Sophomore juries showcase student art

Jillian Marcellin, Staff writer

As Spring semester begins to pick up, many Mercyhurst departments are preparing for Sophomore Review.
The sophomores in the Art Department have been gathering some of their best works to be reviewed by a committee of Art Department faculty.
The sophomore review uses an advising process where sophomores are able to present eight to 10 examples from their portfolio.
As the students prepare for the show, they are looking at all of the past works they have created while at Mercyhurst.
Each student hangs their work in the Cummings Art Gallery in whatever arrangement they chose, allowing them to demonstrate their ability to organize a presentation.
Every year, students gather their work and put together their presentations on their own.
One of the rules about the show is that they are not allowed to ask the faculty for help.
The Cummings Art Gallery will open during daily hours so all Art majors and the public can view these student displays.
The students are expected to give an oral presentation that includes describing their selection of art work using the vocabulary of art including processes, materials and techniques as well as design concerns such as the use of elements and the principles of design.
This gives them the opportunity to get feedback from the faculty at the review.
Students receive both an oral review by the faculty board the evening of their review and a written summary from those faculty members.
This helps the students understand the strengths and weakness with their works so they can grow as artists.
The review aims to help the students generate ideas about their future goals and plans.
Thomas Hubert, one of the Art Department faculty, explained that the show is “always a surprise and a fresh experience for us to view.”
This year there are 18 students from the Studio Art, Graphic Design, and Art Therapy and Art Education Departments participating in the sophomore review show.
Aubrey Dietzel, sophomore Graphic Design major, said that the students are enjoying “having the opportunity to put our work we have done over the past two years in the gallery.”
Hannah McCall, Graphic Design major with a Photography minor, explained:
“I’m not really nervous. I feel like the Art Department prepared well with my photography and design class.”
This is an important opportunity for these students.
The student sophomore review show is open Feb. 11-15 in the Cummings Arts Gallery in the lobby of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
The Cummings Art Gallery is open Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, contact gallery director Jessica Stadtmueller at 814-824-2092 or jstadtmueller@mercyhurst.edu.