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Senior art exhibit
By Emily Stack
Collegian Reporter
In the Daughtrey Gallery within the Sage Center
for the Arts, senior art majors Christopher Patton, Jane Reiner,
Abe Rifai and Caleb Faires exhibit their best pieces from the
past four years to the public. The exhibit is open until the
end of the year with a reception at 10 a.m Saturday, May 8.
Christopher Patton
After being classically taught since grade
school, he is a good fit for the Hillsdale art program. Patton
uses graphite, pastel and conte pencil to capture human figures.
"Favorite professors are like a favorite
medium," Patton said. "As Professor Sam Knecht would
say, 'My favorite medium is the one I'm currently working with.'"
Patton's addition to the exhibit focuses on
his life drawings and sketches.
"It's the nature of the classes that
the pieces came from," Patton said.
His favorite piece is his "Abstract."
"It was a new experience that allowed
me to use some energy and movement," Patton said. "It's
a bold statement with bold colors."
After graduation, Patton may teach, coach
or pursue a masters of fine arts. Immediately after graduation,
he plans on fishing the lakes of his home state, Tennessee.
Caleb Faires
His favorite piece while here at Hillsdale,
Faires describes "Mars," his first life-sized torso,
as a bold and sizeable piece.
Another large work is his "the land of
nevermore," also a first large-scale attempt at scenery.
Luckily, Faires painted the trees before they were torn down
by the development of a new subdivision.
Though this show is a good description of
his present artistic talent, Faires said he does not feel fully
drawn out as an artist.
"I've learned a lot, but I'm not 'there'
yet," he said.
Because of this, his post-graduation plans
include teaching in Franklin, Tenn., and pursuing a masters
in art history at Vanderbilt University.
The only change Faires would make in the art
program is to move Professor Tony Frudakis to Tennessee.
"Professor Frudakis is a brilliant artist,
skilled in his craft, with a genuine interest in his students,"
Faires said. "Plus, there's nothing like a fatherly figure
to mentor students in art."
Maher "Abe" Rifai
For his display, Rifai entered a flipbook
of his portfolio to thumb through in the gallery.
"Letter Abstraction" best describes
Rifai's skills and unique approach to graphic design. Rifai
describes the composition as a unique diversity of ideas.
"It was big and hard to put together,"
Rifai said. "I liked the idea of combining letters and
technique."
Jane Reiner
Reiner's talent for two-dimensional work shines
in this exhibit. She describes her sketch, "Bronze Dancer,"
as one of her favorites in its dramatic yet sculptural composition
and its rough, not overly polished finish.
Her creativity and photography skills are
both shown in the self-portrait, "Smoke and Mirrors."
By angling the camera tripod and placing a mirror on an easel,
Reiner captures a unique pose in a one-shot photo.
Reiner wishes the art program had had more
outlets for such creative endeavors and mediums.
She has appreciated Professor Barbara Bushey's
unique approach to non-traditional subjects.
"She's excited about what she teaches
and inspires that same excitement in her students," Reiner
said. "I also respect and enjoy the fact that in her personal
artwork she uses a 'deviant' medium, blends skill with creativity,
and makes uniquely beautiful objects."
After graduation, Reiner hopes to work in
graphic design in conjunction with ministry and is also interested
in illustrating children's literature.
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