ETSU Department of Art and Design graduate students have a new exhibit at the Carroll Reece Museum.
The department held an opening reception on Thursday, March 23 to present their graduate students’ art exhibit. The exhibit can be viewed until April 28 at the Carroll Reece Museum, which is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. and on Thursdays from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Upon viewing the exhibit, I was impressed and surprised by the range and diversity in mediums and types of art.
Size and creativity were not limited in the exhibit.
“From figurative to conceptual to abstract, all wide-ranging examples of contemporary art practice, will be on display” the art department explained.
The student artists that participated are Jeri Allison, drawing; Mark Blevins, painting; Shawne Brown, photography; Ursula Bryant, graphic design; Aleta Chandler, ceramics; Amanda Dock, ceramics; Marty Henley, sculpture; Scott Jenkins, graphic design; Jessica Jones, fibers; Caroline Manheimer, fibers; Josh Manning, ceramics; Daniel Marinelli, sculpture; Catherine Martin, sculpture; John May, photography; Mary Nees, printmaking; Aurora Pope, painting; Garry D. Renfro, painting; Paula Sarut, painting; Ashli Brooke Taylor, metalsmithing; and Beth Trabue, photography.
My personal favorite was a sculpture called “Constitution 2005” by Catherine Martin.
It honored a woman who walked through floodwater to save lives after Hurricane Katrina. It was creative and thought provoking, as art should be.
Another piece that struck me was a digital illustration called “Parent” by Marty Henley. It is a picture of a young boy playing video games.
The illustration shows his perspective looking into the games. It is an original and neat concept and it is something you just have to see to understand, so check it out.
“Get Closer” by Ursula Bryant made you want to do just that: get closer. It is a large portrait with mixed medias that draws the viewer in to discover detail.
As you get closer you notice the swirls and lines of prose circling the facial features of the subject – an older man with glasses and a friendly, inviting face.
The man’s life spoke to the viewer through black, glittering words. Three of the messages written were: “As a small boy I worked in the fields pulling tobacco;” “I let my children comb my hair, they enjoyed it and it gave me an opportunity to talk with them;” and “I would rake leaves into piles in the fall for my children and grandchildren to jump in.”
For additional information about the exhibition or assistance for those with disabilities, contact the Reece Museum at 439-4392 or view the web site at www.etsu.edu/reece.

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