SOUTHEAST STUDENT HOPES SOLO SHOW ONE STEP ALONG PATH TO CAREER IN ART

Michelle Buehler is about to finish her degree in studio art at Southeast knowing there are no jobs for studio artists. But she also knows an artist whose serious about being one has to have a game plan.

First there's the MFA, the terminal art degree, which she hopes will lead to a career of gallery shows and maybe a spot on a university faculty or museum staff.

Her upcoming solo show is one step along the way. Buehler, who has been interning at the University Museum, did all the work required to organize her own exhibit, including writing the press release.

Closed for the past seven months during the installation of an elevator, the University Museum will reopen Monday with an exhibit of Buehler's work. "Corinthian Correspondence" will continue through Dec. 20.

The opening reception will be held from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the museum.

A solo show for a graduating senior, even one graduating with honors, is almost unheard of at the museum. Buehler said the timing of the museum's reopening and supportive faculty members helped her pull off the coup.

The Perryville native has been working on this series of paintings for about three years. "They all fit into a theme which hopefully will help me fit into grad school," she says.

The mixed-media works consist primarily of Greek Corinthian columns set in contrast with images from our own civilization.

Buehler says her paintings aren't meant to deliver any weighty messages about our society vis-a-vis the ancient Greeks, who are often idealized both as a society and as artists.

"I haven't got it figured out yet. I'm trying to figure it out. Maybe they can figure it out with me" she says of the people who will view her paintings.

She's excited about that prospect because she can't imagine painting simply as an avocation.

"Some people think it's something fun, like a hobby. Painting isn't usually fun for me," she says.

"Sometimes it is, but usually it's frustrating. You really have to search yourself for images and references you can use."