USF art seniors exhibit in contemporary media

University of St. Francis senior art students will exhibit their works in conventional and experimental media through the end of May in the university’s Moser Performing Arts Center gallery.

This thesis exhibition is a culminating presentation by graduating seniors completing the Visual Arts Program or students who have participated in individual studio course studies. In the presented work, students developed a consistent body of work that attempts to test conceptual and technical skills that have been developed while at the university, according to Chester Costello, chair of USF’s Fine Arts Department.

Bianca McGraw, Have You Seen Me thermal paper posters

This year’s exhibition includes works by 12 students with works on paper, graphic design, installation, painting, photography, sculpture and video, added Costello.

Students exhibiting work include the following:

DeAnna Allen, of Joliet, created found object works that address her African-American identity.

Justin Brinkmeyer of Charleston, Ill., made a photographic series of a Latino friend who is dealing with his loss of identity living in rural Illinois.

Josh Herring, of Lockport, developed a multimedia work that looks at architectural giants such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Maya Lin and Rennie MacIntosh.

Bianca McGraw, of Chicago, created installation pieces that look at child abuse in America.

Cathleen McLaughlin, of Alsip, produced a series of paintings that address her mother’s battle with breast cancer.

Michele Noonan, of Aurora, produced packaging design projects and corporate identity pieces.

Yaniro Paramo, of Joliet, made sculpture objects from found materials; one of the items is a tank.

Elizabeth Ramos, of Hanover Park, produced packaging design projects and corporate identity pieces.

Jackie Spangler, of Wilmington, created a series of alphabet books.

Ashley Stewart, of Roselle, produced packaging design projects and corporate identity pieces.

Brian Walsh, of Locust Grove, Va., produced a series of photographs that address a young friend’s battle with alcoholism.

Ryan Wolfe, of Belleville, produced a handful of works that look at the banality of objects and their function in everyday life.

Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. For weekend hours or other information, call (815) 740-3404. The University of St. Francis is at 500 Wilcox St. in Joliet.

The University of St. Francis’ Visual Arts program offers a comprehensive aesthetic education through a variety of traditional and contemporary media, taught by practicing artists with local, national and international professional experience. Class sizes are small, giving students every opportunity to realize their full potential, noted Costello. The Department of Visual Arts emphasizes the importance of coupling professional experience with contemporary aesthetic and artistic practices. Students work closely with an advisor and are encouraged to take advantage of work experience opportunities in the field of their choice, he added.

The Visual Arts program offers study concentrations in graphic design and studio art. In addition, the department offers art related minors in art and music History, photography and visual art.

Visual Arts is one of 60 areas of undergraduate study offered by the University of St. Francis, which serves some 4,300 students nationwide. The university offers undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, nursing and health care and social work. Ten graduate programs in business, education, nursing and health care are also offered.