February 12, 2019

Jesse Hall will look a bit different this week, as it’ll be hosting the 2019 Undergraduate Visual Arts and Design Showcase.

From Feb. 11 to Feb. 15, the iconic hall will display works of art, photography, documentary and architecture among others. The showcase is free and open to the public.

50 students submitted artworks for the showcase. All artists will be eligible for the Artistic Expression and Applied Design Awards, which both have grand prizes of $2,000. Other awards will be given out including the MU Museum of Art & Archeology Showcase Award and the Ragtag Cinema Video Award.

For some undergraduates, the showcase was a chance to show off projects for a better world. Senior Andrea Radicic was part of a group that created workout clothes for new mothers.

“The purpose of this project was to provide breastfeeding mothers with athleisure that fulfill their need of comfort, style and unity,” Radicic said. “We wanted to create a nursing bra that allows mothers to feed their newborns without feeling overexposed and uncomfortable.”

Senior Zhuo Cao wanted his project to showcase his culture and be accessible to a younger audience. His design, titled “Puppy Calendar,” shows a cartoon dog enjoying various Chinese snacks.

“I designed this unique calendar based on my illustration skills, graphic design experiences, and my Chinese background,” Cao said. “I hope that children will experience the unique cultural charm of China from an early age.”

The Showcase will have a keynote address Wednesday from Brandan “bmike” Odums. Odums is a visual artist from New Orleans whose work includes transforming abandoned apartments and housing projects into graffiti-filled art spaces that showcase paintings of black civil rights leaders as well as average Americans. Odums has toured America as part of his Paint Where it Aint Tour.

“For me creating a picture of Dr. King was more important than to paint my name,” Odums said in an interview with The Atlantic. “That’s not to be critical of those who went in that space to paint their name. For me and my truth, I felt more of a responsibility to use that moment to break a rule for a reason.”

Odums’ keynote will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. in Jesse Auditorium.

There will also be a panel hosted by documentarian and photographer Alix Lambert and Travis Fitch, founder of design studio Fitchwork. The panel will be held Thursday, Feb. 14 at 4:30 p.m. and the award ceremony will be held immediately afterwards at 5:30 p.m. All works in the showcases will be on display in Jesse Hall until Friday, Feb. 15.

_Edited by Janae McKenzie | jmckenzie@themaneater.com_

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