Capstone Exhibition opens May 15
calendar icon01 May 2023
Lincoln, Neb.--The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Art, Art History & Design will present the work of graduating undergraduate students in the upcoming Spring 2023 Capstone Exhibition.
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.
The studio art exhibition will be on display in the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery from May 15-19. A closing reception will be held on Friday, May 19 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery with awards being announced during the reception.
Gallery hours for the exhibition are Monday-Friday, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Admission to the gallery is free and open to the public.
The graphic design exhibition will be on display at the Nebraska Union’s Centennial Room and Ballroom from May 15-17 from noon to 5 p.m. A closing reception for the graphic design exhibition will be Wednesday, May 17 from 5-7 p.m.
A digital presentation of Capstone projects will also be available beginning May 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.
Allison Achtenhagen said the work she is exhibiting in the Capstone Exhibition represents the best of what she has made during her time in the School of Art, Art History & Design.
“My work begins on the potter's wheel, after which parts are combined and pierced with an X-acto knife to create striking, colorful objects,” she said. “These objects can be both functional and decorative and are much stronger than they appear. I have pushed myself over the past four years to learn and grow as much as possible as a maker and I am so incredibly proud to present this work to you now."
She said the students’ work in the Capstone exhibition is “remarkable.”
“There is an incredibly wide range of skill sets, materials and content being displayed making it so that there is something for every viewer to enjoy and learn from,” she said. “When you come to see our exhibition, you are showing your support and recognition of the amount of work that we have put into it, not just this past semester but over our entire time in this program. For most of us, this is one of our first larger exhibitions of our work, and we would be honored to have you join us in celebrating."
Nicholas Barber said the paintings he is including in the Capstone Exhibition are his explorations with airbrush and acrylic paint.
“I’m fairly new to the use of an airbrush so it’s been tricky learning all of the nuances associated,” he said. “I try to keep my work light without too much offensive subject matter to spark some curiosity into the viewer. I want them to question what they are looking at and try to figure out what’s happening.”
Barber said having people attend the Capstone Exhibition is an important part of the experience.
“This show marks our first real leap into the art world on a professional level,” he said. “Any viewership is beneficial to us. It’s impossible to tell how valuable it is to have your work seen.”
River Morgan is exhibiting a series of six digital illustrations centered around the idea of identity and self-discovery.
“It depicts my journey as I learn to live with my neurodivergencies and gender identity,” they said.
The Capstone Exhibition is the culmination of these students’ work.
“This is a really big moment for all of us, and it would mean a lot for people to go and see it,” Morgan said.
Avry Victor is showing pieces that are centered around her deepest and biggest traits and emotions.
“They're all very introspective and personal paintings that deal with anxiety and overthinking, romance as a young woman and how it feels to be in love, and really just pay homage to the girl I've always been and the woman I'm becoming,” she said.
Victor said the Capstone Exhibition is a great way to immerse yourself in a wide variety of the arts and support local artists, while also representing an important milestone for her.
“The Exhibit for me is the perfect way to mark the end of my undergrad career and launch the beginning of a new one,” she said. “I put so much time and love into the paintings I've created, and it just feels so good to see that work of mine hanging on the gallery walls under those lights. It's even better to get to share that with my friends and family and show off everything I've been working on.”
The following students are participating in this year’s Capstone exhibition:
Studio Art: Allison Achtenhagen, Ceramics; Kate Askey, Ceramics and Painting; Nicholas Barber, Painting; Thomas Bolin, Painting; Tyra Carstens, Ceramics and 2D Media; Vee Gansebom, Painting; Brenna Houdersheldt, Printmaking; Erica Leon, Painting; Reid Martin, Painting; River Morgan, Digital Illustration; Emily Mulvaney, Ceramics; Luci Packard, Painting; Lily Stennis-Vinson, Ceramics; Natalie Thiel, Mixed Digital Media; Avry Victor, Painting; Emma Wobig, Photography; Dylan Wonder, Sculpture; and Beau Yoesel, Graphic Novel.
Graphic Design: Samantha Beck, Camryn Burkhalter, Clara Carper, Hayla Doohen, Benjamin Foley, Lauren Frankforter, Makala Gunderson, Coda Haight, Kacee Kaufman, Kenzie Kollars, Jakob Kostman, Isabell Kratville, Chloe Kuckelman, Jayda Lyon, Tristan Maiefski, Staria Martin, Brandon Millard, Alyse Monismith, Sam Montante Gonzalez, Morgan Murphy, Michelle Nguyen, Cloey Nyberg, Devin Page, Manuel Paredes-Castaneda, Wilder Pierce, Abby Presser, Gabriella Ragland, Anna Schmidtke, Willa Scoville, Hayden Sinnett, Caitlin Steiner, Frank Timperley, Keegan Towey, August VanCleave, Anna Vosicky, Dylan Wonder and Minn Zaw.
The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery is located on the first floor of Richards Hall at Stadium Drive and T streets. The Nebraska Union is located at 14th and R streets.
Follow the Eisentrager-Howard Gallery on social media via Instagram @eisentragerhoward to stay apprised of any updates for the Capstone exhibition.