Free Germs: CMU School of Art Senior Exhibition

"I have discovered the secret of perpetual youth. Every year I meet a group of talented young students and I join them on a four-year journey of excitement, exploration and discovery. I get to share their interests and enthusiasms. As a consequence I attain an ever-changing generational perspective on life, and on the world of art; to the point where I forget what age I am supposed to be. It is a pleasure to experience the unpredictable uniqueness of each year group and to enjoy their creative development, from high school hopefuls, arriving nervously for interviews and portfolio reviews, to confident and sophisticated young artists, ready to make their marks on the cultural landscape. This year’s group have called their exhibition Free Germs. One dictionary definition of the word germ is “an initial stage from which something may develop”. The example of usage is “the germ of a brilliant idea”. This exhibition is full of brilliant ideas, given form in a variety of artworks: from painting to animation, from materiality to virtual reality. The subject matter is wide ranging: sometimes playful, sometimes challenging. There is something for everyone among the intimate personal narratives, dark fantasies, bouncing flesh, willful antagonism, internal dreams and desires, absurdities, constructed identities, and musings on sexuality and death. What is on display is the germination of a wealth of artistic talent, which I am sure will develop in all sorts of wonderful ways in the years ahead. I wish all these young artists well in their future careers. It has been a pleasure to enjoy their company over the last four years. I would like to thank them for the original work they have produced, for their industry, ingenuity and sense of adventure, and for keeping me forever young."

-- John Carson Regina and Marlin Miller Professor Head of the School of Art