By D. Thompson
Bowie State University’s fine and performing arts department and the City of Bowie are partnering to host an art exhibit that will be displayed at Bowie City Hall from Jan. 23-May 20.
The exhibit will feature over thirty pieces of art, which were chosen through a juried selection process by the City of Bowie Arts Committee, and Bowie State studio art professor Arthur Vidrine.
“Art has the ability to connect people together,” said Vidrine who is excited to gather the community around the showcase. “It can bring the community together towards a shared experience. Art has done this throughout its entire history.”
This is the first time a university will be featured in the City Hall Gallery. The Arts Committee chair, Kathleen Parker, worked closely with the university to bring this partnership to fruition.
“The concept behind the exhibition was to allow Bowie State University students, staff and faculty to showcase their artwork to the community,” said Parker. “Our City Council awarded an arts grant to the university to invest in our artists and provide supplies to assist students with matting, framing and wiring their artwork.”
The exhibit will feature a diverse set of art pieces, which includes paintings, photography, graphic design work, sculptures and video displays. Most of the pieces come from students enrolled in Bowie State’s fine and performing arts department, and the budding artists are eager to share their creative visions with the community.
“It’s my first exhibit in a while,” said junior fine arts major Amora General, who contributed an acrylic painting and a sculpture to the gallery. “I’m really happy and proud to be a part of something for my school. The one thing I do know how to do, I’m glad I get to share it with my school.”
Navaeh Fakeye, a sophomore animation and motion graphics major, also submitted a painting and a sketch piece to the exhibit. Fakeye sees art as a vibrant medium that allows people to look inward and learn something about themselves.
“I hope people come away with the joy of art. It can really tell a story,” said Fakeye. “It made me feel amazing that I get to share my art and expression with the world.”
Beyond that, Vidrine is excited that Bowie State’s fine and performing arts students will have the public forum to share their talent and work with the greater Bowie community and beyond.
“We would love for people to come out and see what students are doing here,” said Vidrine. “Come see the talent that’s in our department.”
