Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host Emily Coles’ senior art exhibit, “Off the Wall,” in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s Hammons Gallery from April 21 to May 1. A reception will be held April 21 at 5 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Coles said her show invites the audience to interact with graphic design to discover how it permeates every aspect of life.

“I’m excited about my show because I am trying to get graphic design pieces off the wall,” said Coles, a senior graphic design and mass communications major from Plano, Texas. “I’m hoping to have different elements so people can connect with it better than just seeing a framed piece on the wall and not really caring that much. I’m really excited about showing my pieces in action.”

Coles describes her style as “very modern and clean” and enjoys incorporating clean lines and grids in her artwork as well as and playing around with typography. Another important aspect to her art is her use of humor to add a personal flair.

“I remember being surprised at the sense of humor that she is able to put in her work,” said Ferris Williams, assistant professor of Art and Design. “That’s always been one of the things I’ve enjoyed most, seeing that emerge from her work.”

“Most of the time in my design work I try to find some way to show my personality through it,” said Coles. “I want to own everything I create and be proud of it, and so any time I can, I like to slip in something, just to make it stand out.”

Cole’s senior exhibit is the summation of three years of hard work. Coles said that she came to OBU with a different major but decided to switch to graphic design during her sophomore year. She had no previous artistic training and had always viewed art as just a hobby.

“Basically all my graphic design training is solely Ouachita’s product,” she said. “That’s the only kind of pouring into that I have gotten. That’s why I am so grateful to all the professors and everything.”

“Emily works hard to try to develop the artwork to make it just really work,” Williams noted. “She does not just intend to just stop when she can but she really pushes herself to make it as good as she can. She’s been a great student in class, and the work is always high quality.”

Regular gallery hours for the exhibit are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The exhibit is also available during evenings when other School of Fine Arts events are held in Mabee Fine Arts Center. For more information, contact the School of Fine Arts at (870) 245-5129.

By Bethany Peevy