Senior Concentration Seminar Exhibition 2015

The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Art Gallery at the College of the Holy Cross will exhibit the artwork of graduating senior visual arts majors in the annual Senior Concentration Seminar exhibition from April 23 – May 22, 2015. Students Caitlin Cantor, Emiel Castillo, Kim Tu Dam, Meridith Foote, Samantha Granison, Tess Hazen, Leica Lucien, Erin Quinlevan, Lorena Sferlazza and Chelsea Welsh will give presentations during the Academic Conference on Wednesday, April 22 from noon to 1 p.m. in the gallery. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 23, 5:30 – 7 p.m.

The title for this year’s exhibition “X”, the Roman numeral 10, was chosen because there are ten members of the group, all of whom are women. Seven of the women are double majors with areas of study that include: anthropology, economics, Italian, psychology, theatre and prehealth. The students were able to pursue these majors in addition to visual arts while at Holy Cross.

A diverse range of interests and mediums will be represented, including drawing, installation/sculpture, painting, photography and video. The students have explored content as straightforward as self-portraiture, to highly complex issues such as feminine and cultural identities, the depletion of natural resources, philosophical questions of beauty and human suffering, and sexual violence towards women.

Michael Beatty, associate professor of visual arts, who taught the spring semester of the Senior Concentration Seminar course, also notes, “several students are incorporating science into their work, with thought-provoking results.”

Leslie Schomp, adjunct professor in the visual arts department and instructor for the fall semester, adds, “I'm always amazed at how some early content carries through to the final work, but with surprising twists in the creative and conceptual approaches. Learning about and embracing the idea of hard work, commitment to one's ideas and openness to feedback are important skills that are gained throughout the process. The students get a chance to really slow down and investigate ideas.”

Planning for the installation begins roughly mid-semester, as Roger Hankins, director of the Cantor Art Gallery, guides the artists through the final development stages of getting their work ready for the exhibition. He then selects the work that will be on view. Hankins says this ensures that, “every student understands what it means to present their work in a professional gallery space, as that is an essential skill for all artists.”

The exhibition will be on view through the Holy Cross’ commencement on May 22.

Events •    Wednesday, April 22, noon -1 p.m., Academic Conference Presentation by Senior Studio Majors

•    Thursday, April 23, 5:30 – 7 p.m., Opening Reception:

Please note: the Cantor Art Gallery will be closed, Saturday, May 16.

Gallery Information

Founded in 1983 through the generosity of Iris & B. Gerald Cantor, the Cantor Art Gallery serves both as a venue for a changing series of historical and contemporary public exhibitions, as well as a vital resource for Holy Cross faculty and students, linking exhibitions to the broader liberal arts curriculum.

The hours for the Cantor Art Gallery are Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 2 – 5 p.m. Located in O’Kane Hall, 1st Floor, College of the Holy Cross, 1 College Street, Worcester, Mass., 01610.  Visitors needing assistance with handicap accessibility should contact Public Safety at 508-793-2011. Admission to the gallery is free.

For additional information please call 508-793-3356 or visit the Gallery’s website at: holycross.edu/cantorartgallery.