Stained glass renderings of major social movements and a biography told through product packaging are two of the themes that will be explored by seniors in the Elmhurst College Art Department’s 50th annual Fall Capstone Art Exhibition.

The capstone exhibition, the culminating event for every graduating art major, runs from Dec. 2 through Dec. 16 in the Barbara A. Kieft Accelerator ArtSpace. The students create a body of work in their area of concentration, then plan the exhibition and design the promotional materials for it. Suzanna Vasko of Lombard has created digital stained glass depicting the historical relevance of eight major social movements and exploring the integral roles religion has played within them.

She invites viewers to become part of her exhibit by donning headphones to hear a musical composition by Elmhurst alumna Aditya Sharma, and to kneel on a nearby bench “to be extra mindful, share thoughts, good vibes or even pray.” “I believe that artists have a unique responsibility to contribute something to society,” she says, “and I hope that this exhibition illustrates my dedication to being a part of something greater than myself as we work towards making positive change together.”

Samantha Lusby will display a body of work that appears introspective – a set of mixed-media pieces interpreting different stages of her life – but are designed to show viewers how we all are connected. Lusby, of Lombard, said she used different media such as photographs, drawings and found objects, as well as personal items with meaning, “because my life is not made up of just one thing.”

Sculptor Christian Jacob of Libertyville created “Relics of a Lost World” as “an exploration of beauty through the lens of different cultures from a fantasy world.” Each piece incorporates unique techniques and design particular to each culture.

The two other exhibits showcase graphic design talents. Jaci Petrik of Naperville has created graphic elements to form a brand identity for a boutique specializing in fine chocolate and artisan wine. Petrik said she used rich and luxurious colors, frilly or ornate patterning, and feminine and inviting – yet classic – typography that welcomes the audience “to taste, sip and savor the experience” of the unique gathering spot.

Violet Luczak of Arlington Heights, who plans to pursue a career in packaging design, has created a series of packages representing memories from her childhood through college years. She incorporated handmade logos and styles based on the era in which the memories originated, so each “product” helps to tell her story.

The Fall Capstone Art Exhibition begins on Saturday, Dec. 2 and ends on Saturday, Dec. 16 in the Barbara A. Kieft Accelerator ArtSpace (200 W. Park Ave., Elmhurst, Elmhurst.edu/campusmap).

The Accelerator ArtSpace, built around a 20-foot-high particle accelerator dating back to the 1950s, is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. A public reception for the artists will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2. Admission is free to the exhibition and reception, and the public is invited.

This exhibition is one of about a dozen art shows that Elmhurst College hosts each academic year in two campus venues. In addition, the College’s A.C. Buehler Library permanently houses the College’s unparalleled collection of Chicago Imagist and Abstractionist Art, which explores the vibrant, often outrageous, yet precisely crafted works of Chicago artists between 1950 and the present.

For more information, please contact Suellen Rocca at (630) 617-6110 or srocca@elmhurst.edu.

Elmhurst College is a leading four-year college that seamlessly blends liberal learning and professional preparation to help students reach their full potential. Elmhurst offers more than 60 undergraduate majors, 15 graduate programs, degree-completion programs for adults and the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy for young adults with developmental disabilities. Elmhurst College is one of the Top 12 Colleges in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report; and U.S. News, Money and Forbes magazines consistently rank Elmhurst as one of the Midwest’s best values in higher education.