Rio Grande Hosts Student Art Show

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – The annual Student Art Show of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College is on display at the Esther Allen Greer Museum.

The annual event showcases the eclectic talents of Rio Grande students with pieces ranging from oil paintings to prints, sculptures and everything in between. The exhibit, free and open to the public, is on display through May 2. The Greer Museum is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

The opening night of the Student Art Show also serves as an awards presentation with the exhibition juried by a third-party. This year’s juror was Ohio University Professor of Art John Sabraw.

“When jurying I try to be as objective as possible while keeping an awareness of a desire to represent, where quality permits, the diversity of the original entrant pool,” Sabraw said. “The latter however was superfluous with this year’s accepted artists as their work is so clearly invested and contextually imbedded. The work spoke volumes from a broad range of mediums, approaches and voices.

“This collection of equally persuasive yet truly diverse art speaks to pluralism rather than relativism, from a group of artists serving as excellent ambassadors for their program,” Sabraw continued. “My congratulations to each and every one of the artists.”

The Student Art Show opened Tuesday, April 21 with a reception to announce this year’s award recipients. Rio Grande President Michelle R. Johnston and Professor of Art James Allen presented the Best In Show, four Juror’s Awards and six Honorable Mentions.

Best In Show went to senior Shane Polcyn for his black walnut “Coffee Table” that utilized pipe wrenches for legs.

Juror’s Award recipients included: Jenna Hamner for her action painting “22,” Emalea Rupe for her oil on panel paintings “Hidden Reflections,” Janet Martin for her paper clay sculptures “Fox with Flowers and Friends,” and Gabe Richmond for his print “Let Go.”

Samantha Profitt, Hubbell Smith, Alina Hamner, Shane Shanton and Rupe each received Honorable Mention.

“Jurying is very difficult. I’ve done it myself, and it is very hard to make those decisions,” Allen said. “We as art faculty don’t want to be involved in that process because we teach these students. … It’s also part of our assessment. I think its very important to have someone from the outside come in and make comments about our work.”

Allen also thanked Rio’s Exhibits Class for setting up the Student Art Show and the opening night reception.

For more information about Rio’s School of Fine Arts or the Greer Museum, please call 740-245-7364.