Student-led show gives artists more freedom

By Bethany Narvaez/nw news editor

NE visual art students are presenting their artwork in a student-organized exhibit through May 6. 

The display consists of pieces created by NE students with a declared Associate of Arts in Visual Arts degree, a program fairly new to TCC. Paintings are the primary focus of the pieces on display, but photographs and sculptures are also featured.

The event was organized by NE student Taylor King who agreed to help after being approached in a previous semester by art associate professor Martha Gordon.

“I think it has to do with letting students have more control and freedom over what they want to present,” King said.

He recalls previous student art shows feeling too restrictive in the rules, such as not being allowed to include artwork made outside of school. For this art show, outside work was allowed for submission.

“If it’s their best work that they think best represents their talents, that’s what we want,” he said.

King hopes the student-organized event portrays a theme of artistic professionalism to the TCC community as art students can often feel overlooked with all of TCC’s academic successes.

“We want to show the administration that we can be taken seriously and can utilize a space and do something really great with it,” he said. “Student shows are a great way to self-motivate and feel like you’re really accomplishing something.”

Because the event is student-led, it equips students with tools that will be helpful in their artistic careers later in life.

“It’s a good experience because one of the hardest things about being a working artist is communicating with galleries and buyers and knowing how to navigate the business part of it,” King said. “I think students making more decisions for the show is good experience for that.”

King strived to make the event welcoming to all students.

“You can really get a lot out of student artwork if you take the time to really study it,” he said. “Going to student shows is a good way to build a community around the campus, and it’s just fun.”

The exhibit will be open in College Hall (NCAB 1111) during regular campus hours, and an artists’ reception will be held 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. May 3. For more information, contact King at taylor.king@my.tccd.edu or Gordon at martha.gordon@tccd.edu or 817-515-6571.