Nineteen student awards and some good advice at the Student Juried Art Show

downtown-juried

The 2015 Juried Student Art Show (photo by Steve Arbury)

juror-moseleychristian

photo of Michelle Moseley-Christian at the Juried Student Art Show reception by Keturie Hehn

Nineteen Radford University students won awards February 26 at the first Juried Student Art Show at the new gallery in the RU Art Museum at the Bondurant Center Downtown.

Michelle Moseley-Christian, chair of the art history program at Virginia Tech’s School of Visual Arts, was the juror.

“I was impressed by the caliber of student work, especially displays of technical skill, sophisticated concepts, and thoughtful use of form and color,” she said about the pieces entered in the show.

In her juror’s speech, Moseley-Christian, who attended the awards reception, provided meaningful advice to students. She encouraged them to listen to their faculty mentors and take advantage of their experience.

mcdermott-2015

Detail from Collin McDermott's award winning "Gender & Sex." Photo courtesy of Dr. Steve Arbury.

Her second suggestion was more difficult one to put into practice, but extremely important for anyone in the arts.

“Eat criticism for breakfast,” she advised. “For every one success there is a pile of rejections whether you're publishing or exhibiting your work. Make criticism work for you, you can't get better without it.”

Her third piece of wisdom was students should hone their message in how they present themselves and what their works communicate to an audience.

After providing these messages, she presented 19 awards. Keturie Hehn won the prestigious Art Museum Purchase Award. The Graduate Award of Excellence went to Jordan Blevins Lively, and the Undergraduate Award of Excellence to Collin McDermott.

Kala Marshall and Jarrod Wilson both received Graduate Award of Distinctions and Catherine Baker and Haley Bechtel the Undergraduate Awards of Distinction.

Eight Awards of Merit went to Emily Bowman, Bonnie Catron, Keela Dooley, Clara Heaton, Allie Kelley, Kathryn Mattox, Kaitlynn Slaughter and Kristina Seay.

Four Honorable Mention awards were presented to Taylor Caroll, Kevin Kwon, Katherine McHugh and Macie Stipes.

The Juried Student Art Show is on exhibit through March 28 at the RU Museum gallery at the Bondurant Center Downtown (1129 E. Main Street, Radford). Hours vary. Please call 540-831-5754 for more information.

Mar 5, 2015
CVPA
540-831-6237
cvpa411@radford.edu