Stevenson University students can participate in a photography and film exhibition titled Beauty etc.: An Investigation of Identity and Its Relationship to Beauty, which will open at the start of the spring semester, Jan. 23, 2017, in the new Manning Academic Center Gallery.

All students are invited to submit their work depicting concepts of beauty. Ideas that can be explored include interpretations of beauty and the human form, conforming and non-conforming images of male and female beauty, explorations of beauty translated through the lens of race and class, psychology and beauty, appearance and beauty and gender fluidity.

A group of School of Design faculty, known as the “Our Many Ways of Being” collective, meets regularly to discuss issues of identity. After viewing the trailer for the film “The Illusionists” by Elena Rossini, conversation created an interest in understanding how people are conditioned to think about beauty in everyday life.

Elena Volkova, assistant professor of art and visual communication design, is a part of the “Our Many Ways of Being” collective; she will orchestrate the exhibition. The goal of the exhibit is to question the stereotypes reflecting beauty that have existed in society for centuries. Volkova said that the images and videos should create awareness for this subject that is so loosely defined.

Volkova added that she hopes “students will look within themselves and their groups to question ‘what is beauty beyond what we typically condition it to be?’”

Matthew Laumann, director of cultural programs and exhibitions, said that the hope is that the exhibit will spark discussion on the topic of identity and its relationship to beauty.

Students are able to submit up to seven photographic images, with an image list including the name, title, year and dimensions. For students interested in submitting a film, the work may be up to five minutes. In addition to the submission of the artist’s work, all entries must provide a 100-word project statement. Images and videos must be sent via Dropbox or Google Drive to [email protected] no later than Nov. 17, 2016.

Participating students will be notified by Nov. 30, 2016, if their art has been accepted. An exhibition reception and round-table discussion will occur at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2017, and the exhibit will conclude on March 4, 2017.