In Mississippi State University’s Department of Art, “thesis” is a word with connotations of hard work, sleep deprivation and a lack of social life. Art students go through thesis their last year in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program. The first semester is spent doing research and exploring concepts and ideas for a final project and the last semester bringing it all to fruition. Each senior asks three professors to be on his or her thesis committee, which meets four times throughout the semester to critique work individually and help the student toward his or her final goal.
Senior painting student Anna Aldridge said it’s really cool the professors freely give their time to help their students.
Brett Funderburk, art professor and leader of the thesis group, compared the experience to a sort of tribal bonding because they are working toward a common goal. Students also assign responsibilities within the thesis group to help bring the final show together, such as creating posters, writing press releases and working with the galleries on campus.
This year’s thesis group is made up of 18 students: photographers Ioana Demian, Ashley Hubbard, Ashley Jackson, Steve Joshlin, Caroline Walker, Keith Wilkins and Micah Williams; painters Anna Aldridge, Shelby Cauthen, Jean Jackson, Gracie Nichols, Amber Orgill and Beth Rhodes; draftsmen Justin “Smiley” Abrams and Cathy Crow; ceramicists (Drew Robinson and Jerry Wolf and sculptor Zachary Harris. After a long semester, a sigh of relief and a much-needed nap, they are happy to announce their work is done. Aldridge, whose acrylic paintings illustrate concepts of “home,” said she is relieved, excited and nervous, wondering what is next.
Sculpture student Zachary Harris said thesis became more meaningful for him than the summation of his art work thus far. Harris’ outdoor steel sculpture was created in memory of his friend, former student Taylor Lyons, who passed away on Dec. 10, 2010.
“The project for me has been very personal. Taylor was a friend for a long time. I think about him constantly. He was really cool and an inspiration to all. It is only right for me to memorialize such a good guy. I poured every ounce of emotional energy I had into this piece,” Harris said.
The piece, named “Time Remembrance,” was hammered cold by hand and is meant to interact with the outdoor space where it stands on University Drive.
Thesis students invite you to their show “Unmasked,” on display at the McComas Art Gallery and the MSU Visual Arts Center, located on University Drive just off campus. Their logo for the show, the used ball of masking tape thrown on the floor, is meant to convey the idea they are revealing themselves through their art.
“They are the crumbled up ball: but, what they have unmasked, it’s glorious,” said Funderburk.
The public reception is this evening in McComas from 5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. and in the VAC from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m., where refreshments will be served and all are welcome to attend.
The show opened on March 29 and will be up until Friday. The McComas Art Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The VAC is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.