49 Oak

Current & Upcoming

Hungry Eyes

Cam Fox, Bets Ondrey, Sophia Sutherland, Tom Dailey

Hungry Eyes explores appetite, the animal, and the sensation of consuming art through the work of emerging artists Cam Fox, Bets Ondrey, Sophia Sutherland, and Tom Dailey.

In this selection of work, the empty and plentiful become spaces of discovery. The figure and field is layered, while abstraction and reference converge. The work questions: what is held within our sight, and what sneaks beyond our grasp?

Gem eyes gleam on repeating fox heads. Rich fields of abstraction beckon with an ornate flourish. Sugar packets, a contained sweetness that the viewer can still taste, are stitched onto canvas. A silent mountain lion watches, a whisper of a beyond.

Hungry Eyes is the bountiful production of seeing, yearning, and leaving what you require outside of yourself. These eyes are hungry. They ask for more, and look for everything, yet only a burning distance is awakened.

About

49 Oak is a flexible, experimental space where students gain real-world experience presenting their work to the public. Through pop-up shops, exhibitions, and project-based programming, students build essential professional skills; curating, installing, promoting, documenting, selling, and staffing exhibitions, under the guidance of Artists at Work and faculty mentors. During the summer, 49 Oak shifts its focus to showcasing work by the College’s alumni, strengthening professional networks and career pathways.

As a living laboratory, 49 Oak prepares students for the following:

Professional Exhibition Experience

Ability to plan, curate, and install exhibitions and pop-up shops
Experience working with timelines, budgets, and shared creative spaces
Confidence presenting work to public audiences, clients, and collectors

Sales & Entrepreneurial Skills

Experience pricing artwork and products
Understanding point-of-sale systems, inventory, and customer interaction
Preparation for freelance, self-employed, and small business models

Marketing & Promotion Skills

Portfolio-ready documentation of exhibitions and work
Experience writing artist statements, wall text, and promotional copy
Understanding how to promote creative work through events, email, and social media

Project Management & Collaboration

Experience working in teams with defined roles and responsibilities
Ability to manage deadlines and deliverables tied to real outcomes
Skills in problem-solving, adaptability, and professional communication

Career Pathways & Job Readiness

Preparation for roles such as gallery assistant, exhibitions coordinator, studio assistant, arts administrator, or creative producer
Transferable skills applicable to museum, nonprofit, retail, and creative industry jobs
Clear articulation of skills and experience on résumés, CVs, and in interviews

Professional Networks