Two WVU art students graduating this year with a master of fine arts degree will present their annual thesis exhibitions in the Creative Arts Center’s Mesaros Galleries Dec. 1-12. An exhibition of paintings by George”Rocky”Horton, titled”Ersatz,”will in the Paul Mesaros Gallery and a graphic design exhibition by Juan Giraldo will be in the Laura Mesaros Gallery.

A public reception for the exhibits will be held Friday, Dec. 5, at 5 p.m. in the CAC main lobby near the galleries.

Horton is a native of Memphis, Tenn., and received a bachelor of science degree in art from Harding University in 1997. He said his paintings are about human perception-painting as object vs. painting as illusion.”They are subject-evident, but they have a subverted layer of illusion and hopefully reconcile those two things,”Horton commented.

Giraldo is from Columbia and received a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the Instituto de Artes in Medellin in 1990. He also received a bachelor of fine arts degree in visual art from WVU in 2000. Many of the designs in his exhibition relate to his Hispanic heritage.

Managed and programmed by Curator Robert Bridges and the WVU Division of Art, the Mesaros Galleries organize a diverse and exciting schedule of exhibitions throughout the year. The galleries are committed to showing experimental work that is innovative both in terms of media and content. The Mesaros Galleries also host contemporary artists of important or growing reputation who work in all media in the Visiting Artist program. All the gallery events and receptions are free and open to the public.

The Mesaros Galleries are open Monday through Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. They are closed Sundays and on University holidays. Special viewing times may be arranged upon request.

For more information, contact Robert Bridges, curator, at (304) 293-2140 ext. 3210.