MFA Thesis Exhibit Opens April 25
For release: Apr. 15, 2003

The MFA Thesis Exhibition will debut at AMUM with an opening reception on Friday, April 25. Five students will participate in the show: Hether Burks-Embrey, Kristen Gitchell, Patrick Graves, David Green and Mel Spillman.

Hether Burks-Embrey's exhibition will deal with what she calls "toxic beauty." Burks-Embrey's work will be presented in a unique way. "In the show I will have a computer set up to review the Web site I have been working on for the project, as well as 10 to 15 images of manipulated ads and magazine covers," Burks-Embrey says.

Kristen Gitchell's paintings will be done using very thick paint and atypical colors. "I am currently working in oil on large panels-mural size. Basically, I've combined four panels to make one painting. I've just begun my second painting. Hopefully I'll have three or more works in the show," Gitchell says. "I'm painting bar scenes - more specifically the Madison Flame. I have collaged photos together and am using them as reference. I haven't titled the works yet-I may not."

Patrick Graves' thesis is titled "Searching for the Truth While the City Sleeps." He describes it as, "A nine foot by nine foot grid consisting of two levels. The bottom level will be flooded with florescent light while the top will consist of highly polished flooring surrounding a beeswax square. Off to the side on the top level will be a six foot self-portrait covered with jigsaw puzzles. This is representative of me contemplating many topics while the city seemingly sleeps. The light flooding the bottom level represents the business that continues to go on while most are sleeping."

David Green will present "Randomly Accessed Memories," which addresses many themes and thoughts from Green's childhood. "My work is my autobiography," he explains. "In it I consider growing up in a rural, lower-class, Christian home in the South. This work reflects the feelings I carry for the times of my childhood-whether simple, happy, sad, confusing, or unfair. There is also a struggle to reconcile those times with the very different person that I have become as an adult."

Mel Spillman's thesis will examine "the objectification of women into items of sexual desire." Visitors will have to wait for a more in-depth explanation of the project, as Spillman is still exploring the various ways she could present her ideas.

The Art Museum of The University of Memphis is located in the Communication & Fine Arts Building. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except University holidays and between temporary exhibits. Admission is free. For more information on exhibitions, please call AMUM at 901-678-2224. Visit the web site at: www.amum.org.

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