Opening reception Friday for two MCC artists

 McCOOK Neb. - An opening reception for two McCook Community College fine art students is set for Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Wrightstone Fine Art Gallery on the McCook Community College campus. This reception kicks off the Thesis Capstone Exhibition for sophomores Jett Gillen and Robi Winder.

The exhibit runs through May 2 in the Wrightstone Gallery, which is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday.

Gillen, a McCook native, said his works represent the importance that faith has had in the hectic pace that often happens in his life.

“To accomplish this, I completed a series of oil paintings in the genre of still life,” said Gillen. He notes that throughout history, still life has been used to capture a single moment in life through the arrangement of objects.

“I’ve chosen to represent biblical symbols that I have found important in my life,” said Gillen. “I’ve worked to create a space that kept the viewers’ attention and given them a space to feel a sense of calmness.”

Winder is also a life-long McCook resident grew up in a creative household and that the arts are “practically the breath” in his lungs.

“Much of my artwork – and my focus even outside of art revolves around inclusivity and uplifting the voices of marginalized people,” said Winder.

He said growing up as a trans kid in rural Nebraska, he was forced to grow up quickly to cope. “Being trans made me who I am, through facing adversity and overcoming it, and it’s something I take pride in being and sharing with the world,” said Winder.

“I want to show my audience who I am, truly, in a raw, unfiltered -- sometimes confrontational – but always honest way,” said Winder. “…in the hopes that we can provide a better, kinder, world for everyone.”

Both students will also have their thesis defense presentations next week. The two MCC students will do that May 2 from 1-3 p.m. at the Wrightstone Gallery.