Creating art is everything for Arkansas Tech University student Nichole Lawson.
“It’s all I’ve ever done, and it’s all that I will continue to do,” said Lawson. “I’ve experienced a lot of things in my life…I have arthritis and disabilities…so art has always been an outlet for me.”
Lawson’s dedication to her craft was rewarded on Thursday, Nov. 5, when she was announced as the winner of first place in the 20th annual ATU Juried Student Competitive Exhibition.
A fine arts major from North Bend, Ore., Lawson took the title with her ceramic creation “Eros and Agape.”
“It represents the balance of love…the two different types of love that build a solid relationship,” said Lawson. “That’s the idea behind them behind chained together. The intricateness of the chain represents the connection you build with someone, and you have to have that balance in some capacity.”
Antonio Walls of Morrilton earned second place in the exhibition with his oil on canvas painting “Lil Sis (Joy).”
Third place went to Gabriella Dover of Mountain Home for her painting “Jean Struggles.”
Jessica Avalos-Reyes of Russellville and Bonnie Freeman of London earned honorable mention prizes. Avalos-Reyes was recognized for her ceramic work “Childhood Memories,” while Freeman was honored for her steel welding piece “A Piece of Caravaggio.”
Through separate judging processes, the ATU Learning Center and the ATU Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership selected pieces from the exhibition for purchase awards.
Walls’ artwork was chosen by the ATU Learning Center and will be on display in Ross Pendergraft Library and Technology Center, while artwork by Avalos-Reyes and Audra Fegan of Harrison was selected by the ATU Department of Teaching and Educational Leadership and will be available for viewing in Crabaugh Hall.
Holly Laws, associate professor in the University of Central Arkansas Department of Art and Design, served as juror for the 20th annual ATU Juried Student Competitive Exhibition.
Laws and Kris Waid-Jones, ATU assistant professor of art and gallery director, announced the exhibition winners during a reception at ATU’s Norman Hall Art Gallery.
Additional ATU student artists featured in the exhibition are Frey Bates, Kensley Chalmers, Emily Cousar, Alanna Evans, Shayna Hamill, Olivia Kimmel, Sady Long, Fernando Lopez, Emma Mann, Caroline Ross, Kylee Skidmore, Julia Trejo-Trejo and Micah Kae Woodall.
In addition to her artwork in the exhibition, Long was recognized during the reception for designing the publication that details the entries in the show.
Fifty-nine works by 27 students were entered for consideration in advance of the exhibition. Of those, 30 works by 19 students were selected for display.
The 20th annual ATU Juried Student Competitive Exhibition will remain on display at Norman Hall Art Gallery, 203 West Q Street in Russellville, through Friday, Nov. 13. The gallery is open weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit www.atu.edu/humanities/art to learn more about the ATU Department of Art.
