BFA Exhibition shows off UHCL students’ talents

Alicia Nguyen

The Signal Staff

University of Houston–Clear Lake held the opening for its first BFA art exhibition in the Art Gallery April 6.  Many of UHCL art students work are displayed, including sculptures, paintings and photographs. Awards were given out for best of show.

“This is not the first time we have exhibited graduating student’s artwork, however because we have recently been approved for the BFA Program by the State Coordinating Board, this is our first ‘official’ BFA Exhibition,” said Matthew Linton, assistant professor of applied design and arts. “We plan to follow up with a similar event every year.”

The graduating art students at UHCL played a large role in planning for this event.

“Planning an event of this size takes up to a year.” Linton said. “Students are actively involved in the process for the last three months or so, which is the most labor intensive. All graduating BFA students enrolled in the Arts Capstone Course are actively involved in organizing, planning, installing and promoting the exhibition every year.”

Out of the many paintings, sculptures and photographs, only three were awarded best of show. Rami Schindler received 3rd place for his piece, “Steampunk Goggles,” Lisa Enriquez was awarded 2nd place for her photograph titled “The Forgotten,” and best of show was for the stone sculpture titled “Sedimentary Drip” created by Charles Hand.

“My photographs were based on the homeless,” said Lisa Enriquez, applied design and visual arts undergraduate. “This series deals with the homeless people of Galveston, Texas.  During the time I was taking my photographs, I realized that the homeless just seem to blend into their surroundings. They make themselves at home wherever they can, on the street corners, in alleys, in parking garages as well as shelters. They seem to have been ‘forgotten’ by everyone around them.”

Many were inspired by their surroundings and it showed in their artwork.

“That is why this project is called ‘Forgotten,’” said Enriquez.  “The homeless have become a norm in our society and they have just disappeared in our system. I wanted to remind people about the ‘Forgotten,’ to remind us that there are people out there that need our help, to remind us that even though these people are homeless they have a story to tell and that is what I am trying to show through my photography. Every homeless person has a story, they are all different in their own way, but one thing will always be the same with all of them‑ they have been ‘forgotten’ and only we can change that.”

BFA is a new program at UHCL; it offers higher credentials in the art field.  The exhibit will be on display in the Art Gallery, in the Bayou Building until May 13.





Click on the play button below to watch a slideshow of images from the BFA Art Exhibition.