By Josh Hughes
Tucked back in the abyss of the Fine Arts Building lies the B Gallery, a space for student and class exhibits that rotate on a two week schedule throughout the quarter.
Reconstruct, a show by design and fine arts students Maddy Ruppel, Ellie Bacchus and Sophie Marinkovich currently fills the gallery with portraits in different mediums and styles. Running until February 2, their show is independent of any class or school related project, providing inspiration for any student artists seeking more agency in their work.
The exhibit is comprised of eight separate portraits done in three different styles. Ruppel took the photographs, and Bacchus and Marinkovich each created their own spin on the portraits through painting and drawing. Each trio of pieces feels like its own triptych, showcasing the different ways in which different people construct the same object or idea.
“It’s called Reconstruct because Sophie and Ellie are essentially reconstructing my photos,” Ruppel said. “Each portrait is very obviously the same piece three different times, but we all take it in such different ways.”
The exhibit explores difference in perspective, all through the extremely personal lense of portraiture. Since all of the pieces focus on people, it’s the artist’s job to create different meanings through their unique style.
“All artists featured have a love for portraying humanity and everyday people in ways that make them look beautiful and otherworldly in their natural settings,” reads the statement inside the gallery.
In addition to the portraits, there is an accompanying zine made by Ruppel that visitors are invited to look through. The images in the zine further showcase the otherworldly element to their collective work, where collaged houses stack on top of each other and drawings of human faces burst with color and warped features.
Their process of getting the exhibit is equally interesting, considering that any student, no matter their academic discipline, can apply to have a show in the B Gallery.
“We came up with the plan and idea for the show but we didn’t really have any of the pieces ready. So after we submitted our exhibit and got approved, then we started making all the pieces— which was a little bit chaotic,” Ruppel said.
Even though the B Gallery oftentimes features work by art students or art classes, the art department wants to clarify that anyone can apply to have a show. Applications are accepted up to one quarter in advance of the desired exhibit date, and projects are accepted by the end of the quarter.
For Ruppel, Bacchus and Marinkovich, their submission was approved based on a proposal about the style and sorts of works that would go into their exhibit. Once accepted, they had all of Winter Break to work on their exhibit and get all of the pieces ready.
“It’s very cool to be able to get gallery and exhibit experience at this stage in our career because we’re all still in school and it’s a great way to get our work out there,” Ruppel said.
Reconstruct is open from now until February 2, followed by a photography exhibit on Grecian Culture by Sharalyn Sentinella. The B Gallery can be found on the first floor of the Art Building down a hallway adjacent to the Western Gallery. Submissions for exhibits and shows for Spring quarter can be accessed online at https://cfpa.wwu.edu/bgallery.