Artwork by Blair Ufer

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — The talent, hard work and creativity of some of Wittenberg University’s best and brightest students will be on display in Koch Hall starting Friday, April 22.

The Senior Art Thesis Exhibition and Reception is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. in Koch Hall on the Wittenberg campus. After that opening event, each student’s body of work, including six to eight pieces per person, will be on display from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until Commencement on May 14. A variety of media will be displayed, including paintings, drawings, ceramics, prints, photographs, computer images and jewelry.

A concurrent exhibition of artwork by Wittenberg students is on display in the student gallery of the Springfield Museum of Art until May 1. Announcement of the Springfield Museum of Art Juried Exhibition Awards (for Wittenberg students) will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Kissell Auditorium as part of the reception event on Friday.

The Senior Art Thesis Exhibition is a showcase of the students’ best work and a culmination of a year-long class that is a graduation requirement. The exhibition is completely student-run, according to Ann Bixel of Bluffton, Ohio, class of 2005.

“We did everything from hanging our work to advertising,” Bixel said. “We made the show cards/invitations, ordered food, etc.

Artwork by Bryan Borden

“This show provides an opportunity for spectators to discuss the artwork directly with the artists and provides an opportunity for a gathering of Wittenberg students, faculty and staff and the Springfield community.”

Ed Charney, associate professor of art and instructor of the senior thesis class, said the exhibition is a good example of what can happen at Wittenberg when ambitious students put their best collective foot forward.

“This show features a wide variety of styles and media and displays great creativity,” Charney said. “The students came up with ideas for the show back in September and have been working on this since then to refine those ideas. Along the way, many of them have changed course, which is part of the academic and creative process.”

Fifteen senior art majors will have works on display: Bixel; Bryan Borden of Springfield, Ohio; Lindsey Cheek of Columbus, Ohio; Andrea Cheeseman of Springfield, Ohio; Dana Cobb of Fairfield, Conn.; Bill Fortune of Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.; Jessica Hahn of Bucyrus, Ohio; Meghan Jewett of Batavia, Ohio; Sarah Leavens of Milroy, Ind.; BethAnn Maurer of Niles, Mich.; Kate Moushey of Alliance, Ohio; Elizabeth Russell of Kansas City, Mo.; Blair Ufer of Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sean Walser of Louisville, Ky.; and Sarah Woodford of Springboro, Ohio.