various companies.
Studio art majors are most likely to go into the art education field, or go on to graduate school to pursue education on the college level.
“The art majors are very creative,” Cibelli said. “We have had students that have created their own positions in jobs. One graduate that majored in sculpture now designs Mardi Gras floats in New Orleans. That’s a very creative use of a degree.”
Along with the art show exhibits, a reception will be held on April 8 from 5-8 pm for Alicia Vinning, and April 23 from 7-9 for Nicole Nobles and Sherry Arcement.