SILER CITY - Creative imagination and artistic skill abound in "Imaginations Revealed," Central Carolina Community College's Emerging Artists Exhibition.

From the polished aluminum "Transition: A Self Portrait," by metal sculpture student Richard Berent, to "Tree Spirit Melancholia," a poignant ceramic of dead trees with human faces, by pottery student Tess Janka, the show offers a diversity of themes, materials and styles.

"Imaginations Revealed" features works by five advanced students in the college's pottery and metal sculpture programs' exhibition class. They are working on their Associate in Applied Science degree in Professional Arts and Crafts: Sculpture, or on diplomas or certificates in clay or metal sculpture.

The exhibition opened April 1 and runs through May 5 in the CCCC Sculpture Student Gallery in Siler City. A reception for the show takes place 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Friday, April 18, during downtown Siler City's Third Friday Art Walk event.

The glass-front gallery, at 138 N. Chatham Ave., both welcomes visitors and serves as a teaching tool, according to Phil Ashe, Sculpture Lead Instructor.

"The gallery provides the students with practical experience in setting up shows," he said. "It also brings people in to show them what we are doing in the program. The gallery show speaks well of the quality and diversity of the work our students do."

Central Carolina Community College offers the only associate degree program in sculpture in the North Carolina Community College System. Students come from all over the state to enroll in it.

The program trains students not just in artistic skills, media and expression, but also with the know-how to start their own businesses. The professional quality of the works reflects this goal. Most of the students have or are starting their own businesses.

"I took a pottery class and when I touched the clay for the first time, I know this was what I wanted to do," said Janka, who will receive her Clay Sculpture diploma in August. "I love mixing business with art. I've started my own business and now do craft fairs."

Students showing in "Imaginations Revealed," are Berent, of Holly Springs; Janka, of Apex; Andrew Dixon, of Moncure; Lisa Wichalonis, of Raleigh; and Ralph Edwards, of Asheboro. Berent and Dixon also have pieces showing in the prestigious 2008 North Carolina Community College System's President's Art Exhibition, currently in the Caswell Building in Raleigh. Students' works have also shown in other exhibitions around the area.

The CCCC Sculpture Student Gallery is open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Thursdays during the "Imaginations Revealed" exhibit. Viewing by appointment can be arranged by calling the Studio at (919) 742-4156.