Creating art can be an emotional and psychological drain. It can be difficult to express an idea or meaning without any words. Others may think art is easy and merely a method of escapism from the hardships of society—it is not. Art is Hard is meant to challenge the public perception of art as a leisure. We welcome you to celebrate and enjoy the works of the art presented by ten graduates from the VSU Art Department.
Abigail Trella is from Nashville, GA where she graduated from Berrien High School in 2013. While completing her Bachelor of Arts in Art she has emphasized in ceramics and education. Her work focuses on graphic design patterns of the 1980’s and the effectiveness of memories on us as individuals. She achieves these ideas by using techniques such as carving, water abrasion, and layering of underglazes. After graduation, she will be attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the fall to complete her Masters of Fine Arts in Ceramics.
Originally from Chicago, Alexis Zenzola relocated to Southern Georgia to receive her BFA from Valdosta State University. Her work focuses on the conversation of body image and mental health with graphic prints of light color and text. She graduates in Spring 2017, and is currently working two jobs as a graphic artist. After graduation, she plans to move to Florida to pursue her career.
Carlos Johnson is an Atlanta native, born and raised in the southern region of the city. From a young mind in transition to his current self, he’s always had a distinct identity that expresses an artistic light, which sometimes gets tangled with authority. One can only be so expressive until a barrier is found. Johnson stems from a very urban environment where culture and self identity is a very dominant aspect. He expresses his own identity similar to black leaders of the past with expression of the importance of knowledge of self, understanding spirituality, and maintaining balance in life. His work reflects in many ways his interests and love of god as well as the spirit. Carlos Johnson is a firm believer in love, energy, and spirit, and hopes to open the minds and hearts of as many people as possible with the efforts of his work.
Eliza Reyes is an international student from Belize pursing her Bachelor in Fine Arts at Valdosta State University. Although photography is her primarily used medium, she explores different mediums to express art. She is passionate about exploring topics that address her own identity along with ideas of gender, femininity, and cultural heritage.
Erin Quinn is from Roswell, Georgia. She spent her first three years in college at Georgia Southwester State University studying glassblowing before transferring to Valdosta State University in 2015 to peruse metalsmithing. She has dyslexia as well as depression and anxiety; she uses these differences to help her make her artwork. Her dyslexia allows her to view the world from a different angle and invent new solutions to problems she runs into. Her work is constructed around the idea of people’s layers, what makes up who they are and why do certain layers alter how others view them. Her father always told her that she is not an artist, but a scientist who uses art as her medium to invent, she could not agree more with him as she continues to create new objects. In her spare time she likes to take apart electronics, do puzzles, hang out with her cats, collect stones and sea glass, and play League of Legends.
Keith Riley Jr. is from Macon, GA and a graduating Senior at Valdosta State University. He will be graduating with a B.F.A. in Art in May 2017. Keith enjoys designing graphic work on the computer and using his creative thinking skills to make work that focus on social issues that come about in everyday life, as well as sports related themes. His career goal is to do commercial design for a sports company or continue to make art work that raise awareness of social issues.
Lamar Benefield was born in Atlanta, GA, and remained in the metropolitan area for eighteen years until finally venturing out to Valdosta, GA, in 2012. Originally, he aspired to become an animator but with the vast exposure of practices at Valdosta State’s Art Department it became clear that an illustration path would be more suitable. Cartoons and comics have been an influence on Lamar’s work since childhood and found interest in various forms of animated or printed media, ranging from works by Bruce Timm to Akira Toriyama. While at Valdosta State University, he has been active in the Arts Guild and became president of the student organization in 2015. With the aid of his executive board, he was able to aid in the enhanced promotion of the Guild to the Valdosta community. From the exposure, the Guild has participated in several events, such as the Dumpster Art Challenge, in addition to volunteer work at the Lowndes County Board of Elections and Pinevale Elementary School. He will be receiving a B.F.A. in art and will be graduating with a strong affinity for oil paint.
Patrick Hilgert was born in Valdosta on June 1st, 1994. While working at the VSU Information Technology Helpdesk, he studied art in hopes of pursuing a career in Graphic Design and Animation. He believes a lot of his work is inspired by various artists such as Mark Smith and Guy Billout, while also from companies that make animations in both movies and interactive media. While attending VSU, he received the Danielle Barrier Harmon Discretionary Scholarship award for his successful work and passion in animation. He plans to attend graduate school after he graduates to further study in this field.
pjhilgert@valdosta.edu
SaraBeth Hobbs was born in 1994 in Douglas, GA. Since she was a child, she has had an interest in art from painting on her plastic art table to making “masterpieces” with sidewalk chalk. However, she didn’t find her medium until she studies abroad in Ireland where she got her first camera. As she started capturing these images, she fell in love with the camera! Since finding photography, she has been in many exhibitions. In this year alone she was included in the Omnino Undergraduate Research Journal, Valdosta State University Student Competition, Atlanta Business Chronicle Website, Spring Into Art Exhibition, and Art is Hard Senior Show. After gradation she will be attending the Peace Corps, where she will be stationed in Sierra Leone for 27 months. While she is there she will be teaching English. When she returns from the Peace Corps, she will be going to graduate school in hopes of becoming a photojournalist.
Zach Steele is a realist painter, working primarily in oil, and his subject matter ranges from portraits referencing Byzantine saint iconography to grotesque body abstractions. Light and texture are paramount in his work. A small list of his favorite artists includes John Singer Sargent, Jenny Saville, Phil Hale, and Nicola Samori. He is graduating with a B.F.A. in Art.