The 2022 Studio Art class is painting their final picture
C/O @McMasterSumma2022
In their graduating exhibition, the BFA class of 2022 highlights the importance of art and being seen
By: Joleen Awad, contributor
From March 31, 2022 to April 29, 2022, McMaster University students will have the opportunity to visit the 2022 Bachelor of Fine Arts graduating class’ art exhibition, located at the McMaster Museum of Art.
Every year, the graduating Studio Art class puts on an exhibition to demonstrate the accumulated skills and knowledge that they’ve gained about art during their undergraduate years. SUMMA means to summarize, which is exactly what this show will do for the students’ education and what they’ve learned.
Sahra Soudi, an artist and community organizer herself, is the curator of this year’s exhibition. Her job is to develop and layout the show so all the artwork fits together cohesively in a way that represents the theme and the museum, giving her an up-close and personal experience with the pieces.
As an introduction to the exhibition, Soudi shared with the Silhouette her curatorial statement for the show.
“Taking space means daring to be bold, seen and heard. The 2022 SUMMA exhibition Taking Space does exactly that,” said Soudi.
Soudi revealed this show will be the first time that many of BFA students have actually been able to visit the museum and art gallery since the beginning of the pandemic, explaining in this way they are physically taking up space there.
“I think that figuratively too, what that means is that it is kind of just being unafraid to be vulnerable and unafraid to show the work that they’ve been pouring a lot of energy and time into,” explained Soudi.
The McMaster SUMMA 2022 account on Instagram began posting photos of the artists’ works back in November 2021, providing a sneak peek into what the exhibition will look like.
The exhibition showcases a variety of art mediums, including abstract pieces, paintings, mixed media, installation pieces and video animation, ensuring there is something for everyone.
The show serves as a way for the students to express themselves as artists, showing the McMaster community what it means to take up space in their own way.
“Something that I really do enjoy about the show is that there is a variety with the mediums that the students chose to use and some of them do relate to each other,” said Soudi.
Soudi believes fellow students should visit their peers’ exhibition as a way to participate and be a part of the artworks’ journey and creation.
“The last two years have been really hard for artists, especially with the students, and not being able to get [any] encouragement or space to be seen,” she explained.
For the Studio Art class of 2022, this exhibition will be their final opportunity to share their voice with others before stepping into the artistic scene outside of McMaster.
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