Reporter’s Notebook: TCC’s 2024 Student Art Exhibition was a discovery of new names in art (Reviewer’s Choice)
The annual student art exhibition presented unexpected art produced by Tulsa Community College (TCC) students. In this essay, Tatyana Nyborg, TCC Connection editor, highlights her choices for the most interesting student artworks displayed at the exhibit this year.
Em Thomas created the “I Crocheted It” sculpture from acrylic yarn, dyed muslin, fiber fill, and wood. The sculptured item is a sweater that was crocheted. Its sleeve is enlarged, probably, five times, and made from a fabric filled with fiber. The sleeve intervenes with two wooden knitting needles. The sculpture is 60″ x 84 “x 16”. Thomas tried to convey the idea of freedom and breaking stereotypes whether it would be to knit or crochet a sweater or make other personal choices. (Video by Tatyana Nyborg.)
Samantha Minckler amazed the annual student art exhibition attendees with her 12″ x 60″ acrylic on canvas painting “Where Are We Now?” The painting has a panoramic view similar to a 360-degree video. The artwork is a combination of three different landscapes which merged into one. “Where Are We Now?” is a stunning realistic painting with vibrant colors and astonishing details. (Video by Tatyana Nyborg.)
Alora Shellenbarger created a satirical sculpture, “Society Kills,” made from upholstery foam, faux fur, acrylic paint, fabric, and ink. A massive figure of a cat or tiger-like animal is wrapped by a snake. The rings of the snake came close to the animal’s neck. It looks like the cat-tiger will be strangled by the snake. The animal personifies an individual, and the snake is a collective image of the vices of society. The sculpture is the artist’s protest and desire to change the culture. The dimension of the sculpture is 43″ x 18″ x 26″. (Video by Tatyana Nyborg.)
Victoria McGoffin surprised the exhibit guests with her sculpture “To Heap.” The sculpture is made from cement, muslin fabric, brass rods, and driftwood. It is 24″ x 17″ in size. The centerpiece of the artwork is the flowers pasted together. The base is a large, solid piece of driftwood. A driftwood branch goes up and curves to the right, where thin stripes of brass hang down and move. McGoffin delivers an idea about chaos, which can look expressive if it is organized. (Video by Tatyana Nyborg.)
Rocio Mora created a miniature sculpture, “Spaceship – PS7,” in the TCC’s Metal Jewelry Making class. Brass, copper, aluminum, and plastic were used to make the artwork. The sculpture very realistically depicts the shapes of a spaceship and a pineapple, which merge into a charming tiny 4″ x 2″ x 2″ monster. (Photo by Tatyana Nyborg.)
