College of the Ozarks to present 'Folk & Form' Senior Art Exhibition

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — The College of the Ozarks invites students, faculty, and the public to experience Folk & Form, a multi-medium showcase highlighting the creative accomplishments of this year’s graduating studio art majors. The exhibition will open with a reception on Monday, April 28, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Boger Art Gallery on the College campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The exhibit title, Folk & Form, was chosen by the students and reflects their shared exploration of cultural storytelling and tangible form.

Senior art student Murena explains, "The word 'folk' comes with strong imagery and history. It refers to common people and the everyday moments and items worth celebrating. It also evokes folklore — stories passed down through generations that both form and reflect culture. 'Form' is a three-dimensional word, describing anything from ceramics and 3D animation to suggested form in 2D mediums."

Visitors can expect to see a rich variety of media, including printmaking, painting, graphic and digital design, Blender animation, and pottery. Each piece is a personal reflection of the artists' experiences, faith, and journey through their time at College of the Ozarks.

The formal opening will begin with the Senior Blessing, followed by a time for guests to view the artwork, meet the artists, and enjoy refreshments.

Associate Professor of Art Michael Ashley, who guided the students through the exhibition process, described the event as more than just a gallery show.

"The Senior Exhibition is a celebration of the gifts and talents God has given our graduating studio art majors, to interpret the beauty of His creation which plays out in their individual lives and journeys. Each one of them has grown in artistic concept, creativity and craftsmanship — but more importantly, in character and love as citizens of heaven", Ashley said.

Echoing that sentiment, Murena noted that "art is meant to be shared. It does not become art until it is seen by someone, serving its purpose of communicating."

The experience of preparing for Folk & Form has been transformative for the artists. The group exhibition taught them to be more collaborative, timely, and thoughtful in their creative process. It also helped them become more intentional with space, materials, and visual language across different artistic media.

The Folk & Form exhibition invites the College community and the public to engage with the creative accomplishments of this year’s graduating art students.

For more information, contact the College of the Ozarks Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and fiscal responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 2 Best Performers on Social Mobility-Regional Colleges in the Midwest and No. 4 Best Regional College in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2024-2025 and No. 3 Best Bang for the Buck by Washington Monthly, 2024. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — earns awards consistently, including the TripAdvisor Best of the Best Award 2024 and the Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 from ConventionSouth magazine. The Keeter Center features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest workstation on campus.