Katelynn Randall earned first place in the 16th annual Arkansas Tech University Juried Student Competitive Exhibition.
Randall, an art education major from Ozark, was recognized for her mixed media piece “Mind and Body.” It is composed of paint, modpodge and embroidery thread on canvas.
The exhibit is on display in ATU’s Norman Hall Art Gallery, 203 West Q Street in Russellville, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily (excluding holidays) through Tuesday, Nov. 29. Fifty-four works by 35 Arkansas Tech students are included in the show, which is sponsored by Bridgestone Americas.
Award winners were announced by Neal Harrington, ATU professor of art and director of the Norman Hall Art Gallery, during a reception on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Brandy Green-Russell, assistant professor of art at the University of the Ozarks, was juror for the competition.
“This is an opportunity to give a taste of the gallery game and provide encouragement to developing makers,” wrote Green-Russell in a portion of her juror’s statement. “As an artist and an educator, I ask the same questions of my students that I ask myself. What is the message? What is the context? Does it look good? These questions, which help me to find a balance within my own making practice, surfaced now in the role as juror.”
Dylan Easley of Dover won second place for “Mr. Businessman,” a sculpture made of clay, wire, wood and Monopoly game pieces.
Third place went to Jasmine Romero of Russellville for an acrylic on canvas entitled “Pan con Cafecito.”
Audie Kay Bridges of Paris and Rachel Richardson of Russellville collected honorable mention prizes. Bridges created an acrylic on paper entitled “Space Take Out.” Richardson was recognized for a ceramic entitled “Warm Embrace.”
There were 108 works entered for competition in the exhibition. Forty-eight ATU students — 21 seniors, 15 juniors, five sophomores and seven freshmen — provided their work for review by the juror.
“Finding a balance between concept, craft and context should be a goal of every artist to define for themselves, and one that is an ongoing pursuit with each new piece,” wrote Green-Russell. “The works I chose to award prizes are examples of exploring what that balance could be to them.”
Learn more about the Arkansas Tech Department of Art at www.atu.edu/art.
