After hours of work and dedication, seniors in graphic design, art studio and art history are now presenting the results of their efforts in the Senior Art Show.
From April 15 to May 12, the art work of more than a dozen seniors is on display in Wallenberg Hall and Tredway Library. Each of these pieces have been carefully crafted to showcase different themes and values the seniors have chosen to represent in their work.
Whether it be a life-long passion or from a personal experience, the seniors made sure each display is much more than meets the eye.
Inside Tredway Library, senior Emmie Kulak’s eye-catching pottery is on display, with numerous vases sitting snuggly together on pedestals. These pieces are hand-crafted and follow Kuak’s combined passion for art and the environment as she creates her art using Earth’s elements. The result is colorful pottery, decorated with hands, facial features and more.
“Some of my favorite pieces are from the wood firing we just did, which doesn’t happen all the time,” Kulak said. “‘Obstacle Course’ and ‘Playful Existence’ were the two [pieces] that came out of that that I really liked. The fired pieces are some of my favorites because the wood adds an element of unpredictability. The heat of the fire on the wood adds these touches of cool red or brown to the pieces and it adds a fun surprise.”
Senior Linh Hoang, a triple major in film, art and graphic design, was inspired by sports and chose to use her skills in photography and her admiration for the vintage look of ‘70s photos to create three posters of Augustana’s football team. Hoang is a photographer and videographer for the athletics department.
“My main reasoning behind my posters is to get people more interested in Augustana athletics,” Hoang said. “It’s to help, so people will get out and enjoy the games more and to help promote athletics so students will be encouraged to go.”
After graduation, Hoang plans to continue her passion in film and photography.
“I hope to get a job in production,” Hoang said. “Or maybe with a sports team. Another option would be to work in a design firm. I’m really open to a lot of options right now.”
While some seniors plan to work directly in the arts, others plan to nurture their passion for art through their careers.
Senior Hannah Johnson, an art and psychology major, plans to continue her education and get her masters in counseling.
Johnson plans to take lessons she’s learned from Augie on the road.
“Having art classes that made way for more individualization along with professors who were so open to everyone’s art helped me a lot,” Johnson said. “Art is art and it’s supposed to invoke emotion, and I think that in my future, especially with children who may be nonverbal or struggle to express themselves, art is a way of communicating.”
Johnson’s work for the Senior Art Show is a massive eight foot tall, six feet wide canvas with a painting in a Renaissance style which personifies the stages of grief and their interactions with religion.
“My inspiration came from having experienced a loss before college and then having to transition to living on my own,” Johnson said. “But also it came as a way of wanting to honor that part of myself as I step forward. I grew up Catholic and religion hasn’t been a huge part of my life, but it was a pillar for this painting. I wanted to paint how humans interact with religion after a loss.”
With Augustana’s seniors talent on display, Augustana has the chance to take advantage to see their work and support the graduating class as they prepare for the next stages of their lives.
