William Woods graduating art students open exhibition

The Eye of the Tiger

"Pride" by Fulton artist Scott Kronk roars at visitors in the Mildred M. Cox Gallery at William Woods University in Fulton. Kronk was one of 17 artists to contribute to WWU's "The Perfect Crowd" art exhibition.
"Pride" by Fulton artist Scott Kronk roars at visitors in the Mildred M. Cox Gallery at William Woods University in Fulton. Kronk was one of 17 artists to contribute to WWU's "The Perfect Crowd" art exhibition.

Every year, William Woods University's graduating art class takes part in a Senior Art Show, which they must plan, raise funds and put on as part of their graduate requirements. This year's unusually large class of 17 led to their theme "The Perfect Crowd," and it's an experience that art student and Fulton native Scott Kronk won't soon forget.

Kronk, who will turn 30 this May, says that the art school helped him discover his true passion when he entered the program about six years ago.

"I started with a ceramics class, and I loved it," said Kronk. "I've always been a little artsy, but I never put that much energy or thought into it. Now that's what I want to do. I learned a lot of skills at William Woods, and I learned not to give up on myself, to try to be myself and to express myself through my artwork."

Kronk describes himself as a surrealist who utilizes texture as the main design element of his work. Many of his exhibits show that attention to texture, like "Pride," the work Kronk fittingly takes the most pride in and is arguably the centerpiece of his display at "The Perfect Crowd." Art lovers can see almost every protruding whisker and tuft of fur on the mammoth, roaring tiger's face as it leers down on them while they walk through the exhibit.

"I'm hoping to get hold of Mizzou and sell it to them or one of the bars, some place in Columbia, and get my name out there," said Kronk. "It's one of those things where each thing you do, you learn from, and you carry it into your next piece."

Visitors to Fulton have probably seen plenty of Kronk's work around town and never knew it. Kronk has sold an 8-foot-tall sheet metal sculpture of a horse to William Woods, and he has sold pieces to Bek's restaurant on Court Street, where he has worked.

Kronk is of course not the only artist on display at "The Perfect Crowd," which runs for free in the Mildred M. Cox Gallery 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday until April 29. Classmates Amanda Almich, Jessica Bargate, Erika Campbell, Katie Dewey, Carol Diedriech, Ryan Ellis, Whitney Eufinger, Lauren Fischer, Derrick Hunolt, Maddie Meyer, Ben Nickelson, Kathryn Rademan, Meagan Roberts, Amanda Seitter, Jacob Shaw and Gillian Tracey all took part in the exhibit as well. Some of their pieces are lighter fare, inspired by pop culture or ad campaigns, while others such as Dewey's "Vision of Inspiration" series literally stare back at their captivated viewers.

"There are some amazing artists in there," said Kronk of his fellow classmates. "Some who are really going to do good and hopefully make it."

For an aspiring career artist like Kronk, "The Perfect Crowd" has given him just a little taste of what he hopes is to come.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.