University of North Georgia Oconee Art Students Exhibit Works at Annual Spring Exhibition
Marley Hinrichs | April 18, 2025
The University of North Georgia, Oconee’s Department of Visual Arts held the Opening Reception for its annual Student Art Exhibition Thursday night. The exhibition, organized by Associate Professor Kate Windley, featured work of differing mediums from about 30 visual arts students.
Each piece was matted, framed and displayed by graphic design and work study student Celeste Tvrdik, who also had a photography piece in the show. Each artist will take their piece in its frame at the end of the exhibition.
“My favorite part is seeing all of the work and getting to interact with and elevate others’ work,” Tvrdik said, “It’s such a community that we can provide work they can be proud of.”
Professor Windley claimed that as visual artists, “public speaking isn’t our thing,” but there were still several moving speeches from various community members. Russell Willis, Executive Director of UNG’s Oconee Campus, spoke honestly after receiving a portrait of himself.
“The quality of art these students create just blows my mind,” Willis said, “when we take the arts out of the schools, we’ve seen what happens to society.”
This program can provide education and community for art students, but the engagement of the department with and from the community is crucial to the program’s success.
Tvrdik said, “Having the support of the community is so important for programs like this.”