Dishman to host senior thesis show, May 2-17
The end of the semester is approaching, and it is a busy time for the art department as students are preparing to display their senior theses.
Lamar University’s department of art & design will present “Palettes & Perspectives,” May 2-17 in the Dishman Art Museum. A closing reception will be held May 17 from noon to 3 p.m.
“The title of the show brings together their varied conceptual interests in art with their varied approaches to creative activities,” art professor Prince V. Thomas said in an email interview.
Painting and sculpture major Logan Comeaux’s thesis is titled “An Abstract Experiment in Material Processes.”
“I’ve been reading Norse mythology and using abstract style to depict that,” Comeaux said. “These are all figures and ideas from ‘The Odyssey.’”
Mythology is not the only inspiration, Comeaux said, adding that he draws on Abstract Expressionist movement from the 1940s and 1950s.
“It was a group of artists who all did non-objective work or abstracted, and they chose to reject reality,” he said. “They did not want to depict things that were real because so much was going on with the war at the time, they didn’t feel comfortable depicting that. They wanted to reject it and tap into emotion without depicting actual things. And that’s where I started.”
Comeaux said he chooses to depict his emotions implicitly in his thesis series.
“So, for this series, the whole old story about leadership, about overcoming hardship, is the perfect example to use,” Comeaux said. “I’m using ideas and some shapes and images from those stories to depict that. But the goal is for each of the colors and motions to flow and you feel it, whether you see it and interpret it and go, ‘Oh, that’s what that is.’”
The world of paintings and sculptures meets in his project.
“I’ve brought these paintings into a sculptural form because they’re not going to be put on the wall,” Comeaux said. “They’re going to be displayed back-to-back in a hexagon.”
Graphic design major Ciara Broussard’s thesis is titled, “Feminine Divine.”
“I’m basically exploring a woman’s role in Greek mythology, and in addition to that, women’s role in Tarot,” Broussard said.
Broussard said women are viewed as the enemy in past historical contexts, which she wants to deviate from.
“(I’m) approaching mythology and tarot from a female gaze using illustrations of women that I know and love — because that’s a big part of my thesis, too,” she said. “I’m reimaging these women as women from the department, and also, who I know personally. By coming to it from that perspective it comes from a very personal place, because you’re looking at women that I know and love and admire.”
Broussard said her work seeks to define womanhood. “I think my work reflects on not just identity as a woman, but also my perception of womanhood as a whole,” she said. “(I’m) embracing myself, my feminine side, rather than rebuking it as I feel like society at times wants us to do.”
The artists participating in the semester-long projects produce a body of artwork exhibited at the Dishman, an oral defense, and a paper up to 20-pages long. It is an overwhelming but rewarding process, Thomas said, adding that he gives the students sound advice.
“Work diligently every day, regularly consult with your committee, embrace mistakes, and trust your gut,” Thomas said.
“Palettes & Perspectives” also includes work by Tonene Ligon Carrierre, Seraphin DeFrates, Terick Guye, Bonnie A. Haney, Megan Hansen, Ashlee Haynes, Jade Kisner, Alicia A. Lawal, Kenzie Marriott, Brandon Morales and Eva A. Pulido.
The Dishman Art Museum is located on campus at 1030 E Lavaca St. Admission is free. For more visit, lamar.edu/dishman.
