The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s School of Art, Art History and Design hosts two Master of Fine Arts exhibitions April 1-5 in the Eisentrager•Howard Gallery.

“Blue Horizons”

“Blue Horizons” showcases the work of five second-year Master of Fine Arts candidates in painting, printmaking, photography and ceramics as they delve into interdisciplinary materials.

The exhibition will have a closing reception 5-7 p.m. on April 5 in the gallery.

Participating in the exhibition are Sara Alfieri, Dominique Ellis, Angelica Tapia Estrada, Charlotte Middleton and Alex Renbarger.

Approaching the midpoint of their thesis journey, they anticipate the future while embracing the unease of departure. With tools in hand, they refine their vision, gaining confidence as they progress. They navigate the complexities of their artistic endeavors, seeking new insights and refining their focus. “Blue Horizons” symbolizes their journey, where each step forward brings greater clarity and confidence in their artistic expression.

MFA Exhibition II

This exhibition features the work of Casey Beck (ceramics). Beck will present an artist talk at 4 p.m. April 5 in Richards Hall Room 15. His closing reception will also be held 5 to 7 p.m. in the gallery.

Beck’s exhibition is titled “permutations.” He makes pottery not only out of a passion for his material, clay, and for the complex processes of wheel throwing and atmospheric firing, but also out of a passion for living with, using, and sharing handmade objects. For Beck, using pottery daily is an act of celebration. His philosophy of making pots comes in part from the particular history of utilitarian pottery that has developed over the last 60 years in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, where he went to school and his career began as a potter. More recently, the form language that he employs in his work has developed out of a study of historical pottery, glass, and metal vessels, along with architecture and his daily habits. His tight forms are contrasted with enigmatic surfaces that undulate around the surfaces of the vessels, speaking to a sense of timelessness and natural process.

Beck is a potter. His current research focuses on the process of soda firing, which utilizes sodium carbonate, and its volatilization inside the kiln at peak temperature to glaze his wares. After completion of his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in ceramics at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2019, Beck spent two years living and working in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota. During this time, he continued to make pottery and research soda firing, work in the sales gallery at Northern Clay Center, and taught classes. Beck has been a resident artist at the Cub Creek Foundation in Virginia and Faenza Art Ceramic Center in Italy, was awarded the 2020 Jerome Ceramic Artist Project Grant through NCC, was a 2023 Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist and has taught workshops internationally.

Remaining MFA Thesis Exhibitions are:

• MFA Exhibition III runs April 15-19 in the Eisentrager•Howard Gallery and features the work of Jewelya Coffey (painting and drawing) and Matthew Meyer (sculpture).

• In addition, Christopher Williams (ceramics) will have his MFA Thesis Exhibition on display at the Lux Center for the Arts from March 19 to April 5.

The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery is located on the first floor of Richards Hall at Stadium Drive and T streets on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln city campus. Gallery hours for both exhibitions are Monday-Thursday, noon to 5 p.m.

Please contact the School of Art, Art History and Design for more information at 402-472-5522 or schoolaahd@unl.edu.

Follow the Gallery on social media via Instagram @eisentragerhoward or Facebook @EHArt Gallery to be informed of any gallery updates.