LA GRANDE — Eastern Oregon University’s Nightingale Gallery will present a “Perceptions & Illusions” exhibition this April — the first of two senior art capstone project exhibits for the 2022-23 academic year.

“Perceptions & Illusions” will be on display from April 7-21. There will be an opening reception on Friday, April 7 from 5-7 p.m. in the gallery. Community members are encouraged to attend.

The artists highlighted in this exhibit are EOU senior art majors Koedi Birmingham, Jessica Hitzman and Corrina Stadler. The theme of their work is the artists’ experience with reality and how it has shaped their own perceptions.

“Perception is the process by which we interpret and organize sensory information from our environment to create a meaningful understanding of the world around us,” said Cory Peeke, director of Nightingale Gallery. “Illusions, on the other hand, are false or misleading and can be used to create perceptions that may not correspond to our reality.”

He said each of the artists uses their work to challenge their understanding of reality and the limiting perceptions they’ve formed.

“Birmingham does this through the use of florals in relation to human organs,” Peeke said. “Hitzman by highlighting the underbelly of the food service industry, and Stadler by reflecting on her romanticized childhood expectations of life based off of what was portrayed on television.”

A variety of mediums were used by the artists, all of which include digital drawing, photography, screen printing, mixed media, installation and sculpture.

The Nightingale Gallery is located in EOU’s Loso Hall at One University Blvd., in La Grande. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, visit eou.edu/art.