Senior Thesis Exhibitions “Show Two”

Each spring the Cress Gallery hosts the Bachelor of Fine Arts Senior Thesis Exhibitions, the capstone event of the final year of creative research by students enrolled in the professional curriculum of the Department of Art at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.  Highly anticipated by campus and community, this exhibition features students matriculating from the Department’s curricular concentration areas of Graphic Design, Painting and Drawing, Photography and Media Arts, and Sculpture.

Advancing a position or proposition through months of research into a final expression in visual form, these student artists respond to the contexts, issues, and challenges of our contemporary world in conceptually thought provoking and timely ways. Visitors should expect a broad range of materials from the traditional to the unconventional handled in both innovative and practiced approaches.

Student Artists in “Show One” are Lawrence Chien, Anne Daniels, Amy Devan, Sarah Dolmovich, Chloe George, Emaleigh Grantz, Madeline Hankins, Alesha Lee, Kirby Miles, Nicole Reynolds, Caroline Romersa, Athene Ruiz, Kaylee Sheldon, and Jenna Tomaszewski.

“Show Two” features Chris Anderson, Erika Brooks, Bonnie Buffington, Devin Caldwell, Ian Lawrence, John Le, Stephanie Loggans, Dana Ortega, Dylan Pew, Chris Pickering, Selena Sanchez, Buddy Simpson, Liberty Smith, Taylor Thompson, Hayden Todd, and Rhiana Von Fosson.

These students have each studied a minimum of four years. Their first two years provided grounding in skills and experience with materials, tools, and processes. The final two follow a mentored student-driven path. Art history and formal and critical theory are emphasized throughout. Students are also exposed to contemporary professional practices in the visual arts through the UTC Diane Marek Visiting Artist Series, extra-curricular opportunities provided by the UTC Department of Art and its student managed gallery Apothecary, study abroad and a biennial trip to New York City, and the many visual arts and design events throughout the City of Chattanooga and the Region.