photography – Art Criticism

Laney Havard and the Meaning of Home

By Elizabeth Langford

What is the meaning of “Home”? Is it the house where we grew up in, the family we were born into, or perhaps the people we choose to surround ourselves with? These are questions Laney Havard, a Fine Arts major and senior at Valdosta State University, asks herself as she reflects on what the word means to her. She expresses these mixed emotions and feelings towards the idea of home through her artworks displayed in the 2023 Senior Exhibition. Havard’s multimedia pieces in the Dedo Maranville Gallery highlight her talents in multiple different mediums, and urges the viewer to ask themselves the question “What does home mean to me?”

Student Profile : Jenifer Arellano – Mendoza

by Makevia Moore

Jenifer Arellano – Mendoza is a student at Valdosta State University that is displaying her work at the In Situ exhibition. Starting her journey in life, the artist grew up in Brunswick, Georgia. The area that Arellano – Mendoza grew up in was not easy, which taught her how to be strong and independent. Growing up in this type of lifestyle made her want to connect more with others, especially minorities. With her parents being immigrants, Mendoza wanted to break the cycle of having things they usually did not have. Her first step in that was being the first person in her family to go to college. So, she used art to express herself and her feelings. Mendoza stated how she used photography as her words when she could not speak for herself. Before college, she was shy and did not know how to express her feelings when a loved one or friend passed, which also resulted in her not creating art. The artist felt as though she had no purpose to make art and no voice in art that helped with these issues. Attending VSU gave her that opportunity to learn more and process things she held back. The school gave her a fresh set of eyes and constructive criticism from her peers to improve as a person and artist.

An Artistic Journey

By Jenni Steltenpohl

As a fellow artist and graduating senior, I felt great ease and enjoyment interviewing my classmate Hilman Alexander Walden. During our interview, we had a long and interesting conversation about himself, his artwork, and his experience as an art student. Walden is a local art student at Valdosta State University who will be graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art. Walden’s senior exhibition “Living in Color” is the Spring 2021 graduating seniors’ final show as students at Valdosta State University.

Life and Death

By Jonathon H. Staten

Celeste Civis, *Opossum Skull Top*, Digital Color Photography

With the current issue of the COVID-19, the Valdosta State University’s Senior Exhibition transitioned to an online platform. Some may see this as an unfortunate tragedy while others see it as a easier way to display their works while also reaching a wider audience. The Department of Art & Design presents In Bold where the artists seek to convey the truth of life experiences. Using radical, social, and political ideas to drive their work, they intend to spark conversation and understanding in their art to express their individual truths.