Epoch, the 2016 Senior Art Majors Exhibition had its grand opening this past Saturday at the Hilstrom Museum of Art.

Gustavus Seniors Haley Bell, Mia Cannon, Leah Creger, Anna Franke, Rachel Gunderson, Helena Johnson, Emily Leslie, Andrew Paul, Lauren Schiltz, Griffin Spier, and Jessica Williams all produced works that are currently on display in this exhibition.

From oil and acrylic painting, charcoal and ink drawing, video and still photography, bronze and plaster sculpture, ceramic works, and mixed media, the pieces created for this exhibition reflect the variety of artistic talent in the class of 2016 Art Majors.

Epoch is a jurred exhibition, meaning that students submit five to eight of their strongest pieces and then a panel selects which ones make it into the exhibition. Art Professor Betsey Byers is a member of the panel that selected the works on display now.

“We look for strong pieces.  Work that shows time and effort was put in.  Some of these pieces have been redone and have gone through different iterations,” Byers said.

This exhibition is a collaboration of all the Senior Art students. This year they have shared a studio, provided feedback to one another on their work, and also collectively created a title and poster for the exhibition.

Along with student collaboration, the Art department works closely with students throughout their four years to make this exhibition come to life.  Students get feedback from their advisors and participate in a Junior seminar to prepare them.

Senior Mia Cannon’s work is featured in Epoch.  Cannon has worked with media such as photography and sculpture but painting is what she loves to do most.

“I took a painting class with Betsey Byers.  I got to paint for three hours a day with my head phones in listening to my favorite music and I thought, wow this is awesome; I love this,” Cannon said.

Some of Cannon’s work featured in the Hilstrom Exhibition was inspired from her personal experiences studying abroad and her struggle with the education system.

“A couple of my pieces deal with my time in South Africa where I studied abroad in January. Some pieces also deal with my struggle with the education system and how, as someone who has ADHD, feels the system doesn’t really work for them.  Then I bring in my poetry that I write into my pieces too,” Cannon said.

Having work displayed in a setting like the Hilstrom is a big deal, and Cannon expressed nervousness and excitement for opening day.

“I am really excited to see the feedback I get from the campus and also other members of the public that come in.  It’s also nerve-racking too to put it out there and be like, well this is what I spent four years learning how to do and hopefully it lives up to that,” Cannon said.

Haley Bell works mostly with digital photography.  Bell’s work in Epoch consists of landscapes, some mixed media images, and photographs that she inherited from her great-grandmother.  On having her work displayed in the Hilstrom, she is excited but nervous.

“I think it always makes people nervous to show their work because it’s almost like a reflection of who they are,” Bell said.

After graduation Bell is looking forward to moving to Connecticut and using her skills she has developed majoring in both Art and Communications to work for Denali Outdoors as a photographer and production assistant.

“My art major is going to help me later in life, no matter what job I end up pursuing.  It forces you to problem solve and think creatively especially when paired with my communications major,” Bell said.

Epoch is a culmination of an Art Major’s four years at Gustavus and an expression of a years worth of hard work.  This exhibition will be open to the public through May 29 at the Hilstrom.

“There’s a lot of hard work that goes into being an artist and I really want the community to come and support the work that has been done,” Byers said.