By Latisha Russell
April 25, 2018
On April 19, 2018, tiny bubbles fizz in plastic glasses as about 50 students, teachers, family, and friends munch on fancy cheeses and drink sparkling grape juice and lemonade. The Driskill Gallery in the Jester Learning and Performing Arts center echoes with conversations about the thought-provoking portraits taken by Southwest Baptist University senior Olivia Hill.
Every art major at SBU plans and hosts a week long gallery at the end of their last semester as part of their Senior Seminar class. Hill, the first out of four graduating this semester presenting their showcases, is an art and psychology double major. Wanting to combine her studies, Hill planned a gallery that showcases her photography in a way that asks viewers “And How Does That Make You Feel?”
“As I planned my Senior Show, for the environment, I was really hoping to kind of pull from a feeling that you would have if you went to a gallery opening in a city where the arts are supported a lot,” Hill said. “Something kind of classy. But then for the photos themselves, I was really hoping to spark a conversation with people about different emotions that we feel that we don’t necessarily like. I was really hoping to get people maybe talking about, or thinking about, different things they might be feeling but just not expressing.”
Each piece had a covered title card that flipped up so viewers were encouraged to react to the photos themselves instead of relying on the title to create a reaction. While some attendees asked Hill about the meanings of her photography, others were also interested in how she achieved certain effects.
“There were a couple that I had a long exposure for, which means the shutter was just open longer, and so more information was taken in and it gives a blurry effect, kind of. I had questions like that and then people seemed to really enjoy some photographs that I didn’t anticipate to be as big of hits,” Hill said.
One piece, titled “Frustration,” was one of those unanticipated hits. While the other photographs were portraits and featured faces, “Frustration” depicted hands with sewing supplies. Hill had a different vision for “Frustration” when she was in the beginning stages of planning, but the photo turned out different than expected in a good way.
“People were very curious as to what was going on there, and I guess with the others it was pretty obvious what emotion was being depicted. And so, for that one, it kind of caught people off guard,” Hill said. “It’s the only ... non traditional portrait style photo, and I thought why not [include it].”
Hill’s favorite part of the reception?
“I really like … bringing people together in some way, and it was really amazing just how many people and different types of people came,” Hill said. “I just remember at one point kind of looking around and there were lots of people mingling and enjoying the cheese and the works. I just really thought it was a really cool experience to provide that for people, and for people to enjoy the work that went into that.”
Hill has been accepted to disciple students and share the Gospel in Munich, Germany for one year with a student ministry called Cru. After, she plans on attending graduate school for counseling.
The Driskill Gallery will also be presenting the following showcases:
"Scriptures Designed" by Emily Yohn - April 23- April 27
"Hello Dolly by Bethany" Russell - April 30- April 4
"For the Beauty of the Earth" by Hannah Wirth - May 14- May 19
The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Infuse Student Media or Southwest Baptist University.
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