John Fronczak
308.865.8084
The work of three University of Nebraska at Kearney senior art majors is being featured in the Walker Gallery on campus, now through Friday, April 22.
Prints and paintings by Melissa Wells of Elba, self-portraits using mixed media by Natalie Sindelar of Republican City, and acrylic paint and ceramic works by Naomi Yonemoto of Japan are all on exhibit in the gallery, which is located in the UNK Fine Arts Building.
Some works from the exhibit will be available for purchase.
In her work, Wells used printmaking, and both acrylic and oil paint, to produce the pieces features in the current show.
“My artwork portrays the differences between the rural Nebraskan landscape and that of the larger cities,” Wells said. “It displays my journey of exploring the universal truth that everyone has to deal with. The images also center on the idea of balance, and that everything has the potential to be good or bad.” After graduation, Wells plans to pursue a job in art education, as well as completing a number of commissioned pieces.
Sindelar’s works are self portraits created in 2009 and 2010. The works are done in mixed media. After graduation, she plans to continue work on her portfolio and to pursue a master’s in fine arts.
In contrast to work by Wells and Sindelar, Yonemoto is showing ceramics, including “The Connected World.”
“The cherry blossom tree, the main motif of this project, represents the natural world,” Yonemoto said. After graduation, Yonemoto plans to return to Japan, and take the entrance examination for Tajimi City Pottery Design and Technical Center in Gifu.
“Although I am from one of the pottery producing areas in Japan, I had not been interested in ceramics until I first took a ceramics class at UNK,” Yonemoto said. “I have had a great experience learning about art and ceramics under Mr. Jake Jacobsen at this university; therefore I would like to apply what I have learned to a job in my future.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Walker Art Gallery is open weekly, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
