The Department of Art and Art History at the University of Mary Washington announced several student awards at the opening of the Annual Student Art Exhibition on Friday, April 4 at the duPont Gallery. The event was judged by Howard Risatti, professor emeritus of art history at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Risatti selected 57 works for the exhibition from more than 70 submissions and chose the recipients of the media awards, the Emil Schnellock Award in Painting and the Melchers Gray Purchase Award. Members of the Department of Art and Art History chose the department media awards and honorable mention awards.
The Emil Schnellock Award in Painting was given to senior Katherine Arens of Fredericksburg for “Self Narrative #1.” The Department of Art and Art History presents the award to recognize excellence in painting. The Melchers Gray Purchase Award was given to senior Robert Lynn of Warrenton for his work, “I Paint Raccoons Because Raccoons Like Everything.” The painting will become a part of the university’s permanent collection. Lynn also received an honorable mention in printmaking.
The following students received awards at the ceremony: junior Ricky Baker of Fredericksburg, Department Award in Ceramics for “Geometric Vessel”; senior Merida Marsten of Richmond, Department Award in Digital Media for “Color”; junior Casey Mitchell of Richmond, Department Award in Drawing for “Cells”; junior Kaitlyn Butler of Seaford, N.Y., Department Award in Mixed Media for “Smile, Hug, Laugh, Friendly, Unforgettable”; senior Clara Williams of Natural Bridge, Department Award in Photography for “Goin’ Down the Road Feelin’ Bad”; senior Kathleen Kaelin of Burke, Department Award in Printmaking for “Strawberries”; senior Beth Wilkins of Lexington; Department Award in Sculpture for “Sarah”; and senior Ginna Zell of Manassas, Department Award in Textile Design for “African Sunset.”
Other students who received “honorable mention” awards include: freshman A-Young Kim of Korea and Wilkins in painting; senior Joann Tong of Ashburn and junior Jessica Bellah of Charlottesville in ceramics; sophomore Amber Bacskocky of Beaverdam in digital media and drawing; junior Eva Richardson of Raleigh, N.C., in digital media; senior Michael Mosley of Bedford in mixed media; senior Elizabeth Schumacher of Williamsburg and senior Whitney Rife of Ewing, N.J., in photography; senior Davette Leonard of Washington in printmaking; senior Isabel Arellano of Fairfax in sculpture; and senior Erin Richardson of Powhatan in textile design.
The Student Art Exhibition will run through Sunday, April 20 in the duPont Gallery, located on College Avenue at Thornton Street. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. The exhibition is open to the public without charge and some of the artwork is for sale.
For more information about the Annual Student Art Exhibition, contact the University of Mary Washington Galleries at (540) 654-1013.