Student Art Exhibition to Open at Pacific Union College

The department of visual arts at Pacific Union College welcomes the community to their annual student art show, April 18-June 16. The opening reception is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, in the campus’ Rasmussen Art Gallery.

Several students will display original art pieces in the show, in a variety of media. Marina Maia, freshman fine art major, will have three pieces on display, all of which she completed during her winter quarter drawing fundamentals course.

“One of them, done in pastels, is a surrealist piece of a blue eye melting into clouds,” Maia explains. “It was inspired by a photo a friend of mine sent me of his eyes. I told him that the undertones of his eyes reminded me of those in the clouds after the rain cleared, so I made this to prove it.”

Professor Rajeev Sigamoney, chair of the department, says that the student art show is an opportunity for students to realize that what they’re doing is actually serious, professional work.

“Often, it’s easy to think of college coursework as just an exercise in academia,” he says. “But when your homework ends up showing in an art gallery, gets seen by hundreds in the community, and receives criticism and/or praise, students begin to realize their work is much more than just an assignment.”

Sigamoney says that this concept has been demonstrated many times over the years in the Rasmussen, and is always a highlight of the year for students and faculty alike.

“This transition from art student to professional is something necessary for them to succeed after leaving college,” he explains.

For some students, it is a way to hone skills that will contribute to a career in another field after graduation. Christine Lee, freshman fine art major and pre-dentistry student, plans to attend dental school after graduating from PUC, learning to specialize in cosmetic dentistry.

“My art degree is a way for me to learn more about the cross between science and art, and hopefully incorporate that into my future career in the art of dentistry,” she explains. Lee also has work on display during the student art exhibit.

The opening reception for the student art exhibition is free and open to all. For a campus map, visit puc.edu/campus-map. For information on next year’s lineup of art shows and exhibitions, contact the department at art@puc.edu or (707) 965-6604. Learn more about visual arts at PUC by visiting puc.edu/visual-arts.

Rasmussen Art Gallery hours are Thursday-Sunday, 2 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Admission is always free.