Class of ‘15 Art Showcase Opens in Lamont Gallery

“Super Studio,” on display from May 14 to June 7 in the Lamont Gallery, showcases the artistic talent of the graduating class of 2015. Varying in media, the collection of student artwork includes innovative pieces ranging from 3D-printed baseball cleats to a Pop Rocks dress, as well as stunning prints, drawings and ceramics. The diverse themes and genres on display are a culmination of months of hard work and are an opportunity to celebrate Exeter’s wealth of artistic talent.

The public was first introduced to the collection at the opening reception on the evening of Thursday, May 14. Featuring live performances by two of Exeter’s a cappella groups—the Exeteras and In Essence—the Lamont Gallery was transformed into a lively space for guests as they enjoyed the 200 new pieces lining the gallery walls.

Visitors were not only given the chance to admire the artwork, but were invited to create their own as well. To the side of the main gallery was a room dedicated to making “mood-boards;” a hands-on activity many enjoyed.

Other special exhibits include Scholastic Art & Writing Award winners, including PEA’s national art winners, and the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Awards inside the bay galleries.

In a multitude of ways, the exhibit exceeded expectations. “The show is the best one in my memory of 12 years!” art department head Tara Misenheimer said.

Due to the abundance of incredible pieces, people saw works that they felt an immediate connection with. Lower Alejandro Arango particularly enjoyed Nicha Sophonpanich’s Jelly Bean self-portrait. “What makes it stand out to me is the playful material. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen,” Arango said.

Upper Jordan Haney was especially attracted to senior Millie Dunstan’s drawing depicting the stages of a shattering bottle. Haney appreciated the clever communication of a “message in a bottle” as pieces of paper spilled out of the broken glass.

Like Haney and Arango, Director of the Lamont Gallery Lauren O’Neal was impressed by the innovation of the artists. “Even something like portraiture is taken to a new level at Exeter by students' inventive use of materials,” she said.

Many agreed that the show so far has been a success in two aspects; both in the quality of work and the awareness and recognition it has brought to the arts on campus. Students also said that at Exeter, art can sometimes be brushed under the carpet because of the competitive environment in academics and sports.

“There a lot of really talented people at this school who go underappreciated. It is not like a sports game where you can see your friends do something that they are really good at. Art is more of an individual thing,” senior Helen Edwards said.

Prep Grace Huang, an artist featured in the show for her Scholastic piece, believed that the reason the arts at Exeter can be overlooked is “it’s much harder to actually explore art because it’s less accessible.” Students don’t feel connected to the art community at Exeter because they don’t get the opportunity to utilize studio resources if not enrolled in a class, or feel as though they don’t have the time.

Exhibits and events hosted by the art department like “Super Studio” are important because they are “the only opportunity to see what your friends have accomplished,” Edwards said. Another great example of the art department’s outreach was “Print to Fit,” a fashion design competition last April.

Several of the pieces on display were inspired by visiting professional artists with whom the students were fortunate enough to work with. For example, Exonians collaborated with fine artist Christina J. Wang ‘05 to create a PEA-themed scarf, now on display in the gallery.

In addition to working alongside these professional artists when they visit campus, the art department works to extend this caliber of excellence into all it does. Misenheimer is excited that the students had the opportunity to exhibit their work in an environment as professional as the Lamont Gallery—“a place with a rich history of exhibitions.” This resonates with the art department’s philosophy to treat the students as “professional artists in the studio, creating their work everyday.”