For Hub City Times

MARSHFILED — The last exhibit this calendar year is also a first for New Visions Gallery.

“This is the first time that New Visions has presented an exhibit exclusively featuring work from university students,” said Bobbie Erwin, New Visions executive director.

An opening reception for “Starting Out” will be held Nov. 6 from 1-3 p.m. Jeff Morin, president of Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, is scheduled to speak. The reception is free and open to the public. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.

“An open call went out to universities in Wisconsin — both public and private — for students to submit work,” stated Erwin. “We received an overwhelming response to the call and, I can admit, it was difficult for those of us jurying submissions to choose the pieces that made up the final selection for the exhibit.” After final decisions by the jurors, 18 art students from nine different universities in Wisconsin were selected to participate in the exhibit.

“Off-campus opportunities like this are so important to a student artist’s growth and learning. The process of submitting work to a juried exhibit, working with a professional gallery, and preparing your work for exhibits are ‘real world’ experiences that can make a huge difference in students’ success once they graduate,” Erwin said. “We are looking forward to hearing President Morin speak about that subject from an educational viewpoint at the opening reception. I am also hoping that many of the students exhibiting with us will be able to attend the reception so that they may speak with guests about their work.”

The gallery shop’s annual Holiday Sale will also take place the opening week of the exhibit. Holiday items will be available in the shop beginning Nov. 7 with special sales Nov. 9-11. Shoppers are able to use their Art Partner discounts in addition to the 5-10 percent discounts that will be given each day of the sale.

“Starting Out” can be viewed Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at New Visions Gallery, located in the main lobby of Marshfield Clinic, 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield.