Fall 2023 Senior BFA Exhibition
Published: October 13, 2023 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 4 minutes
Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) will feature the work of seven graduating SUU students in the Fall 2023 Senior Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) Exhibition. The Exhibition will run from October 14 to December 23 along with two other major exhibitions, Brutal DC and L. Robert Gardner, Architect: Cedar City Mid-Century Modern. SUMA is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The museum is free and open to the public.
The Fall Senior BFA Exhibition showcases the culmination of each graduating art student’s time in the SUU Department of Filmmaking, Art, & Design. The students’ capstone projects demonstrate their ability to visualize, develop, and create a cohesive body of work to kickstart their careers in the professional art world. Smaller in scope than the spring, this exhibit will include work from Graphic Design and Photography students. In order to give the students enough space to display their work, this year’s BFA Exhibition is split into two halves, with three student artists displaying their work from October 14 to November 11. The remaining four students’ work will then be on display from November 18 until the Exhibition’s closing on December 23.
Lindsey Snyder, a Graphic Design major and audio engineer from Utah County, decided to study art because of its ability to help people see things in different and more complex ways. Her capstone piece is a sweet display inspired by Japanese musical duo Yoasabi’s album “The Book.”
“Yoasabi takes stories with darker themes and complex topics and turns them into music,” Lindsey explains, “The way they make these things easier to consume inspired my project. Bringing sweets into the concept shows the contrast of the highs and lows of life without neglecting the darker parts of the work.”
Lindsey’s goal is to create art that brings people together and opens channels for conversation. “I love storytelling,” she explains, “and the way Yoasabi makes darker themes and complex topics more easily consumable inspired me to do the same with my project. I’ve translated original songs and novels from Japanese to show that they are relatable to anyone.”
Lindsey isn’t the only senior to utilize art as a tool of communication. Photography major Layna Wilcock from Hurricane, Utah says that they often create things that portray thoughts or feelings they weren’t even aware of. “I decided to study art because I realized that creating art feels like a way to communicate,” Layna says. “I hope that people will see how the smaller details and the bigger picture connect to create a narrative that resonates with them.”
Wilcock’s work consists of abstract illustrations coupled with photography that represent specific hardships they’ve experienced and the lessons they have learned through these experiences. They explained, “This series demonstrates the seemingly abstract and often hard-to-describe thoughts and feelings that occur in the darkest moments of life.”
The BFA Exhibition is the crowning achievement of Art & Design students and represents four years of tireless work and development as well as a showcase of what the graduates are capable of as emerging professionals.
To kick off the Fall and Winter Exhibitions at SUMA, all are invited to participate in an opening reception at the museum from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14. Another opening reception will take place on Thursday, November 30 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. for the second group of BFA students.
Exhibiting Students (October 14 - November 11, 2023)
- Vada J. Despain, Photography
- Lindsey Snyder, Graphic Design
- Layna Wilcock, Photography
Exhibiting Students (November 18 - December 23, 2023)
- Marét Bone, Graphic Design
- Emmarie Hampton, Graphic Design & Marketing
- Autumn Richardson, Photography
- Sophia Wall, Graphic Design
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year and is affiliated with the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA), Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the Center for Shakespeare Studies. Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Student Graphic Design Southern Utah Museum of Art Art and Design Photography Graduation College of Performing and Visual Arts
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu