Juxtaposing student pieces with faculty work is the rationale behind the Center for Visual Art exhibits, "Back to Back: Metro State BFA Honors Thesis and Metro State Art Faculty." The exhibitions run May 5-21 (BFA honors) and May 31-June 18 (faculty). The CVA is located at 1734 Wazee St.

Because of how gallery scheduling fell this year, CVA staff decided to run the biannual faculty exhibition in conjunction with the annual student display. "We thought it would be interesting to show them back to back," explains Cecily Cullen, communications-exhibitions coordinator for the center, "to see if you could see the influence of faculty on student work."

The student show, which begins with a reception on May 5 from 6-8 p.m., features pieces by 16 seniors and new graduates, who participated in required portfolio classes in this academic year. Their work was selected by a faculty jury and spans a range of media including painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, computer-generated art, communication design, photography and sculpture.

Faculty, in contrast, have been asked to submit new work that hasn't yet been shown in Denver. Participating Metro faculty include Mark Brasuell, Clare Cornell, Cinthea Fiss, Deborah Horner, Thomas Liphard and Andrew Speer.

The exhibits are sponsored by Heritage Bank, The Blake Street Tavern, Espo's Cucina Dolce, and Flying Dog Brewery. Works from both exhibitions will be on sale.