Featuring a range of oil paintings, functional ceramic cups, mixed-media sculptures, and drawings in graphite or pastel, the first ever exhibition of graduate student art at the Missouri Southern State University Spiva Art Gallery presents an overview of post-baccalaureate level artwork being created at MSSU. The exhibition “Masters at Work” will run through April 20, with a reception open to the public on Thursday, April 13, from 6-8 p.m.
Graduate-level courses in art and design were introduced by the MSSU Department of Art and Design in 2020 both as a series of content area electives to compliment the university’s Master’s in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Degree (MSEd) and to create a stand-alone Certificate of Post-baccalaureate Studies in Art. This programming provides access to local educators to earn a Master’s degree related to teaching art in the public schools while simultaneously creating an opportunity for studio artists to strengthen their portfolios for further application to graduate art programs.
According to Frank A. Pishkur, chair of the department of art and design, “Upon completion of our curriculum, students are considered minimally credentialed for teaching art at the higher education level, which several of our graduates have already utilized for teaching dual-credit art courses in the local high schools.
Artists showcased include; Amber Davidson, Whitney Fair, Audrey Hogan, Dustin Miller, Nellie Mitchell, and Lacey Santillan.
The MSSU Spiva Gallery is located in the Fine Arts Complex and is free and open to the public. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A reception with light refreshments will be held at 6pm on April 13 with the student artists.