UK Graduating Seniors' Art Exhibited in 'Eleven Degrees'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 6, 2016) — The University of Kentucky School of Art and Visual Studies is proud to present the Bachelor of Arts show for this semester's graduating art studio majors. The group show, "Eleven Degrees," runs through Dec. 8, at the Bolivar Art Gallery, in the UK Art and Visual Studies Building located at 236 Bolivar St. The exhibition and its closing reception, scheduled for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, are free and open to the public.

"Eleven Degrees" showcases the art of a dozen UK December graduates: Loran Apley, Eric Charles, Neal Clement, Sarah Detraz, Tirzah Disponett, Elizabeth Kellie Goff, Lauren Leep, Cameron McAfee, Terna Rushing, Monica Sepulveda, Haley Southerland and Rachel Ki Tussey.

Loran Apley is a Michigan native who has lived in Lexington for several years. Her work is largely about various feminist issues, such as de-stigmatizing the female body and the experiences of women in the West.

Eric Charles grew up in Georgetown, Kentucky, where he continues to reside. He is an art studio major and a digital media minor. Through ceramics, digital imagery and animation, Charles approaches subjects that deal with personal contention and abandonment.

Neal Clement is from Tupelo, Mississippi. In his cinematography (film and motion graphics), photography and interactive multimedia, Clement approaches human emotion, the senses, and the relationship between them.

Sarah Detraz is a native of Lexington. She will be graduating with majors in art education and art studio, as well as a minor in Spanish. Her work focuses on drawings and ceramics using line to express form. Detraz utilizes mixed media with a variety of materials to express themes of one’s place within the home, displacement and interpersonal relationships.

Tirzah Disponett, an art studio major and psychology minor, has not yet established her preferred media or concept. She has a passion for words as well as a vibrant imagination that inspires her to create sculptures and capture photographs with alluring narratives. Disponett was born in Lexington and hopes to break into the design and conceptual world of the makeup and body painting industry.

Elizabeth Kellie Goff, an art education and art studio major from Louisville, Kentucky, primarily creates paintings that incorporate fiber works and various other mixed media. She explores a variety of concepts with a focus on the influence of color and emotion.

Lauren Leep primarily paints large scale portraits and figures with three-dimensional paint elements. An art studio major from Louisville, she studied drawing and painting in Paris, France, in the summer of 2015.

Cameron McAfee creates art that addresses themes of transition and nostalgia. He was awarded the UK Study Abroad Scholarship to further his study in China in the summer of 2015 and will be graduating with a major in art studio and a minor in digital media and design.

Terna Rushing is an artist and photographer from Lexington. She specializes in family portraiture especially infant, children and outdoor family photos. Currently, Rushing is exploring a theme of bringing life back to abandoned homes by using a variety of media and including people, found objects and light. Large and sepia-toned, these images will be inspired by the settings, time periods and objects from their past. Rushing has titled her work "Memories."              

Monica Sepulveda studied art education, art studio and theatre at UK. She has found great joy in working with community partners such as the Living Arts and Science Center, the Lexington Art League and the Catholic Action Center. Using ceramics, wood and metal sculpture, Sepulveda expresses the relationship between an emotive self and the outside world.

Haley Southerland’s artwork is inspired by fables and legends. Her media of choice are digital art and clay sculpture. She aspires to work with cartoons and animation.

Rachel Ki Tussey’s work personifies the inside of an art student’s mind. She uses memento mori with skulls and anatomy to create works that encourage the viewer to not over analyze. She is involved with her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and is also a member of the Club Dodgeball team for UK. 

For more information on the art studio program at UK or "Eleven Degrees," contact the UK School of Visual Arts and Studies at 859-257-8151.

The UK School of Art and Visual Studies in the UK College of Fine Arts is an accredited member of the National Association of Art and Design and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the fields of art studio, art history and visual studies and art education.