Variety of media used in fine arts thesis projects

From fabrics to screen prints to sculptures and much more, objects and images from graduate students in Kent State’s School of Art program are on display at multiple Kent State galleries.

More than 20 School of Art graduate students have work showcased in “Objects and Images: Selected Work of Current and Graduating MFA Students.” Three students are showing their Master of Fine Arts thesis shows in conjunction with the main show.

Margaret Rountree, a graduate student of crafts who is showing her thesis project, said the show is important to her.

“I truly think that this is the greatest thing I have ever done, the best work I have ever made,” she said. “This MFA thesis show is the most important thing that has ever happened to me.”

Kent State houses the only MFA program in Northeast Ohio.

“Participating in exhibitions while in school and after is critical in vying for your place in the lineage of art’s present and history,” said William Ritter, graduate student of fine arts.

The show is spread out between the School of Art Gallery and the Downtown Gallery.

In the School of Art Gallery, Brandon Furniss’ MFA thesis project, “Transformation of Form,” is physically the biggest piece in the exhibit. It’s mounted across an entire wall, starting with larger rock-like formations as they gradually get smaller as they go farther down the wall.

“This installation examines a single form changing; the original form starts as a whole and then adding and subtracting until it is no more,” Furniss said in his artist statement. “The display of artifacts in a linear progression offers consecutive moments, all bearing the marks from the patterned action of repetition and variation that modifies the composition.”

Joshua Parker, a graduate student of fine arts, said utilizing resources at Kent State was a vital part to creating his work for the show, “A Drawing for a Sculpture to have Rapid Prototyped, and a Rapid Prototype of a Drawing for a Sculpture to have Rapid Prototyped.”

“I was able to make this piece because of the School of Technology’s help,” he said. “If I were not a student here, this work would not have been possible.”

“Objects and Images: Selected Work of Current and Graduating MFA Students” is on display through April 17.

The School of Art Gallery is located on the second floor of the Art Building and is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

The Downtown Gallery is located at 141 E. Main St. and is open 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Contact school of art reporter Daniel Owen at [email protected].