Students and professors alike are bracing to see who takes the big prize next week at Lander University's annual "Student Juried Exhibit."
The public exhibit, run by the College of Arts & Humanities since the mid-1970s, takes place from 5-7 p.m. Feb. 2, in the Monsanto Art Gallery of the Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center.
All student works will be on display from Jan. 25-Feb. 20, and categories include sculpture, ceramics, computer graphics, drawing, painting and print making, and photography.
A total of 52 art students were chosen to enter this year's exhibit, and Dr. Jim Slagle, associate professor of art and Chair of Lander's Art Department, said anticipation is running high to see the outcome.
"Each student was allowed to submit three works," Slagle said, "and there will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize in each category, plus honorable mentions and a best in show."
The exhibition juror will be Jim Shore, world renowned artist whose pieces were once exhibited at Lander.
Shore's country and home décor pieces, derived from authentic roots in American and European folk art, are found in more than 25,000 stores worldwide. In the last 10 years, he and his partnership with giftware company Enesco have produced over $1.2 billion in retail sales.
"Jim will pick all the winners in this year's juried exhibit, and he also judged which works made it in," said Jon Holloway, Monsanto Art Gallery director. "This year's show features 75 art pieces out of more than 150 submitted by all arts students - from freshmen to seniors. These students are creating some amazing and inspirational artwork, and we are very excited to be able to host the opening public reception next week."