A&M-Commerce students shine in annual exhibition

The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Art announced the winners to the 2011 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition last week. The exhibition, which will run until the 21^st, is the annual showcase of the work done by art students over the past year.

"Texas A&M University-Commerce has one of the most successful art departments in the region, and the student show is a reflection of that," Michael Winegarden, adjunct art professor, said.

An awards reception was held April 5 to recognize the winners of the exhibition as judged by Dr. Donna Finch Adams. Hsui Ching Yu won the Graduate Excellence Award and the A&M-Commerce Administration Award for Omphaloskepsis, Taylana Royston won the Undergraduate Excellence Award for Dance, and East Texan cartoonist and sophomore art major Arielle McMahon won First Place-Gold Award for Contagious.

‘I felt honored to win The Undergraduate Excellence Award," Royston said."There was so much amazing work in the show and it was a privilege to even be accepted."

Other winners include Val Curry (Second Place- Silver Award), David Cook (Third Place- Bronze Award), Joshua Robison (Dean's Award), Chandra Bun (Honorable Mention) Landon Chase Stevens (Honorable Mention) and Alex Donaghy (Honorable Mention).

"I was definitely surprised and really excited to win first in the show," McMahon said. "There was such variety and there were so many pieces that I loved that I felt my chances at any award dwindle once they finished announcing honorable mentions."

The show, which is open to any currently declared art majors or minors, has been going on at A&M-Commerce in various forms for over a decade.

"All students are welcome and encouraged to attend the show, as it is a reflection of many perspectives on life," Winegarden said. "Art gives vision and expression to things all feel and think, and can be a vehicle for contemplating any aspect of our experiences in the world."

The exhibition demonstrates the importance of the art department in the A&M-Commerce community.

"I think it's important that people besides art majors know that the art gallery almost always has a show going on during the school year," Royston said. "I wish more people would stop by and take a look at the gallery. It would give people a chance to see the kind of work their peers are creating, and to also be introduced to wonderful works by diverse artists.

The diversity of the artwork at the student exhibition reflects the variety in life.

"Art gives vision and expression to things we all feel and think, and can be a vehicle for contemplating any aspect of our experiences in the world," Winegarden said. "The show has a very diverse perspective from the humorous to the very serious. Some works are challenging while others are affirming. But all together it makes a very strong statement about the times we live."

The exhibition will be on display in the art gallery inside of the Art Building until the 21^st. For more information, call Julie Phillips at 903-886-5446.