WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., May 6, 2020 — In today’s world of social distancing, senior art students had to adapt quickly to create a virtual exhibition as they close out the year.

“Graduation 2020 will be one that none of us will ever forget, especially our graduating seniors. They have worked four years for the opportunity to present their senior projects, either in the Nutting Gallery, for the art majors, or in the Boyle Conference Room, for the Digital Media Design Majors. It is unfortunate that due to the pandemic the seniors will not be able to share their work in person with their family and friends. However, we are still determined to give them a public venue for their hard work,” explained Jim Haizlett, senior project professor of art.

“Our students are pretty disappointed about not having a physical senior show, so we tried to do our best to still make this a special event for them as they prepare to graduate. The Art Portal page is now live and we hope that the campus and others will take time to enjoy our seniors work.”

Twelve seniors graduate this spring. Typically, seniors show their work in Nutting Gallery of Art and a public reception takes place

“I appreciate the flexibility of this group of seniors. Many of them had their planned projects completely derailed because they were not able to access the video, audio, and art labs. But they all adjusted, and each student has created a website that showcases their online senior exhibition,” he said.

Seniors, degrees and senior show topic are:

• Kelsey Hayden, Charles Town, W.Va., Visual Communication Design, enjoys branding, UI/UX design, and digital illustration. She created the t-shirt brand, Sour Sunflower, a quirky, size inclusive t-shirt shop that includes and user-friendly application.
• Madyson Amitrone, Washington, Pa., Visual Communication Design, has studied illustration and hopes to use her degree to become a freelance illustrator. Her senior project is bringing to life a comic she’s been developing for several years.
• Mikaela DeMotto, Elkins, W.Va., Visual Communication Design, created the branding for a music festival as well as a UX/UI app design, accompanied by a motion graphic advertisement for the application.
• Morgan Wiedebusch, Wheeling, W.Va., Visual Communication Design, plans on becoming a tattoo apprentice after graduation and enjoys drawing with Posca Paint Pens. For her senior exhibition she created 10 pieces in a modern psychedelic style.
• Hannah Eller, New Martinsville, W.Va., Art Education, enjoys printmaking because “it is not about the prints themselves but the process.” Her senior show is a dry point series of self-images that show anger and grief.
• Erika Logston, Clarington, Ohio, Art Education. Throughout college she grew to love ballpoint pen drawing and photography, which is reflected in the pieces she created for her senior show that is inspired by childhood.
• Travis Smith, Burgettstown, Pa., Art Education, loves helping people, and loves the creative process. His senior project reflects his family, his life and his educational journey.
• Taylor Warren, Wheeling, W.Va., Community Education, plans on pursuing a MFA in printmaking and completed a senior show by using a combination of printmaking and digital drawings of the people she cares about.
• Olivia Baumhoer, Hudson, Ohio, earned degrees in both Digital Media Design and Broadcasting. After graduation, she is moving to Indianapolis to work for the NCAA as a digital communications post-graduate intern. Her project is a podcast called “What’s A Boss?” and involves her teaching her mom about nerd culture.
• Dakota Knotts, Albright, W.Va., Digital Media Design. His senior project is “A Day at the Airport,” a short documentary about a pilot he met at the small airport near his home and how the pilot goes about his day.
• Kellsi Anderson, Friendly, W.Va. Digital Media Design, enjoys freelance photography and after graduation, will complete her final year in the Energy Express program with AmeriCorps. She created an integrated advertising strategy, which includes a website, short commercial, and educational cards for the Empress Emporium, Wheeling.
• Pat King, Wheeling, W.Va., Digital Media Design, plans on continuing to make independent projects. His senior capstone is “Discontinued – A Story of the Unexpected,” a documentary following the creation of his original senior project, a short film, and how COVID-19’s developments stopped production.