The Delta State Art Gallery almost always has something going on. About every month, a new artist has the chance to share their work with the community, but students often overlook what the gallery has to offer.
The Wright Center Art Gallery is a building on the campus’ quad that holds a surprise for those who choose to look. Inside, the art department displays local works of art hand-picked and curated by the gallery curator.
There are two shows that art students in particular look forward to: the student exhibition and the senior thesis exhibition.
What is an Exhibition?
An exhibition is a set of artworks a designated “curator” selects to display in a setting. This curator can be a member of the gallery or a special guest invited by the gallery. The curator gives final say on what is displayed in a show.
The works are then placed in a gallery and can be sold if the artist wants to sell them. How long a show lasts depends on the type of show and gallery, but it typically stays up for about one to two months.
Art exhibitions may have different themes or accept only certain mediums. An example of this would be a show that only shows black and white photography, or a show featuring only abstract sculpture.
One exhibition Delta State displayed recently centered around veterans and how they share their experiences through art. There were a variety of sculptures, photos, paintings and prints all depicting experiences in the military.
The Student Exhibition
What makes the Delta State Student Exhibition stand out? First, it’s free for all students to show their creativity. All mediums of art are accepted and students are allowed to submit as many pieces as they want. The work submitted can be about anything.
Student artists have the option of selling their featured artwork donors to the gallery give awards.
Because the Delta State student show is curated, not all submitted works are featured in the show. Pieces rejected by the jurors have a second chance in “Salon de Refuse.” Members of Kappa Pi, the art fraternity on campus, host this student-curated gallery.
Kappa Pi displays “Salon de Refuse” in the hallway of Holcombe-Norwood, next door to the official Student Show.
The Senior Thesis Exhibition
The second biggest show of the semester is the Senior Thesis Exhibition. This exhibit takes place right after the Student Exhibition and features the work of students who will graduate from Delta State within the current school year.
The Senior Thesis is essentially a Bachelor of Fine Arts capstone project. Senior art students prepare their exhibition during the spring semester and present it at the end of the year in the gallery.
Unlike the Student Exhibition, a chosen jury of professors and successful artists must pre-approve the Senior Thesis. The jury meets with the student over the semester to check in on their project.
Once the project is completed, it’ll be shown in the Senior Thesis Exhibition with all of the other students who went through the same process.
Why Go See The Work?
There are many reasons to stop by and visit the Delta State Art Gallery. Students, alumni and others from all walks of life get the opportunity to put their work on display for others to enjoy. and it’s free to anyone who wants to visit. This, alongside the rotating variety of artwork exhibited, make the art gallery housed in the Wright Center one that is entirely unique to Delta State.
