Opportunities arise around KSC campus to showcase work outside of the classroom
Keene State College has a variety of majors, ranging from biology to theatre and dance.
Students are given opportunities throughout the year to showcase their talents around campus and the community.
Maureen Ahern, director of Thorne Art Gallery, has been working at KSC since 1981 and has seen a vast amount of student work.
“We have an annual art exhibition every year at Thorne,” Ahern said. Ahern added that the art faculty selects the work of a few students to put on display.
She said there are many different art displays placed around campus.
“There is a children literature collection and there is even one in the library,” Ahern said.
She added that she encourages the students by providing them examples and different points of view to spark inspiration.
Erin D’Aleo / Graphics Editor
“I think as artists, the students need to create the pieces for themselves,” Ahern explained, “they need to love and enjoy the process to be able to complete it,” she continued.
Ahern encouraged students to think more outside of the box and said, “Students need to worry less—but when they worry, they should think outside the box.”
KSC sophomore and singer for the group Chock Full O’ Notes, Eric Mealey, agreed with Ahern and said, “CFON is an all-student group and the music is all arranged by the group itself.”
He explained that this helps the students involved think outside their comfort zone to make a piece work well with the whole group.
Mealey said CFON has also been generating a lot more publicity than it once did.
“We have performances on Pumpkin Fest, Spring Weekend and also more throughout the year,” Mealey added.
Mealey, a music education major, says CFON is a great way for students to showcase their vocal talents.
Mealey shared that the group works with neighboring acapella groups and is taking a trip to UMass Dartmouth for an Invitational Concert on Feb. 26.
He said the group also showcases their talent in the community by working with a different organization every year. “We work a lot with Relay for Life,” Mealey said. “We are thinking of starting a team this year for CFON so we can be more involved with the program we are singing for.”
Fellow sophomore Andrea Pauza provided more ways students are showcasing their work on campus.
“The plant display in the DC and the trees planted on Appian Way are both projects that were designed by students in the environmental field,” Pauza stated.
Pauza is a health science and health promotion major who said KSC has a lot of opportunities for its students.
Pauza said the trainers provided for students in the gym on campus are another way students can showcase their talent.
“I think nutrition majors could help with the DC menu or Lloyd’s menu to bring their talent to the campus’ scope,” Pauza added.
Pauza explained that, with students creating menus and recipes based on information provided to them by their professors, it could make for an overall healthier campus and community.
Although campus is filled with student-produced material, one could ask where this creativity in the community beyond campus.
“I would like to see students create artwork for empty window fronts or empty storage buildings because I believe it is a great way for them to think outside the box,” Ahern said.
Mealey also added, “The struggles we face as students show that there is a silver lining and the end result will be rewarding. We should always look for that next step.”
“I think students should advocate for their talents because only encouragement and increased practice will come of it,” explained Pauza.
Haley Erdbrink can be reached at herdbrink@keene-equinox.com
