Cynde Puckett
In Motion Staff Writer
Daytona State College art students and professors gathered with their family and friends and other art enthusiasts to attend the Spring 2015 Student Arts Exhibition at the News-Journal Center’s North Gallery.
Beginning with an opening reception and light refreshments, the April 9 awards ceremony spanned two hours and attracted a crowd of 100.
A collaborative effort, the exhibit was held primarily to celebrate the gifts and talents of art students, whose creativity, skill and inventiveness were on display. Teaming up with the students to make the event possible were Dr. Douglas Peterson, Chair of the Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art at DSC and art professors Pamela Griesinger, Kandy Lopez and Trent Berning. Judges for the event were Gary R. Libby, Director Emeritus of the Museum of Arts and Sciences and award-winning artist Margaret Schnebly Hodge. According to Lopez, 33 students were juried into the show.
Hanna Stocker / In Motion
Shannon Hare, whose entry titled “A Lucky Flow” received honorable mention said, “We were supposed to pick a painting, choose five elements from it and then create an abstract of the painting. For my inspiration I chose the ‘Dogs Playing Poker’.”
She used bits of cardboard that fit together like jigsaw puzzle pieces to create a large dog’s head.
“I wanted to make something I would put in my house and it would be functional,” said Kristina Wasco, who used random car parts to create her “Up In Lights.”
The result was an exhaust manifold turned into a funky and useful lamp. Although she did not win an award, the piece drew much attention from attendees.
Nicholas Audion’s eye-catching “Geometry” balanced precariously in the entrance of the North Gallery. According to Audion, the sculpture was, “inspired by Pink Floyd and pyramids.” The piece took first place in the 3-D category.
Tabitha Gonzalez expressed the thoughts she had while creating her graphite on paper work. Gonzalez’s winning piece, “Wrapped Up in Something,” that showed a woman draped in fabric, struggling to break free.
“I liked the way she was looking away and the cloth was pulling at her. It really seemed like she was getting pulled back from what she was looking at. It looked like there was a struggle. I wanted to choose that angle.”
There were two categories of competition, 2-D and 3-D art, each with three winners. Winning students were given the choice of either a bag filled with art supplies or a tuition scholarship for one class.
In the 2-D category, the winners were: first place, Camrin Arreseigor for “Space the Final Frontier”; second place, Brant Kruger, “Cricket in a Campfire”; and third place, Tabitha Gonzalez, “Wrapped Up in Something.”
Winners of the 3-D category were: first place, Nicholas Audion, “Geometry”; second place, Alexis Leffer, “Gravy Boat”; and third place, Michelle Walsh, “Serpentine Teapot.”
Honorable mentions went to: Shannon Hare for “A Lucky Flow”; Ashley Farr for “Still Life”; Kaye Simon for “N/A”; Valentina Trindale “La Destruccion de Mi Familia”; Michelle Walsh “Chills Up Your Spine” and “Watch Dragon”; Ali Tahen, “Rider”; Steven Saver, “African Cichlid”; Camrin Arreseigor, “Pikmin Self Portrait”; and Tabitha Gonzalez, “Seabound.”
To learn more about upcoming Daytona State College art events visit https://www.daytonastate.edu/thearts/ or pick up a performing and fine arts brochure in the News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach Street.