The second annual Art Showcase by Continuing Education Art Students is currently on display at the Truax Gallery. The exhibit, which opened on June 8th, will be open to the community through September 20th, Mondays and Wednesdays from 1pm to 5pm.
The art exhibit features ceramic panels, watercolors, photography, welded rings and sculptures. Art students who are currently taking a continuing education art course or have taken a continuing education art course within the past year submitted work to the show.
Faculty members can also submit work for the exhibit. Jennifer Sheppard, continuing education class programmer and former assistant principal of the art school, submitted a ceramic plate for the exhibit.
The exhibition opened in June with an opening reception, a regular practice when a gallery unveils a new show. Galleries typically hold both opening and closing receptions, featuring refreshments, art demonstrations and more, providing an opportunity for the community to come together, celebrate creativity and check out a variety of artworks.
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“My favorite part is the reception,” said Jennifer Shepherd, “I love meeting the people who made this amazing art and being able to interact with the students. With everything being online, I don't get a chance to meet with my students unless they stop by the office to drop off their submitted work.”
The structure of continuing education courses, especially popular classes like art classes, helps build a supportive community. Because these classes are non-credit, students often repeat them, keeping the same group of classmates over several semesters. This environment fosters friendships, common interests, and a sense of connection, creating a comfortable, friendly space that people want to return to.
Continuing education art classes are not only popular;Within the broader community, it's also a popular course among faculty. “Not only am I involved in continuing education, but I'm also a student taking ceramics classes, which I think is a testament to how much fun it is. I take extra time from work to take the classes, plus about half the people in my office also take continuing education classes,” Shepherd said.
Putting this exhibit together requires the collaboration of many different people. Jennifer Sheppard coordinates continuing education art classes, while Marisa Rushing, administrative coordinator for the College of Business and Applied Arts, manages logistics and scheduling. Nick Loveland, senior lab coordinator for the College of Business and Applied Arts, will display the art works in the exhibit and design the invitations and posters.
Some of the exhibited artworks are available for purchase. Works marked with “FS” are available for sale and will be followed by the price of the artwork. Works marked with “NFS” are not available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing an artwork, please fill out a form with your name, phone number and email address so that the artist can contact you. To ensure transparency, all payments are made directly from the guest to the artist.
“It's heartwarming to see people proudly showing their work to their families and taking photos next to them,” Shepherd says. “Many of them have never had the opportunity to have their work displayed in a gallery, so there's a real sense of excitement, especially at the reception.”
The closing reception for the Continuing Education Art Student Show, which is open to all, will be held on Thursday, September 19th from 4pm to 6pm. Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Guests can participate in art demonstrations trying out different paints. A baking instructor will provide guests with pre-made cookies to decorate.
For the latest information on upcoming shows and class details Visit madisoncollege.edu/pce or contact Jennifer Sheppard. [email protected] Subscribe to our mailing list.