By Sanjana Rajagopal, May 10, 2022
The W. Keith and Janet Kellogg University Art Gallery hosted its annual Poly Kroma showcase, an event that celebrates the Fine Arts and Visual Communication Design work by Cal Poly Pomona students, from April 28 to May 22.
The exhibition, located at the Kellogg University Art Gallery, was divided into the “2d3d+ Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition” section, and the virtual “Industry Portfolio Showcase.” It showcased the work made by students and the Class of 2022 Visual Communication Design majors’ senior portfolios.
“Poly Kroma is where art history majors and visual communication design majors can submit work they’ve created throughout the year to a 2d3d show,” said Trinity Faith Fraire, a senior graphic designer and Visual Communications Design Specialist & Gallery Assistant at the Cal Poly Pomona University Art Galleries.
The 2d3d show involved works from students of all academic levels that were submitted and chosen to be displayed. The works were then judged by a select group of jurors where students were awarded monetary scholarship prizes.
Out of 113 works submitted, 51 were featured in the exhibition. The pieces were then judged by jurors based on a set of criteria. The second half of the art gallery is dedicated to the Industry Portfolio Showcase or Industry Day.
“Poly Kroma is double-sided, partly for the students to show all of their work and come up with an identity for themselves before they graduate and go off in the real world,” said Aaron Avila, a juror this year. “Industry day is for students to show employers their work, but the event is also meant for the public, to show what the art department does and for students to see what their peers are working on.”
The senior showcase is where students can design a designated wall space and give out a card and resume for people to get their information for employment opportunities. The portfolios’ serve to present the work of seniors to the professional and surrounding community. This year is also different from previous years because the event brought in award winners from 2020 and 2021, since those events were online.
The event showcases numerous art pieces, from paintings to designs and even playing cards. The variety of works deal with different topics, including mental health and others reflecting current affairs or political statements.
Fraire created a poster titled “Get Vaccinated,” which won first place in the Visual Communication Design category. The piece discusses the COVID-19 pandemic and spread the message that getting vaccinated will help slow the spread. It was made with newspaper clippings, digital photography and acrylic paint to name a few of the materials.
Fraire encouraged all design students to submit their pieces and attend the event.
“I would encourage everyone who can to submit work because you’d never think your piece would get in and it’s so surprising when they do,” said Fraire. “Two of my pieces won an award and participating in the senior showcase event is great networking and can help you practice your interview skills.”
The on-site exhibition is open to all students and staff members as well. Ana Siddiqui, a civil engineering student, shared that the art exhibition and its accessibility to the campus community is a great way to allow students to showcase their work to others.
“The event seems like an awesome way to allow everyone to get together to appreciate the students’ art in a collaborative setting and can let the students get to explain the work that went into the pieces and the meaning behind the art as well,” said Siddiqui.
The gallery had programs throughout the duration of the exhibition, to get the campus community and family and friends involved to see all of the art pieces put together by their fellow students. It was also a special experience for the artist and jurors that got to participate and attend the event.
“Being a juror in an environment where art is the focus, and sharing a similar passion with others is amazing,” said Avila. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
To learn about this year’s Poly Kroma, the campus community can visit the Kellogg Art Gallery or their website to learn more.
Feature image by Michael Yu.