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Ouachita’s Barton, Davis, Halbert and Morris to present senior graphic design exhibits through March 31

Barton, Davis, Halbert and Morris senior graphic design exhibits

March 25, 2021 - Madison Cresswell

Brady Barton (left) and Gabrielle Davis (right)

Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will host students Brady Barton, Gabrielle Davis, Mandy Halbert and Mallory Morris in their senior graphic design exhibits through Wednesday, March 31, in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Galleries in Moses-Provine Hall. While the artists will forgo receptions and gallery talks due to continued COVID-19 precautions, the exhibits are free and open to the public for viewing.

The exhibits showcase a collection of works created during the student designers’ time at Ouachita in order to demonstrate understanding and growth in their design skills.

Barton, a senior graphic design and political science double major from Russellville, Ark., will present her exhibit “XOXO,” a theme she said is “a love letter to my days at Ouachita.”

“I have loved my four years here and cannot imagine where I would be as a designer without them,” Barton said. “All of the pieces that I have chosen to show are from the last year and a half. I think to me, they symbolize the kind of designer I aspire to be – one that works hard but has a lot of fun while doing it.”

Davis, a senior graphic design and communications & media/multimedia journalism double major from Little Rock, Ark., will present her exhibit "Do It Scared," which focuses on her artistic growth and new willingness to take risks with her art.

“Prior to attending Ouachita, art was a fun hobby of mine, but I was afraid of pursuing it in any serious capacity,” Davis said. “Throughout my time here, I've realized that some passions are worth pursuing despite fear.”

Mandy Halbert (left) and Mallory Morris (right)

Halbert, a senior graphic design and communications & media/multimedia journalism double major from Allen, Texas, will present her exhibit "Retrospect." Halbert’s exhibit highlights her time at Ouachita and the growth in confidence she has seen in herself.

“I really hope that my work can encourage other design students and artists who struggle with comparison and with feeling like they aren't good enough,” Halbert said, “and that loving what you do is enough of a reason to do it.”

Morris, a senior graphic design and communications & media/integrated communications double major from Nacogdoches, Texas, will present "What a Privilege it is to Make." Her exhibit is based off a poem she wrote and also inspired by one of her favorite artists.

“One of my favorite artists is Tess Guinery, and she has a quote that says ‘You were made by a Creator, create,’” Morris said. “I love how simple those words are, but they are also so meaningful and carry with them a sense of responsibility. Getting to make art is so much fun, and it’s a form of communication that can be stewarded in a number of ways. So in planning for my exhibit, I wanted to really think about that.”

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. For more information, contact Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

Photo by Mandy Halbert