Art show not just for majors

Ouachita’s art department is organizing its first Jury Art Show which will be on display April 20-24 in the Hammons Gallery of Mabee Fine Arts Center.

Students can submit their paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures, graphic designs and photography to Donnie Copeland, assistant professor of visual arts, or David Bieloh, chair and associate professor of visual arts, by April 2 for a chance to be in the show.

The professors ask that students who are going to turn in artwork sign up for Scholars Day which the deadline for is tomorrow, March 20.

Carey Roberson, associate professor of art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will judge the artwork on April 3 and decide which pieces make it into the show. He also will choose a best in show and first, second and third place winners in three categories: studio art, photography and graphic design.

“We wanted someone who we thought would be able to judge graphic design, photography and drawing, painting and ceramics,” Copeland said. “Carey is a photographer who paints which we thought was a good bridge. He’s a professional at what he does.”

The awards come with cash prizes. Most of the money for the prizes is coming from the $5 per entry fee students have to pay to be in the show. The Artist Spirit Gallery located in downtown Arkadelphia is donating money to the best in show award. Bieloh, however, said the emphasis of the show is not on the money awards.

“It’s good for them [the students] to go through the process of being juried by an outside person — somebody beyond their faculty that they’re so close to and comfortable with,” Bieloh said. “Just to submit themselves to that is difficult for some students. I think that is a healthy, positive thing for people to go through.”

Copeland said this is a great opportunity for students who are not seniors to display their artwork in a gallery. Seniors are required to do a senior show for their artwork, but the other students usually do not get a chance to get their artwork up on the wall until senior year.

“It gives students an opportunity of what it feels like to go through that process,” Copeland said. “If any artist wants to try to make a living at what they’re doing, they have to go through something like this. They have to submit their work and wait to hear back from someone else. And they either get a yes or no.”

Bieloh said the event will also help to draw more attention to the art department which might “lead to more recruiting possibilities.” He hopes people outside of Ouachita’s bubble come to see the show.

A reception for the Jury Art Show will be at 4-5 p.m. April 22 in Hammons Gallery as part of the festivities of Scholars Day.