Midterm Critique
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Saint Xavier University (SXU)’s Art and Design Department will showcase Senior Seminar capstone presentations on April 11 and April 25 from 3–5 p.m. at the SXU Art Gallery. The exhibition will feature a variety of work ranging from graphic design and branding to sculpture, watercolor, and mixed media pieces.
The event is open to the public and gives visitors the opportunity to view student artwork and hear directly from the artists about their projects.
The senior seminar course serves as the capstone experience for students in the Art and Design Department, allowing seniors to focus on a single concept or project for an extended period of time.
The class is split into two sections, one for students whose projects involve graphic design and another for projects that involve physical media.
Jennifer Fuller, a lecturer in the Art and Design Department at SXU, teaches the graphic design section of the class.
“We give each student an opportunity to focus on one thing that they enjoy doing the most,” said Fuller.
Senior graphic design student Ethan Hurtado has created a hockey apparel brand.
Hurtado and his hockey jerseys
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“[It’s a] brand that embodies Chicago,” said Hurtado.
The project includes digital graphics, video, and physical pieces. Ethan said one of the biggest challenges has been narrowing down his ideas.
Hurtado’s video advertisement
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“[The biggest challenge was] probably just cutting stuff or editing myself to narrow what I actually want the project to turn out as,” Ethan said.
Another senior, Monae Redd, is creating sculptures exploring the relationship Black women have with their hair.
“[I used] my own experiences with things I see on social media of negative and positive things when it comes to Black women and how they see and represent them,” Redd said.
The project primarily uses clay sculptures along with drawings for planning.
Redd’s sculptures and progress
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Senior student Anette Valejo is presenting artwork inspired by personal experiences and family connections. Her project uses watercolor and colored pencils.
One of her biggest challenges has been “trying to be vulnerable” in her work.
Valejo hopes viewers connect with her message and feel encouraged to explore creativity.
“I hope it inspires people to go beyond instead of sticking to realism,” Valejo said.
Valejo’s current art pieces
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In preparation for the upcoming exhibition, students participated in a midterm critique on Wednesday, March 4, where faculty provided feedback to help refine projects before the final presentations.
Redd stated that presenting work publicly can be stressful, but critiques help improve her project and prepare her for the upcoming presentation and life outside of college.
“Sometimes it is nerve-breaking, but it’s very helpful,” Redd said.
The midterm critique acts as a checkpoint before the final exhibition later this semester, which is open to all interested in attending the event and viewing the students’ presentations and artwork.
During the critique, students received feedback from faculty across the department.
“All of our full-time faculty also sits in on it,” Fuller said. “So they’re getting feedback from every professor that’s full-time in the art department.”
Learning how to accept critique is an important skill for students preparing to enter creative careers, Fuller mentioned.
“Getting feedback is important. You have to know how to take feedback and what you can do with it,” Fuller said. “The only reason we critique is to make everybody better.”
The completed senior seminar projects will be displayed in a final exhibition later this semester at the SXU Art Gallery, located in L-114 of the Warde Academic Center, on April 11 and April 25 from 3–5 p.m.
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