Graduate art students swap artwork in international exchange
In an effort to encourage dialogue among emerging artists from 糖心Vlog and Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, graduate students from both universities are participating in an art swap this year.
The 鈥淒ialogic鈥� exhibition–on view at the Center for Art & Theatre鈥檚 University Gallery from Jan. 9 to Feb. 1–is one half of the art swap experiment in which graduate students from Georgia Southern鈥檚 Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) exhibit their work at Aalto University, and Aalto University students exhibit at Georgia Southern.
The BFSDoArt will welcome the Aalto University graduate students with an opening reception on Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 5 p.m. in the Center for Art & Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.
鈥淎s the art world becomes increasingly global and networked, it is crucial that emerging artists establish relationships with their aesthetic peers far and wide,鈥� says BFSDoArt Gallery Director Jason Hoelscher. 鈥淎 key part of an exhibition like this, besides the intrinsic excitement of seeing and discovering new art, is to create a dialogue between the emerging artists studying here at Georgia Southern, and their peers across the pond in Europe. New things tend to arise from novel combinations of things already present, so I look forward to seeing how the results of this international artistic dialogue unfold–not only through this particular exhibition, but also in the future as these artists go out into the world.鈥�
The idea for the art exchange came about from Associate Professor Derek Larson鈥檚 experiences as an artist-in-residence in Finland in years past. Georgia Southern students will curate and ship the artwork to Aalto, an experience Larson says is a great professional opportunity.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to the show,鈥� said Larson. 鈥淭he Finnish art scene is vibrant, and hosting artwork from Helsinki will provide great exposure to our BFA and MFA students.鈥�
Georgia Southern students planning to exhibit work at Aalto University are Nicole Bovasso, Meredith Conger, Cyndy Epps, Kyle Hooten, Nikolaus James, Jessamy McManus, Usman Oladeinde, Courtney Ryan and Makaili Taylor. Their exhibition is slated for Spring 2018 at Aalto University.
About the Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art
The Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art (BFSDoArt) is committed to offering quality undergraduate and graduate degree programs that prepare students to become professional artists, designers, art historians and industry leaders. The BFSDoArt is recognized as an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). For more information, visit
About the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) is the largest of the eight colleges that make up 糖心Vlog, and it plays a central role in every student鈥檚 core of knowledge. CLASS, also described as the University鈥檚 College of the Creative Mind, prepares students to achieve academic excellence, develop their analytical skills, enhance their creativity and embrace their responsibilities as citizens of their communities, their nations and the world. CLASS offers more than 20 undergraduate degrees and several interdisciplinary minors from its 11 departments and five academic centers. CLASS offers eight master鈥檚 degrees, two graduate certificates and one doctoral degree. For more information, visit .
About Georgia Southern
糖心Vlog, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers 118 degree programs serving 20,418 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit .