BHSU art students to host Wenona Cook Studio Tour

Wenona tour: Black Hills State University will host the Wenona Cook Studio Tour in the Wenona Cook Hall basement, Thursday, Dec. 3, 4-6 p.m. BHSU art students will showcase their work for the semester. The show is free and open to the public.

Fourteen Black Hills State University students will showcase their artwork for the semester during the annual Wenona Cook Studio Tour.

Black Hills State University students and community are invited to the art students' art show Wenona Cook Studio Tour in the Wenona Cook's basement, Thursday, Dec. 3, 4-6 p.m. The event is open and free for students and community members.

"Students have been working hard at the studios and at the end of the semester we open it to the public to see what we have done throughout the semester. It's fun and nice to see what art programs on campus are doing and enjoy different kinds of art," said Jessica Hill, art and graphic design communication major from Bowman, N.D. and president of the art club.

According to Jenna Kessler, art major from Rapid City, some of the major works consist of ceramics, painting, encaustics (wax based paint), prints, and beautiful drawings. The community not only has the first access to view these works but also have the opportunity to buy amazing local artworks and to help encourage the blossoming artists in our community.

"I will have my new encaustic collection that I have been working on this semester as well as some newer ceramics that I constructed over the summer and beginning of the fall. My works are generally inspired by nature and seem to follow that trend, this particular series is focused on distressed trees and landscapes," said Kessler.

According to Brandi Roetzel, art major from Custer, she will present wax painting. It is very versatile and techniques vary between each artist. Her technique includes working on wood panels, burning designs into the wood, putting a wax lay over the wood, and then oil painting on the wax.

"My inspiration for my work this semester is the human body and how we are constructed and what lies beneath the surface physically, emotionally, and psychologically. I drew most of my inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci's drawings and studies of the human body. I also will have older paintings and ceramic work in my studio," said Roetzel.

"It's really an honor to be selected to use these studios here at BHSU and this is our opportunity to share all of our hard work with the community. Our studio tours help motivate us as artist to produce great work and use the studios to their full potential," said Kessler.

Participating students:
  • Jenna Kessler, art major from Rapid City
  • Kylie Steever, education major from Hill City
  • Anna Burbank, art education major from Gillette, Wyo.
  • Andy Anderson, art education major from Rapid City
  • Brandi Roetzel, art major from Custer
  • William Lopez, art major from Gillette, Wyo.
  • Rachel Munce, art major
  • Chanel Wiggan, art major from York, Neb.
  • Rebecca Atkins, art major from Black Hawk, S.D.
  • Matthew Harnden, art major from Las Vegas
  • Jessica Hill, art and graphic design communication major from Bowman, N.D.
  • Nicole Biegler, art major from Gillette, Wyo.
  • Devin Stephens, mass communications major from Wall