It has been a pleasure to follow the progress of this year's Master of Fine Arts students from their initial stages to the completion of the three-year graduate program. Last year, these students received much critical praise for their work in the Midpoint exhibition at the Union Gallery, which enhanced the anticipation for this group's Thesis Exhibition in The Art Gallery. I am delighted with the work in this year's show, which serves as a vivid illustration of the strengths of the Department of Art.
A broad range of fine art is evident within the exhibited artwork. The variety of materials and approaches used combine and contrast to create, above all, an exciting and confident collection of work. All of these emerging artists speak with powerful individual voices and demonstrate an overriding belief and optimism in their artwork that they will take with them as they find their place in the larger art world as a future generation of artists.
The work in this exhibition by these committed students confirms the University of Maryland as an exhilarating and wonderful place to grow as an artist. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the faculty of the Department of Art and the entire staff of The Art Gallery who together have helped to create such a positive and hard-working environment.
Scott Habes
Director
The Art Gallery