“Lollipop Grasp,” original artwork by Rachel Fitzgerald.“Lollipop Grasp,” original artwork by Rachel Fitzgerald.

Reception to celebrate exhibition opening

A free public reception Friday, October 20, will celebrate “Back to Basics,” a solo exhibition by arts student Rachel Fitzgerald.

The show explores how traditional studies are applied to highly-polished works. For example, a completed piece that contains very detailed hands is accompanied by a close study of hands and feet with a sketchbook nearby of preliminary work for the piece.

Fitzgerald, a fourth-year double-major in creative writing and visual arts, and an Outstanding Scholar, says showing the completed works alongside mistakes, re-workings, and practice-sketches helps to de-mystify the art.

“The title applies to the theme in a few ways,” she says, “Looking back on the foundations of my art from first year to fourth year, placing emphasis on the entire process of art, not just the finished product, and the incorporation of mostly traditional media.”

Friday’s reception will begin at 5 p.m. in the gallery, LeBel Building.