Lakeland Mirror

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Submitted by Samantha VandenPlas Flower wrapping paper designed by Samantha VandenPlas.

Media Credit: Submitted by Liz Lange Liz Lange's "Caravan."

Media Credit: Submitted by Liz Lange Liz Lange's "Walken."

Media Credit: Submitted by Celine Elzinga Celine Elzinga's painting.

On Friday, Jan. 29 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., the first of two Senior Art Exhibits opens in the Bradley displaying four seniors' artwork. The art students this year have a wide range of works stemming over their careers as Lakeland art students.

The four artists' work will be on display from Jan. 29 through Feb. 26. Those artists are Celine Elzinga, Liz Lange, Ki-Seob Kim, and Samantha VandenPlas.

Celine Elzinga, who is fluent in French, has always known that her future resides in art.
"I don't want to be a struggling artist on the street," said Elzinga. After graduation, she wants to be directing art for a fashion magazine in France.

Her favorite work on display at the exhibit was created outside of the typical art classes. In May 2009, she took the American Nature Experience, which required her to produce a piece of poetry, prose, or art that best conveyed nature.

"One night I went out on a paddle boat and caught the sun rising," said Elzinga. "I took a photo of it and painted it."

Lange is a non-traditional student, who feels she has gotten to know herself better through her craft.

"I like to slip humor into my pieces," said Elzinga in regards to one of her favorite pieces, which depicts a dog urinating on a fire hydrant. "It's something dog owners see all the time, but it could be shocking to some viewers."

VandenPlas was once a business major who decided to switch to art.

"It's a way to express myself that I could never get bored with," said VandenPlas.

One of the pieces she will be putting on display portrays her creativity and her love of nature. The work is a three-dimensional sculpture that is made from plaster casts of body parts and is rearranged into images representing nature.

"I made my face into a flower, my foot into a bumble bee, and my fingers into grass," said VandenPlas. "I think it's cool, but my dad is kind of creeped out by it."

The Senior Art Exhibit is the capstone course for art majors. The students are required to select their best pieces, arrange the gallery, create an original poster to promote their exhibit, and produce a short summary to present their work.

Pieces range from selections of prior courses: Drawing 1 & 2, Computer Design 1-3, Illustration, Pastels, Ceramics, Water Color 1 & 2, Black & White Photography, Printmaking, Water Color 1 & 2, Two-Dimensional Design, and Three-Dimensional design.

"It's a last hurrah for senior art majors," said Elzinga.

The Senior Art Exhibit counts as a convocation credit.

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