In the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall every spring, the St. John’s University fine arts department displays their students’ artwork in an annual Student Art Exhibit show.

Although all the works are beautiful, St. John’s College Art Professor Diane Himmelbaum chose 25 pieces of the fine art to be on display at University’s Manhattan Campus from September through January.

The exhibit consists of eighteen students who explore a wide range of experience and technique from graphic design, illustration, print, painting, drawing and high quality photography.

“[It] gives the floor an enhancement and vibrant feeling,” said St. John’s student Lloyd Bruce, who admired its design. “While studying, it creates a nice comfortable atmosphere.”

This is the second year that the Manhattan Campus is providing the beautiful exhibit space which encompasses the balcony walls on the mezzanine floor. The art department plans to have more student art exhibits for future semesters.

Just a few blocks from Ground Zero, this art exhibit gives Lower Manhattan and the lost field of art a bright future.

“We are proud of the work of our students,” Himmelbaum said.

Walking up the stairs to the mezzanine, one of the three fine pencil drawings of Christopher Lauto captures your attention, as the man is mesmerized in the picture. The skilled digital photography from Natalie Loizzo leaves you in disbelief that a camera could capture such beautiful images. The classic pencil drawn still life of Kimberly Lerch or even the admiring self-portrait of Orlando Rodriguez leaves you wanting to know if he looks as handsome in person. All of these students’ peers deserve to see what they are made of? pure creativity.

The Chung-Cheng Art Gallery in the Sun Yat Sen Building is currently embracing one of their six art exhibits, the “Darker Shades of Red” located at the Queens campus until December 19, 2006.