The School of Art at Montana State University is pleased to host the Spring 2019 BFA Thesis Exhibition at the Helen E. Copeland Gallery. The show will be on display through Friday, May 3rd when an artist’s reception will be held from 6–8pm. This event is free and open to the public. Hors d’oeuvres will be served.
On view are the thesis works of 12 emerging artists graduating with their bachelor’s degrees in Fine Art. The following disciplines and concentrations are being represented: painting, ceramics, printmaking, sculpture, and metalsmithing.
For BFA graduates, the thesis exhibition represents an important transition period from student to working artist. It marks an end to academically assigned work, and the beginning of their individual research and artistic maturity. The exhibited works synthesis the growth of each artist over their years spent at MSU.
The following students will be in the exhibition: Ben Blackwood, Christy Burgard, Josh Eder, Ashley Gangle, Jenna Hawthorne, Jane Herzog, Jessica Jones, Hans Foster Million, Elsa Nordberg, Holden Roberts, Jack Schwarze, and Ally Sweet.
As always, the issues and topics covered in this work range. To name a few, Blackwood, Schwarze, and Gangle students pledge allegiance to the raw qualities of their materials, while Sweet and Pratt discuss their experiences with conditions such as synesthesia, ADD, and depression. While Herzog looks into the merging or technology and craft, Million investigates nomadic transient cultures through metalsmithing. Jones finds she follows in her mother’s footsteps as Hawthorne questions the fleeting nature of experience. Through the use of bombastic color, Burgard illustrates Greek mythology, Eder is influenced by pop culture and graffiti, and Norberg facilitates the use of space with the juxtaposition of fabrics and welded steel. Roberts, who recently won a grant to install work in the new Norm Abjornsen Hall, will have a reception celebrating his installation prior to the BFA reception in Haynes Hall. Please check the Helen E. Copeland website for details on this event.
In combination, these students have received grants, completed residencies around the country, and have had their own solo shows or participated in group shows during their time at Montana State University. This cohort exemplifies some of the best work that the MSU School of Art has to offer.
The Helen E. Copeland Gallery is located on the second floor of Haynes Hall. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9am–5pm. For more information on this exhibition or the gallery, please visit www.hecgallery.com or find them on Facebook (@msuhecg).
