WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., November 30, 2023 — The work of senior art majors and their capstone projects will be on display in the Nutting Gallery and the Creative Arts Therapy Gallery starting on November 29th. The exhibition opening for both events will take place in a “gallery hop” format. The campus community and public are invited to view the senior exhibitions in the Creative Arts Therapy Gallery from 4:30 to 6 pm and in the Nutting Gallery from 5:30 to 7 pm. The Creative Arts Therapy Gallery is located on the second floor of College Union and the Nutting Gallery is in the Hall of Fine Arts.
“Our Fall Senior Exhibition is always a special time for students, faculty, and guests of the gallery. We are proud of our students and their hard work and this exhibition is an important way to add confidence and professionalism to their education,” said Professor Brian Fencl, director of the Nutting Gallery. The artwork and research projects represent the students’ capstone projects and are required for graduation.
Art Therapy instructor Terri Giller added, “The Senior project is an important aspect of the Creative Arts Therapy major curriculum. This gives students the opportunity to integrate all the knowledge they have learned from our courses into a semester-long project that serves the community. Additionally, this project helps students to gain experience, explore their specific interests, and may help to clarify their continued education and career goals.”
In the Creative Arts Therapy gallery, visitors will be treated to a variety of creative expressions. Seniors, their hometowns, and projects are:
- Natalie Alderman, Martins Ferry, OH, A Sensory Story; Journey to Relaxation
- Kennedy Conrad, Follansbee, W.Va., Symbolic Self Portraits
- Michael Cook, New Martinsville, W.Va., Creating Portable Art with the Unhoused Community
- Makenna Klarr, Martins Ferry, OH, Visual Art Journaling, A Coping Mechanism
- Alex Panepucci, Wheeling, W.Va., Art Making to Prevent Burnout
- Em Williams, Parkersburg, W.Va., Creating Community through Art among Marginalized Women
Students enrolled in the Art Education major and VCD tracks of Graphic Design, Illustration, and Studio Art are required to present a Senior Exhibition to graduate. Participating students in the Nutting Gallery are:
- Morgan Anderson, Paden City, W.Va., Art Education major
- Amilea Harder, Wheeling, W.Va., Interdisciplinary Studies major
- Angelica Rogers, Wellsville, OH, VCD Studio Art major
- Hattie Scott, Proctor, W.Va., Art Education major
- Erin Yakesh, Morgantown, W.Va., VCD Studio Art major
- Troy Zimmerman, Wheeling, W.Va., VCD Studio Art major
The galleries of West Liberty University are dedicated to educating, enriching, and engaging students and the public through art exhibitions of the highest quality. Fulfilling this mission through exhibitions during the academic year, the schedule includes exhibitions by visiting artists, student exhibitions, and the Annual Art Faculty Exhibition.
The Nutting Gallery is in WLU’s Fine Arts Building. The regular hours of the Nutting Gallery are 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Fridays, weekends, and other times are by arrangement only. The Creative Arts Therapy gallery is located on the second floor of the Student Union in room S27. Gallery events in both spaces are open to the public and free to attend.
For more information about the Nutting Gallery, please contact Brian Fencl at bfencl@westliberty.edu. For more information about the Creative Arts Therapy program, please contact Terri Giller at terri.giller@westliberty.edu or visit their website: www.westliberty.edu/art/academic/art-therapy/.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university, and it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and 12 graduate programs, both online and on campus. Learn more at westliberty.edu.