Eddie Tadlock, Assistant General Manager of De Vos Place worked closely with the Curator of this exhibition, Kendall College of Art and Design Professor Margaret Vega, to showcase these Graduate students. Tadlock states, “DeVos Place is proud and excited to partner with Kendall College of Art and Design in presenting this juried show of graduate students. DeVos Place Convention Center is uniquely situated to showcase art in a public venue in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids. We anticipate an audience of over 30,000 visitors will be afforded the opportunity to see this important exhibition of emerging artists. This exhibition will certainly add a new art destination for the cultural calendar in the region.”
Nineteen 2011-2012 Print, Drawing and Painting Graduate Students were chosen from their digital submission based both on craft and content. The final selection was made from the original work. The artists exhibiting are:
Megan Klco
Cody Erickson
Aneka Ingold
Mellissa Redman
Salvador Jimenez
Katie Moore
Linda Manguiat-Herzog
Taylor Overbay
Laura Hunt
Kari Friestad
Gabriela Amaya-Baron
Elizabeth Hubler-Torrey
Tatsuki Hakoyama
Dustin Rogers
Shannon McDonell
Marvin Dabideen
Steven Vinson
Sarah Knill
Lydia Larson
Megan Klco, MFA thesis Painting student, assisted in hanging the show and placing the work within the space. She is exhibiting her work in galleries and ArtPrize. The MFA Program at Kendall College of Art and Design is a rigorous experience involving studio and thesis level courses, Art History and seminars in philosophy and contemporary issues.
“This juried exhibition represents the commitment and dedication of our graduate students at Kendall. Students arrive to our MFA program with passion, expectations and expertise. They graduate with refinement and depth in their chosen field, combined with direction and preparedness for the challenging life of an artist. These artists will go on to teach, exhibit and share their work all over the world. It is an inspiration and privilege to work with these students,” said MFA Painting Professor Margaret Vega.
"Guided by skill and imagination and having only their courage and the media of the artist to accompany them, the Kendall graduate students set out into uncharted territories. They explore universes of experience, opening up new worlds from old ones and moving agilely away from the anesthetic of routine. As a viewer I find the works emotionally resonant, even as they produce the tension, challenge, and sometimes discomfort of changed perceptions and understandings. I come away from experiencing those works with my intellect excited, my emotions churned, and my whole being refreshed by what can only described as a visit to a new place. And when I come back to my old place from that new one, I feel immense gratitude for that journey and pride in the Kendall students. They are doing work that matters," stated Dr. David Rosen, President, Kendall College of Art and Design.
Megan Klco
