Two CWU art students present exhibitions this month

A pair of CWU Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) students will be displaying their work this month, and the public is invited to come out and support their artistic journeys.

Beka E. Pruitt and Bri Dumenigo both have scheduled opening receptions for their exhibits over the next few days. Pruitt’s kickoff event for “Nightengale” will be held Friday, March 6, from 5-7 p.m. at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge (307 N. Pine St.) in Ellensburg, and Dumenigo will introduce their exhibit “Pierrot” on Monday, March 9, from 5-7 p.m. in Gallery 231 in Randall Hall on the CWU campus.

Pruitt describes painting as “a language of the soul,” working in transparent layers, building depth gradually through a meditative process.

“Each layer reflects a layer of life,” she says, noting that each piece draws from multiple sources of inspiration. “Marks are added, subtracted, rebuilt, softened, and transformed.”

Through vibrant color, fairytale-inspired imagery, reflective adornments, and glowing elements, Pruitt’s paintings invite viewers to slow down and experience art as presence. Each piece becomes a sensory landscape where intuition leads and meaning unfolds gently over time, she says.

Private viewings of “Nightengale” can be arranged through March by emailing Pruitt at whiteswwan@gmail.com.

Dumenigo explores what they can reveal about themselves while disguised as their clown persona, “Monty.” Exploring topics such as isolation, LGBTQIA+ inequalities, and self-expression through photography, this persona becomes a full character all its own.

“Being in front of the camera is vulnerable but the character Monty allowed me to be more expressive behind the facade of makeup and stage.” Dumenigo explains. “I was comfortable enough to express how I was feeling through Monty.” 

“Pierrot” will be on display at Gallery 231 through Friday, March 13. See more of Dumenigo's work on their website, or find them on Instagram and Tumblr under the screen name Claw_wolff. They can also be reached at Clawwolffworks@gmail.com.