By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
The Student Metal Arts Council from Bowling Green State University’s School of Art is “Forging Ahead” with an exhibit at the Wood County Public Library.
The “Forging Ahead” exhibit features about two dozen works of jewelry and metal art in the library’s display window. The exhibit opened Saturday and continues through April 15.
Katelyn Turner’s “Mother of Pearl”
The exhibit is part of the effort to teach students in the arts professional skills, said Andrew Kuebeck, the faculty advisor for the council. Those efforts include an entrepreneurship class specifically for visual artists taught by Gene Poor.
The exhibit was organized by the council’s treasurer Michaela Monterosso.
For her the library was a natural venue for the show. Back in her hometown of Terryville, Connecticut, she would place her work in the local library. “I’d put my piece there and there was so much traffic going in and out of the public library that I got a lot of commissions, so I decided it would be a good opportunity for the Student Metal Arts Council.”
The show was open to all who submitted work. “It’s meant to be an encouraging event,” she said. Monterosso wanted to give her fellow students a no-stress chance to display their work. “It’s good for their resumes,” she said, “and good for mine.”
Diana Bibler’s “The Hero”
The council awarded first prize in the show to Katelyn Turner’s “Mother of Pearl” and second place to Diana Bibler’s “The Hero.”
It promotes the council and the work being done on campus by jewelers and metalsmiths.
Monterosso was attracted to BGSU by both the reasonable tuition – East Coast art schools are very expensive, she said – as well as the chance to study with Tom Muir, an artist with a national reputation. She incorporates glass in her work, so he was also encouraged by the opportunity to work with Joel O’Dorisio.
The work on display uses a variety of materials and techniques such as felting and beading in conjunction with traditional approaches.
The Student Metal Arts Council’s mission is to promote artistic improvement and provide opportunities for networking. Students also have the option to participate in events including SOFA (an art and design fair in Chicago), sales at ArtX and the Student Union and trips to the Toledo Museum of Art.
