The fourth annual Undergraduate Art History Conference is open for the public to attend presentations from Baker students and eight other universities/colleges.
The free conference will be April 27 in the Owens Audio-Visual Room. It begins at 10 a.m. and will last through most of the day.
“What this conference does is to get national exposure for Baker, getting our name out there, and also allowing students to see what their peers are doing,” Brett Knappe, assistant professor of art history, said. “Here is what students at other schools are doing and the students can see if they are doing as good as work as others, comparing them.”
There are two sessions for the day. The morning session will start out with a performance by the Baker Speech Choir and will feature five presentations ranging from female empowerment to homophobia.
Approximately 30 presentations were entered into the pool for the conference. Knappe decides who presents and he makes his selection based on not only the application, but the diversity of topics.
The afternoon session will include seven Baker students reading poetry based on works of art.
Senior Warren Swenson was picked as one of the students to present his poem, which is based on a grey and white sketch of Don Quixote by Pablo Picasso in 1955.
“I really enjoy reading poetry in public,” Swenson said. “I consider it an honor and a source of fun and enjoyment to present at the conference. It thrills me to read in front of an audience and interact with them.”
Senior Haven Ashley will read poetry and have a presentation of her own. Her presentation is titled “Chagall’s Reverie: Exploring the Inspiration Behind Marc Chagall’s Images of Lovers and Brides.” Her presentation is based off the influence of Chagall’s first and second wife had on his art during his lifetime.
“I am excited to present in two different areas I am interested in and being able to represent Baker in these two areas also,” Ashley said.
With the conference becoming so popular and the presenters becoming stronger, Knappe says to expect new things for next year.
“Look for some big changes next year,” Knappe said. “It will be our fifth year, and I will be adding some things. It will be even bigger and it will get even more exciting with some new programmatic things I am adding.”
