Gonzaga University's Art Department is presenting "Beneath the Surface," a senior art exhibit running through May 8 in partnership with the Spokane Art School. The show features capstone projects from graduating students, including oil paintings, a punk-style zine and CD project, and digital works exploring themes like motherhood and anxiety. Assistant art professor Jennifer Seo describes the exhibit as a culmination of skills learned over four years, with students gaining hands-on exhibition experience and building professional portfolios.
The exhibit matters because it marks the transition of emerging artists from academic training into the professional art world, offering the Spokane community a chance to engage with high-caliber student work. It highlights the importance of senior thesis projects in helping students articulate complex ideas and develop practical skills like event planning and self-promotion. For students like Aubree Click, whose oil paintings capture fleeting college memories, the show represents both technical growth and personal identity formation.