From car tires to human organs, Shippensburg University senior art majors showcased an array of works that expressed their emotions and creativity at the Kauffman Gallery on Saturday.

The 2017 Senior Art Exhibition featured 35 pieces of art made by 11 students from the Senior Art Seminar class. Each student took on a different style of art, which left the viewers with a new surprise at every turn.

“The main goal is to figure out the best medium to work with,” said Joel Feggins, who made two Photoshop collage pieces. “Intricate Breaking” is made up of countless photos of car tires, each being used as a pixel. Likewise, “Tunnel Vision” is created with the same concept, but uses cars as pixels. While there is a tire and car evident in the frame, the many smaller photos draw the viewer in closer.

While Feggins tore through hundreds of photos to get his final product, other artists carved wood or used oil and canvas to create unique pieces.

Emily Erby used oil paints to create portraits of people, which were mounted in hollow, wooden frames. On either side of the portrait were loose pieces of canvas that had exaggerated facial features of the portrait.

For instance, one frame contained a woman on a mounted canvas, but the loose canvas was drawn over part of her to create a mouth several times the size it normally would be.

“I was trying to convey the public self and the private self,” Erby said, as each artist took his or her turn telling the viewers about their artwork.

Senior Arts Seminar professor Michael Campbell expressed to the crowd his pleasure working with the students.

“It is only when we are challenged do we strive for excellence,” Campbell said. “The students worked diligently over the past eight months.”

Some of the art was three-dimensional and even walked and talked. Elizabeth Miller’s “Howler & Axe” and “Siren & Sword” was armor she designed and created to be worn by her two models.

“I have a passion for video games and anything medieval and renaissance,” Miller said.

The green and red armored models looked like two dark-age soldiers walked straight out of a fantasy-based video game.

Large shoulder pads and torso armor complimented helmets and shin guards.

Christen Taylor presented her three wire sculptures of heads, which stood two or more feet high and long. The wire provided the outline of the face, hair and neck of female forms, while only half the face was detailed with eyes and a nose.

The work represented people’s caged existence and the difference between group and individual identity, she said.

“I am thankful to have been able to pour myself into this,” Taylor said.

Dozens of viewers discussed the art after the students explained their work.

Campbell invited people back to see the art until the exhibition’s end on April 14. Some of the artwork is on sale for prices ranging from $40–$500.

Other artists include Annemarie Cericola, Tyron Grant, Erin Hayes, Nicole Houck, Christian Sanders and Reynah Spence.

Campbell left the young students with a daunting, yet inspirational message — “There is no end. There is always another piece.”

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