UBCO student Katya Meehalchan sets up her art as part of the Forty Feet Forward exhibit.
What: Forty Feet Forward student art exhibition
Who: Graduating artists in the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Media Studies programs
When: Opening reception: Friday, April 21, from 6 to 9:30 pm, exhibition dates: April 22 to 28, daily from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Creative and Critical Studies building, 1148 Research Road, UBC Okanagan
Visual arts students with UBC Okanagan’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Media Studies programs host their annual graduation art exhibition starting this week.
Forty Feet Forward runs from April 21 to April 28 in UBCO’s Creative and Critical Studies building, which will be transformed into an exhibition space. The show includes the work of 20 student artists who specialize in a variety of mediums including photography, sculpture, drawing, painting, digital media and printmaking.
Visual Arts Instructor Andreas Rutkauskas says this group of artists has established a great sense of community while preparing for this exhibition.
“What makes this group of artists so unique is the developed camaraderie,” says Rutkauskas. “Throughout history, the artist groups and collectives that have endured have laughed, cried, eaten and created together. I see that type of energy developing with this cohort.”
He also believes that this camaraderie will continue beyond this exhibition and their undergraduate studies.
The importance of community among this group of artists is echoed by BFA student Simone King.
“I cherish all the connections I’ve made with the people in this program. One of the most important aspects of the fine arts program is the time you have with your peers and professors around you,” King explains. “It’s incredibly important as a growing artist to have their support and feedback, as well as to be surrounded by so many different practices that we can learn from.”
BFA student Josie Hillman says that the final exhibition will represent the culmination of her studies and is an exciting opportunity for her to push boundaries.
“Now that I am in fourth year, I aim to push societal and personal views of how we see life by passing the boundaries of our comfort zones and identifying what can be deemed as discomfort, and how we can surpass it,” says Hillman.
Rutkauskas is looking forward to seeing the final result of all the hard work that these artists have put in.
“Witnessing the artists’ pride in their accomplishments in front of friends and family is the most rewarding moment,” he adds.
The community is welcome to the opening reception on April 21, from 6 to 9:30 pm. Forty Feet Forward is a free, public exhibit and is open daily from April 21 to 28, from 10 am to 4 pm.
More information can be found at: fccs.ok.ubc.ca/bfa-exhibition
