The best of student art at Sussex County Community College

NEWTON-Sussex County Community College is announcing the opening of its 13th Annual Student Art Exhibition. The exhibit will be on display from May 7 through May 21 in the SCCC Gallery, located in Building B. The public is invited to an opening reception that will be held on Friday, May 7 from 7-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. This exhibition celebrates the College's Associate of Fine Arts Degree Program and the efforts of students to develop as artists during the 2003-2004 school year. The work includes a wide range of media such as photography, painting, drawing, and 3-D works. The Fine Arts Program is one of the first to be offered in a New Jersey community college. The A.F.A. Degree prepares students for either a career in the visual arts or a transition into a four-year B.F.A. Degree Program. "This show is important because it celebrates our pride in both the program here and the efforts of serious art students attempting to build foundational skills in art," said Program Coordinator and Assistant Professor at SCCC Julie McWilliams. "The students are also exploring the social and personal significance of art in a technological society. Their work reflects a wide range of interests and talents; consequently the Annual Student Exhibition is always an exciting mix of media, ideas, and energy." The Fine Arts Program offers studio courses both at the SCCC campus in Newton and at the Peters Valley Craft Center. Students learn from a variety of professional artists with different backgrounds and experiences who instruct and assist them in developing a modern visual literacy. Courses include drawing from the life model, painting, ceramics, fibers, photography, and sculpture. The exhibition traditionally runs for six weeks. Because of the new construction at the College, this year's exhibit will close after only two weeks. "The students are excited because the Art Program will be moving to new facilities in the summer. The new area will house the College's new gallery, a paint studio, photography darkroom, and clay studio. Although the show this year will be smaller and brief, next year we will have cause for a gala celebration," said McWilliams. For more information and directions for the Student Art Exhibit, or for detailed information on the Fine Arts Degree Program at SCCC visit the Web site at www.sussex.edu or call 973-300-2144.