CCC Faculty Art Exhibit opens with reception

CCC student Daniel Wendt was among the crowd at the reception for the Faculty Art Exhibit reception at the Lone Tree Campus on Feb. 20. Courtesy photo

FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College student Daniel Wendt decided to put his art-appreciation skills to the test.

He’s in a course on art appreciation, and his instructor suggested critiquing actual pieces of art to determine their impact on him. So, he decided to check out the Faculty Art Exhibit in the Lone Tree Campus Commons during the opening reception on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Members of the public, CCC students, faculty and staff attended the reception to meet and chat with the faculty artists.

“It’s a great exercise for me – to hone my skills a little bit and see the art for what it is,” Wendt said.

The exhibit showcases the work of CCC’s Fine Arts Department faculty, including painting, drawing, photography, ceramics and more. Each semester, faculty display their work – to increase awareness of the art program at the College, to let students and others see what CCC’s faculty do as artists themselves, and, it is hoped, to inspire students to jump into their own creativity.

Alan Petersen, who heads up the CCC Fine Arts Department, said that the faculty are professional artists who regularly present their work on and off campus.

Wendt said his art appreciation course is part of his completing his General Education requirements at CCC before he transfers to Southern Utah University to complete a degree in aviation.

“I want to fly helicopters,” Wendt said. “But I’ve always had an interest in art.”

As to what he saw, Wendt said he was impressed with the quality of the work – of course.

The Faculty Art Exhibit runs through mid-March. Up next for the Fine Arts Department will be the Lunar Dreams Art Exhibition, March 25 through April 18, which is presented as part of the Lunar Legacy yearlong celebration of Flagstaff’s scientific role in the Apollo Moon missions. And, to round out the semester, the Student Art Exhibit will begin later in April and run through the week before the Commencement ceremony. For more information about the CCC Fine Arts program, visit www.coconino.edu/departments/art