On Display
STUDENT ARTWORK SHINES AT THE FIGGE
H
ome to the Midwest’s finest art collections and host of world-class traveling exhibitions, the Figge Art Museum in Davenport is an art lover’s dream. From exhibits featuring breathtaking paintings to Haitian sculptures, it’s a destination for tourists, locals, schools, and of course, aspiring artists who dream of displaying their work on the towering, white walls.
My experience at CCC has been nothing but positive. I was kind of timid about majoring in art, I thought everyone was going to be better than me. But my teachers were really supportive and it’s been so fun to work with new people like my peers.” – Cora Leonard
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Four of those aforementioned aspiring artists are Eastern Iowa Community Colleges’ students, now living their dream with paintings, a drawing and wood-block carving beautifully on display under the bright lights of the Figge’s Katz Gallery. “It’s very, very exciting,” said Maggie Borota, a freshman at Scott Community College (SCC). “I didn’t expect something like this to happen going into college. This is the biggest stage I’ve ever showcased my artwork.” Borota, fellow SCC student Bobby McNamar, and Clinton Community College students Cora Leonard and Anne Swan-Johnson, were selected by their art instructors to create a piece of artwork for the Figge’s annual College
Invitational. The talented artists are among 42 students from area colleges and universities chosen to showcase their creativity in mediums such as drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, clay, digital illustration, silkscreen, mixed media and found materials. For her piece, Borota decided to paint a self-portrait using acrylic paint on a large 4’ by 2’ canvas, drawing inspiration from the emotions of being a first-year college student during the pandemic. “I tried to reflect on how I was feeling,” she said. “I kind of just felt somber in a sense, like I was repeating the same thing a lot.” From this feeling, her painting “Through the Motions” evolved. A series of three selfportraits rendered from different angles and connected via flowing locks of hair, the piece features a backdrop of colorful flowers that become warmer and more abundant as one looks from left to right. “Although the year has overall felt lackluster and like it could stretch on for an eternity, I know through reflection I have grown.
