Kaitlin Badger Photo: A sample of each persons work was featured in the announcement for the Senior Art Thesis exhibit.
If there was any question put toward the talent and creativity of the Mercyhurst University Art Department, the senior thesis art projects exhibit certainly puts it to rest. The exhibit, titled “From Reality to Abstraction,” opened to the public last Tuesday.

This exhibit illustrated some of the best that Mercyhurst has to offer.

The program featured five graduating art students and displayed the results of the senior thesis projects they’ve completed.

The magnificent selections are now being hosted in the Cummings Art Gallery. The artworks will stay housed there until the exhibit closes on April 29.

The featured artists, Samantha Fiorello, Tyler Stauffer, Kaitlin Badger, LeeAnn Stromyer and Laura Palermo, were the centerpieces to a dazzling reception last Saturday.

The reception was open to the public and gave a chance for real credit to be given to these young and dexterous artists.

Fiorello, an art therapy major, presented three quilts that focused primarily on the beauty of color and design. Her pieces included inspiration from the works of Adolf Loos and Walter Gropius.

Other artists, such as Otti Berger, Anni Albers and other Bauhaus inspirations could be recognized in the pieces. Works of these particular artists exemplify the idea of minimalistic and geometric art.

Also presented were four abstract acrylic paintings, created by Stauffer, an art education major. His works represent both his interests in art and his affection toward music. Stauffer’s work depicted a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone.

After many contrasting pictures were taken of the instrument, one was chosen, studied and then scanned.

After this had happened, the color, shape and size were altered in different ways. The finished product was a stunning image of creativity and a clear appreciation for the beauty of music and art.

When asked about his experience at the exhibit, Stauffer said, “Senior thesis was a great experience. It allowed us to concentrate on a specific subject matter and experiment with methods of creating our art from the beginning process to the finished product.”

Stauffer also commented on the show. “The show as a whole I feel looked very good. Our show is very uniform, everything working together as one,” he said. “It was a great process, and the finished result has a lot to show for what we have completed and worked hard in finishing.”

Graphic design major Badger exploited the use of Adobe Suite programs when creating her artistic vision.
Her motivation for the piece seemed to create a work of art that is past ordinary limits and plunges into the land of extraordinary.

Her presentation had components of white and black cuouts of trees. Badger’s series titled “Seasons” featured layers of images that manipulated corresponding colors that are expressive of the four seasons.

When asked about her art, Badger said, “My final thesis projects were Seasons, a series of four ink cutouts indicating the seasons, Tree Studies, a series of four black and white cutouts, Posted, a layered ink cutout, Noontime, a layered ink cutout, and Alternative, layered with ink, acrylic and enamel on paper.”

Stromyer was able to exploit technology in her artwork. An art education major, Stromyer incorporated both new and old technology when crafting her art. She began with black and white films with different filters, overlays and gradients.

Stromyer was able to maintain the beauty of the trees, while presenting them as something a little more abstract.

Palermo presented a set of acrylic paintings that surrounded her undertaking of clouds. Palermo, a studio art major, created works that ranged from a very small 8×10 inch work on a panel to a very large 6×6 foot acrylic on canvas.

Constable’s clouds in landscape paintings inspired the use of loose and airy-styled brush strokes in her painting.

“We are all grateful for all of the people who came out Saturday for the reception to show their support. It was a great afternoon,” Palermo said.

All of the artists seemed to have a great time displaying their artwork during the reception.

The works of art can be viewed from now until April 29 in the Cummings Art Gallery, located in the lobby of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.