Aerial landscape inspires Adams State College graduate student, Madison McCaulley. Her thesis show, "A New Perspective" along with Anthony Guntren's "Re-Embodiment" are now on display in the Adams State College Cloyde Snook Gallery. The shows continue through December 16, with a reception from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.

McCaulley's thesis work reflects her personal perception of aerial landscape through a series of acrylic low-relief paintings on wood. Her paintings explore the contemporary art ideas behind aerial landscape and mapping, throughout history and in present day. "When people are able to perceive the world from above, they are able to further become aware of the earth and its many fascinating surfaces," McCaulley said.

For more information call the Art Department at 719-587-7823.

Sculptures, paintings, and installations exploring themes from the personal to the environmental - the Adams State College Graduate Thesis Exhibitions explore a variety of issues in a diversity of mediums. The Cloyde Snook and Hatfield Galleries current exhibits include work by John Dodds, Nora McBride, Rachael Padilla, and David Stallings The shows continue through November 22, with a closing reception that evening from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Dodds said his thesis work involves the creation of trophies for individuals or entities that don't deserve recognition. "Socially and politically motivated and heavy with sarcasm, these trophies are intended to stimulate conversations around the abuse of systems that are meant to be helpful."

McBride's "My Little Phony" series combines painting and printmaking processes. "It explores the juxtaposition of imagery influenced by popular culture, and iconic pictures and symbols." All of the work is expressed through a narrative lens of humor or absurdity fueled by the artist's personal experience, observation, and subconscious.

The work for "Departure", by Padilla, is comprised of a series of shrines. The exhibit serves as a representation of a metamorphosis of an intimate perspective of life experiences. It is the act of transforming life experiences, many of which were beyond the artist's control, and the emotional repercussions of those experiences to empowerment. The shrines themselves are created through assemblage of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional pieces, drawings, paintings, or three-dimensional Papier mache works combined in an altar-like scene with other everyday items associated with the experience being memorialized. "They are memoirs of the various realizations that occur throughout personal life," Padilla said. For more information call the Art Department at 719-587-7823 .

Adams State College Master of Arts in Art students current thesis exhibits, in the Cloyde Snook and Hatfield Galleries, continue through December 17, with a closing reception that evening from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Efong Yee, Drew Vetter, and J. Burnite ceramic forms are in the Cloyde Snook Gallery. Yee's graceful figures are sketched out with clay and cast playful shadows along the walls of the gallery. Vetter seems to draw inspiration from tribal art and his display includes interactive audio.

"Cycle of Process", the thesis work from artist Burnite, is a reflection of the artist and is intended to relate the process of creating organic, sculptural, ceramic forms to the similarities of the artist's personality. The phases of developing the art forms for this thesis are an expression and metaphor that parallels the artist's attempt to understand meaning in existing. The complexities of life and surrounding environment help to shape the personality of each individual and who they become in their lifetime. It is human nature to question the life that is developed over time and changes that occur due to varying environmental impacts and influences. All of the forms within this thesis presentation use plant life as a metaphor to express the questions of life and individual evolution during our life time.

Linda Relyea's photograph display, "Women of the Land", hangs in the Hatfield Gallery. Her thesis, Women in Agriculture in the San Luis Valley, documents a diversity of women ranchers and farmers throughout the four season performing daily and seasonal chores. Relyea said the thesis attempts to bring awareness to the work, the environment, and the women involved in agriculture. Another goal of the thesis is to raise awareness and increase respect for all women and agriculture, especially those living and working in the San Luis Valley.

For more information call the Art Department at 719-587-7823.

Adams State College 1984 alumna Kristine Kollasch painting and mixed media exhibit opens October 1, in the Cloyde Snook Gallery. Kollasch's artist lecture starts at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, in the Art Building room 227 followed by an artist reception from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Kollasch describes her work as "colorful and contemplative with lots of layers." Some pieces create a statement, others are meant for pure aesthetic enjoyment. "I hope the audience will enjoy the work, smile a bit, maybe laugh or linger in front of a piece as they discover things beneath the initial glance." The work is happy, positive, and often enhanced with text. "I guess I think of myself as a bit of a poet or philosopher."

Kollasch is a thriving professional artist producing fine art and murals. She enjoys working collaboratively with other artists on public art projects that involve the community.

She received her degree in art education. She remembers the "warmth" of the Art Building and art professors Cloyde Snook, emeritus professor of art; Ed Clemmer, emeritus artist; and Sister Mary Lavey, emeritus professor of art.

"The Art Department is pleased to host an Adams State alumna in the Cloyde Snook Gallery," said Gene Schilling, professor of art. "Kristine is a successful professional artist and has much to share with our current students."

After graduation Kollasch worked at Habitat, Inc., a Tempe, Ariz., design and fabrication firm for 11 years. She quit, because she "loved" the job. "I was never going to 'make it' as an artist unless I committed to it." She credits the design firm experience with her success as an artist for the last 13 years. "In a nutshell, don't let go of your dreams, and learn from all your experiences."

During the artist lecture, Kollasch will draw from her own experience as a professional artist to share with students. "You must be committed to your work, to your craft and be professional about it." She believes creative people need to make the most of every opportunity to learn and grow. She encourages artists to accept critique and apply it if it "feels" right. "Keep painting, sculpting, drawing, singing dancing...whatever is your passion, do it without ceasing."

Kollasch said art is a healthy pure way to express emotion and should be included in all public schools' curriculum. "If we required art, used it for collaborating and for allowing individual self expression we could change the world. As a culture we would become more creative problem solvers, more able to understand that life is a process not a product. We might understand a pie chart better if we were encouraged to draw one, or bake one."

For more information call the Adams State Art Department at 719-587-7823.

The week-long workshop is designed to offer instruction comprised of demonstration, mini-workshops, critiques, and on-sitepainting experience. 2 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate credit can be earned.

The beginning student will be involved with the materials, techniques, and potentials of water media. Advanced students will be provided with the opportunity to develop new directions or refine their own painting approach. Students may elect to work alone or with a group of their choice.

Workshop students will stay at the popular Sagebrush Inn and will have access to many interesting galleries and craft shops. Because of limited accomodation and class sizes, applications will be accepted in the order in which they are received.

Tuition: $325 for both Colorado and non-Colorado residents. Payment of tuition will constitute the pre-registration fee and should be sent as soon as possible.

Room and board: $461 double, per person. $611 private.

For more information contact Judy Jones at 719-587-7823

Local artist, Charles Ewing, juried the current exhibit in the Adams State College Cloyde Snook Gallery. "A Scratch in Time" opens January 22 and continues through February 19. Over 20 artists are included in the exhibit. A panel discussion with a few of the artists begins at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22, in the Art Building room 227; an opening reception will follow.

Scratchboard art is a technique to create drawing using sharp tools to scratch through to white clay board covered with black paint. Shadows and highlights are created through the removal process rather than adding color or ink, as in the traditional drawing method.

Ewing said scratchboard is a forgiving medium and very versatile. He said he chose to curate the show since there are few shows nationwide just for clay surface artists. The featured art is primarily realistic wildlife illustrations with some figurative and landscape work. "Some of the finest scratchboard artists in the nation, including an Australian artist, are included in the exhibit."

Artists who plan to attend the lecture, reception, and demonstration include Rodman, Cathy Sheeter, Mark Hatfield, Allan Adams, and Diana Bazaldua.

The public is invited to artist demonstrations from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Art Building room 142.

"Ars Terrae", photographs by Martin Jay Mckee, will be on exhibit in the Hatfield Gallery during the same time frame.

For more information call the Adams State Art Department at 719-587-7823.

The Hatfield Gallery is hosting a student painting exhibit during the same time frame.

For more information call the Adams State Art Department at 719-587-7823.

The Adams State College Cloyde Snook Gallery is featuring EDGE artists from October 23 through November 20. An artist lecture by EDGE Gallery President begins at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the Art Building room 227; an opening reception follows the lecture.

There are 32 artists from the non-profit, co-op art gallery. Located on 3658 Navajo Street, Denver, EDGE, a contemporary art gallery, is dedicated to artists outside the domain of commercial art venues. Because the gallery is not dependant on sales for survival, artists have the freedom to pursue more experimental modes of expression. EDGE primary objectives are to celebrate individuality and uniqueness, to encourage shared vision, and to maintain intensity and integrity in addressing the often contradictory messages occurring in contemporary art.

For more information call the Adams State Art Department at 719-587-7823.

The exhibit includes artwork by art faculty members Nancy Anderson, Joyce Centofanti, Margaret Doell, Roger Eriksen, Kristian Gosar, Amy Kucera, Linda McGowan, Laura Murphy, Dana Provence, and Eugene Schilling.

Shodo, the way of writing, is Japanese calligraphy and has been studied for over three thousand years. It is a specialized art using a brush and black ink to write kanji and Chinese characters. Shodo is written on Japanese paper, washi, using a bamboo and animal hair brush called a fude. The ink, called suni, is obtained from charcoal and traditionally comes in sticks, which must be rubbed with water on an inkstone until the right consistency is achieved. Much cheaper, pre-mixed bottled inks are now available, but these are used primarily for practice as stick inks are considered higher quality and chemical inks are more prone to bleeding over time, making them less suitable for use in hanging scrolls. Learning to rub the ink is an essential part of calligraphy study.

Works of calligraphy are usually signed with the artist's name and stamp, seal or chop in red ink. Clark has been teaching the class for ten years. "I am very proud of the students. It is not just writing but also includes philosophy." She said the art form came from China and was first practiced by the Japanese Zen priests. "Shodo is Zen thinking, connecting with the spirit and art."

The Hatfield Gallery hours are 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information call 719-587-7823.