Students learn the art exhibition process through competition showcase

Students at Grand Valley are displaying some of their best artwork for an opportunity to gain experience in producing a professional gallery exhibition.

During the annual Juried Student Exhibition, students compete for recognition, monetary awards, and the chance to have their artwork permanently added to the university's art collection. The showcase highlights outstanding artwork by students from not only the Art and Design Department, but also the film and video and photography programs in the School of Communications.

The exhibition will be on display through March 30 in the Padnos Student Art and Design Gallery located in Calder Art Center. An award ceremony and special reception will take place Wednesday, March 22, from 4:30-6 p.m.

This year's exhibit features more than traditional artwork, as submissions came from various artistic arenas, including ceramics, film and video, graphic design, illustration, jewelry and metalsmithing, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and visual studies.

Jillian Thompson, a senior majoring in studio art with an emphasis in jewelry and metalsmithing, said the exhibition offers students a chance to learn about professional presentation.

"It's nice to have a competition among peers that leaves space to discuss each other’s works while making connections in the Grand Valley art programs," she said. "This show gives us the experience of what it will be like to apply to art exhibitions the majority of us will be trying to enter after graduating."

This year, Thompson entered two necklaces, entitled "Roots of Chains" and "Deep Rooted Circles." She said each necklace was created with a combination of hammered copper links and synthetic hair.

"My work projects the struggles of African American women by exploring cultural expectations about their hair," she explained. "I want audiences to acknowledge issues in the African American community from the past to the present when discussing beauty standards."

Henry Matthews, Galleries and Collections director, will select two works from this year's showcase to receive "purchase awards," which means the selections will be added to the university's permanent art collection that consists of more than 13,000 pieces. 

The exhibit traditionally calls upon professionals and educators outside of Grand Valley to select showcase participants, award winners and honorable mentions.

The Juried Student Exhibition is open to the public during normal gallery hours. For more information, contact the Art and Design Department at (616) 331-3486 or visit www.gvsu.edu/art.