Overload art show displays 54 seniors’ work

UCF's School of Visual Art and Design has unveiled an abundance of artwork in its 10th annual Bachelors in Fine Arts Exhibition, so much so that it resulted in the exhibit's name.

Overload, which was unveiled at opening night on April 7, features the work of 54 graduating bachelors of fine art students in nine different mediums including paintings, drawings, illustrations, sculptures, prints, photographs, ceramics, animation portfolios and book arts.

More than 270 people attended the event's opening at the Visual Arts Building that ran from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., which celebrated the creativity of students who displayed their final works in college before applying their skills in the real world.

Erin Des Rosiers Leiba, a senior studio art major, was one of the students who helped organized all aspects of the gallery, from the layout and organization of the room to the food and lighting.

It took Leiba about 24 hours and 12 people all working at the same time to finalize the execution of the gallery on campus.

The displayed artists began working on the exhibition in early January because of the time requirements needed to set up an art gallery.

"Putting an art gallery together is not easy at all," Leiba said. "From the very first start to the very end you always have to pay attention to detail; whether that's organizing the room, laying out individual artworks, or making sure the food is served, everything has a specific purpose."

This is Leiba's first gallery setup, which was a rewarding challenge because she learned all the implications of working under pressure and satisfying an audience.

This year's exhibition will simultaneously present four shows during the month of April depending on the style. There is the studio art gallery that will be on campus from April 7-14 and 21-28 and the digital art gallery, held at the Center for Emerging Media in Downtown Orlando, located at 500 W. Livingston St. 32801, from April 8-15 and 22-29. Regular hours for the galleries are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Through Overload, UCF's BFA students are able to showcase their talents and provide an atmosphere of what a professional art gallery looks like, but unlike other galleries, this one is on campus and free.

"We wanted to establish not only a rich academic experience but a satisfying level of professionalism for the artists and the audience," said Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, assistant professor of art at the School of Visual Art and Design and one of the faculty members who helped direct the exhibition.

Although this is the first year for Ortiz as the gallery's curator, she already has plans in the future to promote student-faculty exhibitions and demonstrate the community the taste of real artist experience emerging from UCF.

From the gallery starting as an empty room to the gallery's first arrangements, the idea of senior students displaying their final works sounded like a mess to Ortiz at first, but as opening day approached and the room was put together, a large puzzle with different pieces began to fit concertedly.

Ortiz said she believes the gallery adds a level of prestige to the university because it enables students to express their capabilities, which in turn reflects on the teachings of the faculty and ultimately the result culminates in Overload.

"We want to make people happy," Ortiz said. "With art and with the gallery we can do that."

Jahfre Colbert, a sophomore art history major, came to opening day because he wanted to support the graduate art majors. Throughout his college career he has volunteered and worked as a receptionist at previous art galleries on campus.

Colbert's reaction to the artworks was one of partial admiration because although there were some pieces he saw as creative, others didn't impress him much, he said.

Despite his familiarity with art exhibitions, Colbert had no anticipations when he first set foot on the gallery.

"It's not good to have any sort of expectations if you want to enjoy art," he said. "When people have expectations at a gallery they will not be receptive to what they see and to what they understand."