Exhibit opens

One of the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s most popular annual exhibitions is ready for its viewing.

The Lakehead University annual student juried and major studio exhibitions kicked off Friday. Fourth year art student Chris Keetch said because every artist expresses themselves in different ways, the show has something for everyone.

"If you come here you’re going to see a nice wide range of thoughts and artistic styles as well," Keetch said.

While the show has traditional styles, such as paintings and sculptures, it also has more contemporary exhibits, such as Keetch’s playlist of more than 200 videos chronicling his life over the past nine months.

Keetch said the major studio exhibit is a chance for fourth year students to showcase whatever they want, using techniques and ideas they’ve learned at Lakehead.

He said his videos explore the themes of what makes art and uses videos – from pouring a bowl of cereal to more influential elements of his life since last June – to find art in natural life and his opinions.

"So I wanted to make art out of that … out of life," he said.

Third year art student Aaron Veldstra has three pieces showcased in the juried exhibition. Students submit up to five pieces to a jury that is made up of Lakehead faculty members. The jury decides what will go in the show.

"Usually it’s a pretty good show," he said. "It’s the best of the best not just any old thing."

For most students it’s the first time they’ve had their work hanging in a gallery, a common goal for most artists, Veldstra said.

"This is just to give yourself a taste of what it’s like to hang your stuff in a gallery," Veldstra said.

Using time lapse photography, Veldstra made circular shapes out of pine needles in one of his more contemporary pieces in the show. Veldstra said contemporary art is more concept driven than technique.

"It’s not really to paint a pretty picture it’s more to express an idea," said Veldstra.

The exhibition’s opening reception is Friday, March 11 at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery.