Bouncing knees, excited whispers and beaming optimism crammed into the third-floor lecture hall to commence the Senior Exhibition, now open until Dec. 6th. 

Students have spent months preparing to share their journey with their peers, families and mentors. The only space left in the room was in the hall, but this group didn’t mind the jam.

Whispers of encouragement and reaffirming gestures were being exchanged when Paige Wideman, director of Galleries and Outreach, stood to address the audience. For the first time since the doors opened, there was a silence that washed over the crowd.

“Good evening, everybody,” Wideman opened. “Really thrilled to see how many people are here. May need to think of a different venue in the future,” she joked.

One by one, seniors are brought to the front of the room and given a moment to talk about their work. Some students share personal stories and explain the deep connection they have with their pieces, while other students go into detail on the technical process.

After each presentation, there was an eruption of applause sometimes followed with proud statements from family members. There was one clear belief that all of these artists shared and the artworks portrayed—we’re in this together.

Kevin Muente, painting professor, was thanked by several students for inspiring their work and pushing them to achieve something they hadn’t realized was possible for themselves.

“There’s always something magical in the air, and I’m very proud of them. They’re the ones that have put in the hard work. It always feels good to be thanked, but they’re the ones who put in all the hard work,” Muente said.

He encourages anybody interested in seeing the bodies of work to come and take all of them in. There is not just one piece that needs to be seen; rather, that seeing all of these works as a collective is the real reward. 

Libby Anneken, a featured artist, displays three paintings meant to encourage the viewer to place more emphasis on creativity and knowledge. Her approach is fierce, and her work billows with warning.

“I believe we need creativity and knowledge in order to continue as a society, otherwise, we will destroy ourselves in the end. It’s meaningful for me to call for that change, or I feel like I’ve done nothing for that change,” Anneken said.

Doom is definitely an apparent theme in Anneken’s work as her first piece, “IZ,” a modern take on the “Wizard of Oz.” There is an apocalyptic feel to the piece and stacks of money can be seen in flames in the distant background. Anneken says the purpose is to call into question the “lust and fascination of war,” something she “holds no value for.”

Not all students portrayed the direction America seems to be spiraling towards. Some students wanted to focus more on what small gestures can do.

Kyrra Sullivan, another featured artist, used the exhibition to promote resilience and hope. Her piece, a spatial piece that the crowd can walk around and view from all angles, is titled the “Garden of Hope.” 

It features ceramic flowery, a jar and an origami swan. She designed the vase so that viewers can write messages of hope and drop them into the vase which isn’t to be opened until needed.

“The jar is inspired by Pandora’s box. I’m collecting everyone’s hopes inside the jar to keep them safe so they can grow to be something in the future,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan hopes anyone who stops by will take even the littlest bit of positivity, believing that even if things are rough, they can always get better.

The gallery has its weight loaded in complex ideas-—intricate ceramic lamps that feel of another world, sculptures balancing religion with medicine and exhibits that draw quandaries on the fragility of life. 

Wideman says that’s what the gallery is all about: enabling undergrad students to develop confidence and display their work.

Wideman says young artists need to break through their shyness, which tends to be an inherent trait in artists. 

“You know, a lot of these students missed their graduation because of COVID. They did not have the normal rights of passage from high school into college,” she said.

The exhibit is open until Dec. 6 and is located on the third floor of the SOTA building.