Students rarely get the chance to create and organize a professional art exhibition - a priceless experience for those entering an art-related field. At the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a senior art student got that opportunity.
Sara Hoag, from Janesville, organized "Out from the Vault," an exhibition on display at Crossman Gallery through Aug. 17.
"This is the first time a student has taken the initiative to put a show together," said Michael Flanagan, Crossman Gallery director. "Organizing this exhibit from scratch was a rare, professional-level experience that helped Sara develop useful skills."
Hoag went through the gallery's permanent collection and selected artwork that had stylistic and creative consistency. She chose colorful, intriguing and unique pieces from a variety of mediums.
"I asked myself, 'What can I do to get people in here?'" Hoag said. "With all the younger kids from summer camps in the Greenhill Center of the Arts right now, choosing bold colors and interesting compositions seemed like a good way to do that."
The majority of the pieces were made by UW-Whitewater students who donated them to the gallery when they graduated. Hoag was initially drawn to former students' work because she was curious about what students at UW-Whitewater were doing before her.
"I'm happy they are having their work looked at and appreciated. It's also rewarding for me when viewers come in and say things like 'that's so neat' when observing the artwork," Hoag said.
Pieces from well-known artists, chosen for their style and palette, are also part of the exhibit. Arranging the artwork involved careful consideration of order and style.
The knowledge Hoag gained organizing this show will open doors to additional career fields, such as arts management or administration, and will be very valuable when she enters the work force, Flanagan said.
For more information about the Crossman Gallery, visit http://blogs.uww.edu/crossman/ or contact Flanagan at flanagam@uww.edu.