Capstone Exhibition opens Dec. 11
calendar icon27 Nov 2023
Lincoln, Neb.--The School of Art, Art History & Design will present the work of graduating undergraduate students in the upcoming Capstone Exhibition Dec. 11-15 in the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery.
A closing reception will be held on Friday, Dec. 15 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery.
This biannual experience is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters and presents the work of each semester’s graduating Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) seniors in studio art and graphic design as a culmination of their coursework and exploration.
Gallery hours for the exhibition are Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
A digital presentation of Capstone projects will also be available beginning Dec. 15 at http://unlcapstone.com. Viewers will find a page for each student that contains information on their personal research, as well as links to further information such as websites, social media handles, and more.
Caroline White, a senior studio art major, said she hopes people attend the exhibition.
“The Capstone is a last hurrah in the structured sanctuary of school before going out to build our practices as artists,” she said. “We, of course, would love for as many people as possible to see our work. That’s why we’re putting it up.”
Scott Ostdiek, a senior graphic design major, said the exhibition is filled with talented artists and designers.
“It’s especially exciting to get to see people’s voices and personalities shine through their work,” he said. “Within my work I like to focus more on typography and layout design. My exhibit focuses on the ideas and feelings behind clothing and the sense of community they create through the visual lens of a personal brand I created.”
Payton Shoup, a senior studio art major, said it’s an important milestone in their artistic careers.
“All of our work is a testament to the dedication, passion and growth that has taken place during our undergraduate years,” Shoup said. “I believe that it marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one—a future filled with possibilities and a continued exploration of the power of art to communicate and connect with the world.”
Wanyu Luo, a senior studio art major originally from China, said the work she is presenting is about her understanding of traditional Chinese culture and mythology as a young person looking back at the history.
“I wouldn’t make the same work if I studied at a Chinese college,” she said. “The Capstone gives us an opportunity to show what we’ve learned and experienced these years. People should attend the exhibition because our peers have different styles of art works, and the works tell different stories.”
Darby Carlin, a senior studio art major, said the Capstone experience has been rewarding in preparing for a future in the art world.
“I feel like this show is a testament to all the work we’ve put in during our time in school,” Carlin said. “The process of creating feels isolated within the studio, and this is an opportunity to ‘show the proof’ of the effort we put into earning our degrees.”
Carlin said she is trying to depict the ‘secret language’ of food service that she has accumulated after being both a full-time student and working full-time, which led her to mesh her experience in the kitchen with her art practice.
“I find that screen printing can directly respond to the repetitive nature of food service,” she said. “I have found the perfect medium for mass communication of these iconic utensils and the machines used along with them, as well as an outlet to immediately respond to the repetitious tasks I’ve become so familiar with doing. This practice of continually returning to the same objects feels like I am learning and revealing more, although they seem unchanging. Creating these works is also a response to the language barrier between myself and many of my co-workers. While we learn each other's languages, we communicate through gestures and objects, and the experiences we share in doing the work. With this work, I invite people into the feeling of community I experience.”
The following students are participating in this year’s Capstone exhibition:
Studio Art
Name, Area, Degree, Hometown
Darby Carlin, Printmaking, B.F.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Virginia Glaser, Drawing, B.A., Seward, Nebraska
Quinn Domini Goodall, Painting, B.A., Topeka, Kansas
Morgan Jensen, Drawing, B.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Wanyu Luo, Drawing, B.F.A., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Dani O’Keefe, Painting and Animation, B.F.A., Papillion, Nebraska
Sophia Pflug, Painting, B.F.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Payton Shoup, Painting, B.F.A., Gretna, Nebraska
Caroline White, Drawing, B.A., Lincoln, Nebraska
Graphic Design
Name, Area, Degree, Hometown
Shaydan Bayless, Graphic Design, B.A., Beatrice, Nebraska
Jaynie Bustad, Graphic Design, B.A., Wahoo, Nebraska
Nicole Geib, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Elmhurst, Illinois
D’Marcion Henderson, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Joscelyn Hynes, Graphic Design, B.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Vic Lawrence, Graphic Design, B.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Breann Matlock, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Crete, Nebraska
Scott Ostdiek, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Aurora, Nebraska
Braden Robinson, Graphic Design, B.A., Hartsville, South Carolina
Julian Ruvalcaba, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Grand Island, Nebraska
Ava Schicke, Graphic Design, B.A., Omaha, Nebraska
Nico Sepahpur, Graphic Design, B.A., Lincoln, Nebraska
Joe Warren, Graphic Design, B.F.A., Omaha, Nebraska
The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery is located on the first floor of Richards Hall at Stadium Drive and T streets.
Follow the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery on social media via Instagram @eisentragerhoward to stay apprised of any updates for the Capstone exhibition.