More Than Meets the Eye

The five seniors stood next to their artworks, looking out to the swarm of Trinity University students and faculty, friends, and strangers spectating their work. 

Though the visitors might have appreciated the work in front of them, only the artists themselves knew just how much time and effort had brought them to this moment, a journey that was more than slapping paint on a canvas. 

This was the scene at The MINI’s opening reception on January 22. The MINI is an annual juried exhibition at Trinity featuring the work of art students in a professional gallery setting. This year, the exhibit was open through Saturday, February 7. 

The exhibit showcased the works of Rory McCarthy ’26, a history and art double major with a museum studies minor specializing in print making; Freddy Marmolejo ’26, an art and communication double major specializing in acrylics; Annika Wyatt ’26, an art major specializing in gouache; Sam Vader ’26, a computer science major with minors in art and philosophy specializing in photography; and Kassandra Ibarra ’26, an art and communication double major specializing in acrylics. 

Each artist put months of work into meticulously crafting each piece that was displayed in the exhibit. 

Beyond preparing the pieces themselves, the artists also had to curate a theme when they applied. Because group submissions were allowed, Wyatt, Ibarra, McCarthy, and Marmolejo all chose to apply together with the theme “Nature Within.” Vader applied solo with the theme “Interactions,” focusing on the relationship between the subject, photographer, and environment.

After submitting their applications and being selected to showcase their art, the five artists had to coordinate among themselves to decide the exhibit’s layout. Being given the independence to figure out the process themselves allowed them to learn more about the professional gallery setting, a unique hands-on opportunity for an undergraduate. 

They were guided in this opportunity by gallery director Lisa Endresen, who collaborated with the artists, teaching them how to install their artworks and offering professional advice on the harmony of their pieces.

Once deciding on the layout of the gallery, the students now had to actually hang up their artwork, a task that all of them didn’t expect to be as time-consuming as it was. It wasn’t just hammering a nail onto the wall and hoping the piece looked good enough. It required measurements that were exact and precise. They used tools to ensure this precision, including a leveling laser that established a consistent midpoint among all the pieces. 

After months of preparation, they moved into the gallery after winter break. McCarthy said they “hit the ground running” and didn’t stop working until the day before the opening. 

Though the artists wanted to share their work with the world, they couldn’t fully prepare for how that moment would feel. 

“This was their first impression of me,” Ibarra says. “It was scary, I think on both ends, but also exciting that I could finally show what I've been working on for the past year or two.”

The MINI helped the seniors grow as artists and learn more about themselves as well-rounded individuals. 

The experience taught Ibarra that she was much more capable than she gave herself credit for. 

“Oftentimes, I don't know if as an artist or as a person, I put myself down,” she says.

Displaying her work was validating, helping her recognize the progress she has made artistically, academically, and as a person. 

McCarthy echoes this sentiment of progress, specifically in how she has become more confident. 

“I was one of those people who hid my sketchbook when anyone watched me draw,” she says. 

Witnessing people who were curious and excited to talk to her about her art made McCarthy more comfortable with showing her art to others.

Overall, The MINI impacted all five artists by changing their mindset about the purpose of creating art. Rather than just seeking recognition for their art, they are now more focused on how their art can impact others.

For Marmolejo, The MINI prompted him to consider the question of whether his work was just going to be something that decorated people’s walls. 

“I think the question should be morphed into, how can I change a person's walls with my work?” he says. “How can I change the energy of a room if I have work there? And I think post-grad that's going to be my discovery.”