Rubbish. Amber Rousseau, artist
By Emma Castleberry
The Western Carolina University (WCU) Fine Art Museum will host the annual Bachelor of Fine Art Portfolio Exhibition from Tuesday, November 8, to December 9, with a reception on December 1 from 5–7 p.m. The exhibition will highlight the work of 14 studio art majors and 16 graphic design students from the university’s Bachelor of Fine Art program.
Prismatic. Bella Cugini, artist
Amber Rousseau, an aspiring ornithological scientific illustrator, will be exhibiting her oil painting Rubbish, which was inspired by her work with the Bird-Friendly Campus Project. Rousseau gathered data about birds that were injured or killed from window strikes for the project, with the ultimate goal of gaining resources for solving the problem. “The bird in the middle of the painting is a Swainson’s Thrush that died from a window strike, with its belly cut open for a study skin preparation,” Rousseau says. “The objects surrounding the Swainson’s Thrush are pieces of trash I collected from the ground while walking around campus. I wanted to make a statement about the similarities in the way we treat our trash, our environment and the living things that we share this environment with.”
Bella Cugini will exhibit a collection of abstract paintings that “showcase expressive and explorative applications which create motion and emotions,” she says. “This exhibition is a chance to introduce myself as an artist as well as an opportunity to evoke self-awareness through my art. I believe visitors will most enjoy the experience gained from attending, seeing the various styles and types of works on display. Each artist has worked hard for this chance and put their all into it.”
Visit arts.wcu.edu/bfa2022 to learn more about the exhibition and reception. To see the full calendar of events, visit arts.wcu.edu/explore or call 828.227.ARTS. WCU Fine Art Museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
