EUGENE–Eight University of Oregon graduate students will present their artwork at "MFA/99," the annual Masters of Fine Arts exhibition, which opens Saturday, May 22, and continues through June 20 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, May 21, at the museum. The event is free and open to the public.

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

This year’s MFA student exhibitors are Dave Hanoch, painting; Judy Ness, fibers; Paul Lorion and Erik Land, sculpture; John Graham, printmaking; Morae Kim, metalsmithing and jewelry; and Chaiporn Panichrutiwong and Nathan Lucas, visual design.

MusEvenings! programming on June 2 and June 9 will supplement the exhibition with 6 p.m. gallery talks by the MFA artists.

This exhibition is sponsored in part by the Ballinger family in memory of Court Ballinger, a 1970’s UO fine arts student.

The UO Museum of Art, accessible to people with disabilities, 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 Wednesdays when the MusEvenings! program offers free extended viewing hours from 5-8 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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