A set of four phallic-shaped objects wearing various political or military hats is one of the first pieces a visitor spots upon entering the Art Building’s Jack Olson Gallery.

One of them wears the helmet of Darth Vader.

Anthony Fontana’s piece, “The Empire Strikes Back,” is one of more than 30 pieces on display in the gallery for the 2002 Graduate Group Show, through March 6. The piece is a commentary on politics, but with a bit of irreverent humor thrown in against a backdrop suggestive of the fallen Twin Towers.

Fontana was one of three grad students who put the show together. It includes pieces in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, drawing and floor installation.

“If you look around, you have Renaissance-technique paintings, abstract expressionist type paintings, political and religious satire-type pieces and the sculptural floor pieces,” Fontana said. “So you kind of get to see the broad range of graduate work that’s going on here.”

Jennifer Bock Nelson’s painting, “Ode to Innocence,” is one of the works featured. During the show’s Tuesday night reception, she described the thinking behind it.

“I wanted to explore the concepts we have of reality and the things that we take for granted that are really just social constructs,” she said. “I was trying to dissect that, and trying to get at the undercurrents which inform our notions of reality.”

“In dealing with those undercurrents, I wanted to start creating my own,” she added. “If I could create an alternative reality, what would it look like? I guess this piece would be a result of that question.”

Abe Garcia, a grad student in drawing who attended the reception, mentioned the painting, “Technique Mixte,” by Lou Shields.

“It uses an old technique from France that deals a lot with underpainting. I really like how the colors shine through,” Garcia said. “I like to see how the artists mix their media.”

Bethany Squires, a graduate student in drawing and painting, was one of the grad students who co-curated the show.

“I think it works really well,” she said about the show. “It keeps you moving around the room. There’s a nice grouping of work from everybody.”

Melanie Scott was another co-curator of the show, and being its treasurer.

“Last fall was my first semester as a graduate student, and I was really surprised at how different everyone was,” she said. “Usually there’s some variety amongst the students. But here, everyone seems to be able to work individually, but still communicate all that individuality amongst each other.”

The gallery, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is located on the second floor of the Art Building. Admission is free and open to the public.