Das’ Art Gallery Promotes Student Artwork Presented by
Country Inn & Suites
Thursday, September 28, 2023
4:30PM-6:30PM
Country Inn & Suites
2020 Laporte Ave. Valparaiso, IN 46383
A new art exhibition is now open to the public. Located in the lobby of Valparaiso’s Country Inn and Suites, the Das’ Gallery boasts an ideal space for promoting student artwork. Currently, the gallery is displaying pieces created by five Valparaiso University undergraduates. Ashley Vernon, senior Art major
and curator of the exhibit, sought to create an experience exploring the theme Be For Real: An Exploration of Reality. Together with the artists, she crafted an exhibit examining the realities of life, death, and nature. The public is welcome to visit the gallery August 21st through Thanksgiving Day. An official reception celebrating the artists and their work will be held at the Das’ Gallery, Thursday, September 28th, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm. Included in the exhibition are works from:
Paige Cesnick: Paige is a sophomore Nursing major with a minor in Art. She enjoys painting, drawing, and performing arts. On campus, Paige is involved with the Valpo Theater Department, VU Haunt Club, and her sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. She finds inspiration for her artworks in herself and the people in her life.
Maiah Deogracias: Maiah is a senior Communications and Digital Media Arts double major with a Humanities minor. While she enjoys creating within a variety of different mediums she focuses on digital illustration and photography. Her art investigates human interaction, both interpersonally (between individuals and groups) and within spaces. Observers may recognize overarching themes of humanity within art as a whole. Deogracias grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and enjoys traveling, spending time on the water, and any trip that involves stopping by a coffee shop.
Zion Gifford: Zion is a collagist, printmaker, and multidisciplinary artist. He is a two-time winner of the Valparaiso University Student Art Purchase Award, and winner of the 2022 Artivism Spotlight from the award-winning literary and fine arts journal - The Lighter. You can see more of his work on Instagram @zeihhan.
Emily Graves: Emily is a senior History and Art double major. Her work in museums informs her paintings, which explore how material culture interacts with our memories and sense of self. Recently, she was a creative fellow at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. Her work has been published in the fine arts journal - The Lighter.
Ashley Vernon: Ashley is a senior majoring in Digital Media Arts. While she enjoys working in a variety of mediums, the majority of her work is created using photography. Her pieces are often rooted in nature, and a favorite theme is the exploration of movement through the world. Her art has been displayed in the Carlson and Krebs Gallery and published in The Lighter.
