ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Seniors in the Department of Fine Arts at Winthrop University will showcase their work in an exhibition titled “Synthesis” from April 18-28 at the Lowenstein Building in Rock Hill. The exhibition will open with a reception from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 18.
“Synthesis” is a collaborative exhibition of nine graduating seniors earning a B.A. or B.F.A. from the Department of Fine Arts. The artists featured in the exhibition work in a variety of styles and techniques that range from painting, photography, sculpture, installation and video. The work presented explores themes of nostalgia, introspection, environmental issues and happiness, among other topics.
Students featured in the exhibition are Tessa Benoit, Madison Burger, Carson Carroll, Sara Donnelly, Will Lattman, Kasey Sears, Shelby Spenser, Javonte Taylor and Lacey Todd.
Although there is a variety of work, the artists are bound by both their undergraduate experiences at Winthrop and their current transition in life which synthesizes these diverse concepts into one coherent show. This exhibition also highlights the work of three distinguished Department of Fine Arts alumni (Michael Gentry ‘08, Elizabeth Melton ‘03, ‘10 and Jonathan Prichard ’03, ‘10) who have already made an impact on the local arts community.
Karen Oremus, chair of the Department of Fine Arts, explained that the decision to have the exhibition off campus within Knowledge Park was an intentional one.
“It marks the students’ official entry into the professional world,” Oremus said. “As such, it is fitting to augment the professionalism and ceremony of the event by moving it off campus. The Lowenstein Building being located within Knowledge Park is symbolic, the combination of knowledge and professionalism embodied by Rock Hill’s development resonates soundly with the nature of the event.”
Oremus hopes that having the exhibition in such a publicly accessible location will further strengthen ties to the Rock Hill community.
The exhibition is open for public viewing April 19-28 from 12-3 and 5-8 p.m. in the Historic Lowenstein Building located at 300 Technology Center St. in Rock Hill. The exhibition will be closed April 20-21.
This exhibition has been made possible due to the generous donation of the space at the Lowenstein Building from Skip Tuttle and Gary Williams. Additional support has been generously received from Coroplast, the Arts Council of York County Small Grants Program, the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC, Comporium Communications, and the SC Arts Commission, which received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information about this exhibition or the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Winthrop, please contact Whitney Hough, director of communications and community engagement, at 803/323-2399 or houghw@winthrop.edu.
