The Richmond art community gathered at the Anderson Gallery on Friday, April 13 for the 36th annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition opening. This year’s juror Eric Heist selected the undergraduate artwork to be displayed at the gallery from April 13 to April 22.
Senior sculpture student Ashley Pridmore said it was a valuable experience going through the process of submitting her work and having it chosen.
“Having artwork in the exhibition at the Anderson is notable, because the student show is an overall view of the arts at VCU,” Pridmore said. “Therefore, being a part of it shows that your work is, in some aspect, exemplary.”
The exhibition is the biggest show all year, with 168 artists showing their work. The show features paintings, prints, sculptures, site-specific installations, drawings, crafts, photography and video.
“This is the biggest show we have all year in attendance and in artists,” said Chris Carroll, Anderson Gallery associate and VCU adjunct kinetic imaging professor. “It’s a big deal for artists, and it’s a big deal for everyone else to see their work.”
Fine art enthusiasts crowded the gallery to see the progress of up-and-coming student artists and to be up to date with the art scene at VCU.
“I have friends that also have work in here and I like to support them. I like to see how they have been growing in different majors and crafts,” said Justin Jackson, junior illustration major.
“I like the way a lot of work is displayed in context,” graphic design junior Victoria Misch said. “There is a lot of quality work here, especially the drawings and the sculptures.”
Winners for best work in each fine art department were selected by Heist, who is the co-founder and director of Momenta Art gallery in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Winners:
-VCUarts Dean Award: Zoe Webster, sculpture and extended media junior, for “Chomp, chomp, chomp,” a work of wood, steel and leather.
– Craft and Material Studies Award: April Sage, art foundation program freshman,.for “Soft Brass,” a work in yarn.
-Painting and Printmaking Award: Adam Gailey, kinetic imaging junior, for “I, Logos,” a scratchboard work.
-Photography and Film Award: Diana Wagner, sculpture and extended media junior, for “Chiffon,” a photo with icing sprinkles.
-Sculpture and Extended Media Award: George T. Gregory Jr., sculpture senior, for “Self Portrait,” a work in yarn and wood.
Photos of the winning works can be found on the Anderson Gallery Web site at: http://www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/artweb/gallery/Student_Exhibits/students2007/juried1_2007.html