Student Invitational prompts panel discussion

Nine talented art students sat in front of an audience of about 50 people on Tuesday, April 26, answering the audience's  questions about their journey this semester as they prepared their work for Student Invitational 2011.

From the anxiety of applying for the honors program to the hard work and discipline of creating a masterpiece and finally seeing it all come to an end, the art students shared their triumphs, struggles and emotions through the whole process.

"It took a lot of courage to apply. Once I was accepted I was shocked. My life has been kind of involved in this and nothing else. It was a very good experience," said Chris Hackworth.

"Submission was nerve wracking. It was a lot of hard work. I freaked out towards the end because I didn't think I was going to finish," Rachel Alexis Parks said.

Each work of art is unique and different from the others. The artists showed their individual creativity through their pieces.

"I felt destined to make my project...I felt like I was supposed to make it," Jessica Pavone said.

"I always start with a really vague idea, and I have no control over where that idea goes," Evert Munguia said.

These artists wanted to portray different messages through their art, and each student went about creating their work in a different way.

"I try to make the colors represent the tones," Don Dreyer said. Dreyer pursued music before discovering his love for art. He listens to music as an inspiration while working on his art.

"I would like for people, two days later, after they've seen the show, when they're like washing dishes, to think ‘hmm, I wonder what that piece is about?'" Munguia said.

The students bonded over the semester and learned from one another and inspired each other through their art. Art encourages individuality and is open to any kind of interpretation.

"We all use our emotions to create what we want. I think it can be both creative and healing, and not just subjective to those terms. It can be anything," Nicole Rodriquez said.

"Whether you like it or not, it's going to filter into you," Munguia said.

The exhibit will be on display in the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art through Thursday, May 26.