(See Artwork Below) During this past summer the MTSU Todd Art Gallery was expanded through the conversion of Todd Hall room 210 into additional exhibit space. The room’s first formal use will come in late November with “Principio finis” this semester’s exit show for six candidates for the Middle Tennessee Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art.

Scheduled for November 27-December 6, 2012 it will include: Maegan Anderson, Josh Chappell, Claire Coleman, Courtney Cunningham, Lucy Davis, and Tara Ross. Together this group represents the areas of ceramics, painting, printmaking, and sculpture. 

The public is invited to join them for an Artist's Reception in the Todd Art gallery Monday, November 26 from 6-8 p.m. 

All exhibits are free and open to the public.

Quick Facts:

principio finis: A Studio Arts Exhibition of Candidates for the bachelor of Fine Arts Degree

Dates: November 27–December 6, 2012

Reception: Monday, November 26, 2012 | 6-8 p.m.

Artist Statements Excerpts 

Claire Coleman–I enjoy the meditative journey with my pieces; the laminating of each piece of masonite at a time. After the layers have become one piece, I sand my pieces down to a shiny, smooth surface. The process is what is important, and I appreciate the simplicity and grace of the pieces as they grow from uncooperative sheets of masonite, to beautiful flowing shapes.

Courtney Cunningham–I have found something that is meaningful to me and I want to be able to share that passion with others. Expressing myself through cakes helps me to send a strong message without having to be so daunting. I want to show the viewers how important it is to be healthy; in society today we have major problems with obesity. We as humans need to take responsibility for our actions and our gluttonous ways. My goal is to really make someone think about what they are putting in their bodies. There are ways to be healthy and have desserts you enjoy in life.  

Josh Chappell–My work is inspired by my own personal experience; growing up in southern-middle Tennessee and dealing with the cultural expectations of being raised south of the Mason-Dixon line. Through my work, I portray taboo cultural situations as everyday scenarios. By presenting illustrative characters in narrative situations I provide a unique vantage point to consider all the implications of the scenario. 

Lucy Davis–People may not know it but we put a lot of subconscious thought into how we view colors and what they mean to us personally and as a collective. For example, green can be seen as a color of vitality and fertility, but differ its appearance, make it to appear yellowed some, and it becomes a more undesirable and sickly color.

Maegan Anderson–My work consists of abnormal animal human hybrids and creatures that seem to flow from a dark emotional dream. I use symbolism associated with dream interpretation to illustrate mysterious, cryptic environments. All of these elements combined, begin to create a world of emotional struggle and hint at the underlying vulnerability of the human race.

Tara Ross–My art is about figuring itself out, starting with a spontaneous thought and unwinding into a greater metaphor. Sometimes it starts with a picture in my head, a line, or a texture; I see where that takes me. I like to see what different media do with each other. I like the idea of layers building on top of each other and coming together to create a whole. 

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