The Hesston College visual arts program will present their annual juried student art exhibit from April 19 to 30. All students are invited to submit pieces created in a medium of their choice for evaluation by guest juror Katie Petersen, an art professor from Sterling College. The winners will be recognized at an awards ceremony on April 24, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Hesston College Art Professor Joshua Cross sees this exhibition as a great opportunity for students to harness their artistic gifts.

“Our art program is intimate and based around the idea that all of us are called to, and capable of, creative things,” says Cross. “We see this in action with our annual student show.”

Student projects will be on display in the Regier-Friesen Gallery in the newly renovated Laban Peachey Center at 325 S College Dr in Hesston.

“The art department is so blessed to have our new space in the Peachey Center,” Cross shares. “Our new gallery space gives the work a proper setting, lighting, feel and emphasis which allows the exhibitors and the viewers to look at and think about the works in their best light.”

One of Cross’s favorite aspects of this annual exhibit is encouraging all students, including those not majoring in art, to explore their creative side.

“By inviting all students to submit works we get a wider range of subjects, techniques and materials that go beyond traditional,” explains Cross. “This allows viewers the opportunity to think about art as a range of things and possibilities, and it shows that even though someone’s interests or gifts might be in business or nursing or soccer, they can still express themselves and use their creative gifts, too.”