By Seth Taylor
taylorse@grinnell.edu
On April 6, the Bachelor of Arts Exhibition (BAX) 2018 opened at Faulconer Gallery. The event, organized by the Studio Art Student Educational Policy Committee in coordination with Faulconer Gallery staff, is an annual exhibition that highlights art that students have worked on during the year without any Art Department faculty involvement. Charlotte Richardson-Deppe and Anne Rogers, both ’19, led the organization of the exhibition this year.
Third- or fourth-years are eligible to apply, and while art majors receive preference, non-majors that are heavily involved in the art studio may be accepted as well. Applicants must submit measurements of their work, the materials used and a paragraph on the piece, as well as answer questions on their involvement with the arts at Grinnell.
The exhibition brings together student artists, the curatorial resources of the College and the community that gets to see the final product. Students get a rare chance to work with the curators of Faulconer Gallery to install their pieces, working on lighting and placement in the gallery.
Ella Williams ’18 has two of her artworks featured in the exhibit this year. A gender, women’s and sexuality studies and studio art double major, Williams hopes to pursue music after graduating from Grinnell.
For Williams, BAX is a chance to interact with curators in a professional space.
Last year, Williams created an installation piece that she set up with the help of the gallery curators. This year, the curators allowed her to see her sculpture “The Fall of Man” in a new light, literally.
“I was super impressed with the lighting [the curator] chose for ‘The Fall of Man,’ actually, because if you look at the shadows they just line up perfectly in this really beautiful way,” Williams said.
Williams believes that for an undergraduate artist to see their work in a professional gallery is a rare and valuable experience.
“It lets artists at Grinnell envision their work actually being in galleries, because they can see that their work belongs in a place like that,” Williams said.
BAX is not just an opportunity for student artists to show their work, but also a chance for students who may not be as involved in the arts at Grinnell to see what goes on in the Bucksbaum art wing.
“I think sometimes the art department can feel a little separate from the rest of the campus community and BAX is sort of a time to open the doors and let the whole community see what we’ve been doing and engage with our work,” Williams said.
Sofia Mendez ’19, a philosophy and studio art double major, is also featured in the art show.
In the fall, Mendez studied in Italy, where she took a lot of photographs that inspired her pieces in this year’s exhibit.
Similarly to Williams, Mendez believes that events like BAX that showcase student art can act as catalysts for students who may not be aware of the artistic opportunities available on campus.
“If you see them around campus then that can work as an initial … trigger to want to participate,” Mendez said.
In her first year, Mendez had been unaware of the existence of a photography club, until she saw a photobook produced by the club. She contacted the group, started taking photos and now has her work featured in a professional gallery.
The exhibition will remain open until May 16 at Faulconer Gallery for faculty, staff, community members and students, art majors and otherwise, to observe and enjoy.
