November 13, 2009: Our Town – OWU

Currently on display in the Werner Student Gallery, this exhibit features work from the drawing classes of Assistant Professor Kristina Bogdanov, who coordinated this exhibit. Funds for the Werner Student Gallery were donated by Carl D. Werner in memory of Mary Pontius Werner ’28.

Photo by Emily Hastings ’10

Werner Student Art Gallery
A student-managed showplace for student art

Every month, Edgar Hall’s Werner Student Gallery is filled with solo and group exhibit that display OWU students’ exceptional artistic talents.

Anh Vu ’11, the gallery student manager, says that the selected artist(s) have use of the gallery for four weeks, and they can spend those four weeks however they wish. For example, an artist or group can set up for a week, show for two weeks, and then take down for a week; or they can put up and take down in only a couple days and have a longer show period.

A personal statement on display for each exhibit declares the artist(s)’s inspirations or intentions regarding the show.

“I thought it was very beneficial and fun to have a show in the Werner Student Gallery,” says Emily Koly ’10. “I feel that it brought the fine arts department together with other departments because professors and students came to share in culture, which is something I really liked.”

Artists also can choose to have an opening or closing reception for their shows. During the reception, the artist mingles with guests and is available to comment on any of his or her pieces. Food and drink also are provided.

All artists must submit a project proposal and receive approval from James Krehbiel, the chairperson of the fine arts department. Each proposal includes a layout of what the artist wants the gallery space to look like, and slides of the artwork they plan to use in the show.

“It’s almost like submitting a portfolio,” says Koly.

Each artist pays a $50 deposit, or “rental space fee.” If the artist takes care of the space and nothing is damaged, he or she gets the money back at the end of the show. The fee is merely to ensure that the gallery is well maintained.

The fine arts department also allots $100 spending money for supplies for setting up the gallery and for food at the opening or closing receptions.

– Emily Hastings ’10