Are you aware of everything that goes on inside your computer? Unless you are a computer science major, the answer is most likely no. You expect your computer to come with an instruction manual. The designer's objective is to explain the machine to the average person.

Artists at Penn State are doing the same thing at the Graduate School Research Exhibition. They must make their art understandable to a non-expert audience.

"The objective is to verbally communicate to educated laymen," said Thom McGovern, associate professor of art and assistant director of the School of Visual Arts.

The graduate students will be judged on their ability to do so by next Monday when they present their work to a panel of jurors. They will also be judged on a 250-word artist statement and on the technical quality of the work.

"This is the second year we have been involved in the Graduate Research Exhibition. It is a much more formal situation this year," McGovern said. "The exhibit represents the kind of work that is going on. We refer to it as creative research."

Graduate students in the School of Visual Arts have several incentives, including practical experience, exposure and prize money. "We highly encourage them because it is what they are going to have to deal with in the real world," McGovern said.

The art, which ranges from ceramics to paintings to prints, will be on display at the HUB gallery in the HUB-Robeson Center through March 25.

As an "educated layman," I found that hearing the artists discuss their work was beneficial when I paid a visit to the exhibit.

Upon entering the gallery, I noticed a 66 -by- 90 painting entitled "Enough to Eat" on display just beyond the double doors. After speaking to its creator, Ann Tarantino (graduate-art), I was able to see the images to which she referred and to appreciate its theme.

She discussed these elements in her 250-word essay. "I talked about how forms are multiple and shifting all the time. For example, you could see an image as an organ or as a bolt of fabric," she said. "This image has more representational elements, so it can be seen as abstract or less so."

According to Tarantino, there are many references to the body in her painting.

"I have been working this year with the way people understand their bodies," she said.

"I am interested in the split between mind and body."

As I wandered through the exhibit, I noticed a ceramic piece entitled "Bozo Deluxe Model 12B." Matt Pogatshnik (graduate-art) gave me some insight on his piece.

"I am interested in making things based on industrial architecture and design," he said. "It is supposed to be something you would have in your home made by a company, but it is handmade."

Pogatshnik created an object that represents a toaster/radio.

Having a deeper insight into this artwork made me appreciate it much more. In order to obtain this, I found that is was necessary to talk to the graduate students.