Students Display Senior Art Capstone Projects

Seven Westminster College students have put their senior art capstone projects on display in the Westminster College Art Gallery until May 18. The gallery is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., and Sunday, noon-9 p.m.

The final component of Liberal Studies at Westminster is a senior capstone course, which is at least a four-semester-hour course within the major designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field.

Brief descriptions of their work follows:

New Brighton, PA
Jessie Dvorzak is a daughter of William and Gretchen Dvorzak. Dvorzak, a senior fine art major, is a graduate of Freedom Area High School. Her capstone presentation includes a few pieces out of her collection of more than 50 small-scale pieces on various themes relating to aspects of communication in her life. The pieces are of mixed media, including watercolor, spray-paint, chalk, and several collaged elements. These abstractions explore communications through texture, color, and repetition. Some aspects touch on language, words, music, misunderstandings, and the impact of technology on our society's ability to communicate thoughts and emotion.

Coraopolis, PA
Carrie Schweiger is a daughter of Gerard and Karen Schweiger. Schweiger, a senior media art major, is a graduate of Cornell High School. "I like to tell stories when I draw. I'll usually start with some kind of general theme, make a story about it in my head and watch the pictures flesh themselves out. My ideas for this show turned into a kind of stretched version of nature. There are trees and sunsets, but also fantastic beasts and lots of detail work. Many people said they didn't see the whole picture on the first glance. I realize not everyone will see the same story I do - hearing what other people come up with is one of the best parts of doing a show like this. I like art that is wild and fantastic, but accessible enough that other people want to participate and draw their own ideas about what it means."

Indiana, PA
Courtney Thompson is a daughter of Donald and Tina Thompson. Thompson, a senior Spanish and fine art major, is a graduate of Indiana Area High School. Her capstone is a series of works on "The Golden Era" musical. Her pieces include collages of acrylic, graphic, and digital graphics. She was inspired last semester in her film studies class when she was first introduced to this time period in cinema. She wanted to pay homage to the most talented and influential figures of the musical: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, and Gene Kelly. Her works capture their movements, eloquence, and passion in each of the dances.

New Castle, PA
Rachael Cooper is a daughter of Daniel and Judith Cooper. Cooper, a senior fine art and French major, is a graduate of Laurel High School. Her capstone is a collection of ceramic sculptures and wall hangings that were inspired by nature. Cooper chose nature as her subject because her family has always been active outdoors. She looked at this project as a way of expressing herself and showing her family how thankful she is for everything they have done for her.

Hermitage, PA
Natalie Coccia is a daughter of Patricia Chavara and Allen Coccia, Sharon. Coccia, a senior individual interdisciplinary major, is a graduate of Hickory High School. Her capstone project is Ribbon Magazine, a collection of photography, writing, and media art centered on women between the ages of 20 and 35. This out-of-the ordinary women's magazine centers on the lives of women who have opened their own boutiques and an artist who made a career out of what was once a hobby. Coccia says that it incorporates everything she loves, from art to fashion.

Clinton Township, MI
Blake Ordell is a son of Cynthia and Patrick Kelly. Ordell, a senior fine art major, is a graduate of Fraser High School. "I built rustic furniture for my senior project. I used trees to build them and rocks for the base of the chairs and tables. I built them because I feel that I can get away from the hectic city life when I have these pieces of art around."

Littleton, CO
Amber Scalfari is a daughter of Larry and Desiree Scalfari. Scalfari, a senior theatre, Spanish, and fine art major, is a graduate of New Castle High School. Her capstone showcase is titled "Shades of Gray," a contrast to the bright colors used. The project is a conceptual self-portrait using the two widely embraced symbols of the cross and the rainbow. The works are intended to display a reflection on her relationship to these symbols and to covey life's perpetual influence. It is a mosaic inspired display that creates a kaleidoscope of representative colors that indicate what Scalfari claims is the color of life.

Contact Peggy Cox, Westminster Art Gallery director and professor of art, at (724) 946-7266 or e-mail pcox@westminster.edu for more information.

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