By MELISSA WALKER

Staff Writer

Graduation is only an art show away for four graphic design graduate students.

Mary Louise Carter, an assistant professor of art, said the Master of Fine Arts Student Show is a final requirement and opportunity for graduate students to display their closing projects.

"This is a time for students to show what they have learned," Carter said. "I give them the key, and they put their work in the gallery."

The featured students are Donnie Bell, Matt Harbin, Ryan Oswald and Kevin Smith, who are all graduating with a concentration in graphic design.

Carter said the students are responsible for organizing the show, designing the material, catering and putting it all together.

The show began Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. and in the Main Gallery and E.J. Bellocq Gallery, located in the Visual Arts Center. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

It will continue until the end of spring quarter.

The featured students have themes varying from defining the creative process of a graphic designer to explaining subjectivity.

Kevin Smith's topic revolves around Ideation, which looks at the process individuals must go through in order to generate ideas.

"My project is a visual interpretation of my thesis, which took a look at what the industry does in brainstorming sessions," Smith said. "It takes a stab at the starting process of initiating ideas."

Smith said he is using posters to explain this process.

In addition to the posters featuring his thesis, he said he will also display the steps he took in order to make the posters.

Smith said he is pleased with the end result of his project.

"I think it turned out very well," Smith said. "I think by taking a look at it, a person could learn a lot about Ideation."

Harbin, another featured student, said his project will be displayed differently.

"The show consists of art that complements the students' thesis," Harbin said. "The project could consist of one to 100 pieces."

Although the pieces are not specifically graded, they are evaluated beforehand, Harbin said.

"Subjectivity," Harbin's theme, will be composed of 30 brown boards that all start in the same place.

"It is series of illustration boards made with a limited number of tools, using varying shapes with similar size," Harbin said. "The work I am displaying is a series of boards displaying whatever is on my mind."

"I'm proud of the work I have done."