Shepherd University’s Department of Contemporary Art and Theater announces the senior capstones of Morgan Wisniewski, James Graeter and Elissa Lynn Jerome in April. Wisniewski’s large-scale figurative female portraits and Graeter’s intimate small-scale surreal landscapes and environments will be exhibited on Friday, April 20 through Saturday, May 20 with a reception for the artists on Friday, April 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Bridge Gallery. Jerome’s mixed-media installation will open one night only on Friday, April 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the pink house on 205 West Washington Street in Shepherdstown. The exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Wisniewski’s painting series, “Reverence,” emphasizes the idealization of women through portraying lone female figures within minimal environments or narratives. Within a contemporary portraiture approach, she displays moments of grace or confidence and knowingly enhances minute details in the physical traits of her subjects. Wisniewski is a double major pursuing a bachelor of fine arts degree with concentrations in painting and drawing, as well as a bachelor in arts in art education (K-12) . She is a Promise Scholar and a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Kappa Delta Pi.

Graeter’s “Accepting Our Fabricated Reality” portrays humanity’s fleeting connection with the natural world. The small-scale surreal environments incorporate mankind’s connection to nature, as well as question our responsibility and carbon footprint. The works portray human elements and technologies as black, stamp-like silhouettes painted onto the environments to display humanity’s lack of connection within nature. Graeter is graduating from Shepherd with a bachelor of fine arts degree in December of 2012. Graeter plans to travel the roads, mountains, and small towns of the United States in order to further expand on his love of the natural world to later incorporate into his artwork.

Jerome photographs feminine symbolism in nature. For the exhibition, the artist collected English ivy leaves, which were then de-stemmed and sewn together to make an ivy dress. After the construction of the dress, the artist then photographed herself wearing the ivy dress in an environment where the ivy naturally grows. Inspired by the growing patterns and feminine symbolism associated with the English ivy plant, the artist explores the idea of physical and emotional attachment. Jerome’s recent exhibitions include a multimedia collaborative project titled, “Transitions in Nature: Phase I and II.” Phase I of the continuing series was installed for the group exhibition titled Extended Image, and Phase II was selected to be shown at the Emerging Artists’ Exhibition. Jerome will graduate with a bachelor of fine arts in May.

For more information about Morgan Wisniewski and James Graeter’s exhibition, contact the Bridge Gallery at 304-876-2300 or Info@BridgeGalleryandFraming.com. For more information about Elissa Lynn Jerome’s exhibit, contact Jerome at 304-820-8556 or elissalynnjerome @gmail.com.