Gabrielle Wyrick’s “You Were The One” Told the Story of Their Inner Child
Wyrick’s senior art exhibit, “You Were The One,” has officially ended after two weeks on display in the UCEN.
The art exhibit featured several pieces, each with a unique story written by the artist. Wyrick, a fine arts student who hopes to be an illustrator in their future career, said that this exhibit meant so much to them and their life. “Everything I have ever dreamed of or wanted to accomplish is becoming a reality by my own hand,” they said.
Wyrick noted that they have put everything they have into their art throughout their lives and have received encouragement from faculty.
“In each and every piece of work, I pour all my love and all of my experience into it,” they explained. “I have been told by many professors and faculty that they don’t come across many portfolios that keep a similar theme and similar emotions throughout the school years. It’s such a high compliment to me because it helps me move forward and achieve what I want.”
Wyrick used the art that they made as a way to convey the passions that they had from a young age. “As a child, I had a great hunger for knowledge, and I loved learning about all subjects,” they recalled. “I found that the greatest way to communicate the spirit that I have and that hunger was through my art.”
Creating a portfolio of their art and developing the exhibit taught Wyrick about perseverance and the power of effective communication.
“I learned that I can do this. Even if it is not always sunshine and rainbows, I can move forward. I am starting to find pride in my work. I want to keep doing this as I move forward in my life,” they shared. “The greatest thing I will take from this is that you learn from people. Communicating with somebody is the most valuable asset in art, whether it’s a viewer admiring your work when you are not there, or you’re collaborating with someone, or you’re explaining it to somebody. The connection is always there, and it is something that I highly value.”
Wyrick said that if they could bring their five-year-old self into the exhibit, they would be able to show them all that they did, and that this is what the exhibit was all about: The experience of the inner child.
