It’s a Trip! exhibition features student artists

USD’s Student Art Alliance (SAA), composed of fine arts majors and USD artists, curated the “It’s a Trip!” exhibition in the Coyote Gallery located next to the Coyote Twin movie theater.

Senior Dakota Wilson the SAA president, helped organize and curate the show. The exhibition featured 17 pieces from 10 artists. Wilson said the SAA is an important resource for USD student artists and this event is one of many affiliated with the SAA.

“A lot of the time, in the art department, you get stuck in your one specific studio, so painting majors only really interact with other painting majors. Same with graphic design. (“It’s a Trip!”) is a good way for everybody to get together and actually talk to each other and build some connections,” Wilson said. “We do lots with local artists in the area so you really get some good resources for when you’re trying to be an artist.”

Wilson said student art is everywhere on campus, in every building. Many of the artists featured around campus will take part in the senior art shows which are approaching. 

“If students are interested in seeing other student art all they have to do is look around because everything in the building and in every building at USD is done by a student commission or donated. So that’s pretty cool,” Wilson said. “In the next two or three months, March, April and May, are when we do our senior graduation shows for our BFA students and then for masters students, so those will be open in the gallery.” 

The faculty advisor for SAA is assistant art professor Amber Hansen. The SAA has been around for more than a decade, serving students here at USD, Hansen said. 

“The group was formed by past art students and has been ongoing for over a decade now and it’s a great way for students to meet each other and for them to learn from each other and to share ideas,” Hansen said. “It’s a very supportive open group. The show that they installed here is a great example of their work and collaboration.”

Hansen said the SAA is open to all USD students and welcomes everybody, regardless of major.

Junior Luci Hudson specializes in photography with three pieces featured in the “It’s a Trip!” exhibition. 

“It was pretty exciting because it’s a great way for the community to kind of get involved with the SAA,” Hudson said. “I think (the show) is a great way for the community of Vermillion to come in and see what USD students are creating.” 

Senior Madison Ervin attended the show and said she appreciated the flow of how the pieces came together with the theme. Ervin encourages everyone to support local artists.

“It’s very abstract and as I was thinking about it, I think all the pieces reflect light in some way. I am very impressed with the show,” Ervin said. 

USD alumnus Justin Pray also attended the show. Seeing what USD art students are doing is an important part of being involved with the USD community, Pray said.

“I think it’s cool. The variety of different mediums that are used really adds to the show,” Pray said. “They’re all like pictures, paintings and different materials are used like the drawings with dark pencils, somebody used reflective paper in the eyes of one of the drawings and some people put collages and prints together. It’s cool being able to see people express themselves in so many different ways.”