Black and white images along with color prints entertain and inform students about the different art classes offered on campus at an exhibit in the Eddie Rhodes Gallery that has been up since Feb. 22.

The Contra Costa College fine  and media arts department hosted an all-student art show titled “Imagery,” featuring works from the digital art, digital photography and film photography courses. The photographs and digital images on the walls of the gallery in the Art Building will be taken down Friday.

Digital photography and digital art students’ work not chosen for display in the gallery were made into a slide show of around 400 works displayed on television inside the gallery.

Art department Chairperson John Diestler and photography professor Dana Davis were happy to have the three art classes work together in the art gallery.

“Having the color images up against the black and white film prints worked out great,” Davis said. “The color really brings some bright happiness to the overall dark ominous feel that some of the black and white prints tend to have.”

“Through the lens or through the computer, it’s art,” Diestler said. “We can’t separate these similar art forms just because of their choice of medium.”

For most students, this is the first time displaying their work.

“It’s an exceptionally good feeling to see all of our work that we have spent a lot of time on, put on display for our friends and family,” digital photography student Elmarise Owens said. “It’s very motivating to continue doing what we do.”

Digital photography student Allen Logan agrees.

“Diestler really helped me improve my skills as a photographer for this art show,” Logan said. “It is beneficial to have someone so knowledgeable help with our work to make it ready for the gallery.”

Jim Bloom, a 63-year-old retiree, is grateful that the art department put together the show.

“The art department is extremely positive to its students. Davis and Diestler know how to let people develop their own voices in art,” Bloom said.

Having all student art shows and art classes available to students is important for the community, he said.

“These classes and art shows give (students) the opportunity to build a close community that can enrich itself through the arts, especially for those of us who are retired who take these classes purely out of enjoyment,” he said.

Film photography student Kaitlin Gray said an event like this gives students an opportunity to advertise the different art classes on campus.

“It’s disappointing that art classes tend to be cut first when there is a budget crisis, so having art shows can help advertise and motivate students to support the arts and its classes,” she said.

Every student was able to submit a minimum of five prints and Davis and Diestler then decided which prints were to be put up on the gallery walls.

Davis and Diestler said judging which prints to display was tough.

“Deciding which images to choose was difficult. Our students supplied us with a lot to work with,” Diestler said.

Davis said fairness was not used in the process of judging.

“In the judging process, fairness can never be the final word in art,” Davis said. “We must pick the strongest pieces that really jump out to the viewer.”