School exhibits students' artwork

Institute opens commercial gallery

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Think of an average art gallery. Among the images that come to mind, where do advertising, computer graphics and billboard and architectural design fall? Generally not within the walls of a gallery, which is a situation Art Institute of Las Vegas instructors set out to remedy late last month with the opening of a gallery inside the school.

The space is open to the public, and -- according to Kevin Anderson, a graphic design and illustration instructor and chair of the gallery committee -- will host a rotating exhibit of student and faculty work highlighting the sort of art and design work that is rarely seen in traditional art galleries.

"Interesting things are happening in the worlds of advertising, photography and computer design, but you won't usually see those things in fine art galleries," Anderson said. "So we want to pick up the slack from galleries as far as design work goes."

Anderson said the Art Institute gallery has been in the works for more than six months, and with a little luck, will bring many of the institute's stude nts something they may never get after graduation -- recognition for their work as an artistic contribution.

"Showing work in galleries isn't usually a part of your future job when you go to design school," he said. "Around 95 percent of Art Institute students will go into jobs that are not gallery based, and they'll never get to see their work displayed in a gallery. We're going to give them that experience."

For the first juried exhibit, which opened during the last week of January, five faculty members served as judges and selected about 25 pieces for display. As an extra incentive to students, the committee included Art Institute scholarships of $1,000, $500 and $250 as prizes for the top three submissions.

Second- and third-place honors went to students Landry Blume and LaRoyce Jones, respectively, while the top prize for the first exhibit of student work went to Summerlin resident Aaron Spalding, 30, a media arts and computer animation major, for a portrait of three friends.

The work was taken from a photograph Spalding took, then the image was drawn with pencil in tones of grey.

"The piece is realism. It's taken from a photo, but it also has modified aspects to express symbolism," Spalding said.

He also submitted a pencil self-portrait, which also is based on a photograph. Both of the pieces were recently created for an Advanced Life Drawing class.

"It's a worm's-eye view of me taken from the ground," Spalding said. "It was taken in my room, and there's a scroll in the background with a poem I wrote, which is there to add more symbolism to the piece."

Anderson said when the judges were selecting pieces to display, concept and craftsmanship were big factors.

"Design is a communication device," he said. "So the longer you get someone to look at and think about something, the more successful it is."

Anderson said Spalding's work, particularly the portrait of his three friends, succeeded in winning the juried competition because it was so engaging for the viewer.

"The piece was just drawn so well, we had no choice but to give it the top prize," Anderson said. "It's so detailed. He obviously has a very patient hand. It's so smooth and the composition is interesting. The three people in the portrait are also students here and the likenesses in the drawing are spot-on. It's a feat to do likenesses so well."

Spalding has been enrolled at the Art Institute for about one year, and has about a year and a half to go before graduating. He said he has always been interested in art, and is continually inspired by his mother, also is an artist.

"My mom wanted me to get a degree, and I decided to come here," he said. "It lets me get out my pent-up talent. It's a place to vent with my skills."

Once he graduates, Spalding hopes to open a studio with several friends and fellow students. He envisions the studio producing a variety of work, from animation and comics to fine art, as well as design work for other companies.

The student gallery is located inside the Art Institute of Las Vegas, 2350 Corporate Circle. The gallery is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The current show will be on display through Feb. 23.

For more information about the Art Institute of Las Vegas, visit www.ailv.artinstitutes.edu.