If you go ...
McKenna Christensen's exhibit will run at the Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport, until May 12. The exhibition is located on the second floor, which is not wheelchair-accessible. The event is free, but donations are accepted. The museum can be reached at 815-235-9755.
FREEPORT - Highland Community College's McKenna Christensen is the 2016-17 winner of the $1,000 Eduard Buss and $1,000 Ferguson Fine Arts Scholarships and as the lone recipient, she's holding her own student exhibition at the Freeport Art Museum.
That's not exactly typical for a second-year junior college student, but she's thrilled to have the honor.
"Getting to branch out with my art anywhere is amazing," Christensen said. "I believe my show really shows a progression of myself as an artist."
This is the Monroe High School graduate's fourth semester at Highland and the second time she has won the scholarships.
Last year, Christensen was featured with a fellow scholarship winner since the award can be given to up to five people. She said she's seen breakthroughs in her art since then and hopes that shows. This year's exhibit features items from her life drawing class where she captured live, nude models, trusting her eye and capturing energy. Most of the exhibit is charcoal, ink and graphite.
"You can definitely see a transformation in my artwork and a beauty of the human form and human figure," Christensen said.
Highland Community College Instructor of Art and Gallery Director Bob Apolloni said the scholarships have been given for the past 15 years and, because of space issues, the Freeport Art Museum has allowed the exhibits there.
Christensen's exhibit features about 10 pieces of her work, which Apolloni said is a large number. It's quite an honor for a student in the visual arts field to have a one-person show at the associate's level, he said.
"The value in exhibiting and showcasing student work for reaction and discussion is a central component of maturing as an artist," Apolloni said. "To do so in a professional museum setting, such as the Freeport Art Museum, and connected to academic studies, allows our students invaluable growth in their development as artists."
Apolloni said they use the exhibit as a learning experience, and he collaborated with Christensen when it was time to choose her show pieces and how to display them. Students also must create artist statements so viewers can see and understand why they chose the pieces.
"Bob has helped me immensely, pushed me, questioned me and made me think," Christensen said of her instructor. "I know without him I wouldn't have been able to accomplish all I have."
Apolloni said during the opening night of the exhibit, many remarked on aspects of Christensen's work.
"She did a really great job choosing her pieces," Apolloni said.
The competitive scholarships are given typically to two to five students each year based on GPA, a portfolio of 10 original works and an essay of future plans, Apolloni said. The amount given varies per student, per semester.
The experience of the exhibit is an added benefit to being awarded the scholarship, Apolloni said.
"Elements such as patience, time-management, successful decision-making, critical thinking and communication, technical resolve, and social interaction allows them to thrive in a globally diverse world," Apolloni said.
That's not exactly typical for a second-year junior college student, but she's thrilled to have the honor.
"Getting to branch out with my art anywhere is amazing," Christensen said. "I believe my show really shows a progression of myself as an artist."
This is the Monroe High School graduate's fourth semester at Highland and the second time she has won the scholarships.
Last year, Christensen was featured with a fellow scholarship winner since the award can be given to up to five people. She said she's seen breakthroughs in her art since then and hopes that shows. This year's exhibit features items from her life drawing class where she captured live, nude models, trusting her eye and capturing energy. Most of the exhibit is charcoal, ink and graphite.
"You can definitely see a transformation in my artwork and a beauty of the human form and human figure," Christensen said.
Highland Community College Instructor of Art and Gallery Director Bob Apolloni said the scholarships have been given for the past 15 years and, because of space issues, the Freeport Art Museum has allowed the exhibits there.
Christensen's exhibit features about 10 pieces of her work, which Apolloni said is a large number. It's quite an honor for a student in the visual arts field to have a one-person show at the associate's level, he said.
"The value in exhibiting and showcasing student work for reaction and discussion is a central component of maturing as an artist," Apolloni said. "To do so in a professional museum setting, such as the Freeport Art Museum, and connected to academic studies, allows our students invaluable growth in their development as artists."
Apolloni said they use the exhibit as a learning experience, and he collaborated with Christensen when it was time to choose her show pieces and how to display them. Students also must create artist statements so viewers can see and understand why they chose the pieces.
"Bob has helped me immensely, pushed me, questioned me and made me think," Christensen said of her instructor. "I know without him I wouldn't have been able to accomplish all I have."
Apolloni said during the opening night of the exhibit, many remarked on aspects of Christensen's work.
"She did a really great job choosing her pieces," Apolloni said.
The competitive scholarships are given typically to two to five students each year based on GPA, a portfolio of 10 original works and an essay of future plans, Apolloni said. The amount given varies per student, per semester.
The experience of the exhibit is an added benefit to being awarded the scholarship, Apolloni said.
"Elements such as patience, time-management, successful decision-making, critical thinking and communication, technical resolve, and social interaction allows them to thrive in a globally diverse world," Apolloni said.