Artists, students and art enthusiasts packed into Hopkins Hall for the opening of the highly anticipated Undergraduate Juried Exhibition on Monday.
The exhibition, presented annually by the Student Art League and co-sponsored by the Department of Art, displays over 100 pieces artworks in various media. The pieces are arranged in either the gallery or in salon style along the corridor, depending on the final gallery selection from the jury.
A lot rides on the show for the artists. In addition to having their work featured, students majoring in art can receive scholarships if singled by the jury. They can also gain valuable insight and experience into the business side of the art world.
“They have an opportunity in receiving awards, and there is always recognition by being included in a show,” said gallery curator Prudence Gill. “But there are other benefits as well. You get to see what’s being done in art today; you get to see what your peers have been working on. You also get to learn to present your work and how it is matted and placed, which is also important.”
Gill stressed a show like this isn’t all about scholarships and recognition; it’s also about the art community coming together and appreciating talent and hard work.
“This is a major event for us,” Gill said. “It’s a celebration of art for students, but also for the faculty as well.”
For many artists, the exhibition represents their gallery debut at the university.
“It’s my first year participating in this particular show,” said Kurt Rausch, a drawing and painting major who won a scholarship for his work. “I have two different pieces, one entitled ‘Present’ and one entitled ‘Box.’ What I decided to do this time is pull out the two pieces that people have liked (at other shows); not necessarily ones that I like, but pieces that people have enjoyed looking at. I just kind of pulled those out to see what sticks to the wall.”
Rausch also said participants leave the with real world experience.
“I think one of the biggest benefits of a show like this is to go through the process of submitting work and being accepted or rejected,” he said. “The process is really what its primary goal is. Plus, I think it’s a good introduction into what students are doing now; you’re around people of like mind, and it gives you a good sense of community.”
The true spirit of art creation and appreciation makes the Undergraduate Juried Exhibition a popular attraction at Hopkins Hall.
“Usually shows are pretty good, but this one in particular is great because it highlights the undergrads. And of course, they bring their friends and fans,” said Student Art League President Mike Tanzillo.
“I feel like we represent possible movements in art, we’re just experimenting and trying to advance as far as we can,” Tanzillo said. “We may not feature what is happening now, but maybe what might be happening in art in five or ten years.”
The exhibition’s campus location is convenient for those who might be new to the visual arts, but also produces mixed feelings for some artists. The experience can be fantastic, yet also burdensome for someone to present their work for the first time, Tanzillo said.
“If you’re someone’s first impression and they like it, you could turn them on to something that will interest them for the rest of their lives,” he said. “But, if they don’t like what you do, or it even offends them, it could really turn them off. It’s a heavy responsibility, but one that we gladly and proudly take.”
The Undergraduate Juried Exhibition is the final show for some graduating OSU students. One is Whitney Lee who is making her fourth appearance at the event. This year, she was honored with the prestigious Gillmore Materials Award and the Top Jurors Award for her piece entitled “Soft Porn,” a woven run featuring a nude female.
“I think since I’m graduating it makes this appearance more important, and I really wanted to do well,” Lee said. “It was a good opportunity to show my fellow students my artwork before my senior show, just to get some input on it before I show it to the larger public.”
“Seeing your work in a critique is much different than what you see here with your work being presented in a gallery setting; it’s fantastic and very exciting,” she said.
The Undergraduate Juried Exhibition runs in Hopkins Hall through May 2. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
