Display of ingenuity

Sun., Nov. 26, 2006

By Julianne Crane juliannec@spokesman.com (509) 927-2158

WSU artists in 'Border Crossings'

Alric Balka

Balka grew up in Deer Park before going to Washington State University to earn a Bachelor's of Fine Arts. "I am inspired by the various ways in which everyday tasks and occurrences can be used with a variety of different media to create interesting visual design."

Juliana Bertucci

Bertucci is a senior with a double major in landscape architecture and fine arts. "I have been passionate about design from a young age. I am inspired by the richness in combining the act of place making and public art. My paintings explore community relationships to the land."

Matt Boland

Boland, born and raised in Washington state, is planning on going after a Master of Fine Arts degree. "My emphasis is in sculptural ceramics, generally with a figurative theme. I do my best work in a learning community surrounded by other artists. My ultimate career goal is to teach art on a college level."

Rina Gang

When Gang was young, she spent most of her free time drawing pictures. "Drawing can express my feelings. Thinking on the picture, I really enjoy that. This way I can incorporate my daily experiences into my art."

Alex Gibson

One of the most prevalent concepts in Gibson's work is experimentation. "Whether it be how the work is displayed, the materials and techniques used, or the ideas touched upon, when I am creating a piece, it is more fulfilling when I learn something new during its inception."

Matt Hamlin

As a double major in advertising and fine arts, Hamlin can see the potential for both fields influencing the other. "Sketching images from the kitchen floor to power lines, looking for useful elements. I am currently working in acrylic paint, and incorporate graphic design elements in my work."

Elizabeth Hawbaker

Hawbaker likes her art to have a presence in the three-dimensional world, interacting with the physical space of the viewer. "Much of my work has been sculptural, but I also like to blur the line between two- and three-dimensional space through layers."

Nick Inman

Inman is occupied by ideas involving attraction. "Vivid juxtapositions, oddities or abstracted resemblances become the means of acquiring interest from those who view the work. Resulting notions link themselves to coded genetic information, forms of experimentation, and the engaging relationship between color and space.

Amanda Lyon

Lyon is a senior Fine Art major with an emphasis on painting. "I hail from the sand and tumbleweeds of Pasco. I am interested in my own reasons for certain shapes and how the viewer interprets these forms as a whole."

John Mason

Mason grew up around Vancouver, Wash. "I have always been interested in film and iconic imagery. In my work, I try to create the experience of the cinema, and how an iconic image can take hold of the viewer."

Sara Shinkle

Shinkle is a naturalized American from Thailand. "I spent 15 years in clandestine intelligence collection activities before deciding to pursue a higher education in the USA, where I am focused on presenting Thai culture to viewers through my reflections and memory of life in Thailand."

Shelly Stewart

Stewart is a senior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate. "My work in printmaking and digital media examines the interrelationship between humans and their environment, especially within the context of 'cause and effect.' It explores political issues, environmental concerns and spiritual concepts."

‘A blank canvas.’ That’s how Darlene Schneider of Moscow’s Eastside Marketplace sees the empty storefront that once housed a coffee and ice cream shop.

But not for long.

By Wednesday a dozen Washington State University art students will have transformed the vacant retail store into a sparkling gallery space for their upcoming show.

The exhibition is the culmination of a senior-level Contemporary Issues Seminar where students learned the business side of being an artist.

The title of the show, “Border Crossings,” expresses not only that students from Washington are exhibiting their work in Idaho, but also the fact that they are about to cross over into the professional world.

“The students are responsible for all aspects of the exhibit,” says WSU art professor Stephen Chalmers.

Tasks include locating and preparing the venue space; creating and distributing press materials; curating, hanging and labeling the work; organizing food and refreshments for the opening reception on Friday; staffing the gallery 50 hours during the week it will be open; and, hopefully, processing the sale of their art.

“Although an enormous amount of work,” says Chalmers, “the students have taken on the challenge. All of these experiences, including those which are not specifically arts-related, help prepare them for real-life situations.”