Art majors showcase work in second capstone exhibition

Kaitlyn Barker creates art that demonstrates the irony in the idea of “perfection.” Crocheting many styles of work from wearable to sculptural, she uses yarn to show that while sometimes things may seem “perfect," it isn’t always true. Her art is meant to make the viewer question their definition of perfection and change the impossible standards they hold themselves to. 

Barker said, "Everyone has a different idea of what 'perfection' is. Some people may say it means doing no wrong and being faultless. A few may think it’s being better than they were before. For others, it may mean having no flaws of weaknesses. It’s these kinds of standards that many people struggle to hold themselves to everyday. My art dives into holding myself to the idea of perfection and learning to let go of this expectation." 

Pictured: "Imperfection," 2024, Yarn

Olivia Douglas uses found and recycled items to "translate my unique perspective into a body that people can relate to," she said.

"As an artist, I am captivated by the interaction between lived experience and shared experience," according to Douglas. "My work serves as a visual exploration of human emotion, feeling, and connection; a testament to my own personal narrative and point of view. I aim to evoke a sense of familiarity and intrigue, promoting introspection and inviting viewers to interpret their own narratives within the visuals I create."

Pictured: "Why is everyone looking at me 1/2," 2023, cardboard, spray paint, mirrors, and magazines

Dellaney Georgiana uses colored pencils, oil pastels, and acrylic painting to create scenes, memories, and events from traditions to unforgettable moments.  

Georgiana said, "Taking trips down to South Carolina was something I looked forward to every year. A week trip down to the beach house where my cousins, aunts, uncles, and just dad went on. A place where everyone was happy; the excitement of haven't seen one another. A time to relax."

Sofia Gillespie, who works in watercolor, oil, and acrylic paint, ceramic, drawing, and fiber art, displays pieces that show Gillespie's development as an artist as a student at McDaniel. 

Gillespie said, "At the beginning of my time here, I found myself particularly drawn to the dynamic of colors in my artwork as well, often favoring vibrant and deeply saturated hues. This complex early work led to more advanced work in my last two years... Throughout my body of work, fine detail, complex composition, and color are all fundamental parts of the pieces."

Pictured: "Café Terrace at Night," 2021, watercolor on paper

Sarah Mendez embraces digital media as her preferred medium, blending traditional comic art with the digital canvas.

"Rooted in sequential art and illustration, my current work looks towards traditional narrative conventions, reflecting and providing a visual storytelling experience tangled in personification, hyperbole, and allusion," said Mendez. "Through each piece, I have allowed myself to use my train of thought as a guide, slowly moving each idea from one moment to the next; leading me to more absurd compositions."

Pictured: “I’m getting a fishy feeling” 

Evan Meyers's work reflects a culture that has become increasingly obsessed with physical appearances.

Meyers said, "I recognize that many people are unhappy with how they look and search for ways to hide or fix what they believe to be imperfections. Cosmetic surgery is a reoccurring theme in my work. I want to acknowledge that there are many reasons a person may need plastic surgery, but I don't believe vanity is one of them. My series of charcoal drawings, titled "Chasing Perfection," is a dark twist on cosmetic surgery; a surgery that involves removing your eyes all together."

Pictured: “Chasing Perfection I,” charcoal on BFK Rives

Brenay Spencer uses various media such as clay, fiber, paint, photography, and digital graphics to represent the human experience and its connection to nature, as well as mental health. 

Spencer said, "I want to document how I navigate life, and hope to relate to people and show them they aren't alone. Expressing humanity in various ways can help me connect not only with others, but nature as well." 

Pictured: "Heart problems," 2023, Ceramic