By Tate M. Slaven
Staff Writer
There comes a point in a student’s journey at Bonaventure when he or she must plan for the day they have to leave the home they’ve created for themselves here, only to begin anew somewhere else. A student must compile all the knowledge and experience gained and package it in a sellable manner that will be attractive in the professional world.
Robert Prince, a senior visual arts major, has reached this point in his Bonaventure career. With only the finishing touches left to complete, Prince has used his knowledge and experience, paired it with his skill, and is ready to show the final product to the public.
Today, the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is hosting the opening of the Senior Thesis Exhibition. With Prince being the only graduating senior in the visual arts program, the spotlight is on him.
“Normally, there are many student-artists participating in the event,” said Scott Craver, assistant professor of art history. “But this year it’s a special occasion where Rob is the only one, so he is the one running the show.”
This exhibition is being held in conjunction with a class all visual arts majors must take, Senior Seminar and Exhibition. It is a culminating event — one in which a portfolio of all the work Prince has produced, since beginning his major, will by seen by eyes other than professors and classmates, according to Craver.
“It is the first time the student-artist isn’t a student anymore, but rather just an artist,” Craver said. “A student expects and can almost prepare for a professor’s reaction to their work; when it’s just Rob standing up there with not only his art exposed, but himself exposed — that’s something he has yet to experience.”
The exhibition allows the public to see Prince’s development as an artist. His early pieces are done in black and white, and come from his early work studying van Gogh. Subsequent pieces will show Prince’s rise into his own style, as he makes his own statements and introduces color. Prince will also share his assorted use of media including acrylic, watercolor and ink.
“My inspiration comes from what I’m feeling and thinking while I am painting,” Prince said. “As for inspiration for my style, a lot of it comes from van Gogh. The rest is my own, it is important to me to learn from past painters but not copy them.”
Prince explained gaining an education in visual arts has helped him, but not in a way he had predicted. He did learn to draw and shade, and with that came a great deal of color theory, but also his visual arts education has taught him to see the world in a different way.
“This event is a chance to actually do it,” Prince said. “The goal of being an artist is to show your work. Some don’t care who likes it, others care a whole lot; it doesn’t really matter, it’s still a goal to have it on display for people to see. In a sense, it is my opinion about my life and what surrounds me.”
This event stands as a “first step” into the professional world for Prince. As for what’s next, his plan is to go to graduate school, but beyond that holding a degree in art, how will he make a way for himself?
“Rob has a lot of good plans,” Craver said. “He’s traveled, and he may even do some work in economics, which, believe it or not, shares a lot of interesting connections with art.”
The event also marks the opening of the university’s Spring Art Show. According to Anne Mormile, artist in residence, this year’s student art show is a viewing of work from both art majors and non-majors.
“The work will mainly represent our 2-D drawing and painting courses from both the fall and spring semester of our current school year,” Mormile said. “I felt it was important for people to view what students have been accomplishing over in Francis Hall. It’s valuable to students to participate in on-campus functions, such as this exhibition, to raise awareness of the arts.”
The openings run simultaneously from 5 to 7 p.m. and include complimentary refreshments. Both events are open to the public at no charge.
“The event is a moment of maturity for Bonaventure artists,” Craver said.
