Many of the exhibits on display at Minot State University's Northwest Art Center at this time of the year are solo student shows in satisfaction of degree requirements. This year, both the Hartnett Hall and Library galleries feature joint displays.
In the former, through June 15, "Native, White Trash, and Fantasy Pin-ups" is the work of June Szczur, Jon Ross and James Skinner, incorporating three differing styles of art to "dazzle, shock and question" as the artists explore themes of labor, fantasy and naughtiness.
Szczur will depict foods used by her American Indian ancestors utilizing a variety of media, including ceramics, traditional crafts, watercolor, paper embossing and colored pencil.
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Terry J. Aman/MDN - - An example of work by James Skinner, on display in Minot State University’s Northwest Art Center Hartnett Hall Gallery. Skinner’s work is on display alongside works by John Ross and June Szczur in a combined exhibit titled “Native, White Trash and Fantasy Pinups.”
Skinner prods the imagination with his illustrations of "beauteous creatures" in watercolor and pencil. Ross seeks to demonstrate that "nothing is as it seems," in acrylic paintings some viewers could find shocking, graphic images of little "imps" doing naughty things in the most common, unlikely places.
Images that present adult content will be displayed within an enclosure for optional viewing.
The artists' reception will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the gallery, which is free and open to the public. As an added treat, music will be provided by flutist Keith Bear.
'Diamond in the Rough'
MSU art students Kayla Cote and Erika Edwards will present their joint senior capstone exhibition, "Diamond in the Rough," featuring unique jewelry techniques as well as creative display designs in the library gallery through June 1.
Northwest Art Center executive director Avis Veikley said, "A capstone project is generally a large scale production, implying a cohesive theme, not just single works."
Cote is a graphic design major at MSU who was inspired to make jewelry after an introduction to the craft in one of her university art classes. Cote uses found objects, "up-cycling" them into her jewelry creations.
Many of her pieces contain fragments of vintage jewelry. "Many of the vintage parts create a story in my work," she said. "I often wonder about the previous life of the beads I use, such as who wore them, or where they came from."
She describes her pieces as "whimsical, quirky and colorful." She also designed unique displays incorporating recycled paper and vintage buttons.
Edwards' pieces incorporate bead weaving and bead embroidery techniques using seed beads, gemstones, glass beads, and found objects such as vintage brooches. Her work is hand stitched, and one piece can take as much as 30 hours to complete. Her work includes practical pieces as well as wearable art.