Anna Maria students make gallery debut at ArtsWorcester’s College Night 

By Sloane M. Perron, Manager of Marketing Communications 

Ink, paint, and brushes are just normal objects, until they are put into the hands of artists who can make entire new worlds and masterpieces with them. Graphic design majors Amrita Karki ‘24 from Nepal and Andrew Myers ‘26 from Bradenton, Florida, were exploring the world of self-expression in their art classes when Professor Sonja Czekalski suggested that they submit their works to ArtsWorcester’s upcoming College Night event.  

Celebrating its 19^th year, ArtsWorcester’s Annual College Show is an exhibition open to all undergraduate college students studying or residing in Massachusetts. 

Andrew and Amrita submitted their works to ArtsWorcester just for fun but were completely surprised when they were selected to participate in the student-focused exhibit.  

“To be honest, I was kind of surprised. I didn’t think I would get in and I just submitted it for fun,” Andrew said, “I didn’t think it was going to be accepted or anything. So, it was pretty cool to find out that it was and being told the good news by my teacher, that kind of took me aback a bit.” 

Andrew’s submission entitled “December Dusk” depicts the outside landscape of Miriam Hall with splashes of ink to accent the piece. Andrew used to draw cartoons in his youth and was excited to reconnect with art and use his piece as a vehicle for emotional expression.  

“While I was painting it, I kind of felt the feeling of loneliness and solitude at the same time, because it was just empty, clear, and nobody was there, just two empty benches,” Andrew explained, “At the same time, it felt calming as well. It was a fun project to do.” 

Amrita’s art submission to Arts Worcester also marks her first-time using scratchboard as an art medium. At first, she was nervous in class and afraid to mess up her project, but after a while she let go, felt more comfortable, and began to appreciate the new technique she learned.  

“It took me a really long time to get it. I think it took me two weeks to get it done. But in the end, it was totally worth it,” Amrita said about her personal achievement, “I was so happy with my work, and I guess my professor was happy too because she suggested that I submit that particular artwork, and I did!” 

Amrita’s work focuses on the duality of nature. She carefully crafted her piece to be visually interesting and complex.  

“I thought about flowers and thorns. I wanted to focus on nature and all its shapes and contrasts,” she explained, “I wanted to capture as many shades and values as possible since that is the whole idea of the scratchboard.” 

College Night marks the first time that Andrew and Amrita will have their artworks displayed in a gallery available for public viewing.  

Alice Dillion, Associate Director at ArtsWorcester spoke about the impact that students like Andrew and Amrita have on the local art community, “The show is a beloved tradition that brings together students from many of the area’s institutions of higher education. These students will shape the art scene of tomorrow, and it is always a thrill to see what vibrant and powerful work they bring to the table.” 

Alice wanted to remind Anna Maria College, that students, regardless of their majors, are eligible for a free artist membership thanks to an institutional partnership between Anna Maria College and ArtsWorcester. The benefits include the ability to submit to art exhibitions throughout the year and participation in educational programs and social events.  

The 19^th Annual ArtsWorcester College Show opens on Friday, February 10^th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Davis Art Gallery. Support Andrew and Amrita’s milestone debut with an enriching cultural event that is free and open to the public. Find more information here.