The coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop the Transylvania University community from pulling together to put on the school’s annual Juried Student Art Show.
Faculty, an alumnus and a member of the Lexington community judged the artworks online after the students uploaded them.
Morlan Gallery Director Anthony Mead said each year the show is an opportunity “for us to all share in and be awed by the creative talents of our student community. This year was no exception.”
The works in the Juried Student Art Show typically are displayed in Morlan Gallery, which temporarily closed when Transylvania switched to remote learning. Not to be deterred, the university created this virtual exhibition, where you can see the works.
In addition to several “best of” award categories, this year’s honors include the Dean’s Purchase Award, which went to Zachary Pulliam for his colored pencil drawing “Parrot” (pictured above). This prize recognizes superior student artists by installing their works in a permanent collection on campus. Michael Cairo, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the university, continued the tradition this year. “I was struck by the beauty of this piece and the skill that went into creating it,” Cairo said.
Additionally, Emily Cecil’s “Cursed” pyrography on basswood (above, left) was picked by Trent Redmon ’16 for the Alumni Choice Award. Another recognition, the Abbott Scholarship, went to Zach Hall and Emily Cecil for demonstrating studio and scholarly excellence. The scholarship honors the memory of Mildred and Harold Abbott, both patrons and practitioners in the visual and performing arts.
Other award recipients
Best in Painting: Emily Neat’s “Jostled”
Best in Ceramics: Ally Fredrick’s “Brown Bear and Oso Carinoso”
Best in Sculpture and Community Choice Award: Marissa Price’s “What’s Inside” (pictured above, center)
Best in Works on Paper: Zachary Hall’s “Patron Saint of Modernity”
Best in a Variety of Media: Alma Valdez’s “Organized Chaos”
Best use of Digital Technology: Meredith Moir’s “A World of Your Mind Escaping”