Opening night of the first UTM Senior Art Show for the fall ’06 term will be Tuesday, September 19 in the Fine Arts Building.

The show, titled, “Polar Opposites: A Collision of Art” was named by seniors Dana Bell and Kristy Marker and will solely display their artworks. “We chose this title along with a black and white theme to project our many differences,” says Bell, an art education major.

“The title is fitting because our personalities, beliefs, ambitions and backgrounds are as different as black and white. I want to teach art, and Kristy’s emphasis is in graphic design. I’m from a small town in the South, and she’s from a large city in the North. I could go on and on about our differences,” says Bell, “We’ve been best friends since we met at UTM in the fall of ’04, but it seems the only thing we have in common is our love for art, and even with that, our styles are totally different.”

Bell’s drawings and paintings and Marker’s computer/web designed art and photography exhibits will be on display for approximately two weeks in the lobby of the Fine Arts Building. “I encourage everyone to come to the show on opening night, especially those in majors other than art,” says Kristy Marker. “We’ve put a lot of work into making this enjoyable for UTM.”

Aside from the exhibits, those attending the art show will enjoy free finger foods courtesy of Bell, Marker and their supporters.

Bell was president and Marker was vice-president of the UTM Visual Art Society for the 2005-06 academic year. Bell was also awarded the David Wechsler Fine Arts Scholarship in the spring of ’06. Marker holds an A.S. degree in English from Columbia State Community College and a Technical Certificate in Photography from Nashville State Community College.

Both artists were selected last year by the modern art organization, Artists of the 21st Century, to submit works which were put on display at the West Tennessee Regional Art Center in Humboldt. Bell says she’s extremely excited about her upcoming career as an art teacher, and currently gives lessons to children in her spare time.

Marker says, “I have found my passion, and that’s the most important measure of success in my life.”