By Emily Loper

 

The Art and Design Department’s ABI/NYC art show premiered Oct. 8 at ACU Cockerell Art Galleries. The show features former ACU students who have lived and worked in New York City.

Jack Maxwell, art and design department chair and gallery director, said he wanted a fall show that would demonstrate to current students the success ACU graduates realize after they leave Abilene. Maxwell said the purpose of the show is to honor graduates and to encourage students to reach their goals.

The exhibit showcases the work of four alumni who have made significant achievements in some of the most competitive markets in the world of art, including design, illustration, animation and fine art.

“Each of the artists is uniquely talented and gifted,” Maxwell said. “What ties them all together is the fact that they’re NYC artists from ACU.”

Maxwell said the featured artists are Jeff Rogers (’02), Janna Luttrell (’02), Jesse Willmon (’99) and Ryan Feerer (’05). The show contains no set theme; however, the artists’ works, which include Broadway posters, conceptual art and band album art, still function together cohesively to inspire viewers, namely current ACU students.

Four former students are presented in the show, but Maxwell said they are not alone in their success.

“There are many other students that are working just as hard and getting their names out there,” Maxwell said. “This is just a glimpse.”

Feerer, graphic design graduate from Terrell, said the show allows current students to see ACU has an excellent art and design department that truly equips its students for the future. After graduating from ACU, Feerer earned his master of arts in design from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He then went on to work for Funny Garbage, a design studio with clients such as Disney, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network.

Feerer said ACU gave him the confidence to approach the graduate school of his choice and earn an additional degree from one of the most “premier” design schools in the United States.

Maxwell said this show, featuring East Coast artists, will be followed by a similar show next spring, presenting ACU art and design department graduates who work on the West Coast.

This show will run through Nov. 4 at Cockerell Galleries at 1133 N. 2nd St.