Featured Image: Senior Risa Yanagita displays her drawing, “VWU Landscape,” on Monday, Feb. 13. Carley Tantlinger | Marlin Chronicle
On Monday, Feb. 13, the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Sandler Center Foundation and the Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department hosted an opening reception for the 2023 Virginia Wesleyan University Student Art Showcase from 6-8 p.m. in the Sandler Center Art Gallery mezzanine lobby. The showcase presents a variety of artwork created by students of various majors at VWU.
“This exhibition celebrates themes of campus life, vitality and an undeniable force of nature seen in the creative production of Virginia Wesleyan University students,” Alex Dye, Media and Communications Coordinator II at City of Virginia Beach Cultural Affairs Department, said.
The exhibition features the work of around 45 students of beginning drawing and painting courses at Virginia Wesleyan.
“They were challenged towards an individual, unique use of imagery as a means of telling a story; the goals that we might use, the artistic endeavor, the creative act as a venue for introspection and communication,” Professor of Art, Director of Undergraduate Research and Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery John Rudel said.
Along with the various illustrations and paintings placed on display at the Sandler Center, ceramic and photography pieces are also included.
“The student artwork celebrated in this exhibition, the ceramics, the photography, the drawing and painting, it reflects the force of nature that is evident in the creative production of intellectual endeavors of Virginia Wesleyan students,” Rudel said.
A senior elementary education major and studio art minor, Lindsey Creekmore, was ecstatic to have her work on display. Creekmore, a member of Professor Sharon Swift’s Photography II class, has two photographs in the exhibit. One is of an old red truck sitting in her grandparents’ backyard, and the other is of her Mustang’s steering wheel.
“It’s exciting,” Creekmore said. “I definitely made my mom take pictures of me with my photos.”
The exhibition will be on display until April 11.
Carey Seay
clseay@vwu.edu
