With the school year coming to a close, graduating seniors of the School of Art and Art History have the opportunity to showcase all they have been working on in the 2010 Senior Capstone Exhibition.

The exhibit, which opened Sunday in the Lightwell Gallery, showcases work from graduating seniors in all concentrations of art in the School of Art and Art History. From sculpture to printmaking to photography, students have a platform to show everything they have learned while at OU.

The exhibit is in conjunction with a capstone class in which students create a body of work as well as organize and install the exhibit themselves.

Katie Schoelen, photography sophomore, attended the opening reception for the exhibit Sunday.

Schoelen said she looks forward to participating in the exhibit when her time comes.

“I like that the exhibit features work from all of the seniors in every concentration at once,” Schoelen said. “There was wall-to-wall artwork and always something interesting to look at. “

Eric Anderson, senior capstone professor, said the exhibit is one of the best he has seen in his time at OU.

“I’ve been here for 20 years,” Anderson said. “It’s one of the finer shows that I’ve seen. It really proves that the group of students we have right now are the best and brightest we’ve ever had in the school of art.”

Among those best and brightest is Angela Cedja, photography senior, whose work, entitled “Troubled Water,” is on display in the exhibit.

“It was incredibly rewarding to finally hang my Capstone series on the wall,” Cedja said. “I think the viewers will be intrigued by the concepts explored in everyone’s artwork.”

It is important for students to have a show like the 2010 Senior Capstone Exhibit to receive feedback from the public on their artwork Schoelen said.

“Without hearing feedback, whether it’s positive or negative, it can be difficult to improve as an artist,” Schoelen said. “Through people’s critiques you find out what your strengths and weaknesses are, which is essential when showcasing your work to the public.”

For graduating seniors, this show encompasses all of the hard work that has been done and knowledge that has been gained while in the School of Art, Cedja said.

“This semester-long project is a testimony to everything I have learned and experienced at OU,” Cedja said. “It will definitely be bittersweet once it is all over.”

The 2010 Senior Capstone Exhibition will be open through May 15 in the Lightwell Gallery in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on Parrington Oval.