Spring 2022 Art and Design Exhibit Showcases Student Talent
Spring 2022 Student Art and Design Show
John Cabot University’s Department of Art History hosted the Spring 2022 Student Art and Design Show from April 28 through May 2. The exhibition, held for the first time at the Orto Botanico (Rome’s botanical garden) featured a selection of exemplary students’ work in diverse media such as paintings, sculptures, installations, photos, and prints. The students’ engagement with the creative process during the Spring 2022 semester brought to fruition the idea of creating a concept and media into the architecture of a space.
Here’s what some of the participating students had to say about the experience:
Madison Ferriola, Psychology and Criminal Justice Major – Visiting student from the University of Delaware
One of the amazing things about working in the JCU art studio is feeling inspired by other students’ art. It hangs on the wall to dry, sits on tables, and piles up everywhere. The end-of-year exhibition is an incredible opportunity for others to see the hours poured into each work and an opportunity for the students to see how our collective experience as JCU students has inspired beauty. I was very proud of my piece and the pieces I got to watch come to life by other students, which made it all the more rewarding to see them on display.
Spring 2022 Student Art and Design Show
Maria Isabel Escalante Gortaire, Art History Major – JCU
In my opinion, to be part of an exhibit installation as an artist but also as an aspiring curator is an eye-opening experience. You don’t imagine how much work is involved in creating the experience, but it is extremely gratifying when people get to see the final product.
Ezra Goren, Art History Major – JCU
The exhibition allowed me to bring my work into a wider community context, putting it in conversation with the unique setting of the gardens, the art of my fellow students, and the visitors. Working with the goal of participating in the exhibition inspired me to push myself to create my best work, and it was rewarding to see it displayed in such a beautiful collaborative event.
Spring 2022 Student Art and Design Show
Yimeng Yao, Graphic Design Major – Visiting student from the Rhode Island School of Design
It is such a special experience to end my exchange semester at the Orto Botanico. I feel very proud of myself, not only for the work I made but also for the special experience of my junior year. This end-of-term exhibition not only showcases our works but also allowed us to experience curating an exhibition in an unusual place. Walking on the path in the garden, discovering little surprises in the shrubs, this experience echoes my time spent in Rome this semester, in which I always discovered unexpected sites while studying. Large-scale printed designs were used as flags, thus immersing the designed pieces as a part of a whole, and not just separate works. This also gives me the courage to view my work from different perspectives, which hopefully will influence my future work as a graphic designer.
Caitlin Hanson, Biochemistry Major – Visiting student from Iowa State University
I was able to participate in the exhibition and although I am not an art major, I loved the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and create and work with my imagination. It was so rewarding to get to display my hard work at the end of the semester and see others grow in their work as well. It was a wonderful collaborative effort that enriched my study abroad experience.
