SUBMITTED PHOTO Artwork created by Marshalltown Community College trades program students and faculty are on display in the Ray Frederick Gallery on the campus. Some of the artists with their featured collaborative pieces are natural gas technician students Garret Dickey, Jacob Hawes and Robert Scranton; electro-mechanical student Christian Banzhaff of Marshalltown and electro-mechanical faculty member Eric Deaton; natural gas technician student Lucas Hawes; machine tool technology faculty member Al Parks; natural gas technician student Jake Streeter of Marshalltown; natural gas technician faculty member Rick Dorsey and construction faculty member Jake Bennett.

The diversity of the trade programs at Marshalltown Community College (MCC) is being showcased in the Ray Frederick Gallery. The first-time art show opened Wednesday and will last until noon on April 12.

MCC Associate Professor of English Amee Schmidt said the show is organized by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

“We really wanted to showcase those programs and the students and faculty who work in these diverse divisions,” she said.

Schmidt said Marshalltown residents should not miss this show.

“I think it’s not always apparent for those of us on the outside how these trades programs function, and seeing the work these students and faculty do together really showcases the practical and fun way our trades faculty design and conduct their courses,” she said.

The art show will have numerous machine-cut metal signs and clocks, concrete and wooden benches and tables, a concrete rhubarb leaf sculpture and metal-welded sculptures.

“It’s truly amazing to see what these students and faculty have accomplished,” Schmidt said.

She is not sure how many students are featured in the show, but most of the works are collaborations between students and faculty.

Three pieces Schmidt pointed out which are more prominent or particularly eye-catching. One of the more prominent pieces is a motorcycle built with gas line parts. It was made by six students with gas line technician professor Rick Dorsey. Another is a plasma-cut metal panel, one of three which Nancy Adams commissioned from Al Parks and the machine tool technology students. The third is a hand-crafted wooden podium, designed by construction tech faculty staff member Jake Bennett and his students.

Marshalltown residents might get some new artwork for their homes, as well. Some of the pieces are for sale. Money from the sales of pieces made by one person will go to individual artists, Schmidt said.

“In collaborative works, some funds will be used for individual program costs, designated by the head of that program,” she said.

Schmidt touted some of the media and talent on exhibit.

“The size of some of these pieces is extraordinary,” she said. “We don’t often think of the beauty of metal and wood, of leftover parts, but these students and faculty really showcase the wonder we can find in our natural resources.”

The next art show will be the MCC Art Student Exhibit, which begins April 16.

EVENT INFORMATION:

Location: Marshalltown Community College Ray Frederick Gallery, 3700 S. Center St.

Dates: April 3 to April 12

Times: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.