Silver City, NM – April 18th, the Western New Mexico University Expressive Arts Department held its annual Graduate’s Art Exhibit. The show is for students graduating with their bachelors in fine arts or any art degree to showcase their work in the McCray art gallery a few weeks before graduation. Graduating artists who had work displayed in the gallery include Chala Werber BFA major who’s concentration is in ceramics and sculpture, Jaime Ramirez, BFA Major, who’s concentration is in photography, sculpture, and drawing. Alison Phillips who’s is a MFA Major, and concentrated in drawing and ceramics, Melissa Noce, BFA major, who’s concentration is in Illustration and design, and Junchen Juang also graduation with his BFA and is concentrated in painting, drawing, and film.
There was food and drinks for the guests to enjoy while each of the graduating artists talked about their journey through their art at Western. The talk started with Junchen Huang, he showed his progression with art from when he started at Western four years ago until his last few months. In his presentation he said that he started out with pen and ink his first year and progressed to using more color his second year. An artist in Marfa inspired some of his work. He also started enjoying working with Chinese brush and ball point pen. He wants to show the viewer that the Chinese brush and pen can be used as tool in his paintings not just a writing utensil. Junchen grew up in China and a lot of his paintings are inspired by his time living there. He went back during the summer and saw how beautiful the place was. Junchen said “I feel it’s amazing that painting choose me and I’m talking to the painting.” After graduation Junchen will be attending Pratt institute in New York City.
Artist Jaime Ramirez mentions in his artist speech that a lot of his art include the Zia symbol because it’s always been around him. Jaime was raised in Roswell, NM and his father was well into politics growing up and always had a Zia symbol pin on his shirt. Jaime showed pictures of him growing up and in almost all the pictures a Zia symbol could be seen. Jaime was always a business man and was in the military and worked in the business field for most of his life. He’s always wanted to go to school for art and decided to in his forties when his wife was at Western. Jaime is currently working for Zia publishing.
Melissa Noce from Ruidoso, NM is a Graphic designer and graduating with her BFA Major and Marketing minor. She said she really enjoys the art of Georgia O’Keefe because she has incredible stories, colors, and a south western style. Melissa said “ My photography really helped develop my art. I also really liked print making from the technicality and using my hands. I enjoy similar things to design. I also love giving a design aspect to paintings.”
Chala Werber a BFA major showed her multiple pieces. She also did pieces of the human body but liked having a humorous twist to them. Chala is a sculpture and has interests in ceramics. In the show she had multiple different mediums in her art. To see the graduates’ art work, stop by the McCray art gallery.
