'SCOPOPHILIA' EXHIBIT SURPRISES CAMPUS

"Scopophilia"� Bachelor of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, April 20-May 3 at the BSU Visual Arts Center galleries, located in the Liberal Arts Building and the Hemingway Center.

Boise State University students got a big surprise when they walked across campus Friday morning. Parked next to the sidewalk between the Hemingway Center and the Liberal Arts building was an old camper, and, not surprisingly, its windshield sported several parking tickets.

The camper is actually a work of mobile art, "Not a Happy Camper," and part of an exhibition by seniors in the fine arts program at Boise State. Inside the camper is a life-sized model of Vincent van Gogh, minus an ear, painting faces on Jack-in-the-Box antenna balls as he is supervised by a life-sized Jack. The camper is full of subtle images that let viewers form their own ideas about art, humor, commercialization, respect and other pertinent social and economic issues.

"I want people that are not familiar with the art department and not familiar with art history to walk by and be invited into the discussion," said "Not a Happy Camper" creator Kevin Kirk. That�s just what seemed to be happening Friday as dozens of students stopped to check out and comment on the surprise exhibit.

Kirk, a popular local jazz musician, is graduating from Boise State in May with a bachelor�s degree in fine arts. Other student works at the exhibition will also stretch the bounds of art, with an eclectic mix of media, including a birdcage, window blinds, 200 syringes and many thought-provoking images. In addition to Kirk, students whose work is in the exhibition are: Paula Burry, Jennifer Compton, Tonya E. Eusepi, Bobby Gaytan, Jill R. Germain, Jennifer Salisbury Hodges, Katy Johnson, Michelle Lynch, Chryssa Rich, David Tyler, Joline Welch, Mindy Goodman, Peter Grady, Linda Hodges, Matt Morres, bob (cq) Neal, Pamela Thibeau and Jennifer Wollen.

"Scopophilia," which the students titled their exhibition, means guilty pleasure in looking. Admission to the exhibition is free. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday to Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 426-3994.

Contact:
Richard Young
Art Gallery
426-3994