A photography road trip to the shores of northern Michigan has landed in a South Side gallery.
Look and See, a new exhibit at the Beverly Arts Center, features the work of Saint Xavier University students who spent June 12 through June 16 in Ludington, Michigan, for an influential, hands-on photography experience. The trip was more than just an escape from the classroom — it was a push toward creative growth and technical excellence.
“This high-impact learning gave the students an experience that will last them a lifetime,” said Sandra Mendez, SXU art and design faculty member who led the trip and curated the exhibition. “It’s all about pushing it to the limits.”
During the weeklong trip, students enrolled in the three-week course photographed a wide range of environments — beaches, lighthouses, forests and small towns — often dealing with unpredictable lighting and conditions. The following week, they edited their work, and in the third week, prepared their final prints for gallery display.
The result is a collection of personal and polished photographs now on display at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., as part of SXU’s Look and See exhibit, one of two student art shows that opened Friday, July 11.
Student Jack Obman, of Plainfield, who will enter his senior year this fall, contributed two striking images to the exhibit — Looking Out and Through the Grain — both taken on Ludington Beach.
“I’ve learned with photography, you have to pause and take time to really look at everything to get that perfect shot,” Obman said.
Fellow student Jesus Gonzalez, of Chicago, also entering his senior year, said the trip gave him the chance to build stronger connections with his peers.
“My favorite part about the trip was getting to know my classmates on a more personal level,” Gonzalez said. “We were all out there sharing our love of photography together.”
Alongside Obman and Gonzalez, participating photographers include Vanessa Cruz, Ethan Hurtado, Evelina Poole, Crystal Rendon Mosso, and Avery Sanchez.
Running concurrently at the Center is SXU Drawings, curated by SXU alumna and administrative assistant Alejandra Rodriguez and art student Ava Martin. This exhibition features 32 works by drawing students who were challenged to create a themed series using the drawing medium of their choice.
“It is important for students to learn how to develop a series of work with an underlying theme,” Rodriguez said. “It ultimately prepares them for their senior seminar projects as seniors, but it also helps them prepare for life as an artist after college.”
Artists featured in SXU Drawings include Giana Patterson, Sarah Mohamed, Amaree Hernandez, Donovan Allison, Ava Martin, Juan Silang, Claude Jones, Mohammad Odtallah, Elizabeth Pineda-Chavarria, and Eduardo Almaza.
Rodriguez emphasized how important it is for students to see their work exhibited professionally.
“I feel that the students benefit by having their work displayed at the Beverly Arts Center because it gives them a sense of accomplishment,” she said. “They spend ample amounts of time developing their work and their craft. To be able to display their work gives them a sense of accomplishment and excitement to continue creating.”
Together, Look and See and SXU Drawings offer a look into the imagination, discipline, and heart behind Saint Xavier’s student artists. Both exhibitions are free and open to the public through the end of July.
