Art Exhibit At City Hall Gallery Showcases Bowie State Students' Work

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Starting Monday, the community can explore an art exhibit at Bowie City Hall featuring more than 30 pieces of art chosen through a juried selection process by the city of Bowie arts committee and a Bowie State University studio art professor.

The exhibit will be on display through May 20.

“Art has the ability to connect people together,” said college professor Arthur Vidrine. "It can bring the community together towards a shared experience. Art has done this throughout its entire history.”

This is the first time a university will be featured in the City Hall Gallery. Arts Committee Chair Kathleen Parker worked closely with the university to bring this partnership to fruition.

"The concept behind the exhibition was to allow Bowie State University students, staff and faculty to showcase their artwork to the community," Parker said. “Our City Council awarded an arts grant to the university to invest in our artists and provide supplies to assist students with matting, framing and wiring their artwork. It was important to have students participate in a workshop to learn how to prepare their artwork to hang in a gallery."

The gallery will feature a diverse set of art pieces including paintings, photography, graphic design work, sculptures and video displays. Most of the pieces come from students in Bowie State’s fine and performing arts department.

“It’s my first exhibit in a while,” said junior fine arts major Amora General, who contributed an acrylic painting and a sculpture to the gallery. “I’m really happy and proud to be a part of something for my school. The one thing I do know how to do, I’m glad I get to share it with my school.”

Navaeh Fakeye, a sophomore animation and motion graphics major, also submitted a painting and a sketch piece to the exhibit. Fakeye sees art as a vibrant medium that allows people to look inward and learn something about themselves.

“I hope people come away with the joy of art. It can really tell a story,” Fakeye said . “It made me feel amazing that I get to share my art and expression with the world.”

The community can visit the exhibit at Bowie City Hall Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.