MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State University Galleries and the Department of Art and Design are pleased to present the student exhibition “Professional Blend XVII” on display through November 5 in the Mary Ed Mecoy Hall Gallery on the sixth floor of the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center.

“Professional Blend XVII” features a variety of media and combines artwork created by Murray State Art & Design students currently enrolled in the Art 399 Professional Practices course. Installing this exhibit is an experiential activity for students, designed to incorporate everything they learn in their other courses and enhance their learning experience at Murray State University. Students arrange the layout of the artworks and install the exhibition together to create a public display of their collective efforts.

The “Professional Blend XVII” exhibit features the work of 12 students: Ciro Astarita of Jupiter, Florida; Kristian Canada of Paducah, Kentucky; Maria Castlen of Owensboro, Kentucky; Irian Christie of Eddyville, Kentucky; Faith Conner of Marion, Kentucky; Krizianna Groves of Cadiz, Kentucky; Samira Johnson of Lexington, Kentucky; Addison Miller of Murray, Kentucky; Cami Neal of Murray, Kentucky; Emily Ray of Stonefort, Illinois; Sydney Robinson of Hodgenville, Kentucky; and Sadie Smith of Cadiz, Kentucky.

Art 399 Professional Practices in Art course is designed to explore the materials, skills, qualifications, and strategies required for students to begin and sustain a career in art and design. The course orients students to the skills they have acquired through their studies. Students engage in experiences and exercises that give them an understanding of developing a professional portfolio that includes a well-articulated artist/design statement, developed resume, artist/design biography, press release, cover letter, and documentation of their creative work. This is a selection of the assignments given in this course, and incorporating the student-led group experience activity to present this exhibition of their work reinforces the learning experiences in the course and connects these assignments directly to their studio practice.

“I am grateful for the continued support of the art and design faculty and staff,” said University Galleries Director T. Michael Martin. “I would like to thank the exhibiting students for lending their work to this exhibition and acknowledge the students along with Anna Sohl, Fall 24 gallery assistant, for their efforts with the layout, design and installation of this exhibition. I would also like to thank the gallery student staff: Beth Bailey, Isa Bolanos, Dawn Critser, Ella Cate Downing, Wesley Hammer, Jordy Harrell, Cheyenne Pender, Amber Ryan, and Eve Sexton for their assistance with this exhibit and for supporting the ongoing educational mission of the University Galleries. “