By Sarah Schwartz ’10

Arcadia University’s Student Biennial 2010, an exhibition of artwork by 34 Arcadia University students, kicked off Thursday, Jan. 28, with a reception and gallery talk with this year’s Exhibition Juror, Sue Spaid. “Arcadia art students seem fascinated by naughtiness, astonishment and surprise,” she says. “Spectators can sample the plethora of experiments happening on campus.” (Photos.)

The exhibition features a variety of mediums, including printmaking, jewelry, photography, drawing, sculpture, installation and digital art.

Showcased student artist Stephanie Verenski ’10 explained the vision behind her painting Tomato. “I’ve been obsessed with tomatoes as organic forms recently and the brilliant color of them,” she says. “I’ve been working with this push and pull between the subject, the person in the painting, and the tomato. In this piece, the tomato is in the foreground. It is almost bigger than the person. This is sort of a beginning in a series of exploration of the person and the tomato that I’ve embarked upon.” See more of Verenski’s work on her blog.

Spectators were pleasantly surprised by junior Krista Profitt’s Cooking, Cleaning, Procreation. The elegant apron, bra, panties and duster were constructed entirely out of Lysol wipes, pine needles and berries.

Another favorite was Julie by Alex Szazdi. The larger-than-life charcoal drawing presents a woman in the midst of a passionate fit. Countless emotions flit through the subject’s unorthodox posture.

Diptych of a Bird and Plant, a pair of vibrant asymmetrical screen prints by Drew Grifith ’11 and Katy Gosde, inspired the majority of discussion during the gallery talk.

Finally, Jim DiPaolo’s Viewfinder Ring, an astonishing piece of jewelry, proved central to the collection. Its utilitarian form served as a reminder that when artistically framed even the mundane can yield an image that is truly extraordinary.

All who attended the reception were asked to take a moment to remember beloved Professor Judith Taylor. Two of Taylor’s photographs were displayed in a separate showroom.

Jurors awarded six artists whose pieces were particularly successful at captivating general audiences. Amanda Banasweski, Krista Profitt, Lynn Sipsey, Jennifer Titone, Vicky Tomlinson and Amie Zimmerman were the recipients of this $25 prize.

The exhibition runs until Feb. 7. Visit www.arcadia.edu/gallery for Gallery hours.