AUK students express themselves through art By Ghadeer Al-Nasser

Courtesy of the Daily Star
5th January, 2006
Event was held on 3rd January, 2006

Kuwait: American University of Kuwait held its first Annual Art Exhibition on Tuesday, showcasing art work that AUK students had put together. The art work included colour photos, pencil sketches, acrylic paintings, poetry, oil pastels with metallic paint, engraved pictures on black cardboard, charcoal and multi glitter glue posters.

The exhibition was organized by Coordinator of Student Affairs at AUK Tadd A. Kruse and a number of students. A student came up to me with a painting and proposed the idea of having an art night," Kruse said. He added that he gave the students about a months notice and that a lot of the paintings were completed prior to this notice.

This is our first attempt, and since it was a success, we have every intention of sticking to it in the upcoming years."
Many of the AUK staff attended the opening of the exhibition. The President of AUK Dr. Shafiq Al-Ghabra was delighted to be at the event.

"The exhibition is organized so that students can expose their talents and creativity in art. As you can see all the posters reflect their deepest feelings about the future, the present, and their strong connection to their culture and identity," Al-Ghabra said.
AUK wants the students to express themselves in doing different types of activities while they are in school," Al-Ghabra added. "It gives the students the opportunity to learn in school and pursue their interests and hobbies as well.

Professors at AUK also visited the art exhibition to see what their students have submitted. "I am interested to see what talent they have. I don't see their artistic side in terms of this kind of medium," said Steven Jacques, Intensive English Language.

Another IEP Professor David Hart suggested that AUK encourages having its students try expressing themselves in any way that is more creative than other students.

In addition, AUK students were present at the event. Some came to witness their art work being displayed and others were non-participants interested in the work.

AUK student Tasnim Saleh, who displayed her photographs, paintings, poetry, and bead work at the exhibition said, "It is really fun, inspiring and calming to take a photo or write poetry."
She said that this exhibition had encouraged her to pursue her talent in art. "This is the first time I have my work on display thanks to AUK."

Al-Ghabra gave a speech at the exhibition where he encouraged AUK students to continue to apply their creativity. The art exhibition will be on display in the multi purpose room at AUK for the next few days.

Copyright (c) 2006 The Daily Star