SPECTRUM senior art show

SARON GEBREGZIABHIER
STAFF WRITER

3/18/2024

With vibrant strokes and diverse mediums, Alma College’s senior art students present their collective brilliance in the Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery in the Clack Building. The senior art show, ‘SPECTRUM,’ features the creative endeavors of nine graduates from March 18 to April 19, 2024.

This exhibition offers a kaleidoscope of perspectives, each uniquely expressed through a multitude of artistic forms. From bold brushstrokes to intricate sculptures, the students have delved into various topics, showcasing their individual visions and artistic prowess. 

“The senior show is the art and design major’s capstone experience. Seniors spend the year immersed in the process of making an exhibition. Each student studies and explores a topic unique to them. This year, many students focused on mental health. You will see drawings, paintings, sculpture and photography in this exhibition,” said Jillian Dickson, Assistant Professor of the Art Department at Alma College.

“There are so many fascinating topics and variations within this art show that I think is going to set it apart from years previous.” said Weston Hirvela (’24).

“I used character design as a form of self-portraiture. Every single character that I design has some pieces of me in them, whether that be a much larger piece of my anxieties, fears and experiences or a smaller piece like one character has a variation of a hat that I loved to wear in middle school,” said Hirvela.

Takeviona Costigan (’24) employs mixed media to delve into the theme of abandonment and where it comes from, utilizing acrylics, watercolors and diverse surfaces like wood, cardboard and canvas in her paintings. “I see my work as an extension of myself. It helps me to process and understand. I think creating and sharing can help other people feel understood as well,” said Costigan.

Yuhao Guo (’24) has ventured beyond conventional canvases and sculptures, utilizing interactive digital platforms to immerse players in his narrative world. “I am presenting my video game, Unforgiven, in the art show. I do have two websites set up for the game- one for the digital game and one for the physical game,” said Guo.

Taking a unique artistic approach, Corey Zeneberg (‘24) created a performing arts show centered on White Knight Syndrome. This psychological phenomenon serves as the thematic backbone of his work. He endeavors to give voice to and shed light on this complex phenomenon, using the meticulously constructed room as a tangible representation of his own mind.

 “Anybody is welcome to walk into the room and anonymously write down a problem that they are currently having and paste it up in the room using tape or whatever. Eventually, as the weeks and months go on, the room will be filled more and more. This helps me to show how this can become a claustrophobic syndrome,” said Zeneberg.

Artists pour countless hours into producing their works, refining their techniques and perfecting their expressions. Each piece becomes a narrative woven into the larger tapestry of the exhibition.

Just as a dissertation paper represents the culmination of years of academic study, the senior art show is a testament to the artist’s development over their undergraduate years. It synthesizes their experiences, influences and personal revelations. It can be considered a visual dissertation that speaks volumes about their artistic identity and aspirations. 

Be sure to mark March 24 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. as the time to be in the presence of creativity.