The late winter Friday night was a bit nasty outside. Chilly and rainy. But inside the Jones Center things were sparkling. It was decked out in beautiful, original artwork made by talented CIU students.

The Gallery, a biannual event hosted by the Exchange, gives students the opportunity to showcase their hard work and artistic talent. The formal event was a lavish scene: fancy tables lined the room, classical piano filled the hall, and visitors in suits and dresses admired all of the beautiful artwork on display.

One of the first displays that caught my eye was that of Justice Friesen, a junior whose unique style of painting covers everyday objects such as books and coffee makers. I was struck by his creativity and asked him when his artwork began.

“I started creating stuff during COVID when I had nothing to do with my time,” Friesen answered. “I had a lot of alone time back then, and that’s what developed my creative spark.”

Another creator who stood out was senior Jared Hill, displaying crisp, framed photography. Hill noted his partial colorblindness as a big influence in pursuing photography.

“I can’t really watercolor or paint, but I can take photos of things that already have color,” Hill said. “I just kind of fell in love with it and enjoy all the precise stuff you can do with it. I also tie my photography with what God is teaching me at that moment, so it's cool to enjoy this hobby while walking alongside the Lord.”

Freshman Riley Jones also showed her artistic abilities, as her Disney-themed paintings brought back fond memories of movies I used to watch as a kid. Her love for art began at a young age.

“I took art classes in elementary school and really enjoyed them,” Jones said. “I picked it back up during high school and have been painting on my own ever since.”

The Gallery was host to many other impressive works of art, such as hand-woven scarves and towels, and homemade wooden items including bowls and cutting boards. It is truly incredible to witness all the various forms of creativity that CIU students possess, as well as the stories that go along with it.

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