Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: The Verge

Graduate student Jessica Freudenberg describes her work as photorealism. She stages scenes of misbehaving little girls and her sisters photograph them, then she recreates the images through paintings with vivid colors. (Cari Wafford/The Daily Eastern News)

Graduating or not, it is safe to say many students are highly anticipating the end of the semester.

After graduation, when you awake to find it's sunny with a high of about 75 degrees, you won't think about past or present incomplete assignments, upcoming projects or even brushing your hair that day.

Instead, you will rejoice in the sunlight, giving all care to the wind and will plan out the following week sometime early Monday morning.

In the instance you've been working in the art department's graduate program this year, this scenario does not apply.

Graduate studio art majors have been preparing the entire term to display their work in an art exhibit until April 26 in the Tarble Arts Center.

Where an English major would develop a thesis both semesters to complete their degree, the artists submit pieces of their work for an exhibition.

The exhibit includes work from Scott Arthur, Rebecca Aurich, Kyle Ford, Jessica Freudenberg, Danielle Halpin, Lauren Hermann, Jason Houchen, Shane Rodems, Chris Smith and Yotam Zohar.

To be considered for the graduate program each artist submitted 20 photographs of undergraduate work.

If they are accepted, artists begin early during the fall semester to meet the spring deadline.

"It's a very fast pace, hit the ground running program," Freudenberg said.

Faculty members comprise three-man committees that guide the students throughout the year.

They help develop their work and review each submission while the students work in individual spaces in the Burl Ives Art Studio.

The faculty does not censor any submissions, but help critique the pieces and guide the artists in deciding which pieces work together best.

Freudenberg explained that no two submissions are alike and every piece is unique to the artist.

During the exhibition, the students will give testimonials explaining their work.

Freudenberg said that part of being a graduate students means being able to express yourself and your work in a professional manner.

"At this point, if you can't explain why your doing it (the art) you shouldn't be doing it," said Freudenberg.

The "cohesive body of work," as Freudenberg explained it, is a way for the students to learn on a professional level and a way to improve these artists' careers.

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