Reed Gallery features 2024 Fine Art Senior Thesis Exhibition

A banner is displayed on the University of Maine at Presque Isle campus. (Courtesy of University of Maine at Presque Isle)

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Reed Art Gallery presents the 2024 Fine Art Senior Thesis Exhibitions by fine art majors Amanda Giberson and Lila McCrum through Friday, May 24. The exhibition will be open during the Presque Isle First Friday Art Walk on Friday, May 3 from 6-8 p.m. The Reed Gallery is located on the second floor of the University’s Center for Innovative Learning.

The Fine Art Senior Thesis Exhibition, a six credit, academic-year-long course, is a capstone to the BFA program. The rigorous course of study is unique to most statewide BFA programs. The show allows enrolled students to have an experience similar to a graduate school environment. Students are required to prepare a body of work for the solo exhibition and defend it orally and in writing, in order to graduate.

Amanda Giberson’s exhibition “Grounded in Fiber” consists of several pieces that the artist has woven or constructed from primarily naturally sourced materials, many of which she collected from nature. Each of Giberson’s pieces is rooted in an emotional experience, which she then manifests through complex geometry, color harmony and the juxtaposition of a wide variety of natural, textural elements, ranging from soft and alluring to abrasive and mysterious. A self-described “unconventional weaver”, Giberson strives through her work to connect viewers to the inherent beauty of nature and the shared human experience.

Lila McCrum will present “The Senior Show”, a suite of watercolor paintings that feature residents of the retirement home she works at. Taking inspiration from the tradition of great illustrative artists like Norman Rockwell and Beatrix Potter, along with her own love of narrative, McCrum’s paintings transcend mere portraiture, each one telling a story about the subject. Through her skillful use of the watercolor medium, McCrum conveys the unique stories and personalities of each of her subjects.

During the Presque Isle First Friday Art Walk on Friday, May 3, both artists will be present to discuss their work. The public is invited to attend.

The Reed Art Gallery is located on the upper floor of the Center for Innovative Learning in the heart of the UMPI campus at 181 Main St. in Presque Isle. Regular gallery hours during the academic year are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sundays from 2-10 p.m. The Reed Art Gallery is closed on Saturdays and holidays. 

For more information, contact Gallery Director Frank Sullivan at frank.sullivan@maine.edu or 207-694-1920.