More than a dozen awards were presented recently at the Mississippi Collegiate Art Exhibition held at Mississippi University for Women.
Juror Heather Deyling, who teaches foundation studies at Savannah College of Art and Design, reviewed more than 1,000 entries.
“I was impressed with the quality of work. It was difficult to nail it down from 1,100 to 200. It was even more difficult to choose the award winners,” she said. Of the 200 pieces accepted, 57 were created by MUW students. The juror selects the top work in each category, and also three awards for overall excellence.
MUW students who garnered top awards in their media category were Stephen Philips with his ceramics artwork titled “Blossoms,” Shirley Boudreaux for her fiber arts piece titled “Andromeda,” and Leslie Crunkilton for her photography titled “Screen Door.”
Brandi Tollett received an Award for Excellence for her artwork titled “Terra, Aqua, Ignis.”
Former MUW undergraduate Martin Arnold, now in graduate school at the University of Mississippi, won the Award for Painting.
This was the university”s first year to host the competition.
Robert Gibson, chair of the Department of Art and Design,” said, “I think we did an honorable job of hosting for the first time. We look forward to next year”s event.”
He attributed much of the success to the juror, as well as the masterful coordination of Alex Stelioes-Wills, gallery director.
Stelioes-Wills added that the show was “fantastic” and made possible through a team effort.
He also encouraged the community to visit the exhibition.
“This is a great show for people to see. Some of these artists are the ones who will be Mississippi artists that we hear about 10 to 20 years from now.”
MUW graphic design student Derek Slaughter designed show material including postcards, posters, fliers and pamphlets for the competition and exhibition. Graphic design student Jerret Kerpan designed the competition logo.
The exhibit will be on display through March 17 in the department”s Eugenia Summer Gallery in the Art and Design Building on campus each day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is free and open to the public.
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