Bridgewater College Seniors to Display Works in Group Exhibition April 17-28

an orange graphic with white text that reads, "Bridgewater College Senior Art Majors' Thesis Presentations"

Nearly two dozen Bridgewater College art and digital media art majors will showcase their works in a senior art thesis show, “From the Surreal to the Sublime,” on display in Bridgewater College’s Beverly Perdue Art Gallery and various locations on campus from Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 28.

The exhibition of artwork is created by senior students as part of their thesis requirement. Each student will be showcasing a group of works that is the culmination of four years of work and development.

The exhibition will have an opening reception from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery located on the main level of the John Kenny Forrer Learning Commons and various locations on campus. Gallery talks will be held from 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, in Bowman Hall room 101 on the College’s campus. Gallery talks also are available to the public via Zoom at bridgewater.edu/seniorart. The receptions, exhibitions and talks are free and open to the public.

The Beverly Perdue Art Gallery is open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and noon to midnight on Sunday.

Students showcasing their work in the 2023 senior art show at Bridgewater College include:

A digital media arts major from Fredericksburg, Va., Malcolm Anderson will exhibit a two-episode video project on “FunkHoops,” a social media platform created by four BC student-athletes that shares sports content.

“This social media page is about showing the camaraderie and friendships built behind the competitive nature in sports. FunkHoops is for anyone who enjoys sports content and funny moments captured in it. This video was made to capture the origin story, the mission and its impact on the Bridgewater community and beyond,” Anderson said.

Anderson is a member of the football team at BC and the Black Student Alliance. Following graduation, he plans to obtain an internship with a government contracting company working with their design teams.

Anderson’s exhibition will be on display in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery located in the John Kenny Forrer Learning Commons.

A digital media arts major from Hope Mills, N.C., David Brown will exhibit a website designed using HTML and JavaScript. The interactive 3D environment allows the viewer to use a keyboard and mouse (similar to a video game) to move around and interact with things within multiple rooms of an art museum that showcases Brown’s previous works.

“I have three drives that carry me through life and provide me with purpose. The first is my drive to create, the second is my drive to share, and the third is my drive to dream. It is the combination of these three aspects of myself, as well as my dedication to both graphic and web design, that led me to create a portfolio of my college design work in the form of a virtual art museum,” Brown said.

On campus, Brown is an equipment room assistant for the Art Department. After graduation, Brown will complete the Master of Arts in Digital Media Strategy (MDMS) program at Bridgewater College.

Brown’s exhibition will be displayed in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

A digital media arts major from Pasadena, Md., Megan Byle will exhibit her motion graphics portfolio.

“In my creation of this lively exhibition of my artwork, I want to tell a story to my employers and demonstrate my flexibility in creating motion graphics. I want my creations to have a sense of purpose and tell a story,” Byle said.

During her time at BC, Byle was a member of the women’s soccer team and an academic tutor for graphic design 1 and 2. After graduation, she hopes to work in graphic design and motion graphic design while continuing to take classes in animation, videography, web design and more.

Byle’s exhibition will be on display in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

An art major from Hope Mills, N.C., Shadley Edge will exhibit mixed-media sculpture and painting.

“My style is dynamic, flat and expansive. Bold colors and thick black lines are accentuated by wall-hanging tendrils and mounted paintings,” Edge said. “My installation threatens to overtake the entirety of the room and it represents this feeling of unease that stems from existing within an undefined space. It creates a sense of encroachment by foreign growth.”

At BC, Edge is in the Flory Fellow honors program as well as Phi Alpha Theta, a history honor society, and the Philomathes Society, which encourages scholarship and recognizes students who have achieved unusual distinction in the pursuit of knowledge. In addition, Edge is a member of the Interfaith Student Association and an assistant in the Digital Media Lab and the Office of Student Life.

After graduation, Edge plans to take a gap year to build a portfolio before applying to graduate school for fine arts, with an end goal of museum work and gallery directing.

Edge’s exhibition will be on display in the Art House located at 429 E. College St.

A digital media arts major from Bealeton, Va., Diana Fewell will exhibit “Garden of Emotions,” a collection of four digital prints on aluminum that playfully explore obscure emotional states that one might experience.

“I am working with two mediums, photography and typography. Flower images constructed from type symbolically explore the emotion that is depicted in the photography by referencing the Victorian Language of Flowers. The Victorian Language of Flowers is a symbolic language created in the Victorian era in France by women who wished to convey messages through bouquets given as gifts. I chose to pursue this project because I wanted to work with mediums in which I feel the most creative, but also to explore how people feel, showing just how complex human emotions are,” Fewell said.

After graduation, Fewell will complete the MDMS program at Bridgewater College.

Fewell’s exhibition will be on display in the Eagle’s Nest located on the lower level of the Kline Campus Center.

A digital media arts major from Broadway, Va., Karl Gabb will exhibit “Under the Hood,” a two-part documentary-style miniseries.

“Episode one is about a particular person, Max, whose enthusiasm for cars became the means to a livelihood. Episode two is about my friend Sam who, on the other hand, is the poster child for car enthusiasts. This miniseries is meant to show viewers that cars can be much more than a means of transportation,” Gabb said.

On campus, Gabb is president of the Bridgewater Rugby Club. Following graduation, he plans to move to Clearwater, Fla., to work as a producer for a software/media company that specializes in content to be used as forms of cognitive therapy for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Gabb’s exhibition will be displayed in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

An art major from Stephens City, Va., Olivia Harrison will exhibit 12 pieces created with graphite. The images are loosely drawn portraits that are fragmented on oddly formatted paper created to interact with the pieces next to each other.

“With my project, I wanted to explore different compositions and the relationship between subject and negative space,” Harrison said.

After graduation, Harrison is moving to New York.

Harrison’s exhibition will be on display in Memorial Hall room 24.

A digital media arts major from Mercersburg, Pa., Bryce Heinbaugh will exhibit mixed-media pieces that involve graphite drawings of body parts that are digitally edited to represent different aspects of his life.

“Looking back at my past works, I notice I prefer chiaroscuro-like darker tones, muted colors, and light and dark contrast. While the pieces may seem melancholic, instead, they make me feel peaceful, like sitting on the porch on a rainy day. Realism is a movement that I relate to most,” Heinbaugh said.

Following graduation, Heinbaugh will complete the MDMS program at Bridgewater College.

Heinbaugh’s exhibition will be on display in the Black Box Theatre located below the main stage of Cole Hall.

An art major from Suffolk, Va., Lamont Jones will exhibit a brand identification package for a fictional apparel brand called CYRIS.

“The design conveys boldness and vibrance while maintaining a sense of relaxation and casual comfort. The brand is meant to feel familiar and comfortable,” Jones said. “The design approach I used in developing the CYRIS brand identity is characterized by simplicity and flexibility in application, which are useful strategies when creating collateral marketing and promotional material.”

Jones is involved in the Asian Student Association, African Student Association, Black Student Alliance and the student news organization BC Voice. In addition, he is a resident advisor and telecounselor in the Admissions Department. After graduating from BC, Jones plans to pursue a career in the public relations or marketing field.

Jones’ exhibition will be on display in the Center for Engaged Learning.

A digital media arts major from Haymarket, Va., Lauren Kronzer will exhibit “In the Shadows,” a photography project that will include 10 unique framed photographs.

“I was inspired to create ‘In the Shadows’ when looking at still-life photos I had made during my first year at Bridgewater College. Many of these photos included dark shadows that filled the background in pleasing ways,” Kronzer said. “Many conventional still-life photographs are intended to depict objects in ways that feel almost tangible. My intention is to create photographs that question this conventional sense of tangibility. In these photographs, I invite viewers to find meaning in the spaces between objects and their shadows.”

Kronzer is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the honor society of the National Communication Association, and the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. Following graduation, she plans to work in social media management or marketing in the Washington, D.C., area.

Kronzer’s exhibition will be on display in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

An art major from Mount Airy, Md., Courtney Larrick will exhibit a body of work composed of acrylic paintings made with palette knives. The pieces will focus on the shadows that direct sunlight casts into interior geometric spaces.

“The support of the community is much appreciated and goes a long way. I am very thankful for everyone who has helped me get here,” Larrick said.

On campus, Larrick participates in several intramural sports teams and the Rugby Club. She is a member of the Flory Honors program, the Philomathes society and Alpha Chi, a national college scholarship honor society. After graduation, Larrick plans to travel across Europe while pursuing a full-time job teaching art or English overseas.

Larrick’s exhibition will be displayed on the third floor of Bowman Hall.

A digital media arts major from Glen Burnie, Md., Jordan Marshall will exhibit four space-themed typography posters.

“The reason I chose space was because of how interesting and intriguing I found it to be. I chose to make these posters using typography simply because I wanted to explore different techniques for making illustrations,” Marshall said. “When we think of space, we either think of what has already been explored or what has yet to be explored. And for me, that is the exact feeling I had when doing this project. It was a way to improve upon the skills I have acquired as a designer. I wanted to see how far I could extend my graphic design skills by traveling into the unknown.”

On campus, Marshall works in the campus events department. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a job in digital media arts.

Marshall’s exhibition will be displayed in the Black Box Theatre.

A digital media arts major from Floyd, Va., Bailey Morrison will exhibit “PURE: Prince of Light,” the first chapter in Morrison’s graphic novel series.

“’PURE: Prince of Light’ follows the young prince of a post-apocalyptic utopian society on a journey to find his purpose in a divided world. It’s a coming-of-age sci-fantasy/adventure story that explores themes of classicism, familial expectations, human nature and morality,” said Morrison, who has been developing the concept for “PURE” since the age of 16.

On campus, Morrison is the president of both the Latinx Student Association and the Asian Student Association and has been involved with several Bridgewater College theatre and Pinion Players productions.

After graduation, Morrison plans to continue to work on the graphic novel series while pursuing work as an illustrator or graphic designer.

Morrison’s exhibition will be on display in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

 

A digital media arts major from Hagerstown, Md., Larissa Niles will exhibit “Brewed Thoughts: Coffee-Inspired Digital Illustrations,” a series of poster designs that communicate different messages about coffee.

“Coffee is a significant part of my student experience here at Bridgewater, especially because I work as a barista at Smitty’s Café. Through image, text and color, I hope to communicate my feelings about coffee. For example, the warm tones of my color palette symbolize the warmth that coffee brings and how it helps me create bonds within my community,” Niles said.

In addition to working as a barista at the campus café, Niles is a member of the dance team and the Philomathes Society.

After graduation, Niles will complete the MDMS program at Bridgewater College. In the future, she hopes to work in digital media.

Niles’ exhibition will be on display at the Art House.

A digital media arts major from Manassas, Va., Brandon Ramirez-Moctezuma will exhibit a series of three videos that highlight the creative work of three fellow exhibitors: Larissa Niles, Christian “C.J.” Romano and Karl Gabb.

“In this series, I tried to dive into how these artists got into the art medium they’re practicing while giving an idea of what their workflows look like. By making these videos, I hope to provide these creative people with additional exposure in the Bridgewater College community and beyond,” Ramirez-Moctezuma said.

Following graduation, Ramirez-Moctezuma is considering the MDMS program at Bridgewater College and hopes to work for a digital/video marketing company in the future.

Ramirez-Moctezuma’s exhibition will be on display in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

An art major from Fredericksburg, Va., Christian “C.J.” Romano will exhibit “Conociendo the Unknown,” a series of Salvadorian-inspired painted wooden panels that were cut from used doors.

“In the childhood home I grew up in, I was exposed to two cultures: both Salvadoran and American. I was always surrounded by my Salvadoran heritage, but it was hard to feel the authenticity of it because I was born and raised in the U.S.,” Romano said. “I want my paintings to show the beauty and vibrancy of life that I experienced in my home country. These paintings blend influences from my visit to El Savador in May 2022 and American artists like Keith Haring, Jackson Pollock and Jean-Michel Basquiat.”

Romano is a member of the Latinx Student Association at Bridgewater. After graduating, he plans to become a high school art teacher and coach soccer.

Romano’s exhibition will be on display in the lobby of Bowman Hall.

A digital media arts major from Springfield, Va., Steven Roscoe will exhibit “Passions Kindled Within,” a series of three video interviews with creative people on the theme of passion. Each video foregrounds the subject’s creative aspirations and the motivations that help them persist.

“Each of us possess a passion of some sort. What connects one to a particular endeavor is unique to each individual. Growing up, I have had a multitude of hobbies that I had remained motivated to improve in. Throughout my series, ‘Passions Kindled Within,’ the interviewee’s inner zeal and love for the object of their passion is captured and displayed,” Roscoe said.

Roscoe is a member of the football team and the student-run news organizations BC Voice. After graduation, he plans to apply his passion for visual art and audio production toward establishing a career.

Roscoe’s exhibition will be displayed in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery.

An art major from Rockingham, Va., Nash Sanchez will exhibit a collection of acrylic paintings that will represent different mental health issues.

“Art and psychology have had a big role in my growth as a person. I wanted to blend the two things I’ve been passionate about for years now,” Sanchez said. “Using acrylic paints, I wanted to display mental health diagnostics often seen in the manuals used by clinical psychologists that cover topics like social anxiety, depression, dissociation, gender dysphoria and a good handful of other issues. My intent with these pieces is to highlight problems or struggles that individuals who live with these mental health diagnostics go through, as well as the consequences that can follow from not getting the proper help in time.”

After graduation, Sanchez plans to further their education outside of Virginia.

Sanchez’s exhibition will be on display at the Art House.

An art major from Fairfax, Va., Vivian Ton will exhibit a collection of abstracted clay sculptures. Ton’s sculptures are representations of personal experience with chronic pain.

“The sculptures are all treated with a white exterior to show that my pain is an internal experience. The fingers, eyes and mouths are placed intentionally to symbolize visual and oral expressions of pain. The surfaces of the sculptures are marked to show where the pain is located,” Ton said.

On campus, Ton is a member of the Asian Student Association and plans to work in a local bakery after graduation with the hopes to one day open her own bakery.

Ton’s exhibition will be on display in the Eagle’s Nest.

A digital media arts and computer science double major from Manassas, Va., Kevin Turner Jr. will present a rebranding of the Jackson Blacksmith Shop, a small, restored shop located in Goochland, Va. The exhibit will include a new logo along with accompanying assets such as business cards and a website.

“Three generations of the Jackson family worked as blacksmiths and farriers in shops on and near the site of the last remaining blacksmith shop in and surrounding Goochland County. The shop was restored in 1995 and was registered as a National Historic Landmark in 1997,” Turner said. “My goal was to modernize and unify the branding of the shop which was outdated and visually eclectic. Through rebranding and creating updated branding materials, I want to help them share a rich history that dates back to before the Civil War.”

After graduation, Turner plans to pursue a career in software development, web development and design, or digital marketing.

Turner’s exhibition will be on display in the Center for Engaged Learning.

An art major from Crozier, Va., Samwise Wells will exhibit 10 acrylic paintings about the queer experience.

“Growing up as a queer kid in a conservative county comes with some unique challenges. As a result, this show represents a lifetime of continued struggle to be seen as equal to my peers. I emphasize symbolic representation over naturalistic visuals both because these situations are incredibly complex and because it is reminiscent of the way I only saw myself in fiction and subtext growing up,” Wells said.

On campus, Wells is a member of BC Allies and the Dungeons and Dragons Club. After graduation, Wells plans to sell art at a farmers’ market in their hometown.

Wells’ exhibition will be on display in the upstairs conference room in Memorial Hall.

AT A GLANCE
Art Exhibition: Senior Thesis Exhibitions
When:  Monday, April 17, through Friday, April 28. An opening reception will take place from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, in the Beverly Perdue Art Gallery. Gallery talks will be held from 5-10 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, in Bowman Hall room 101 on the College’s campus.
Where: Various locations across campus. A map to exhibition locations will be available at every exhibit.
Hours: The Beverly Perdue Art Gallery is open from 7:30 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; and noon to midnight on Sunday.
Notes: Gallery talks also are available to the public via Zoom at bridgewater.edu/seniorart. The receptions, exhibitions and talks are free and open to the public.       

Media Contact:
Logan Bogert
Communications Coordinator
lbogert@bridgewater.edu
(540) 828-5486

                          

Share