Samford University’s School of the Arts began displaying students’ work in the art gallery beginning last week. This year’s judging system has been speculated to be less subjective and more inclusive of all styles of art.
Art majors who are not a part of the fine arts program said that they are happy with the new grading system this year. This year, the faculty choose the pieces that are shown in the gallery for the art show, and the School of the Arts has input on judging.
Students said that pieces of fine art rather than graphic design or interior design pieces have often been overlooked in the past.
“I really loved walking through the show this year and seeing a balance between all three disciplines,” junior graphic design student Brooke English said.
When asked how graphic design contributes to the world around her, English said that people should ask how the things around them end up looking like they do.
“People look at art majors (asking), ‘what are you going to do with that?’ One thing I love about graphic design specifically is that it is art, but you can see a lot more the practically,” English said.
However, the School of the Arts does not just display art in annual shows. According to senior interior design student Rich Fridy, this program uses art as a way to minister to people all over the world.
“We serve a third-world-country client for an interior design thing that they need, when they often cannot afford a United States artist to complete it,” Fridy said. “My piece is entitled, ‘Permanecer,’ which is a Spanish verb for to ‘remain.”’
Fridy’s piece is a large, two panel design for a senior-living facility. This particular facility Fridy helped design would allow senior citizens to come and live at the home as they progress through the later stages in life.
The School of the Arts is partnering with the Iglesia Bautista Nuevo Pacto church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to design this senior-living facility for Santo Domingo’s community. Fridy said that care for the elderly in the United States may be common, but it is not so abundant in countries such as the Dominican Republic.
“Samford encourages and starts a conversation about the intersection between art, design and what impact that can have in a missional and economical impact,” Fridy said.
Other art majors said Samford’s School of the Arts was very inclusive of all art majors.
“I decided to come to Samford for art because I applied to multiple schools, but Samford was the only school that had graphic design, specifically, as a major,” Senior Graphic Design Student Emily Barkley said.
Barkley said that Samford was representative of all styles of art, and this inclusivity was just a part of the beauty of the university.
“Samford is a picturesque campus, but once you delve in deeper you see all the facets of the school,” Barkley said.
Barkley said she compares Samford’s campus to fine art. She said once one really gets to know the university, one garners a greater appreciation for the school, just as one does the meaning behind the art.
Anna Grace Moore, News Writer
