Black lights, paintings on 10-foot square canvases, film projections, comic books and replicas of rooms – this was the scene at the Bachelor of Fine Arts digital arts show last Thursday.
The arts show, held at 7 p.m. in an art studio at 62 W. Broadway St., was the final exhibition of a year’s worth of work.
Associate professor of art Michael Salter was proud of the work that all of his students presented at the art show.
“They’re an elite group of students and the range of work is pretty profound,” Salter said. “This program is a big commitment and a high standard of discipline is expected.”
Attendees of the art show enjoyed the atmosphere and exchanging of ideas with the artists.
“This is my first big BFA show,” said attendee Marie Teasdale, an environmental studies major. “I am really impressed by the political messages on environmental destruction and industrialization.”
Jennifer Jacobs’ work “Sister City” is a four-part animated story playing on four TV screens in separate, curtained-off areas. Jacobs’ piece contains two different narratives of an older and younger sister representing the conscious and unconscious state. Jacobs has been developing the project, whose concept is the psychological evolution a person undergoes throughout a lifetime, for more than two years, she said.
This year, Jacobs has worked closely with associate professor Salter and assistant professor Chris Coleman.
“(Salter) always says if you love what you’re doing, then there is a reason for it,” Jacobs said. “They have both made my experience at the University of Oregon worthwhile.”
Another piece that had people talking was a Andrew Van Dyk’scompilation of artifacts from an abandoned lumber mill. He documented his exploration of the mill in Sweet Home, Ore., in a variety of media. Central to his display were photographs taken inside and outside the mill at night. Using 60,000 watts to light the darkened mill, Van Dyk addressed humanity’s primal connection to light, representing the known with brightness and the unknown with shadows. He also displayed mementos he’d taken from the mill including company documents, policy agreements and notes taken by those employed by the company.
“I was hoping to shed light on history,” said Van Dyk. “These modern ruins are a part of our past and we can learn things from them.”
To receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Arts, students complete a one-year program after receiving their B.A. Selection for this group included an interview and presentation process. Only 22 were admitted.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University is liberal in its definition of Digital Arts by embracing art in many forms of media, but especially those made using computers.