USU art students learn to create visual journals in Germany
This summer, 14 students from Utah State University traveled to Germany to study art. Under the tutelage of faculty member Chris Terry, the group lived and worked in a small town named Essen, drawing inspiration from the city architecture and the surrounding landscape.
The students described the town and its environs as a “hidden jewel” and an inspiration for artists.
The trip was an opportunity for students to learn and to share. While in Germany, the group was interviewed by several German media sources and featured in many news stories. But for the students, the art was the focus of the visit.
“This is spontaneous work,” advisor Chris Terry said. “We were working on site and much of the work could be described as studies and sketches rather than polished and finished works.”
This unpolished approach gives the art – which consists of both paintings and drawings – a journal-like feel. To share their experience and showcase the work that came from it, the now-returned group will be hosting an exhibit in the Tippetts Exhibition Hall of the Chase Fine Arts Center.
The students were instrumental in planning the show and each participant will be represented by three separate pieces that they feel best reflect their experience in Germany.
The exhibition opens on Tues., Aug. 30, and runs through Sept. 10. Admission is free and the hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
In addition to the exhibit, the art department will be hosting a reception in honor of both the students and their work on Fri., Sept. 9, that will run from 7-9 p.m. The public is invited to share the artists’ experience by attending both the exhibit and the reception.
-zpende