Bates Gallery offers opportunities for students to showcase their art
Pennsylvania Western University offers many different on campus opportunities for their students to showcase their work while they work towards their degrees. Edinboro’s campus specifically provides ample opportunities for its students studying in the art department, and one such opportunity is right around the corner: the Bates Gallery student shows.
In early November, posters and emails will be sent out containing all the information students will need to apply to have their own show in the Bates Gallery. The applications that students will fill out and turn for the Spring 2025 semester will be located outside the gallery in the bottom of Loveland Hall and can be turned into the gallery supervisor Professor D. W. Martin. The weeklong shows will be assigned to a limited number of students after the jurying and voting process is completed.
Anissa White, Bates Gallery Graduate Assistant and manager of the gallery, oversees the jurying process for each semester, including taking care of applications, the voting, and organizing the schedule as well as keeping the gallery’s supplies stocked for easy access. White said that there are many benefits when it comes to hosting a student show in the Bates Gallery.
“The entire process, from filling out the jurying form to de-installing the exhibition, offers a fantastic hands-on opportunity to learn about all that is involved in hosting a successful show,” White said. “Even if you’re not planning to work in a gallery, this knowledge is invaluable and will likely come in handy down the road, especially if you're planning for a career in the arts.”
Students who have used Bates Gallery as their first experience with gallery work agree that hosting a show has many benefits involved with it.
Senior Illustration and Painting major Jessie Beatty who had her own student gallery show during the Fall 2023 semester themed around childhood objects said that having her own show allowed her to learn about the professional practice of galleries in a comfortable, low stakes environment.
While having a student show in Bates Gallery comes with a lot of benefits, there are a lot of challenges that come with taking on such a project, especially for students who have no prior gallery experience.
White said that time is the biggest challenge when it comes to having a gallery show, as students are expected to set up and take down their entire gallery in a weekend. However, she adds that mapping out all the steps needed for installation can make a difference in managing one’s time effectively.
Beatty said that one of her biggest challenges was not physical, but the mental aspect of putting on her first gallery show.
“I did not realize how nervous I would be the first morning I opened my show,” Beatty said. “It is always difficult to put yourself out there. To me, this gallery show was an opportunity to show what I believed to be my best work, and to show how I have grown throughout my time here at PennWest Edinboro. I was nervous how it would be perceived by others.”
Despite the mental block and the challenge of setting up the show itself, Beatty encourages other students to apply to have their own shows displayed in the gallery.
“I learned so much from having a show,” Beatty said. “Even just applying and going through the jurying process is beneficial, because it is an opportunity to learn how to professionally talk about yourself and your art in front of an audience.”
There are many ways to create a gallery show, and Beatty suggests that students plan for their shows well in advance. However, she also said that students should remain flexible and open to changes in their original plan.
White said that students applying for the Bates Gallery should read the contract and save a copy of it for easy reference when looking to have their own show, as it may come off unprofessional if students forget what is in their contract.
Any students with questions or concerns about the application process the Bates Gallery can email gallery manager Anissa White at aw211683@pennwest.edu or gallery supervisor D.W. Martin at dwmartin@pennwest.edu directly with their questions.
“There's nothing more rewarding than helping students host their exhibitions and enhancing the gallery experience for everyone who visits,” White said. “With years of experience in different gallery roles, I've developed a passion for the preparatory work involved. Teaching this to students and watching their shows come together successfully is extremely fulfilling.”