Shoreline students take their art where the jobs are

Nicholas Beerman (center, right) and other
Shoreline Community College VCT students are taking
their work to a Seattle gallery to show prospective employers.

A/NT Gallery 2045 Westlake Ave, Seattle, Wash. 98122, Thursday, June 5, 3-9pm

By Jim Hills, Shoreline Community College

A final step for many students before graduation is displaying what they’ve learned. Sometimes that’s a final exam, sometimes a portfolio of work or a culminating project that is then reviewed, usually by instructors.

A group of visual arts students at Shoreline Community College are no different, except they’ve decided to turn a requirement into an opportunity to take their work and themselves to the next step – employers.

“We wanted to show the firms in Seattle and the region just what we can do,” said Nicholas Beerman who is the lead organizer of the effort. “But we knew it can be difficult to get in the door or ask those people to come to campus so we decided we’ll take our work where they are and put on a show.”

The plan hatched by Beerman and other members of the Visual Communications Technology Club at the college is called the Shoreline Portfolio Show. The club has rented the A/NT Gallery in Seattle’s Belltown district and is inviting regional industry professionals and businesses to a showcase of work by Shoreline design students.

The big event is on from 3-9 p.m., Thursday, June 5, at the gallery at 2045 Westlake Ave, Seattle, Wash. 98121.

“We wanted to make it easy for people from the downtown firms to come see the show in the afternoon and after they get off work,” Beerman said.

This show’s theme is “CMYK Design Circus.” Every aspect of the show was planned and designed by Shoreline students including the show’s website, invitations, poster, mailer and program brochure.

Students also recruited participant, found and secured the gallery, procured refreshments, decorations, table rentals and music. Department faculty and staff, student government and college administrators also provided support.

The event is the first of its kind that takes place off-campus, and Beerman hopes it will serve as a bellwether for future portfolio shows.

“This event could not happen without everyone’s support here at Shoreline,” he said. “I hope that it will continue as a major event for our club, design program and for the school.”

Event details are available here.