On April 3, the Washburn student exhibition reception took place at the Mulvane Art Museum from 5-7 p.m. The event was open to the public, and attendees were provided with food and drinks.

The exhibition featured a variety of arts created by students from Washburn University and the Charles and Margaret Pollak award was to be announced. The artworks and paintings displayed in the exhibition were selected by Harold Smith, a Kansas City-based artist. The arts were selected on the basis of works that aimed to push the boundaries of art.

Sara Stepp, the director of the Mulvane Art Museum, explained that the exhibition supports student artists both academically and professionally.

“ If there is one central theme, it’s just the excellence of our student artists at Washburn University. There are just so many different styles, ideas and concepts on view,” Stepp said. “And I think it just really goes to show the creativity of our students. […] The art faculty are dedicated to student success. They offer many different opportunities and scholarships, workshops and other ways for students in the art department to develop their skills.”

Stepp also talked about the awards presented at the exhibition, including two cash awards chosen by the Mulvane Student Advisory Board, a photography award, several community organization awards and the major Pollak Award, in which the work added this year was by Washburn student Lauren Miller. 

“I really love hearing people’s feedback when they think about my artwork. It gives me the soil to grow in the future, so I know what to do,” said Bulat Ochirov, senior art major. “The very essence of my art is that people would interact with the piece and find their individual meaning. People would not just see something straightforward but they would interpret it somehow and would have their own understanding of the meaning of the piece.”

Ochirov created a wooden mandala from pine, inspired by growing up in the center of Buddhism in Russia and surrounded by Buddhist symbols. Ochirov emphasized the importance of supporting arts alongside sports as they allow people to grow spiritually, gain a deeper understanding of art and develop a broader perspective.

“As overall, I want them [the audience] to notice student work and see what the students here do because a lot of people do really good stuff,” said Connor Allen, freshman. “ I feel the first thing you notice is the colors and I want them to see that it’s more than colors and that it’s more than just the rock with the colors.” 

Allen said he visited Ward Meade Park in Topeka and took several photos of rocks that appeared to have face-like features. He explained that it was an idea he had, which he then carried out along with other pieces to form a series.

Overall, the student exhibition reception at the Mulvane Art Museum highlighted the range of artistic work produced by students at Washburn University. It also provided a space for students to share their work with the public and receive feedback, supporting their academic and professional development in the arts.

Edited by Anushma Dahal and Bidhya Sapkota