Studio Thesis BFA exhibition "Escape the Mind" in Trisolini Gallery through April 9

Featuring sculptures, photographs, prints and paintings by Madelyn Bartolone, Ahnika Frogale, Kelly Aug, Winter Butts, and Naila Latham.

The School of Art + Design presents “Escape the Mind,” an exhibition curated by candidates in the BFA Studio Art program,  opening 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5 in Ohio University’s Trisolini Gallery in the Baker University Center. The exhibition runs through April 9, with a reception on April 7 from 5-7 p.m.

The exhibit features sculptures, photographs, prints and paintings by the students Madelyn Bartolone, Ahnika Frogale, Kelly Aug, Winter Butts, and Naila Latham. It serves as a culmination of the collective knowledge in professional art practices they have learned so far. The exhibition reflects a focus on topics like mental health, identity, religion, and escapism through art.

When planning for the exhibition, Madelyn Bartolone thought about how her paintings can bring viewers into a different world. Her landscape paintings portray western landscapes that she one day hopes to visit. They serve as a form of escape and focus on a place that is away from everyday problems and stressors.

By experimenting with color and value, she has created environments with a dream-like quality which fully encapsulates the mood of the landscape.

Ahnika Frogale is an Ohio-based artist who specializes in printmaking. Her work concentrates on ideas of mental illness, substance abuse, and overall mental health with the hope to spread awareness of these issues.

Kelly Aug has always been interested in the magical and fantastical aspects of life.  Documenting these aspects has been a part of her practice for years now.  Using photography, she recreates the feeling of searching for an answer. 

An reception will be held Thursday April 7, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with refreshments provided.

Gallery hours are Mondays through Saturdays 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gallery is open until 8:00 p.m. on Thursdays. This College of Fine Arts event is made possible through support from Arts for Ohio.