Staff photo by Gage Cureton Ann Vogel examines arcylic and oil paintings at The Grand’s “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums” exhibit during an opening reception Friday.

NEW ULM — The Grand Center for Arts and Culture held an opening reception for its exhibit “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums” in the Four Pillars Gallery Friday.

The exhibit features artwork encompassing a variety of mediums, notably acrylic paintings, and includes work from New Ulm High School graduates Emma Maudal, Nori Ness, Lucy Sletta and more from high school art instructor Bridget Gusso’s classes.

Gusso said Maudal, Ness and Sletta worked independently throughout the 2018-2019 school year and were given artistic freedom to create what they envisioned.

“They’re very motivated,” Gusso said. “That’s why they were really good candidates for doing this independent class.”

Gusso said the independent class the graduates’ participated in during the school year was a trial run for an advanced class the high school plans to offer next year.

Called “student-driven instruction,” she said students will spend the whole year writing their own course curriculum, create a certain number of artistic works and then present them in a gallery viewing at The Grand.

“This is something we’ll be doing annually,” Gusso said. “Instead of being an independent class it’ll be an advanced art class.”

Ness, one of the exhibit’s featured artists, said she was able to expirement with her artistry and find new ways to express herself because of the indepentdent student-driven class.

“That was definitely my favorite part is not being constrained to a curriculum somebody else created,” Ness said. “I could just really have the freedom to express myself and do what I wanted.”

Gusso said one of the main reasons the high school will continue to offer student-driven instruction classes is help connect students to the community.

“There are so many things happening that the community doesn’t know about,” Gusso said. “This is such a great opportunity for kids to connect to the community and that’s a life skill no matter where you go.”

The exhibit is open for viewing May 31 through June 28. Gallery hours for “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums” are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

gcureton@nujournal.com.