Madison Trout (right) of Washington Township, with her piece, “Of What You See,” is joined by a friend at the Museum of American History’s student art show.
Young artists had opportunities to display their creative work and talk to patrons during a Meet the Artists open house at the Museum of American History in Deptford on March 3.
“This is my first art show. It is a good experience for me,” said Rowan University sophomore Madison Trout of Washington Township, as she explained her digital prints “Emotional Smears” and “Of What You See.” The latter depicts a bloody teardrop flowing from an eye.
“It is a story about how a person responds to a tragedy,” explained Trout, a fine arts major and one of the 11 aspiring artists who participated in the museum’s 13th annual student art show, which ends Saturday.
Jenna Martin of Mullica Hill, a sophomore art major at Rowan who graduated with the Clearview High School Class of 2022, said her drawing “Humpback Whale” was inspired by vacation trips to Maine with her family.
Rowan sophomore Jenna Martin shared her pieces, “The Fate of Man” and “Humpback Whale.”
“I have always liked whales,” said Martin, who also displayed her digital print “The Fate of Man,” based on a song by the Greta Van Fleet rock band. “I used blocks and sticks of charcoal, and the wave is ready to crash over the whale.”
Kyla Enck Pierre-Louise, a student at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, displayed her two untitled acrylic paintings. The first was her impression of a still life showing fruits and vegetables on a table, with portions of the wall behind it that were inspired by visits to her aunt’s kitchen. The second piece looks like a self-portrait.
Kyla Enck Pierre-Louise of the University of the Arts showed two untitled acrylics, including one of her aunt’s kitchen.
“I am very excited,” she said of the student art show. “I have loved art my whole life and I want to be a professional artist.”
Michael Quaranta of Williamstown poses with “Self” and “Duck Hunting,” pieces he presented at the art show’s open house.
“This is my first art show, and I am thrilled,” noted Michael Quaranta of Williamstown, a studio arts and graphic design student at Rowan. He showed his acrylic paintings, “Self,” a self-portrait, and “Duck Hunting” on a stretched canvas.
Other artists displaying their work included Rowan University students Emily Klassen with “Self Composure” and “Aderyn”; Abigail Leitinger with “First Snow” and “Exploration”; Bethany Oliveri with “Reputation,” “Knoebels Grove” and “Flowers”; Brenda Pilon with “PturtP” and “Jane”; Evelyn Vanaman with “Clove” and “Holly”; Emily Murray with “Introspection” and “Seaside Sunrise”: and Valentina Gottschling with “Little Garden” and “New Mexico.”
Jeffrey Norcross, show curator and founder of the museum, said he looks forward to the art show every year.
“We get a good turnout every year and it gives students a chance to display their artwork,” he said as he greeted guests with his wife, Barbara.
“While visiting the student art show, be sure to see the museum’s permanent exhibits, which include artifacts from the pre-Columbian through the Colonial era, American Farmstead, antique hand tools and equipment, the Pine Barrens, glass and a fossil exhibit,” Norcross pointed out.
The museum is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, call (856) 812-1121 or go to www.southjerseymuseum.org.
