GVSU visual and media arts students to showcase capstone work through exhibits

By Matthew Makowski

More than 20 students from Grand Valley State University’s Visual and Media Arts Department will showcase works that represent the culmination of their collegiate educational experiences.

Valerie Wojo, a senior majoring in photography, said the senior photography exhibition, “Resonate,” places a strong emphasis on community.

“As an all-female team, we have found empowerment in our common goal of representing a community that resonates within us,” said Valerie Wojo, a senior majoring in photography. “While that community varies from one series to another, we each have a personal connection to our subject matter.”

For the exhibit, Wojo chose to represent the Flint community, specifically those who have been impacted by the Flint water crisis.

“While photographing my thesis series this semester, I have met so many new people who shared their personal stories of suffering with me, and it was both eye-opening and extremely frustrating to learn that these people have been neglected for so long,” said Wojo. “However, each individual inspired me to channel that frustration into my work and strive for change, so being able to use my gift to do that has been rewarding.”

Jacob Mol, a senior majoring in graphic design, will be showcasing his designs for an emergency survival kit e-commerce product line called “72 Critical Hours” in the senior graphic design exhibit, “Command + N.” Mol designed the branding, packaging, print and digital components for the product line.

He said his work for this exhibit reflects the skills he has acquired at Grand Valley.

“Not only did I learn to be a designer, but I learned to be an artist, a critical thinker, a problem solver and self-motivator,” said Mol. “To be able to think beyond just the design to how it might be perceived, interacted with and what impact it might make on others has been a valuable experience.”

Mol said the name of the exhibit is representative of the keyboard shortcut graphic designers can use on Apple computers to create a new project.

“In a way, this represents us in this show,” said Mol. “Everything we are doing is new work, it’s a new exhibit and we are becoming new designers in the design community.”

Below is a full list of upcoming senior thesis exhibitions:

Command + N

Senior graphic design exhibition

Exhibition dates: November 26-30

Reception: November 29, from 5-8 p.m.

Padnos Student Visual and Media Arts Gallery, Calder Arts Center, Allendale Campus

Students: Jessica Allen, Christina Elsholz, Stephanie Freeman, Kristine Hynes, Jacob Mol, Sydney Schurig, Shelby Verstrate

Resonate

Senior photography exhibition

Exhibition dates: November 27-December 8

Reception: November 29, from 5-7 p.m.

GVSU Art Gallery, Thomas J. and Marcia J. Haas Center for Performing Arts