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CU Denver Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition

The Visual Arts Thesis Exhibition is a demonstration of the artistic, creative, and scholarly spirit of the Visual Arts Class of 2024 in the areas of 3D Graphics & Animation, Art History, Art Practices, Digital Design, Illustration, and Photography.


RedLine Contemporary Art Center

April 27–May 11, 2024

Closing Celebration & Reception Thursday, May 9

 

View the work of the class of the 2024 on the BFA Thesis Website.

Thursday, May 9th Events

1:30–2:45pm Art History Presentations

3–4pm 3D Graphics & Animation Screening

4–5pm  Alumni Panel and Outstanding Senior Awards

5–8pm Reception

 

Alumni Panelists

Jacenta Irlanda (she/her/hers)

MA, LPC, ATR

Art Therapist and SOMB Full Operating Treatment Provider, Evaluator, & Clinical Supervisor

Jacenta Irlanda Image

Jacenta L. Irlanda, MA, LPC, ATR (she/her) is an art therapist and clinical director at Specialized Offender Services, LLC (SOS). Jacenta completed her master's degree at Naropa University in Boulder, CO in transpersonal art therapy in 2017. Since her time at Naropa, Jacenta has been dedicating herself to learning and applying decolonization practices in therapeutic spaces. With a love of pop culture, she integrates stories and dreams into therapeutic healing spaces. She started off as an illustrative artist who worked at conventions under her own art business Centalynn Artworks and formulated art commissions related to mental health before going to school to become an art therapist.

 

She was invited to participate in events at the Denver Art Museum to offer her self-created art therapy intervention The Warrior Embodiment to provide empowerment to visitors. She was invited to be a guest speaker to Naropa University’s Jungian class to discuss how to integrate superhero psychology with art therapy modalities and in 2023 she was invited to teach the Art Therapy Practicum Counseling Graduate class at Naropa University. She has given presentations about art therapy, superhero psychology, tackling heteronormativity in sexual offense specific treatment, and many more. She appeared on podcasts to discuss using superhero psychology in mental health practices with art therapy. She was also a board member of the Colorado Art Therapy Association (CO-ATA) and was the president of CO-ATA for two years. She formulated her art therapy private practice Creative Core Therapy, LLC in 2022 where she meets with private clients and is working on expanding her business to include master classes for the public.

 

Currently, she is a licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, evaluator, and clinical director who provides art therapy and transpersonal psychotherapy with adults who committed a sexual offense and are on probation. She was the first internship student at SOS to offer art therapy to this population and was given the task to integrate art therapy into their therapy structure as well as offer presentations on art therapy. The Sex Offense Management Board (SOMB) has invited her in to help make changes to how therapy is done with adults who commit sexual offenses and has accepted her as a presenter at their Annual Conferences in 2021 and 2023. She has given trainings through the SOMB for fellow treatment providers across the state. She strives to create change in therapeutic spaces by continuing to develop her understanding, building community, and giving trainings to other mental health professionals to help promote healing in the community and in systems.

Brandon Vargas (he/they)

Meow Wolf Artist Liaison

Brandon Vargas Headshot

Brandon Vargas is Meow Wolf’s Artist Liaison for Convergence Station. In addition, working as the artist liaison, Brandon also serves on the board of two Denver-based arts non-profits, Denver Digerati and La Serra. Brandon is also a resident artist supported by RedLine’s Satellite Resident program at Alto Gallery in RiNo’s Art Park.

 

Brandon's Website

Jessica Smith

Technical Analyst at Pipeworks Studios

Jessica Smith Headshot

Jessica Smith graduated from the DAC in 2019. She's spent the last several years working on live action movies, feature animation tv shows, and is now active in the gaming industry. As a technical artist, Smith specializes in character driven visual effects which encompasses the simulation of cloth, fur, and muscle systems, but can also include environmental effects on plant life depending on the studio. Her biggest hobby is clay sculpting, which is most of what she posts on her socials!

 

Ig: Jess.in.3d

Jessica's Vimeo

Tregg Frank

Designer

Tregg Frank Headshot

Tregg is a designer turned founder working on tools for user research at Divinate. He started his career at JP Morgan Chase and then turned his focus to startups. When Tregg isn’t designing and building a company, he’s hanging out with his toddler and wife or playing guitar.

IG: @treggify Website: https://tre.gg/

Bethany DeFelice

Legend High School and Tintype Studio in Parker, CO

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Bethany DeFelice embarked on a multifaceted journey after graduating in 2011 from the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Photography. She transitioned into teaching at Legend High School, where she revived a neglected darkroom & has taught both digital & traditional Photography for the past 5 years. She is very proud that some of her students have chosen to follow in her footsteps & are currently or will be attending UC Denver to pursue photography. Outside the classroom, she transforms into a nomad, roaming the US in her SUV, capturing landscapes with her beloved 8x10 view camera & medium format cameras, channeling the spirit of her idol, Ansel Adams. Through her photography, Bethany hopes to advocate for environmental conservation, highlighting the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Her passion extends beyond landscapes to portraiture, as she also operates a Tintype Studio in Parker, CO, capturing the essence of her subjects. Amidst a landscape dominated by artificiality in words, objects, and people, Bethany remains dedicated to preserving the authenticity of Analog Photography.

 

IG: @bethanydefelice_

Emily Owens(she/they)

PhD Candidate and Academic Advisor, University of Colorado Denver

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Emily Owens is an art historian, writer, photographer and "part-time punk." She is a three-time CU Denver alum with a BFA in Photography, BA in Art History and Masters of Humanities in Visual Studies. She was recently accepted into a doctorate program at SUNY Binghamton in Binghamton, New York—where she will begin in August. Emily is a regular contributor to the scholastic, peer-reviewed Punk and Post-Punk Journal in the UK. You may recognize her from campus or have met with her recently as she is also currently an academic advisor in the College of Arts & Media.

Andrew Palamara

2024 Alumni Panel Moderator

Gallery Coordinator College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver

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Andrew Palamara is the Gallery Coordinator at the Emmanuel Art Gallery. Prior to joining the Emmanuel, he worked in education at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Dallas Museum of Art, and MASS MoCA. He holds a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from Belmont University and a MA in Art Education from the University of North Texas. When he’s not at the gallery, Andrew is most likely running, reading, or playing music.

College of Arts & Media

CU Denver

Arts Building

1150 10th Street

Suite 177

Denver, CO 80204


303-315-7400

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