Media Release

Lawrence, KS, April 21, 2011 – The Spencer Museum of Art’s Student Advisory Board (SAB) will open Converging Identities—the group’s third annual juried art show of KU student work—on Tuesday, April 26 at 10 AM. Visitors can enjoy the artwork during normal Museum hours through May 8 in the Spencer’s Raymond White Teaching Gallery.

A reception for the exhibition’s artists will be held as part of the SAB’s Arts and Culture Festival on Saturday, May 7, from 1-4 PM at the Museum. The winners will be announced and, thanks to a generous donation, a total of $1,000 in prize money will be awarded to the top five artists, who will each receive a Richard P. Nadeau Memorial Award of $200.

The artwork in the show is by students at the University of Kansas. This year’s theme for the show is Converging Identities, which according to Lauren Fulton, Dallas, Texas, senior and member of the SAB, “draws on the idea of self and identity, either of one’s self or the artist for that matter.”

A committee of SAB members juried the third annual show on Sunday, April 17. Museum staff will install the works in the White Gallery on April 25. As with all Spencer exhibitions, Converging Identities is open to all students, staff and visitors, and admission is free.

The first juried art show was held in 2009, after members of the SAB expressed the need for a display of student art in the museum. Susan Earle, Curator of European and American art, said the event is fueled by excitement and drive from students and others in the community.

“At a Spencer Advisory Board meeting last year, a community member said he would donate $1000 dollars each year to the show,” said Earle, “and the students are so passionate about doing the show themselves; they really learn how to put together a show from start to finish and make it their own.”