Seniors showcase their works in annual capstone exhibitions
Works by graduating Art students at McDaniel College are highlighted in two end-of-the-year senior capstone exhibitions. Both exhibitions take place in Rice Gallery, Peterson Hall, and feature a variety of media, from two- and three-dimensional works to digital and new media.
The first exhibition, titled “On The Verge,” runs April 11–26, with an opening reception April 11, 5:30–7:30 p.m., including a gallery talk at 6 p.m. Students showcasing their works are Daniel David of Silver Spring, Md., Trevon Haynes of Glen Burnie, Md., Rebecca Marr of Taneytown, Md., Mykerria McNeill of Baltimore, Kasey Nicholson of Delmar, Md., and Katie Ogorzalek of Glenwood, Md.
"EnvironMental: Exploring Inside & Out," the second capstone exhibition, runs May 2–17. An opening reception takes place May 2, 5:30–7:30 p.m., including a gallery talk at 6 p.m. Students with work in the exhibition are Lauren Baughan of Owings Mills, Md., Melinda Bitzel of Hampstead, Md., Kristen Gibb of Glen Burnie, Md., Andrea Hutchins of Churchton, Md., Jonathan Nepini of California, Md., and Samuel Simacek of Flower Mound, Texas.
Both exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. Rice Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and Saturday, noon–5 p.m. Call 410-857-2595 for more information.
About the “On The Verge" Artists:
Trevon Haynes edits and designs sports images, which he says are shaped by his background in football and playing sports. He said, “I can relate and connect with the emotions and perceptions in each image because I was in those situations before.”
Rebecca Marr’s current series, “The Dysfunction of Communal Social Media,” is made up of postcards that bring attention to negative posts from a Facebook group for Taneytown, Md., and “is meant to turn negativity into positivity.” She said, “My aim is to make the Taneytown community a little more positive and, eventually, branch my postcards to focus on the negativity in Carroll County as a whole.”
Mykerria McNeill said, "I was inspired by old and overlooked forms of media to create a series of sculptures using floppy disks and CDs as the medium. I have created an interactive installation that give the audience a taste of internet in the 90s, and a series of outdated ‘tech’ themed gifs. I wanted these outdated forms to be honored the way they once were just not by their original means.”
Kasey Nicholson advocates for environmental issues by using a variety of mediums, such as screen printing, photography and collage, displayed on apparel. As an Eastern Shore resident, she is particularly interested in alternative energy sources and specifically the plan to install wind turbines off the shore of Ocean City, Md. She said, “I aim to bring it back to the forefront of the public’s attention and the more people that get involved the better chance we have at a healthier, cleaner future for Ocean City.”
Katie Ogorzalek's work combines photography and graphic design, and “represents the work I have done here at McDaniel, as well as what my time at McDaniel has meant to me."
Note: no artist statement was provided by Daniel David.
About the “EnvironMental: Exploring Inside & Out" Artists:
Lauren Baughan notes, “Often times when we look at a landscape, we see and appreciate the scene in its entirety, but do not take the time to appreciate all of the little details. Each piece in my main series focuses on simultaneously appreciating both the scene in its entirety and each individual element within it through the deconstruction and reassembling of a landscape. Additional pieces on display highlight the details of individual elements from nature.”
Melinda Bitzel said, "My artistic work has spanned several decades, beginning when I was a teenager learning to sew from my maternal grandmother. While raising three sons, I relied extensively on my knowledge of sewing, furniture refinishing and making objects in order to decorate my home and keep my hands busy. Currently, my work focuses on mosaics from paper, canvas and/or cardboard. There is a deep fascination with mosaics that pushes me to investigate how to break a material down to an elemental unit, then remake it into something new."
Kristen Gibb says that she uses multiple media in ‘I Suppose I May Be Dead’ to articulate the uncomfortable feelings associated with mental and physical health symptoms. “In my sculpture, video, and audio works, I use the concept of ghosts who are coming to terms with their own death. I felt that in the early stages of depression, when one has yet to be diagnosed, the symptoms mimic that of a spirit, trapped in their own mind.”
Andrea Hutchins says that her work focuses “on the detrimental effects that humans have on our oceans. I am creating works that symbolize garbage that is often thrown away in our water. I am also creating works using recycled garbage that people have donated to me.”
According to Jonathan Nepini, “My work revolves around a study of the spaces and places I encounter, both natural and constructed. I focus on how we interact with the spaces around us, and how our actions often have significant impacts on these spaces.”
Samuel Simacek said, “My project deals with escapism. I show myself in a real life stressful situation and then I put myself in an idealized fantasy world in order to escape the situation.”
