June 13, 2007

Work of OWU Students in the Six-State Photography Exhibition

The New Union Center in Oberlin houses the Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, where the work of several OWU photography students is currently on display. Photo courtesy of www.favagallery.org

Four Ohio Wesleyan fine arts students have recently found success in Oberlin, Ohio.

The photography of Lynne Albers `08, Emily Bigelow `08, Laura Sloan `08, and Stephanie Stiassni `09 was accepted for the Six-State Photography 2007 exhibit, the 27th annual juried photography exhibition at Firelands Association for the Visual Arts (FAVA). The show, which is open to photographers from Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, runs through July 1 at the New Union Center for the Arts in Oberlin.

“Having their photographs accepted for inclusion in the Six-State Photography Exhibition is an important accomplishment since it is a competitive show, which was juried by a highly accomplished professional photographer who was totally unfamiliar with their work,” says Professor of Fine Arts and Director of the Ross Art Museum Justin Kronewetter. “In each case, the artwork was judged on its merit alone.”

Accepted into the show was Albers’ digital photographs “Illuminer” and “Faire L’amour;” Bigelow’s silver gelatin prints “Darien #1” and “Fairfield #2;” Sloan’s silver gelatin print that is untitled; and Stiassni’s silver gelatin print that is untitled. Kronewetter’s digital photograph, “Side Panels (Green Stripe)” was also accepted into the exhibition.

“This was a huge pride boost,” says Albers. “On top of being in a juried show, you can put your photos up for sale. “The process of submitting work to a juried show is important to understand, even if you decide not to pursue a career as a professional artist.”

“Being included in an exhibition of this importance is a great confidence booster for each of these young artists,” Kronewetter says. “By having their work selected, each student is being told their work is of a quality that deserves to be celebrated on the same stage with others whose photographs are considered works of art rather than mere snapshots.”

For details about the Six-State Photography exhibition or Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, visit www.favagallery.org

— Ericka Kurtz