BHSU Senior Art Show set at the Matthews Opera House

   

   

   

       

           

       

       

           

           Black Hills State University student Jessica Hill, art and graphic design communication major from Bowman, N.D., showcases artwork during this year&rsquos Wenona Cook Studio Tour. Hill is one of eight BHSU students that will have their artwork showcased during the Senior Art Show April 3-25 at the gallery in the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday April 10 at the Matthews Opera House.

            

       

       

            

       

       

           

           Diane French, art and graphic design communication major from Keystone, is one of eight BHSU students that will have their artwork showcased during the Senior Art Show April 3-25 at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 10 at the Matthews Opera House. Pictured is a self-portrait oil painting.

           

       

   



Eight Black Hills State University students will showcase their time and talent during the BHSU Senior Art Show this month at the gallery in the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish.

The BHSU Senior Art Show is an annual event and culmination for students earning a degree in art or art education. The exhibit is on display April 3-25. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 10 at the opera house. The event is free and open to the public.

"This show is a strong representation of the students&rsquo talents, primarily created during their junior and senior year in the art program," said David Wilson, professor of art at BHSU.  

The exhibit will include a variety of paintings, drawings, sculptures, prints and ceramics. Many of the art pieces will be available for purchase.

Students exhibiting in the show include:

&middot Brittany Whitney, art major from Rapid City

&middot Kelly Lake, art education major from Ronan, Mont.

&middot Ethan Engel, art and graphic design communication major from Winner

&middot Katie Ribstein, art education major from Sioux Falls

&middot Diane French, art and graphic design communication major from Keystone

&middot Ashley A. Hein, art education major from Mitchell

&middot Jessica Hill, art and graphic design communication major from Bowman, N.D.

&middot Jenna M. Keller, art major from Rapid City

Ribstein will feature an array of artwork from oil paintings to hand-made jewelry in the show.

"The pieces directly reflect myself and how I might have been feeling when I created them," Ribstein said. "I like to play with color and I also really enjoy using organic lines and shapes to create visual stimulation."

As Ribstein pursues a career in teaching art to kids, she said BHSU provided her excellent role models to achieve her dreams.

"Each instructor I&rsquove had is able to communicate something different to me, providing a very well-rounded experience," she said. "They taught me to stay inspired and continue creating art."

Engel had a piece from his collection "Transcendence: The Journey of Autism," selected for the VSA Emerging Young Artists Program. Engel traveled to Washington, D.C., where the artwork was exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute. The Matthews Opera House also held an exhibit for Engel&rsquos "Transcendence" collection, something Wilson said is very prestigious for a college art student.

Engel&rsquos artwork tells the story of his struggle with Asperger&rsquos. His artwork is created on a cotton canvas, which resembles the color of skin. Engel writes words on the canvas from a personal diary. The words are written in reverse to represent the communication struggles he often faces.  French&rsquos artwork was featured in a South Dakota statewide college art exhibition at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, while other students in the show have had their artwork displayed in Rapid City and in other exhibits throughout the Black Hills.

Wilson said the students in the art show have had much local and national recognition, showcasing their abilities, the University and the community as a whole.

"Spearfish is a community that supports creativity and the arts," Wilson said. "Help us honor our   students and their outstanding accomplishments."