Featured Image: Artist Elayna Loza’s sculpture, titled “Come to Me—Matthew 11:28,” stands as a highlight of the exhibit in the Fine Arts Gallery on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Martin, Tennessee. (Pacer Photo/Ethan Tanner)

The UT Martin Visual and Theatre Arts Department held its opening reception for three eye-opening senior thesis exhibitions at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the Fine Arts Gallery.

One notable thesis was “More Than a Blessing,” presented by Elayna Loza.

Her works varied drastically in style and medium, but all had a unifying faith-based theme. Each piece of artwork included a title verse and a Bible verse that accompanied it, specifying which particular biblical passage or Christian value it personified.

Of these art pieces, the most prominent and memorable was likely “Come to Me—Matthew 11:28,” a giant sculpture of Christ’s hand with a hole through the palm, referencing the crucifixion. It also had the famous John 3:16 verse written around the wrist, reminding viewers of Christianity’s core beliefs.

Loza grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, before moving to Martin in high school. She did not have plans to attend UT Martin until she felt that art was her calling.

“I wasn’t originally going to come to college until I took art my senior year. And I was talking to my art professor and I was like, really saw a future in it. So I just went for it,” she said.

Loza sees art as a way of worship—glorifying Jesus Christ and spreading his name and teachings to others. She plans to use her degree to become an elementary school teacher and see where her artistic endeavors lead her from there.

Another outstanding thesis was “The Green Way,” presented by Annastazia McElroy.

The studio art major from Union City made sure to exude a tranquil, serene feeling in many of her works, matching the nature, plants and shades of green focused on in each piece.

“This show kind of comes from [my] love [of] being outside. It’s, like, one of my favorite hobbies [because] when I’m anxious… I go outside,” McElroy said.

Throughout her gallery, McElroy perfectly captured feelings of peace with relaxing imagery and fresh, beautiful environments.

“My biggest inspiration for my art is from personal experiences that I’ve had and people that I’ve met,” she said.

Her personal favorite piece was “Green is Your Way,” a needle-felt piece of art that portrayed an eye turning green in a detailed and unconventional manner, embodying a much different feeling compared to her other pieces.

McElroy hopes to teach elementary education as well, passing her artistic skills on to the next generation.

Yet another artist was Milly Escober, a senior art education major from Jackson, whose thesis was titled “In My Mind.”

Her exhibition focused on a variety of different objects that described what went on in her mind—from a painting of a brain-like clock to a picture of her surrounded by a bookshelf of literary classics.

“The range of materials reflects the complexity of my inner world and captures different fragments of my mind, from its clutter and restlessness to its quieter, hidden corners. Together, these pieces create a shifting portrait of the mind,” Escober said in her artist’s statement.

Escober’s favorite piece was a ceramic vase named “Cada Pequeña Cosa (Every Little Thing),” which was lined with beads that helped create an interesting and appealing pattern of colors and stripes.

Escober plans to become an art teacher once she graduates and hopes to support her students’ passion for the subject.

“I hope to inspire students to express their creativity and enjoy the process of art. Even the most tedious processes can be very enjoyable,” she said.

The galleries will be open in the Fine Arts Gallery until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8.