EUGENE–Twelve University of Oregon graduate students will present their artwork at "MFA 2000," the annual Master of Fine Arts exhibition, which opens Saturday, April 29 at the UO Museum of Art, 1430 Johnson Lane.

An opening reception for the artists will take place from 5:30—7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28, at the museum. The event is free and open to the public.

The MFA exhibit will continue through Sunday, June 11 and is the culminating event for fine arts students receiving Master of Fine Arts degrees. Throughout their final year of study, graduating students work with faculty advisers in the Department of Art and with museum staff to prepare their artworks for display. Past MFA exhibits have demonstrated high levels of craftsmanship and innovation.

MusEvenings! programming during the exhibition will feature gallery talks by the MFA artists. The following talks start at 6 p.m. in the museum unless otherwise noted:

• May 10: Julie Nuthals and Erik Shearer, painting, and Dillon McDaniel, visual design.

• May 17: Margaret Graham, printmaking; John Hasegawa, ceramics; and Wesley Hurd, painting.

• May 24: John Pagliaro, ceramics, and Renee (Rigby) DeCarlo, sculpture.

• May 31: David Norem, sculpture. (7 p.m.)

• June 7: Jason DeMarte, photography; Justine Pinckard, ceramics; and Anthony Michaels, visual design.

The University of Oregon Museum of Art is a nonprofit state institution supported by the generosity of its members and by grants from the Oregon Arts commission and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Horton, Museum of Art, Culp, Krause and Autzen endowments provide operating funds.

This exhibition is sponsored by the UO School of Architecture and Allied Arts and by the Ballinger family in memory of Court Ballinger, a 1970s UO fine arts student.

Accessible to people with disabilities, the Museum of Art is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Suggested admission is $3, except on Wednesday evenings when the MusEvenings! program offers free extended viewing hours from 5 to 8 p.m. Museum members, students, UO employees and children are admitted free.

For information, browse http://uoma.uoregon.edu or call (541) 346-3027.

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