Art majors Rebecca Haas and Justin Collins, seniors at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, were chosen recently to exhibit two of their works at “Varsity Art XIV,” a multimedia exhibition featuring student works from 19 Missouri and Illinois regional colleges and universities. Two students were chosen from each institution. This annual event, sponsored by Art St. Louis, is curated by professors from the participating colleges and universities. Designed as a collaborative project, the students work together to present the large group exhibition.
Haas’ two works, both titled “Ordinary Oddity,” focused on reflections. Haas captured the reflection of a passerby watching the activity in a women’s dress shop window, a complex, multi-layered vision. She explained in her artist statement, “The precise moment when all of the components seem to merge together and are cast back in a perfectly unique manor create a whole other entity.”
Collins’ large multi-media pieces, titled “American History” and “Genocide,” depict the ugly, often violent reflections of racism in the United States. In “American History,” he used white spray paint on black felt and stencils to create perfectly formed words filled with hate for another race. A red “human” sits at the top of the draped cloth strongly suggesting, said the artist, the one word that ties all races together.
Both Haas and Collins will exhibit their work in the coming weeks in Gallery FAB, in the Fine Arts Building, Rosedale Drive as part of their senior thesis projects. Haas’ photographs can be seen April 12 through April 20 and Collins’ work will be exhibited May 3 through May 7. For more information call 314-516-6967.
More information:
http://www.umsl.edu/~art/studio.html
http://www.myslart.org/events/varsity-art-xiv-at-art-st
UMSL senior Rebecca Haas with her work "Ordinary Oddity"
UMSL senior Justin Collins with his work, "American History"
