By Jesse Bertel

Student artworks will take center stage as Yavapai College unveils its Spring 2024 Juried Student Exhibition, opening Friday, April 5. The exhibition, hosted by the YC Prescott Gallery, promises to showcase the diverse talents of its student body across various mediums including watercolors, oils, sculpture and multi-media.

Running until Saturday, June 1, the exhibition at the Prescott Campus, 1100 E. Sheldon St., will feature a curated selection of works representing a wide array of genres, styles and perspectives. Out of over 160 submissions, 60 pieces have been selected for display by Arizona-based contemporary artist Tina Mion, renowned for her oil and pastel creations.

Rick Fredrick is a student artist participating in the Juried Student Exhibition. “I can’t understand why there’s not more people that are taking these classes because it’s very inexpensive and there’s a lot to learn,” he said. “They’re very inspirational and supportive.”

The freedom of retirement has given him a chance to explore his creative side: “I don’t have to paint to please other people, you know, I paint to please myself. I knew that this was the direction I wanted to go, so I just kind of planned ahead and everything worked out great.”

Fredrick’s unique style of oil paintings often incorporates puns and sarcasm.

“I view the world differently than a whole lot of people, so I try to portray that in my paintings,” he said. “I look at the funny side of what everyday life is. I tend to pick out things that are either ironic or just tend to be a little bit out of the box.”

Attendees of the exhibition’s public reception, scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday, April 26, will have the opportunity to meet Mion, who will present awards to the participating artists. The reception will be open to the public, with the awards ceremony slated for 6 p.m.

The Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery, located inside the Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, will host the exhibition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free. For more information or exhibit schedules, call 928-776-2031, or visit www.yc.visualarts.com.